November 2nd, 2011
We are very excited to announce that Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas on Saadiyat Island opened its doors on November 1! Less than a mile off the coast of Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island is poised to become the art and culture hub of the Middle East, and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi offers a tranquil escape for jetsetters and business travelers alike. Designed as an urban resort, the hotel offers all of the amenities and seclusion of an island oasis with the exciting attractions of the capital city only moments away!
Location
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has said that it expects to receive 2.7 million visitors by 2012, with international key attractions such as the Corniche, Emirates Heritage Village, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and the Yas Marina. With plans underway to open a Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and the Zayed National Museum, the island will become a hotspot for the culturally curious. Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas is surrounded by over five miles of pristine beaches and is neighbor to the world-famous, Gary Player-designed Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
Rooms, Suites, and Villas
Designed by New York-based architects Perkins Eastman and Singapore-based designers Wilson Associates, the hotel incorporates energy-efficient design techniques that meet LEED’s silver standards while also complementing the island’s natural beauty. To bring the outdoors in, each of the spacious 306 rooms, suites, and villas has a separate balcony or terrace. All Beach View Suites, Garden View Suites, and Villas have large private terraces with plunge pools, outdoor rain showers, and sun beds. In addition to the private pools, guests will love the hotel’s four large swimming pools and beachfront location.
Dining Options
The hotel’s restaurants offer an authentic taste of local cuisine to be enjoyed indoors or al fresco. The Café is the stylish all-day-dining restaurant serving Arabic specialties complemented by Western comfort food, while The Park Bar & Grill specializes in Western and Asian cuisine served from a theatrical show kitchen. Serving homemade Mediterranean dishes, the Beach House’s rooftop location is the perfect spot to enjoy the amazing views of the stunning turquoise waters that surround Abu Dhabi.
Atarmia Spa
Using treatment ingredients steeped in Arabian history as well as Kerstin Florian and Natura Bisse products, Atarmia Spa takes guests on a sensory journey reminiscent of ancient Arabia’s aromatic history. Opulence of Atarmia, one of the spa’s signature treatments, features lavish ingredients such as gemstones, diamond dust, honey, and hot olive oil. This treatment includes luxurious therapies for the face, hair, and body, including a hot stone massage and the choice of either an Opulence Caviar or Diamond Experience facial.
Spread out over two floors, the spa features nine spacious treatment rooms, outdoor private terraces, fitness facilities, a stretching studio, sun lounges, a sauna, steam room, whirlpool room, tennis court, and an ice fountain.
The Residence
The hotel is home to the United Arab Emirates’ first residential-style, multi-functional event venue, aptly named The Residence. Designed to feel like a stylish home rather than a meeting space, the venue has five smartly decorated rooms with names like The Living Room and The Kitchen, an inner courtyard, the latest audio-visual technology, and a dedicated team of hosts and chefs, making The Residence a chic spot for any social or business gathering.
Opening Rates and Reservations
Rates start at AED 1200 per night (approximately $326). Reservations may be made by visiting www.abudhabi.park.hyatt.com, by calling +1 877 875 4658, or by contacting a Hyatt Worldwide Reservations Center or travel specialist.
November 1st, 2011
So maybe you’re more of an Estée than an Ina. That doesn’t mean you can’t create a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast for yourself (don’t worry – no turkeys are involved). We’ve created the perfect holiday menu for the spa-goer. Bon appétit!
Wine
To celebrate
In Argentina, Kaua Club & Spa at Park Hyatt Mendoza’s Wine Antioxident Spa treatment diminishes the effects of an extended afternoon wine tasting. Using grapes to rejuvenate and refresh recipients from head to toe, beginning with a Mendoza’s Wine Body Glow and followed by a facial of choice, aromatherapy massage with wine essence oils, and topped-off with a Grape Body Masque. Restoration is complete!
Passed hors d’oeuvres
Nuts, olives, and caviar
Rehydrate dehydrated skin with Guinot’s Hydra Cellulaire Serum featuring macadamia oil and give skin an extra boost with Guinot’s moisturizing Masque Hydra Beauté with olive wax.
For those indulgent snackers, in Nantucket, The Wauwinet’s Spa by the Sea’s Ultimate Caviar Facial is a 90 minute treatment that hydrates, lifts, firms, and smoothes the skin with protein-rich caviar.
