spas Archives – CULTURE MIX

Grove Resort and Spa Orlando launches first phase of opening

March 13, 2017

(Rendering courtesy of The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando)

The following is an excerpt from a Grove Resort & Spa Orlando press release:

The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando (located at 14501 Grove Resort Avenue in Orlando, Florida) opened its first phase on March 10, 2017, as an expansive, 106-acre destination hotel just minutes from Walt Disney World. Set on Lake Austin, amid a portion of Central Florida’s conservation grounds, The Grove launched with 184 of its 878 residential-style suites that help simplify family and group travel. Spacious accommodations that span up to nearly 1,600 square feet are matched with a standout amenity package that will roll out in stages. Opening with three swimming pools, a spa, fitness center, two bars and lounges, a large-scale grab-and-go, a lakefront pier with watersports, and a children’s game room, The Grove will grow to also include a variety of other dining options and an on-site water park with a dual rider surf simulator, winding lazy river, and multiple water slides.

Myriad activities and residential style accommodations establish The Grove as a destination of its own, building on the benefits of the resort’s prime location near many of the city’s top attractions. Generously sized one, two, and three bedroom suites—each dressed in hues and materials that draw inspiration from The Grove’s natural surroundings—provide all the comforts of home with oversized floorplans that range between 1,264 square feet (117 square meters) and 1,544 square feet (143 square meters). Each features a living and dining area, full kitchen, up to three bathrooms, a screened balcony, and a full-size washer and dryer.

The Grove unveiled the first portion of its amenity package on opening day. Guests arriving through the spring season will be the first to enjoy the resort’s full-service Escape Spa and fitness center; three swimming pools with ample space for both play and relaxation; watersports, paddleboats, and fishing at Lake Austin Pier; traditional cocktail favorites and signature citrus-inspired creations at Zest lobby bar; an elegant, modern atmosphere, live entertainment, and a libation menu featuring craft cocktails and craft beer at Element lounge; and a selection of hot and cold self-serve food, gelato and ice cream, a barista bar, a deli with fresh-cut Boar’s Head meats and made-to-order sandwiches, as well as grocery-style items ideal for stocking the in-room kitchen, at Alfresco Market.

Association, incentive, and corporate meetings, as well as social events, will find a home at The Grove Resort & Spa. With 6,000 square feet of flexible indoor space, and poolside, lawn, and garden alfresco venues for intimate meetings or large groups, the resort accommodates up to 250 people with on-site catering and audiovisual support available.

The resort’s 221-seat, indoor/outdoor restaurant, Valencia, will arrive in late spring. There, guests will dine on Spanish, Italian, and Mediterranean-inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The poolside Springs Bar & Grill, serving traditional bites such as hamburgers, chicken wings, and stone brick oven pizzas—all made with fresh, in-season, and locally grown ingredients—will open at the same time.

In fall 2017, the on-site Surfari Water Park will take center stage for families with its interactive water structure, multiple slides, more than 725 feet of lazy river, and a dual rider surf simulator. Also on deck: an indoor entertainment area and Longboard Bar & Grill, an additional poolside eatery located at Surfari Water Park. Additional guest suites are expected to open in late 2017.

The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando is owned by a joint venture between certain affiliates of Westport Capital Partners and BTI Partners, with BTI Partners as the development partner. Houston, Texas-based BENCHMARK, a global hospitality company, manages the property as part of its signature Benchmark Resorts & Hotels portfolio.

Forbes Travel Guide 2017: Four Seasons sets five-star record; Macau wins big

February 22, 2017

(Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler)

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts set a record with the 2017 edition of the Forbes Travel Guide. Worldwide, a total of 30 Four Seasons hotels and resorts earned the guide’s coveted Five-Star designation in 2017, setting the record for the highest number of Five-Star awards given to a single brand in the history of the Forbes Travel Guide ratings. The Forbes Travel Guide, which started as the Mobil Travel Guide, has been published since 1958.

