ACCOR LUXURY AND PREMIUM BRANDS

NEW TO THE MARKET

Sofitel Beijing Central

 

Sofitel Beijing Central has recently joined the Sofitel Hotels & Resorts network, becoming the brand’s 23rd hotel in China. The hotel features a chic executive lounge as well 345 spacious guestrooms and suites. Guests can indulge in decadent breakfasts, afternoon le goûter and gastronomie française at the hotel’s two dining rooms and lounge, and relax at the hotel’s spectacular indoor swimming pool, day spa, outdoor garden and high-tech fitness studio. Nine flexible, yet highly elegant meeting rooms are also available for parties of up to 200 guests. Located in the heart of the city’s civic and business district and just moments from Jianguomen subway station, Sofitel Beijing Central provides easy access to Beijing’s best attractions.

21c Museum Hotels

 

Accor has officially welcomed 21c Museum Hotels into the MGallery Hotel Collection, marking the brand’s first foray into the North American market. The offerings combine multi-venue contemporary art museums, boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants. 21c Museum Hotels – MGallery Hotel Collection currently includes eight properties in Bentonville, Cincinnati, Durham, Kansas City, Lexington, Louisville, Nashville and Oklahoma City. Additional projects are in development in Chicago, slated for debut in late 2019, Des Moines, Iowa, and St. Louis.

Kyoto Yura Hotel MGallery

 

Kyoto Yura Hotel MGallery opened its doors in April 2019. The hotel pays homage to the traditions of Kyoto through art and heritage, providing a unique experience inspired by the essence of the local neighborhood – a key consideration for all MGallery Hotels. Boasting 144 rooms with contemporary classical design, local fabric Nishijin-ori can be found in each of its guestrooms celebrating a weaving heritage dating back over 1,200 years, while the seating area is furnished with traditional tatami mats.

Pullman Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

 

The Pullman brand has made its debut in Fiji with the April 2019 launch of the Pullman Nadi Bay Resort & Spa. The multi-million dollar resort sits directly on its own secluded corner of local favorite, Wailoaloa Beach on Nadi Bay featuring a 180 degree, uninterrupted ocean view for guests, bookended by vistas of Fiji’s most recognized mountain, The Sleeping Giant. The resort offers 236 rooms and suites, including 36 deluxe interconnecting rooms and 4 accessible rooms, all with balconies or patios. Twelve direct-beachfront suites allow guests to open their doors onto Wailoaloa beach every morning.

Hotel Croisette Beach – MGallery

 

The glamour of Cannes has come to the MGallery collection of boutique hotels. Hotel Croisette Beach – MGallery just completed an extensive renovation under the guidance of Studio Jean Philippe Nuel and reopened with a new MGallery name and a bohemian chic design. With a coveted private beach on the Cote d’Azur, a pool, bar and garden overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, guests will enjoy gazing out at the Lérins Islands while partaking in the refreshing concoctions of MGallery mixologists. Intimately sized with 94 guestrooms, the newly styled MGallery Croisette Beach will be a captivating and discreet spot for cocooning and cavorting among the salt air, sun and sea.

COMING SOON

Orient Express Mahanakhon Bangkok

 

The world’s first Orient Express hotel – the Orient Express Mahanakhon Bangkok – is set to open later this year reviving the Orient Express brand with a vision to build a collection of prestigious hotels, steeped in tradition, legend and luxurious adventure. Esteemed designer Tristan Auer has been tasked with reimagining the Art Deco stylings and plant motifs of the original Orient Express carriages into a modern skyscraper in the heart of a bustling metropolis. The sumptuous bedrooms and exquisite bathrooms will bring new levels of style and luxury to Bangkok. The hotel will also feature an entire floor devoted to wellness including an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi plus signature Orient Express Spa by Guerlain when it opens later this year.