Salad
Cucumber and carrot salad
Banish dark circles and puffiness with Guinot’s Anti-Fatigue Yeux with calming cucumber. To pamper maturing, dry, or stressed skin, spread on a soupcon of ESPA’s Regenerating Face Treatment Oil with carrot extract.
Sides
Cranberry sauce and wild yams
For a radiant complexion, apply Guinot’s Nouvel Eclat fresh radiance exfoliating peel-off mask, rich with cranberry extract, to give your face a “second skin” effect.
ESPA’s Deeply Nourishing Body Cream is the perfect winter moisturizer, deeply moisturizing skin with collagen-strengthening wild yam, along with liquorice, bearberry, and mulberry extracts.
Intermezzo
Ginger, to cleanse the palate
The Lanna Experience at Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa in Thailand uses a species of ginger revered for its ability to cool inflammation, aid digestion, and combat joint and muscle aches during a foot ritual, scrub, body wrap, and massage.
Mains
Instead of wasting perfectly good seasonings on a turkey, use these aromatic herbs on yourself.
ESPA’s 24-Hour Balancing Moisturizer uses white thyme and lavender for a light moisturizing treatment for beautifully soft, clear, hydrated skin.
For an Eastern feast, ESPA’s Men’s Invigorating Body Reviver is bursting with the aromas of lemongrass and thyme – sure to be a hit with the ladies as well.
For a classic English herb, pour a capful of ESPA’s Energizing Bath Oil into your tub and sink back into an energizing rosemary-scented soak. For a double dose of rosemary, slough off dry winter skin with ESPA’s Relaxing Salt Scrub with rosemary and lavender.
Dessert
Pumpkin pie and fruit cake
No vegetable represents autumn quite like a big, orange pumpkin. Sub out the pumpkin pie for a radiant face with ESPA’s Skin Radiance Mask with pumpkin to enliven dull and tired skin.
For a decadent fruity spa treatment, pair Guinot’s Masque Hydra Beauté with its moisturizing fig derivative formula and ESPA’s Pink Hair and Scalp Mud with apricot kernel oil for silky, healthy hair and an immediate moisture boost for soft and supple skin.
Tea and Coffee
Chamomile, Rooibos, and Caffeine
Nothing soothes quite like a warm cup of chamomile tea, so extend that soothing feeling to pacify an irritated or red face with Guinot’s Crème Hydra Sensitive, loaded with calming chamomile.
En lieu of a toasty mug of Rooibos tea, slip on ESPA’s Calm and Soothe Mask, a deeply comforting treatment to help cool and mollify skin prone to redness made with Rooibos tea.
Liven up those limbs with a good dose of caffeine with Guinot’s Double Minceur Ciblée gel cream. The contouring cream helps tone and targets the initial process wherein fat starts to store itself.
October 19th, 2011
EUROPE
La Réserve Paris
Paris, France
La Réserve Paris sits in the heart of the city at Place de Trocadéro, letting visitors live like a Parisian – and a chic one at that. The stylishly furnished apartments provide all guests the comforts of home, with a view only available in Paris – the Eiffel Tower cuts the sky and behind it is a backdrop of the green Champs de Mars, often speckled with picnickers.
RATES: start at 2,590 euros per night (about $3,564) for a minimum stay of 3 nights.
Le Pavillon des Lettres
Paris, France
The penthouse suites at the new Pavillon des Lettres are a dream for bibliophiles. Each of the hotel’s 26 rooms is dedicated to a letter of the alphabet and a corresponding author. The two penthouse suites, Yeats and Zola, have beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais, and Paris rooftops. Gaze out at the lights on the Eiffel Tower while reading Zola’s Nana from the room’s iPad – stocked with novels in several languages – or scan Yeats’ The Wind Among the Reeds that is printed on the wall.
RATES: start at 250 euros per night (about $347).
Victoria-Jungfrau Collection – Palace Luzern
Luzern, Switzerland
Founded in 1906, the Palace Luzern epitomizes the height of Belle Époque elegance. While embracing the style of a true palace hotel, numerous renovations have brought the hotel into the 21st century with a fresh, modern aesthetic. Overlooking Lake Lucerne, it offers a unique combination of Alpine scenery and proximity to the center of Lucerne, which is host to renowned music festivals, world-class museums, and many charming boutiques. Sailing, golf, and skiing are all available nearby.
RATES: start at $308 for a City View Double Room.
