November 18th, 2010
On November 10th the little sister to Parisian favorite, Pavillon de la Reine, opened its doors to guests. A classic Haussman townhouse in the 8th arrondissement, the boutique hotel, Le Pavillon des Lettres, features 26 rooms – each devoted to a letter of the alphabet and an international writer corresponding to that letter. Shakespeare, Baudelaire and Rousseau are among the authors whose quotes are elegantly scrawled on the walls en Français. For English translations, boot up the room’s dedicated iPad, which is stocked with international bestsellers and daily newspapers, as well as jazz and classical music. A treat awaits bookworms that prefer the feel of paper betwixt their fingers, with the hotel’s cozy library (complete with an Honesty Bar) that is stocked with the works of all 26 featured authors, and more.
Just in time for the holiday season, the hotel’s opening rates start at €300 through February 28, 2011[1] and include breakfast, complimentary Champagne from 6 -8pm, and a special gift of a caddy of the “2000 ans d’écriture” tea from the exclusive French tea house, Le Thé des Écrivains. It is a green tea, flavored with cinnamon and honey, accompanied by cardamom pods and cinnamon sticks[2].
And if Paris’ quintessential charm isn’t enough, here are some reasons to visit now (as if one ever needs a reason to visit Paris…)
- The Marché du Noel is set up along Champs Elysée from November 19-December 28
- Swan Lake is playing at the Opéra-Bastille from November 29- January 5
- Antiquity Rediscovered is the new exhibit at the Louvre from December 3-February 14
- The state-regulated winter “soldes” are from January 12-February 15
- Madame Butterfly is playing at the Opéra-Bastille from January 16-February 14
Click here to place a reservation, or dial +33 (0)1 49 24 26 26 to reach the hotel directly.
For further information, or to request high res images, please contact Sarah Winters or Lauren Wintemberg at Alice Marshall Public Relations on 212.861.4031 or sarah@alicemarshall.com | lauren@alicemarshall.com
[1] Blackout dates apply: December 29
th – January 2
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[2] Recommended preparation of “2000 ans d’écriture” tea: Sprinkle a pinch of tea; add a few grains of cardamom to enhance and some cinnamon bark for color’s sake. Let it boil for a few minutes and add sugar. Seep through and serve.
November 15th, 2010
Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa has exciting changes in the air! Formerly Anantara Koh Samui, the new name isn’t the only thing new going on. In January, the resort will have 20 additional executive suites and villas available for guests seeking a little R&R along the Gulf of Thailand.
The new suites will be spread among a new three-story villa with panoramic views not too far from the five new, intimate Pool Villas and new one- and two-bedroom Beach Villas. Decisions, decisions!
November 4th, 2010
Hotel Parq Central is new to Albuquerque’s EDo neighborhood, and what better way to get to know the neighbors than with a special pre-Grand Opening promotion that’s bound to have all vying to meet the new kid on the block.
From now until November 19, all New Mexico residents (must present a NM ID) are eligible for exclusive rates starting at $139. Plan a quick weekend getaway to check out the very newest and coolest hotel in the city and the property’s distinct setting in on the historic Santa Fe Hospital site. The building is registered on the National Register of Historic Places, and designers worked to blend the original grand staircase and 1920s windowpanes with modern elements for perfect blend of contemporary comfort and historic elegance.
The rooftop Apothecary Lounge features a mouthwatering small plate menu paired with exceptional wine and 1920’s themed cocktails and has sweeping city views. Prohibition-era liquor prescriptions are on display as a fun decoupage embellishment and an old coffin carrier serves as a cocktail table as a clever nod to the past.
To book your weekend getaway, call 505 242 0040 for details and reservations.
October 22nd, 2010
Image from: egmcartech.com
Race enthusiasts and coaster junkies alike can rev their engines and start the countdown to the new Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opening next week on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates.
The two-million-square-foot indoor park will be home to the fastest roller coaster in the world (with speeds up to 149 miles per hour) and a water ride with a Ferrari 599 V12 engine. VROOM!
In fitting with the auto theme, the park is also located next to the Yas Marina Circuit racetrack, which his home to the annual Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November.
Spend the night at Desert Island Resort &Spa by Anantara on the Sir Bani Yas Island. The resort is set in the middle of a wildlife reserve and is home to thousands of animals and birds. It’s an ideal spot to unwind after an adrenaline-infused day.
For those looking to add another adventure to their Abu Dhabi trip, check out Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in the Liwa Desert for an out-of-city experience. Set ninety minutes outside Abu Dhabi International Airport in the middle of the expansive desert known as the Empty Quarter, guests can explore the legendary ochre sand dunes by camel or on foot.
September 23rd, 2010
In remote and barely accessible regions of Thailand, Laos, Burma, and China, indigenous peoples have been living without the influence of microwavable dinners, iPods, and cell phones for millennia, instead perpetuating a simpler way of life with traditions and ancient practices rooted in their cultures for thousands of years. With the tick of the clock, these tribes are slowly disappearing and their rich oral histories and veritable life knowledge is slipping by the wayside. (more…)
September 8th, 2010
Hotel Parq Central in Albuquerque is now taking reservations for accommodations starting September 30. The opening is just in time for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and provides a perfect fall getaway experience. The Apothecary Rooftop Lounge is the very best spot in town to see the balloons during the dramatic morning ascensions.