Fairmont Rio De Janeiro Copacabana

 

Scheduled to open in 2019 as the first Fairmont in South America, Fairmont Rio De Janeiro Copacabana is located in one of the most spectacular places in Rio de Janeiro, the Copacabana Beach, under the majestic gaze of Sugar Loaf Mountain. Inspired by the glamour carioca in the 1950’s, this luxury hotel is an oasis. The property just announced the appointment of its new executive chef, Jérôme Dardillac, who will be responsible for the entire gastronomic concept of the hotel, 3 including the Marine Restaurant, Spirit Copa Bar and Coa&Co Café in addition to the creation of menus for special events and celebrations.

Sofitel Dubai Wafi

Sofitel Dubai Wafi will soon be the largest Sofitel in the Middle East featuring 501 luxury guestrooms, inclusive of 86 suites, in addition to 97 studio, one, two and three-bedroom serviced residences to be operated on an extended-stay basis. Located adjacent to the iconic Raffles Dubai, both properties will form a luxury cluster within Wafi, offering guests a luxurious range of shared amenities and services.The property will offer a number of dining concepts including an Asian specialty restaurant, gastro pub, a unique destination restaurant, bar and lounge on 43rd and 44th Floors, a French lobby café, an all-day restaurant and a pool bar. Guests will have the option to relax and unwind at the SoSpa or use a comprehensive gymnasium, outdoor pools, private cabanas and a kids club.

Paseo del Prado La Habana

Also eagerly anticipated is SO/ Havana Paseo del Prado, a new address set to open in the heart of Havana, Cuba in 2019. As the first SO/ property in the Americas region, the hotel will showcase the brand’s rebellious, immersive interpretation on the luxury travel experience. The hotel in Havana will unfold as a glamorous yet playful masterpiece featuring the designs of celebrated Spanish fashion designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, in everything from the hotel’s emblem to the staff’s stylish uniforms.

Fairmont Century Plaza

Fairmont Century Plaza, located in the heart of Century City in Los Angeles, willsoon take center stage as it plans to reopen in 2020 following a top to bottom renovation and re-envisioning project. This mid-century marvel has hosted generations of Hollywood celebrities, foreign dignitaries and every United States President since its opening in 1966. The newly transformed hotel will connect to a series of public plazas and fountains with two-acres of open space and gardens, surrounded by restaurants and retail boutiques. With 394 newly renovated guestrooms, 63 branded residences plus two adjacent 46-story luxury residential towers, Fairmont Century Plaza is anticipated to be a blockbuster.

Sofitel Mexico City Reforma

Sofitel will make its official debut in Mexico with the opening of Sofitel Mexico City Reforma in September 2019. Bringing French luxury to one of the world’s most exciting cities, Sofitel Mexico City Reforma will offer 275 rooms, including 56 suites; 40 floors boasting unparalleled city views; and a rooftop lounge and dining featuring local cuisine. Sofitel Mexico City Reforma will be located in the heart of the city, on one of the most recognized and emblematic avenues of Mexico City, Paseo de la Reforma, next to the Angel of Independence.

DID SOMEONE SAY MAKOVER?

Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese

 

Situated in the heart of Rome, Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese will reopen on July 1st, unveiling extensive renovations by contemporary architect and interior designer, Jean-Philippe Nuel. Modern luxury voyageurs are invited to eat, sleep, enjoy, travel, stay, celebrate and live the French way, at Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese. Situated on a quiet street in the epicenter of Rome, this former 19th century Roman palazzo lies within walking distance of some of the city’s best-known cultural landmarks and parks, including the Trevi Fountain, Villa Medici and the Spanish Steps.

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth

 

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, now in its 53rd year, is ready to unveil a sophisticated yet understated makeover. The six month revitalization process is now complete, with all 436 guestrooms and glamorous suites refreshed. The hotel’s new technology advancements are ready to rival any of Sydney’s newest hotels, while 4 the lobby and adjoining library are freshly designed for a classic, stylish and inviting experience.