ASIA
Uma Paro
Paro, Bhutan
Uma Paro is in the extraordinary Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, sitting atop a tree-lined hill on 38 acres overlooking the town of Paro in the valley below. Situated on the country’s western border, the Paro Valley is one of the main cultural centers of Bhutan. Simply relax and gaze out at the unbelievable view, or join one of Uma Paro’s activities such as hiking or biking to the nearby monasteries or exploring the country through the lens of a camera.
RATES: start at $ 330 through December 31, 2011.
Park Hyatt Shanghai
Shanghai, China
Located in one of the world’s tallest buildings, a bathing experience at the Park Hyatt Shanghai is far from ordinary. Even with the heated floors in the bathroom, you’ll shiver at the thrill as you glance down at the breathtaking city from a window-side deep soaking tub. For the faint of heart, there is always the oversized monsoon rain shower, not a bad trade.
RATES: start at $391 for a Park King room.
Park Hyatt Beijing
Beijing, China
Park Hyatt Beijing illuminates the city skyline as a new landmark. Directly opposite the China World Trade Center and the striking new CCTV Tower, the hotel occupies the uppermost floors in the main tower of the Beijing Yintai Center — the tallest development on prestigious Chang’an Avenue in the heart of the capital’s Central Business District. The interiors of Park Hyatt Beijing have been inspired by classical Suzhou architecture and water gardens, and the hotel incorporates these Oriental aesthetics into a sleek, contemporary design.
RATES: start at $288 for a Park King Room.
Park Hyatt Sydney
Sydney, Australia
The iconic Park Hyatt Sydney will reopen in late 2011 after a seven month makeover and complete redesign. Located in the Rocks district of Sydney’s city center, the hotel has been reimagined by Melbourne-based design firm BARStudio. All rooms are being completely redesigned to enhance the guest experience and highlight the hotel’s harborfront location. Views of Sydney Harbor and the Opera House take on new meaning with a series of floor-to-ceiling windows throughout almost all areas of the property, including in The Dining Room, the hotel’s premier restaurant, completing the large-scale redesign.
RATES: opening rates starting at $871 for a City/Harbour King Room.
Shakti 360˚ Leti
Uttarakhand, India
U.S. Toll-free: 1 877 637 5665
At 8,000 feet in elevation surrounded by soaring peaks of the snowcapped Indian Himalayas, Shakti 360˚ Leti has some of the best views in India. Each of the four en-suite cabins and the central lodge of this high elevation hotel have floor to ceiling windows, which means the views of the peaks and, in spring, the rhododendrons in full bloom, never disappear. Described as “a contender for the world’s most remote luxury resort,” Shakti 360˚ Leti can be visited as an extension from the Shakti Kumaon Village Experience, or as its own destination. Accessible by car or charter flight from Delhi, the fun getting there really begins with the hour-long trek into the hills. But once you’re there, you won’t want to leave… Forget your Blackberry, power down your iPhone, disconnect, and just breathe in the fresh mountain air while listening to the silence that surrounds you.
Season: October 1 – May 1
RATES: 3-night, 4-day package starts at $1,916 per person, double occupancy. Rates include accommodations; all meals and beverages; activities; English speaking guide and porters; a car at your disposal, and all taxes and return transfers between Shakti Kumaon Village Experience and Shakti 360˚ Leti. Flights are not included. Minimum of a 3-night stay required.
MIDDLE EAST
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara
Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
In the heart of the Liwa Desert just ninety minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport is Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, the newly built 206-room resort surrounded entirely by legendary red sand dunes. The Liwa is part of the Rub’-al-Khali, or Empty Quarter, the world’s largest uninterrupted desert. Built right into the sand, the resort is modeled after an ancient Emirati fort that rises out of the desert and evokes the rich culture of the Bedouins, the indigenous tribes people who roamed the desert for centuries. Get away not only from your everyday life, but this century altogether!
The rooms and suites spill off the main lodge like little villages, and all have stunning views of the ocher dunes of the Liwa. Hundreds of museum-caliber artifacts are on display throughout the hotel to provide more feasts for the eye, including the world’s largest collection of camel saddlebags used in desert crossings by the Bedouins throughout Arabia. Offering all the comforts of modern luxury in a superbly unique setting, Qasr Al Sarab is more than just a luxury hotel; it is a window into the history and culture of a nation.
RATES: start at 2,100 AED from October 1-November 30, 2011, and at 1,900 AED from December 1, 2011-January 31, 2012.
