InterContinental Hotels Group celebrates its 200th property in Greater China, as Shangri-La unveils its third luxury hotel in Shanghai
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The Latest Hotels: Fairmont, Oberoi & Banyan Tree
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Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.
PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.
In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”
The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris
InterContinental Hotels Group celebrates its 200th property in Greater China, as Shangri-La unveils its third luxury hotel in Shanghai
Hôtel Plaza Athénée will undergo a partial restoration, reopening in May 2014
Three of Paris’ most iconic luxury hotels are soon to be closed for refurbishment. Dorchester Collection’s Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris is the latest to announce restoration works that will force its closure throughout the summer, following in the footsteps of The Ritz and Hôtel de Crillon.
Hôtel Plaza Athénée will undergo a partial restoration to create six new guestrooms, eight suites, a ballroom, and two event spaces, led by Parisian designer Marie-José Pommereau.
“Hôtel Plaza Athénée is one of the world’s most legendary properties with a rich heritage and prominent location in the heart of Paris,” explained François Delahaye, COO of Dorchester Collection. “While it continues to rank as one of the top hotels in the world, the subtle refurbishments will revitalize the hotel and lead it into its next century.”
“Hôtel Plaza Athénée is a home away from home for its guests and our vision for the new developments is to create somewhere that will continue to enchant both local residents and international travellers alike for the next hundred years and beyond.”
“ The subtle refurbishments at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée will revitalize the hotel and lead it into its next century ”
Plaza Athénée will close on October 1st, reopening in May 2014, a fair stretch before The Ritz and Hôtel de Crillon will reopen their doors, following two years of redevelopment. Hôtel de Crillon, reopening in Spring 2015, has explained that while innovations such as a basement spa are planned, the hotel’s classic look would not be tampered with.
“We will not touch the historic salons on the first floor but we will redo all the 147 rooms, the ground floor and the two inner courtyards,” explained Sandrine Daban from the Crillon’s public relations department.
The Ritz hasn’t seen a major renovation since 1979, and after the iconic property failed to receive the French Tourism Ministry’s prestigious “palace” hotel designation, the Ritz’s owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, decided to bring the hotel up to date.
Though the Ritz’s majestic style will remain, the hotel will add an extension to the ballroom, build more suites, add a summer restaurant with a sliding glass roof and update technology throughout. Guests can look forward to re-booking for September 2014.
Banyan Tree, Tianjin
Banyan Tree celebrates its tenth property in China with the opening of Tianjin Riverside urban resort. The property combines luxurious resort amenities and experiences with metropolitan living, located on the east bank of the Hai River. Each of the 159 guest rooms have been crafted with richly-textured materials and tastefully accentuated with intricate furnishing and finishes, including a sizable “Relaxation Tub.”
The 90sqm Spa includes three Double Royal Rooms with double rainmist facilities, one Double Deluxe Room, five Single Deluxe Rooms, one Facial Room, a Beauty Salon with two Foot Massage Rooms and a Relaxation Area.
Website: banyantree.com/tianjin
Source: CPP Luxury
Fairmont Hotel, Baku
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has launched its first development in the emerging destination of Azerbaijan, in Baku.
The new 36-floor property, opening initially with 140 rooms and suites, will feature 318 spacious well-appointed guestrooms, suites and apartments, all with spectacular views of the city of Baku, the old Inner City or the Caspian Sea.
A world-class, contemporary art collection, commissioned and collated by Farmboy Fine Arts, further complements the building’s innovative design. The hotel will boast the very best in local dining and entertainment, with several restaurants, bars and lounges including an authentic French patisserie and a specialty steak-house.
Website: fairmont.com/baku
Source: CPP Luxury
Hyatt Regency, Gurgaon
Hyatt Regency Gurgaon has opened New Delhi’s National Capital Region, with the largest meeting space and room inventory in the city. Spread over six acres, Hyatt Regency Gurgaon features 451 well-appointed, spacious guestrooms, including 37 luxurious suites, featuring a range of modern amenities and services.
High-speed Internet access and ergonomic work areas are provided to meet guests’ business needs. Four specially designated Regency Club floors include a Regency Club Lounge that offers complimentary buffet breakfast and evening cocktails.
Website: gurgaon.regency.hyatt.com
Source: Hospitality Net
InterContinental, Shanghai
InterContinental Hotels Group has unveiled its 200th hotel in Greater China with the opening of the InterContinental Shanghai Ruijin. Owned by Shanghai Donghu Group Corporation, the hotel been a landmark in the city for almost 100 years. The property is the first of its heritage hotels in Asia, making it the sixth globally under the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand.
238 comfortable guest rooms are designed in classical architectural style including British-style garden villas, each with attractive gardens views in addition to a view of the city. All rooms feature a full range of amenities and cabled Internet.
Website: ihg.com/shanghai
Source: Hospitality.net
The Oberoi, Dubai
The Oberoi Dubai its Oberoi’s first property in the U.A.E, located at The Oberoi Centre, a commercial complex with an office tower, overlooking Burj Khalifa. The new contemporary luxury hotel in Dubai features 252 spacious guest rooms and suites, all with floor to ceiling windows. Each room features complimentary high speed wired and wireless Internet, large LED televisions, iPod docking stations and multi-line telephones with voicemail.
The Oberoi Dubai offers three dining options, showcasing a mix of international, Indian and Asian cuisine. Other amenities at The Oberoi Dubai include a 24 hour SPA focusing on holistic therapies drawn from Ayurveda, and a full scale fitness centre.
Website: oberoihotels.com/dubai
Source: CPP Luxury
Shangri La, Shanghai
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has unveiled its third luxury hotel in Shanghai on the Puxi side of the Huangpu River. The 508-room Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai is the centrepiece of the impressive new 450,000-square-metre Jing An Kerry Centre, a high-end, mixed-use complex in the very heart of Shanghai.
The hotel glistens with more than four million pieces of crystals. Crystals are used as architectural elements – from the thick canopy of lighted crystal rods covering the porte cochere to the crystal drapery anchoring the double-height reception area and Lobby Lounge.
Website: shangri-la.com/jinganshangrila
Source: Drinks Media Wire
For more in the series of The Latest Hotels, please see our most recent editions as follows:
– The Latest Hotels: Shangri La, St Regis & Prince de Galles
– The Latest Hotels: Sofitel, Kempinski & The Stairs
– The Latest Hotels: Mandarin Oriental, Luxury Collection & W Hotels
Creative Strategist, Digital
Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.