Meanwhile, China’s Macau region was rated one of the leading Five-Star destinations in the Forbes Travel Guide. Other highly rated regions include Hong Kong, New York, London, California and Paris.

The Forbes Travel Guide has a team of expert inspectors who anonymously evaluate properties against up to 800 rigorous and objective standards, providing consumers the insight to make better-informed travel and leisure decisions, according to Forbes.

Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Rating system is ranked in the following categories:

Five Star Properties: These are outstanding, often iconic properties with virtually flawless service and amazing facilities.

Four Star Properties: These are exceptional properties, offering high levels of service and quality of facility to match.

Recommended Properties: These are excellent properties with consistently good service and facilities.

Soon-To-Be-Rated Properties: As our highly trained, incognito inspectors work to assess properties, our editors check them out ahead of time and provide a sneak preview of what to expect.

Here are some fact highlights from a Forbes press release:

Among the total 1,464 winners, there are 175 Five-Star, 478 Four-Star and 237 Recommended hotels.
Overall, 62 Five-Star, 176 Four-Star and 73 Recommended restaurants earned distinctions.
In the spas category, a total of 56 Five-Star and 207 Four-Star spots achieved awards.

Standout Newcomers

Among the new destinations, the small island of Bali emerged as a big luxury winner. The new luxury hot spot snagged Five-Star distinctions for three hotels (Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, The Villas at Ayana). It also tallied an impressive 10 Four-Star hotels and three Recommended properties. Five Four-Star spas also debuted.
Puerto Rico added had three properties that debuted on the Five-Star list, with The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort; Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve; and Spa Botánico, a five-acre oasis within Dorado Beach.
In Australia, Crown Towers Melbourne and The Darling in Sydney picked up their respective city’s first Five-Star hotel distinction. In addition, Melbourne added a Four-Star (Park Hyatt Melbourne) and two Recommended properties (Grand Hyatt Melbourne; The Langham, Melbourne). Sydney racked up two Four-Star (The Langham, Sydney; Park Hyatt Sydney) and a pair of Recommended hotels (InterContinental Sydney Double Bay; Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney). Each city also gained a Four-Star spa (Crown Spa Melbourne, Sydney’s The Darling Spa).
Numerous European destinations debuted with their first Five-Star properties: Budapest (Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest), Barcelona (Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona), the French Riviera (Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel) and Venice (Belmond Hotel Cipriani).

Other Leading Brands

An elite group of 11 properties earned Five-Star awards for their hotel, restaurant and spa. These triple Five-Star winners include: Banyan Tree Macau; The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs; The Cloister in Sea Island, Georgia; Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego; The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas; Mandarin Oriental, Macau; Mandarin Oriental, Miami; Montage Laguna Beach; Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island; and Wynn Las Vegas.
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and Wynn Macau set a new record, achieving a total of six Five-Star awards for the hotel, spa and four restaurants.
Crown Towers Macau won a total of five Five-Star awards for the hotel, spa and three restaurants.
Altira Macau and Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong received a total of four Five-Star awards for the hotel, spa and two restaurants.

Where the Highest-Rated Hotels Are

In the United States, the greatest number of Five-Star hotels are in: California (18), New York (9), Florida (8), Massachusetts (6) and Nevada (5). California gained two new Five-Star hotels this year: Napa’s Solage, An Auberge Resort and San Diego’s Fairmont Grand Del Mar.
U.S. cities with the highest number of Five-Star hotels include: New York (8), Beverly Hills (5), Las Vegas (5) and Miami (5).
Globally, cities with the most Five-Star hotels include: Macau (10), Paris (10), London (9) and Hong Kong (8). Macau and Paris remain neck and neck with one new winner each in 2017.