October 14th, 2011
United Kingdom
Where: Orient-Express’s British Pullman
What: A murder mystery filled with tricks and treats at every turn!
Why: Halloween can be awfully spooky with ghosts out to play and witchcraft in the air. But when you add murder to the mix, all bets are off! Leave the trick-or-treaters at home for this thrilling and chilling journey aboard the Orient-Express’s day train, the British Pullman. Inspired by Agatha Christie’s famous novel Murder on the Orient Express, the Murder Mystery Lunch will keep you on the edge of your seat. Hop aboard and travel back to 1933 where love and intrigue set the mood. Piece together the clues during an exquisite five-course lunch, accompanied by a glass of champagne and a half-bottle of wine, as you watch the mystery unfold.
(This journey departs November 11, 2011, rates start at $460 per person)
Nantucket
Where: Jared Coffin House and the White Elephant
What: A supernatural encounter
Why: Nantucket is the perfect place to take the family for a Halloween escape! Every year kids can dress up and go trick-or-treating at the shops and stores lining Main Street. Stay at the White Elephant, a family-friendly hotel located just a few blocks from the action. For a super spooky stay on Nantucket, the Jared Coffin House, built in 1845, is said to be haunted by the ghost of the whaling captain after whom the house is named. The ghost of Jared Coffin is rumored to appear in room 223, and guests of room 609 have claimed to see an apparition of a little girl. Other ghosts are also believed to roam the halls and rooms of this historic property, including the ghost of an old man who sometimes sits near fireplaces when a fire is roaring. Come see for yourself if the stories are true!
Paris
Where: La Reserve, Le Pavillon des Lettres, Pavillon de la Reine and Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme
What: A haunting visit to the Catacombs of Paris
Why: For a chilling and historical Halloween experience, work up your courage and climb down into the Catacombs of Paris, where the bones of millions of people rest. Transferred from Parisian cemeteries in the late 18th century, the remains line the walls of the underground labyrinth. Wander through at your own pace for an eerie peek into the past. After your tour, unwind at La Réserve, located in the ultra-chic 16th arrondissment. If you love literature, stay at Le Pavillon des Lettres, the Didier Benderli-designed hotel located just steps from the Champs-Élysées. Its sister hotel, Pavillon de la Reine, is located on the beautiful Places des Vosges in the Marais, Paris’s Jewish quarter. Head over to the quintessential Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme and sip mulled wine at Le Bar. No matter which hotel you choose, this is sure to be a Halloween you’ll never forget!
Guinot and ESPA
Where: at home!
What: A special Halloween face mask
Why: Even if you’re not planning on dressing up for Halloween and knocking on neighbors’ doors, you can still wear a mask! Try Guinot’s NEW Hydra Sensitive Face Mask to soothe and strengthen the skin after a week of munching on candy at every meal! Or, try ESPA’s NEW Skin Radiance Mask, made with pumpkin to enliven dull and tired skin. So, carve a pumpkin to make a spooky jack-o’-lantern for your front door and continue the pumpkin party with this radiant mask!
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Where: Inn on the Alameda
What: Diá de los Muertos and a few ghost sightings
Why: There’s nothing like a dark autumn night, a huge harvest moon, and a few ghouls to get your heart pounding. In Santa Fe, All Hallow’s Eve coincides with a Mexican celebration, Diá de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, when souls return to Earth and are greeted with feasts, music, and dancing. The spirits here are in full gear when Halloween comes around. Take advantage of the Inn on the Alameda’s 26th Birthday rate that begins on October 30 and be on watch for La Llorona, the weeping woman who appears mysteriously, crying for her lost children, according to an old New Mexico legend. Perhaps you’ll bump into Julie Shuster Staab, the former lady of the manor who haunts La Posada, or Geronimo Lopez, who’s still hanging around his 18th century home.
October 13th, 2011
The holidays can be hectic with all that shopping to do and all those family dinners to attend. Give yourself a break this year and plan a festive vacation! Whether it’s a snowy escape, a sunny getaway, or an urban adventure, there’s something for everyone.
SNOW
Where: Palace Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland
What: A Swiss winter wonderland
Why: Taste world-famous Swiss Fondue and admire the breathtaking views of the snow-capped Alps from the windows of the oldest electric cogwheel-train as it climbs Mt. Rigi. Browse more than 45 stalls of holiday gifts and confections at the annual Christmas Market and wander the festively decorated medieval streets as carolers serenade in the distance during a winter escape to Lucerne, Switzerland. The Palace Luzern’s annual New Years Eve party will be the perfect start to 2012, and the hotel’s special New Years Eve package won’t break your budgeting resolutions for the new year!