Pullman Paris Centre-Bercy

As the brand rolls out its new lobby concept “The Junction at Pullman”, worldrenowned designer Tom Dixon, known for his love for all artistic styles, recently transformed Pullman Paris Centre-Bercy into a multifaceted and stylish space that works as well by day as it does by night. The hotel features immersive spaces such as the 19-seat Private Cinema inspiring guests through a premium movie experience while The Pamper Bar offers a blend of relaxation and disconnection, linking to the hotel’s wellness facilities. In the Event Centre, modular spaces provide flexibility across 16,000 square feet, including 3,800 square feet of outdoor green space. Throughout the hotel, guests feel the creative inspiration that emanates from The Artist Playground, with its stimulating contemporary art exhibits.

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena

 

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena has completed its year-long restoration project. This historically important building originates from 1621 and sits in a privileged location within the old town of Cartagena, known as Cartagena de Indias, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1984). The hotel offers the perfect combination of colonial tradition, local hospitality and French luxury, with 103 expansive rooms and an exclusive collection of 20 suites, including four Iconic Suites that pay tribute to some of the most prominent Colombian leaders of art and culture, including Fernando Botero, Amaral, Ana Mercedes Hoyos and Enrique Grau.

Fairmont Royal York

In celebration of Fairmont Royal York’s upcoming 90th anniversary in June, the hotel will mark a new chapter with a majestic transformation, honoring the icon’s timeless grandeur while elevating it into a new era of luxury. The final round of transformative changes will include the reimagining of the hotel’s common areas, meeting spaces, Fairmont Gold offering and culinary venues and dining experiences.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Meanwhile, Fairmont Chateau Whistler has embarked on another $5-million project which includes significant updates to all suites not part of the hotel’s Fairmont Gold offering. This comes on the heels of a recently completed $30-million renovation over the last five years. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has also undergone extensive multi-year, multiphase renovations, bringing a new level of luxury to almost every area of the resort, from the refreshed Great Hall and newly renovated Signature Cabins to the introduction of the luxurious Estate and Ridgeline Cabins.

Hotel Scribe Paris Opéra by Sofitel

Another stylish beauty is Hotel Scribe Paris Opéra by Sofitel, a venerable Paris institution that joined forces with Wilson Associates and its artistic director, Tristan Auer, to restore the hotel to its former glory. The project aims to embody the spirit of Paris and the Opéra district, through its new design and through the vivid dining experiences of Le Lumière and Bar’Obscur.

Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa

A major, multi-million dollar refurbishment project has kicked off at Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, Denarau Island Fiji. The rejuvenation project, which will touch most areas of the resort, will center on expansion plans for the resort’s exclusive adults-only Waitui Beach Club. This will include the addition of 24 new beach cabanas, a welcoming arrivals area, a new beach side cocktail bar to capture Fiji’s sunsets and an undercover dining space for up to 40 guests. The guestrooms and suites of the adults only section will also undergo an entire refresh as well as its restaurant space. The resort will also embark on an upgrade of its Luxury, Superior and Family guestrooms throughout 2019.

HOT HAPPENINGS

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi

 

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi has launched safari-style Jungle Tented Villas that offer authentic experiences of outdoor living under the stars. The Tented Villas, built to mirror the beauty and diversity of the island’s verdant flora and fauna, offer travelers luxurious al fresco style living areas with an outdoor rain shower, roll-top tub and locally sourced rustic interiors with complete seclusion.

The Savoy

Recognizing the cultural acumen of its guests and the time-honored tradition of cracking open a good book while traveling, The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, recently introduced the Savoy Book Butlers – a brand new service, and first of its kind, as part of its ongoing literary program. Overseeing a collection of 40 titles presented in a beautifully-illustrated library menu, the Savoy Book Butlers will be on hand to make astute recommendations while catering to guests’ literary needs.