Where the Highest-Rated Restaurants Are

In the United States, the greatest number of Five-Star restaurants reside in: New York (7), California (6) and Nevada (6).
Cities in the United States with the most Five-Star restaurants include: New York (7), Las Vegas (6) and Chicago (3).
Las Vegas’ fine-dining scene is seeing an uptick with three new Five-Star restaurants: Le Cirque Las Vegas and Picasso, both in Bellagio, and Wing Lei in Wynn Las Vegas.
Globally, cities with the highest number of Five-Star restaurants include: Macau (11) and Hong Kong (8).

Where the Highest-Rated Spas Are

In the United States, the greatest number of Five-Star spas are located in: California (8), Florida (5) and Nevada (5). California’s two new Five-Star spa additions are Meadowood Spa in Napa and The Spa at Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles.
The brand-new and sumptuous Meadowood Spa brings Napa Valley its first Five-Star spa.
Globally, cities with the most Five-Star spas include: Macau (7), Hong Kong (5) and Shanghai (4).
Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Mayakoba is the first and only Five-Star spa in Mexico.

To celebrate this year’s award, Star-Rated winners are invited to the Forbes Travel Guide All-Star Celebration in New York City on March 2, 2017. Attendees will enjoy selections of dishes prepared by award-winning chefs and legends of the international culinary world, including: Jose Garces, Amada; Christian Pratsch, Asiate; Daniel Boulud, Daniel; Mario Batali and Joe and Lidia Bastianich, Del Posto; Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean-Georges; Geoffrey Zakarian, The Lambs Club; and Michael White, Vaucluse.

Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort Golf Club & Spa becomes JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort

January 25, 2017

Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort Golf Club & Spa in Florida has re-opened under the name JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, following a $320 million renovation facilitated by ownership group Mass Mutual.

JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort includes Spa by JW, the JW Marriott brand’s exclusive global spa concept, created to demystify and reimagine the spa experience with treatments based on four core benefit states: calm, indulge, renew and invigorate. Guests can customize their spa experience, choosing from a variety of menu options from full-service treatments to express spa services that start at a 12-minute entry point and are bookable without an appointment. Additional spa programming includes daily beach yoga and weekly spa events.

The South Florida hotel also has a 94-room, adult-exclusive tower (scheduled to open in the fall of 2017), offering a rooftop pool, restaurant and a 12,000-square-foot indoor entertainment center. Designed by Florida-based design and architecture firm Edge of Architecture Inc., the new tower will have views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Once completed, the resort will have a total of 100,000 square feet of event space—equipped with the latest technology—and 810 guest rooms and suites.

In 2015, the resort began phase one of a three-phase makeover and brand conversion project, including expanded pool decks, a refurbished lobby, a new porte-cochere and grand front entrance. The second phase, which concluded on December 31, 2016, welcomed a complete transformation of guest rooms and resort culinary offerings, including the addition of two new signature restaurants—Ario and Maia—as well as an all-new beachfront tiki bar called Kane.

Cachet Beach Hotel & Beach Club opens in Cabo San Lucas

January 12, 2017

Cachet Beach Hotel & Beach Club (formerly known as Cabo Villas Beach Resort and Spa) has opened at Callejon Del Pescador S/N, El Medano, 23450 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The opening represents the first phase of Cachet Corazon, CHG’s first dual-branded resort destination; the second phase, Cachet Deluxe Los Cabos, is set for completion in 2018.

Here are more details from a press release about the resort:

Cachet Beach Hotel & Beach Club has 77 re-imagined rooms; a Beach Club; Aleta Seafood Grill, Bar and Sun Deck; three chill wet areas and rejuvenating spa experiences at Spa Ritual.

In tandem with Rabago Artiquitectors & Consultores, Cachet Interior Design (CID) revamped the accommodations with decor that is an eclectic but harmonious interweaving of Mexican art, local patterns and vibrant hues. Cachet Beach’s amenities include in-room yoga mats, flip-flops, towels and beach bags are just some of the features that will help guests fully enjoy their time outdoors. Rooms will also include blue-tooth speakers; RoomNetTVs that allow guests to stream their own media; and ASSA ABLOY wristband door keys for people who don’t want to worry about losing their keycard.