When: The New Years Eve package starts at $844 (two nights, double occupancy) and is valid only December 30, 2011-January 1, 2012
Where: La Réserve Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
What: An enchanted holiday
Why: Spend the holidays at La Réserve Genève – explore the International Christmas Market, wave hello to Santa Claus at the Annual Electric Christmas Parade, and attend the annual Christmas Tree Festival where international artists display beautifully crafted sculptures and trees. For a special holiday evening, leave the kids with La Réserve Genève’s experienced babysitters, available for children aged 6 months to 13 years.
When: holiday rates start at $500 per night
SUN
Where: GoldenEye Hotel & Resort, Oracabessa, Jamaica
What: Who said the holidays had to be cold?
Why: Nestled on Jamaica’s north coast, GoldenEye Hotel & Resort was once the Jamaican home of author Ian Fleming and the site where he penned all 14 James Bond novels. Holiday festivities include dinner and entertainment on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, a New Years Eve Extravaganza, Festive Afternoon Teas, and Champagne Cocktail Party. Guests can kick off the New Year in good health kindness of the hotel’s fitness and activity program, with offerings such as daily yoga, paddle boarding, and local runs through Oracabessa. Younger visitors can kayak, snorkel, or participate in the hotel’s coral restoration program.
When: Holiday rates start at $1,040 per night from December 15 – January 7
Where: Pacific Coast Holiday, Roundtrip from Los Angeles to the Hawaiian Islands
What: 14 days of culture, fun, and adventure aboard Crystal Symphony
Why: Leave the snow behind and tour the sunny Hawaiian Islands aboard Crystal Symphony. Sign up for private dance lessons, take a helicopter ride over Oahu, or discover the wonder of whale-watching near Maui. Children will love learning to snorkel, kayak, and surf in the beautiful, warm waters.
When: December 21, 2011 – January 4, 2012, two-for-one fares start at $7,050 per person, and include $500 per person all-inclusive “ As You Wish” shipboard credit, plus free, round-trip air and airport transfer from two dozen North American gateway cities (or generous air credit). Restrictions apply.
CITY
Where: Park Hyatt Washington D.C.
What: A patriotic holiday
Why: Plan a Christmas visit to the Park, and start your stay with delicious homemade gingerbread cookies and Eggnog. For those revelers looking for the best place to bring in the New Year, the Park offers New Years guests two tickets to the hotel’s popular New Years Eve celebration in the Lounge. Extend the holiday cheer all winter long with the hotel’s Comfort and Joy package, which includes hot cocoa and fresh baked cookies to enjoy after braving the cold to attend the National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony on the White House grounds or visiting the National Christmas Tree, lit daily during December.
When: Christmas package rates start at $445 for the first night and at $245 for each additional night from December 22-26, 2011; New Year’s Eve package available December 27-January 22, 2012 (contact hotel for rates); and Comfort and Joy package rates start at $299 per night from November 28-February 29, 2012
Where: The Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe, New Mexico
What: 26th anniversary celebration
Why: Escape for a weekend at the Inn on the Alameda in Santa Fe, a city known for its dazzling luminaria displays! The Inn is turning 26 this year, and Santa Fe’s beloved and charming hotel is celebrating by offering a special anniversary rate. Guests who stay at the inn for three consecutive nights between October 30 and December 12 will pay just $26 for the third night! To get in the holiday spirit, travelers can attend a festive Santa Fe Desert Chorale winter concert or check out the shops of the historic Santa Fe Plaza area.
When: Special rates start at $336 from October 30-December 12 (excluding November 23-26 and November 30 -December 5)
Where: Peninsula Spa by ESPA, New York City
What: A rejuvenating ‘spa-cation’
Why: New York City is never more alive than at Christmastime with tree-lit ice skating at Rockefeller Center, enchanting carriage rides in Central Park, and lavish window displays at Saks. For people looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city streets, the Peninsula Spa by ESPA is offering a day-long ‘spa-cation,’ including a 60-minute treatment, a special lunch, and complimentary use of the pool and fitness centre.
When: Spa-cation package is available Monday – Thursday weekly for $285
October 4th, 2011
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the perfect opportunity for getting away while supporting a great cause. Whether paying a visit to the spa or indulging in a weekend away from home, you’ll be making a contribution to the fight against breast cancer.