Sofitel Dubai Downtown

In celebration of its fifth anniversary, Sofitel Dubai Downtown will soon launch a series of new features including a new women’s only floor, Sofie’s Ladies Floor. Located on the 15th floor of the hotel, this exclusive floor will include 12 exquisite rooms and suites that will feature several elegant feminine touches and amenities to enhance the stay experience.

Fairmont Mara Safari Club

 

Fairmont Mara Safari Club understands the impact of safe drinking water among its community and has distributed more than 36,000 water purification packets to local schools, churches, and homes over the past year. The next distribution begins in June 2019, reaching out to 3,000 households with the help of the P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program. The goal is to distribute more than 1.6 million water
packets, valued at over $100,000 USD. The hotel also works with the World Wildlife Fund to filter wastewater through the wetlands to avoid polluting the river; is helping to create biogas for fuel so as to preserve trees and water catchment areas; and, cares for two southern white rhinos through a partnership with Seiya and the contribution of conservation fees from guests.

Swissôtel Chicago

The signature Vitality Rooms of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts are now open at more properties around the world. At Swissôtel Chicago, guests of the hotel’s Vitality Suite need not leave their guestroom to get fit and fired up. The 1,700-square-foot, five-room suite is equipped with high-end gym equipment, a Peloton bike and a rowing machine. The television is loaded with fitness programs or a private trainer can be arranged to join the guest in the suite for a one-on-one workout.

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal is celebrating the 50th anniversary of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-In for Peace with a special photography exhibition, concert, Peace & Love party, historical tableau and guided tours of the suite in which the legendary couple composed and recorded the famous anthem Give Peace a Chance. Those wishing to have their own Bed-in experience can reserve the 50th Anniversary Bed-in Package that includes accommodation in Suite 1742; breakfast at Rosélys restaurant or in room; two sets of white pajamas; calligraphed lyrics of “Give Peace a Chance”; a booklet of photos; white flowers; a commemorative collector item; a welcome treat and a $100 donation to Amnistie Internationale Canada Francophone. The package is available from June 01, 2019 through December 31, 2019.

NEW FOODIE EXPERIENCES

 

Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris presents Matsuhisa Niwa, an exclusive and ephermeral restaurant offering a deep dive into Japanese cuisine and culture for only a select few fortunate guests. Matsuhisa Niwa, located in the gardens of the 6 Parisian palace, offers seating for up to eight guests who will be treated to an immersive experience highlighting contemporary Japanese cuisine every Thursday and Friday throughout the summer season.

Fairmont Royal York has announced the debut of two new food & beverage venues – CLOCKWORK Champagne & Cocktails, the city’s next classic lounge for an elegant champagne and cocktail experience as well as signature restaurant, bar and bakery, REIGN, delivering three unique culinary experiences, blending together daily must-haves and classic culinary techniques with modern food trends.

Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui recently opened its MAKANA Market + Café. Makana means ‘gift’ in Hawaiian – a fitting name for the hotel’s new gourmet marketplace which offers locally inspired fare made from the finest gifts of the island. The café offers Maui and Hawaii Island grown and roasted coffees, pour over drinks, matcha green tea and exceptional Lot35 tea blends, along with a selection of house-crafted pastries, sandwiches, smoothies, acai bowls as well as Pang’s Poke Bar specializing in locally-harvested fish.

With the arrival of warmer spring weather, the popular Lili’s Bar at Sofitel Frankfurt Opera moves upstairs to the roof terrace of the hotel’s presidential suite overlooking the Frankfurt skyline. Now known as Lili’s Roof Garden, the bar presents inventive cocktails and an exclusive Summer Edition of Veuve Clicquot Rich in miniformat. On Thursdays, “Live@Lili’s” features live music, soul, r&b and jazz, while a DJ on Saturdays creates a chic scene. With a capacity of only 60 guests, Lili’s is an exclusive rooftop spot for an aperitif with a view.