The property is situated right on famed Medano Beach and near the Sea of Cortez and within walking distance to downtown restaurants, popular clubs, an upscale shopping mall, and a picturesque marina.

The resort’s signature restaurant Aleta includes a fresh seafood bar offering local catches, a taco station, and mixologist-crafted cocktails using locally-sourced ingredients. The hotel also retains the Baja Brewing Company, the first and only microbrewery in all of Baja. Perched atop an epic rooftop patio, BBC delivers panoramic views to accompany its wide array of craft beers and delicious selection of both sophisticated entrees and comforting pub favorites.

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa opens $7.1 million waterpark

January 11, 2017

(Photo courtesy of Hyatt Regency Coconut Waterpark)

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida, has opened a $7.1 million waterpark. The new attraction has three waterslides that are each three stories tall, with two speed slides and one inner-tube slide in a 1,095-foot heated lazy river. The new waterpark adds one acre to the hotel’s previously existing two-acre pool area. The waterpark will serve as a multi-functional recreation area, while bringing new culinary offerings with both a food truck and the newly renovated Corkscrew Pool Bar.

Curio Collection by Hilton adds Miramonte Indian Wells, The Darcy and The Renwick

December 20, 2016

Three hotels have joined the Curio Collection by Hilton brand: Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California; The Darcy in Washington, D.C. ; and The Renwick in New York City.

Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa, Curio Collection by Hilton and The Renwick Hotel New York City, Curio Collection by Hilton are now open, while The Darcy, Curio Collection by Hilton, is expected to open in mid-2017.

Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa (which opened 1960 as the Erawan Garden) is located at 45000 Indian Wells Lane in Indian Wells, California, at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The 11-acre property, which is undergoing renovations, has 215 guest rooms, villas and suites. The resort has 35,000 square feet of event and meeting space, as well as numerous outdoor garden that can accommodate as many as 500 guests. There is also a 12,000-square-foot Well Spa that has 13 treatment rooms, seasonal offerings and a courtyard with two private salt water pools. There are also staff-led yoga classes and wellness walks. The property is owned by Rockpoint Group and managed by Two Roads Hospitality.

Dining options at the resort include the Grove Artisan Kitchen (which specializes in fresh, seasonal California cuisine) and the Vineyard Lounge, which serves crafted cocktails and light meals. The resort has three pools, including the Miramonte Pool, (which has chaise lounges, umbrellas and food and beverages all day) and the Piedmont Pool that includes access to a heated whirlpool, sun decks and food and beverage service.

The Renwick Hotel New York City, Curio Collection by Hilton is located at 118 East 40th Street in New York. The property is owned by a joint venture between Meadow Partners and hotel Asset Value Enhancement and managed by StepStone Hospitality. To celebrate The Renwick Hotel New York City’s addition to the Curio Collection, Hilton HHonors members can earn 1,000 points per night on eligible stays from January 1, 2017 through March 31, 2017. Housed in an iconic 1920s brick building, The Renwick Hotel New York City has 173 guest rooms and suites. The hotel’s signature eatery is Bedford and Co., the first solo restaurant from award-winning Chef John DeLucie that serves contemporary American cuisine and a rotating menu of Prohibition era-style artisan cocktails.

Meanwhile, the 226-room Darcy hotel is located at 1515 Rhode Island Avenue NW, in Washington, D.C., just off Scott Circle. The hotel’s Siren restaurant will feature locally sourced ingredients paired with seafood from a menu created by chefs Robert Wiedmaier and Brian McBride. The Darcy will also have Lil’ B, an intimate New Orleans-style coffee shop and eatery, led by chef David Guas. Additional amenities will include a fitness center, business services, room service, valet parking, concierge services and programming with business and leisure travelers in mind. The Darcy has about 5,500 square feet of meeting and event space.