ESPA
Where: The Peninsula Spa by ESPA, New York, NY
What: During the month of October, The Peninsula Spa by ESPA is offering pink-themed treatments to raise funds for the American Cancer Society as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Pink Power Package combines a soothing massage with an optional personal training session for a day of pampering and fitness. For the ultimate indulgence, the spa is offering the Peninsula Pink Ceremony, a two-hour treatment that includes a rejuvenating body scrub, cleansing facial, and full-body massage. Support a great cause while indulging in a mini spa-cation!
Guinot
Where: Advanced Beauty Care, Burlingame, California
What: Every October, Advanced Beauty Care hosts a fundraiser featuring Guinot products to benefit Mills Peninsula Hospital Foundation – Women’s Center Breast Health Services, a local organization focused on breast health. At the fundraiser, guests discover two essential Guinot skin care products: Guinot Longue Vie Cellulaire and the NEW Guinot Red Logic, both of which have helped clients preserve their skin while undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer.
Nantucket Island Resorts
Where: Nantucket Island Resorts, Nantucket
What: For the month of October, all Nantucket Island Resorts properties are donating $1 from every room night bought to the Marla Ceely Lamb Fund, a local charity that helps Nantucket residents suffering from cancer defray the costs of transportation and lodging for patients who must travel off-island for cancer treatment. In addition, guests booking a stay during the weekend of October 14-16 will have the opportunity to participate on the Nantucket Island Resorts-sponsored team during Nantucket’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, October 16, 2011. Nantucket Island Resorts has committed to a $1,000 donation for the Breast Cancer Walk. Those who join the team will receive a complimentary team tee-shirt. The White Elephant is also participating by offering a special pink White Elephant tee-shirt in their gift shop and a Think Pink cocktail at Brant Point Grill. At The Wauwinet, TOPPER’S restaurant is offering pink cocktails and cupcakes.
Park Hyatt
Where: Park Hyatt Toronto
What: During the month of October, spend the night in Park Hyatt Toronto’s Pink Room – a perfectly pink suite designed by Sarah Richardson – and the hotel will donate ten percent of the room rate to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Toronto natives and other guests can also participate by giving their nails a pink treat at the Stillwater Spa. The spa will also donate ten percent of all pink-hued manicures and pedicures to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
September 26th, 2011
After a seven-month closure to transform its interiors, to pare its exteriors back to its barest bones, and to undergo a hotel redesign nearly from scratch, the landmark Park Hyatt Sydney will reopen in late 2011 after the largest and most comprehensive renovation in the hotel’s 21-year history. Located in the Rocks district of Sydney’s city center, the storied waterfront where Australia was first settled, the hotel will be reimagined by Melbourne-based design firm BARStudio with new rooftop suites, fully upgraded guest rooms, and fully remodeled public spaces. Elements of Sydney’s historic and contemporary landscape will be woven throughout and will include the use of regional building materials and local artwork. Views of iconic Sydney Harbor and the Opera House take on new meaning with a series of new floor-to-ceiling windows throughout almost all areas of the property, completing the large-scale redesign.
Preservation and Materials
The original 1990 foundation, located on the Rocks’ original slipway, site of the Sydney Water Police Headquarters from 1885-1986, is being rebuilt of traditional Sydney sandstone, historically used as a canvas for aboriginal rock carvings and as a building material by local architects dating from 1788. The boardwalk surrounding the hotel’s entrance is being reconstructed using Spotted Gum, a timber native to a number of regions in Australia. In addition to using locally-sourced building materials, measures designed to lessen the impact of the hotel’s environmental footprint include energy-efficient lighting and water-saving devices.
New Rooms and Rooftop Suites
All guest rooms are being completely redesigned to enhance the guest experience and highlight the hotel’s harborfront location. An additional floor is being constructed to accommodate three new rooftop suites, each to feature expansive balconies and appropriately luxe amenities. The Sydney Suite, Park Hyatt Sydney’s new presidential suite, will feature an outdoor dining table on a 1,000 square-foot balcony as well as kitchen prep and cooking space for a personal chef for savoring Sydney’s finest ingredients en plein air. All suites will have floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto a private balcony overlooking Sydney Harbor, and formerly four-paneled floor-to-ceiling windows will be replaced with two larger panes to make for clearer views of the city outside. In addition to new design elements, notable service enhancements will include twice the former number of hotel butlers to assist all hotel guests and new restaurant-style, hand-carried in-room dining instead of the traditional roll cart.