Hotel Parq Central is nestled in an historic neighborhood at the gateway to downtown Albuquerque. The building was constructed in 1926 and is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. It is truly a special spot and not to be missed on upcoming visits!
Regular balloons didn’t seem grand enough for this opening, so we called in the big guns. Hundreds of hot air balloons (over 600) will dot the sky the week of October 2 – 9 for the largest balloon festival in the world. It is also the most photographed event in the world!
Don’t forget your camera!
August 12th, 2010
AMPR ticker tape…AMPR ticker tape…AMPR ticker tape…AMPR ticker tape… AMPR ticker tape…
Hot off the press…
AUGUST 2010
Here is our monthly news in tweetable form.
New and Notable
Hotel Parq Central
- Up up and away for #BalloonFestival! #HotelParqCentral opens on 9/23/10. Rates starting at $179/night including breakfast and other treats.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas
- #AnantaraBophut in Koh Samui, #Thailand will be getting an upgrade! And we have the pics (http://bit.ly/cSwDte) to prove it!
(more…)
June 14th, 2010
This summer, David Thompson, following the success of nahm at The Halkin in London, will be opening a second edition of the restaurant at the Metropolitan hotel in Bangkok – a return to the city that inspired his culinary path. Following a soft opening in mid July, the restaurant will officially open by the end of the month. Launched in 2001, nahm was the first Thai restaurant in Europe to be awarded a Michelin star. With the move, Thompson and nahm up the ante for diners, using local ingredients and letting the infamous Thai markets guide the menus. Key dishes will include a jungle curry with snake-headed local fish known as pla chorn indigenous to the clear waters of rice paddies. The restaurant will also be open for lunch and, for a fun take on a popular Bangkok tradition, will feature “street food” dishes. (Speaking of which, don’t miss the September release of Thompson’s second cookbook, Thai Street Food.)
Ma hor Crushed prawn curry with turmeric and coconut
The restaurant will occupy the former Cy’an and will be designed by Japanese interior architect Koichiro Ikebuchi, who also designed Uma Ubud in Bali and Aoki, a heralded Japanese restaurant in Singapore. It will feature natural wood, including screens for privacy, and warm oranges and browns with shimmering bronze plates on tables. The space will be steeped in natural daylight and, in the evening, enriched by the soft lighting of the nearby outdoor pool. Other features include a private dining room and terrace dining.
David Thompson is universally acknowledged as a leading authority on Thai food. Originally from Australia, he first travelled to Thailand in 1986 and moved to Bangkok a year later. When he returned to Sydney in 1991, he opened his iconic Darley Street Thai restaurant, and, in 1995, he followed with Sailor’s Thai, which continues today.
May 24th, 2010
Every road tripper dreams of a drive along historic Route 66. This iconic American stretch of road inspired the eponymous tune sung by everyone from Nat King Cole to the Stones to John Mayer. In its heyday, this was the major roadway that beckoned travelers to the west and sunny California. Since replaced with generic interstate highways, one can still cruise down stretches of road marked “Historic Route 66” or discover the bits that have turned into local roads. The movement to preserve the gas stations and motels and other Americana lining the original route takes motorists back in time.
Planning to go get your kicks on Route 66? If so, the new Hotel Parq Central in Albuquerque – opening in October – will be right en route. Located on a stretch of Route 66 passing through New Mexico, this historic building would have been part of the scenery for westbound travelers. In Santa Fe, the Inn on the Alameda sits just off the iconic roadway and its prime location lets drivers leave the car in the parking lot and stretch their legs strolling along Route 66 to nearby restaurants and galleries.
March 30th, 2010
Fashion Week may have said goodbye to Bryant Park for good, but its new neighbor, Andaz 5th Avenue, has some new threads to show off. The hotel, sister property to Andaz Wall Street (which opened in January), has been draped from head to toe in red banners this week.
The zing-y display, which passerby are checking out on 5th Avenue and 41st Street, gives answers to the following question asked of New Yorkers: What is your favorite, uniquely NYC moment? Thoughts range from the cultured (“eating sushi on the steps of the New York Public Library”) to the unfettered (“fire hydrant sprinklers”).
Andaz 5th Avenue hopes to become the newest setting for these metropolitan moments. Designed by Tony Chi of tonychi and associates, the striking design of Andaz 5th Avenue includes elements like steel factory windows – jaw-droppingly tall – that will set off views across Manhattan and, for quieter moments, a garden retreat in the center of the hotel. Each of the 184 guestrooms will be full of natural light, plenty of space, and touches of whimsy such as clear hanging racks on an open-faced closet, a reference to the display racks in the nearby Fashion District, and cloisonné foot baths to fill after a day of city walking.
Meaning ‘personal style’ in Hindi, the Andaz philosophy is one of symbiosis with the neighborhood. Produce is locally sourced and the check-in and service is simplified, without the middlemen of doorman, bellhop, and concierge at the desk – just one “host” for each incoming guest.
It seems Spring may have finally sprung in New York, and it’s blooming brightest on 5th Avenue and 41st Street.