Art and Design
Park Hyatt Sydney has selected a small group of renowned Australian artists to create sculptures, paintings, and photographs inspired by The Rocks and Harbor to connect public spaces and guest rooms to Sydney’s past and present. Commissioned artists include painter Tim Johnson, sculptors Bruce Armstrong and Robert Bridgewater, and photographer Robert Billington. Johnson’s paintings depict the ‘old’ Rocks area and ‘new’ Harbor Bridge, while Armstrong’s figurative sculpture made of native Australian Red Gum depicts two faces of The Rocks’ historical settlers. Additional art objects in guest rooms include custom-designed handmade porcelain pieces sourced from a local potter.
Restaurants and Bars
In addition to private dining options, guests will be able to enjoy locally-sourced and bio-dynamic cuisine in The Dining Room, the hotel’s premier restaurant. Its entire façade is being reconstructed to perfect the Opera House view from all possible angles through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. In addition to dining room enhancements, bar goers will be able to glimpse these same views from any barstool perch at The Bar or the all-day casual dining venue, The Living Room.
August 29th, 2011
While officially launching January, 2012, this September the Park Hyatt hotel brand begins the transformation of its acclaimed Masters of Food & Wine event into the new Park Hyatt ‘masters’, a global series of seasonally- and locally-inspired culinary weekend workshops that will take place four times per year at the change of the seasons. Through engaging and interactive programming, both resident and visiting gourmands and oenophiles can become ‘masters’ of regional cuisine. The new Park Hyatt ‘masters’ will preview its fresh philosophy and lighter programming across 19 Park Hyatt hotels internationally during the weekend of September 23, 2011. The official launch of Park Hyatt masters in January 2012, and all future quarterly Park Hyatt masters programs, will take place on the same date at all Park Hyatt hotels worldwide.
Led by Park Hyatt chefs and sommeliers, masters-in-training will learn about top-notch, seasonal cuisine in three hands-on ‘courses’ on the designated day:
In the Field: Interaction with artisanal food or beverage purveyors
In the Kitchen: Onsite cooking and prep workshops
In the Moment: Tips on service and presentation
“Our guests actively request one-of-a-kind, culturally rich experiences that have a take-home element, particularly in food and beverage,” says Achim Lenders, vice president of food and beverage, international, for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. “It is a natural evolution to transform our Park Hyatt Masters event into something more simple and interactive; pairing guests with local chefs and vintners to become masters themselves, and letting guests see the destination through local eyes.”
Individual hotel itineraries showcasing regional produce and producers during the September preview include:
- Park Hyatt Zurich will host a Swiss grape harvest, a workshop on Switzerland’s female winemakers, and a boat trip across Lake Zurich to a winery for a bottling lesson and picnic.
- Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Southern California will start the day with a farmer’s breakfast, then a visit Carlsbad Aquafarm where participants will meet the resort’s seafood purveyor, followed by a local wine and cheese tasting.
- Park Hyatt Mendoza will host an interactive cooking class with special recipes created for it based on a signature olive oil produced in a nearby grove exclusively for the hotel’s restaurant.
- Park Hyatt Maldives will take guests by boat to a nearby island to meet a local grower and after selecting ingredients, they will head back to the resort, first stopping to fish for their dinner in the waters surrounding Hadahaa Island. The day concludes with a chef-led cooking class on traditional Maldivian cuisine using the fresh ingredients collected that day.
The quarterly Park Hyatt masters events will take place around the turn of each season on the weekends of January 13-15, March 23-25, June 24-26 and September 21-23, 2012. All classes will be limited in size to ensure maximum interaction for each master-to-be, which, depending on the property, will be between eight and 25 guests. Participating guests will be provided with recipes and/or tasting notes associated with their experience, and photos and videos of Park Hyatt masters demonstrations will be shared with the Park Hyatt masters community on the brand’s Facebook page – facebook.com/parkhyatt.
Participating Park Hyatt hotels for the preview of Park Hyatt masters in September (as of August 2011) include:
In North America – Aviara (Carlsbad, Calif.), Beaver Creek, Chicago, Toronto, Washington
In South America – Mendoza, Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
In Europe – Hamburg, Paris, Istanbul, Zurich
In Southwest Asia – Goa, Maldives
In the Middle East – Jeddah, Dubai
In Asia – Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Saigon
Workshop itineraries and pricing will vary from place to place and will be available to reserve directly through each hotel’s concierge. Beginning August 1, more details about the global program, the calendar of events, pricing and additions to participating properties will be available at www.mastersfoodandwine.com.
July 27th, 2011
The “French Paradox” diet may still be a mystery, but guests of Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme now have unfettered access to two Parisienne beauty secrets. At the hotel’s exclusive new hair salon, Suite 101, celebrity stylist John Nollet offers expertise gleaned from working with such clients as Marion Cotillard, Diane Kruger, Uma Thurman, and Johnny Depp. For below the neck pampering, the hotel’s Le Spa has partnered with Martine de Richeville, director of Centre Svelt’coaching Massage in Paris, to offer Martine’s unique anti-cellulite massage treatments for a derrière par excellence.
John Nollet, Suite 101
Fresh off of his “Hair Room Service Around the World” traveling salon tour partnership with Louis Vuitton, John Nollet has just unpacked his bespoke Vuitton luggage and taken up permanent residency at Suite 101. The salon, designed in partnership with the Le Coadic-Scotto architectural group, features five separate booths and a private terrace where guests can have their hair styled en plein air.
Suite 101 stylists offer a menu of coiffing options named for some of history’s boldest female pioneers, such as the aviatrix Amelia Earhart and explorer/writer Alexandra David Neel. Better than a replica of the stylish pilot’s signature crop cut, the Amelia Earhart is a trans-atlantically chic combination of balayage highlights, shampoo, massage, hair treatment, cut and style. Alexandra David Neel’s namesake style may not give locks superhuman powers to traverse China and Tibet by foot, but the balayage highlights, scalp massage, and style may have been just what Alexandra’s strands needed at the end of such a journey. Two signature services are offered by Mr. Nollet himself, who spends upwards of two hours on a cut to ensure its perfection: the deceptively simple sounding ‘cut’ and ‘cut and color’ for ladies looking for a style that is le meilleur de meilleur. Visits with a salon stylist begin at 120 Euro for a shampoo and blowdry, and an appointment with Monsieur Nollet begins at 700 Euro for a cut, 1000 Euro for a cut and color.
Martine Richeville, Svelt’coaching at Le Spa
Great hair can make just about any outfit, but perfecting a birthday suit may take an extra dose of elbow grease. Martine Richeville’s signature Remodelage treatment, a detoxifying recharge to the lymphatic system that boosts circulation and minimizes the appearance of perennially unfashionable cellulite, should do just the trick. A vigorous massage is applied to the entire body using a technique that both calms and energizes the mind and body, expertly zapping cellulite manually, the French way. Women’s and men’s Remodelage treatments are currently offered at Le Spa –both are 50 minutes and 180 Euro.
Faut souffrir pour être belle? Not at Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme.
July 7th, 2011
Why settle for less than the best when you don’t have to? Travel + Leisure makes finding the very best in travel a whole lot easier with their annual World’s Best Awards list. This year, 13 of our favorite hotels and resorts, not to mention our best-loved cruise line and spa brand, all made the list. Some properties even walked away with awards in multiple categories! Now that is something to celebrate!
Anantara Golden Triangle
#15, Top Resorts in Asia
#4, Top Family Hotels in Asia
#5, Top Hotel Spas in Asia
Crystal Cruises
#1, Top Large-Ship Cruise Lines
The Peninsula’s ESPA Spa
#9, Top Hotel Spas in US and Canada
Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
#1, Top City Hotels in Central and South America
#19, Top 100 Hotels Overall
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
#41, Top Family Hotels in U.S. and Canada
Park Hyatt Chicago
#45, Top Large Cities Hotel in US/Canada (100 rooms or more)
Park Hyatt Milan
#52, Top 100 Hotels Overall
#4, Top Large City Hotels in Europe
Park Hyatt Melbourne
#2, Top City Hotels in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific
Park Hyatt Mendoza
#4, Top City Hotels in Central and South America
Park Hyatt Saigon
#10, Top City Hotels in Asia
Park Hyatt Sydney
#4, Top City Hotels in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific
Parrot Cay
#25, Top Resorts in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas
The Wauwinet
#7, Top Inns in US/Canada (fewer than 40 rooms)
Uma Paro
#12, Top Resorts in Asia
White Elephant
#19, Top Family Hotels in U.S. and Canada
Congrats to all of the winners!