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Upsetting the “World’s Tallest Hotel” title formerly held by sister property, the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, Marriott Hotels has opened a newer, taller facility, adding to New York City’s iconic skyline.

Located in midtown Manhattan, the $320 million new facility, now the tallest single-use hotel in North America, is a combination of two Marriott properties.

The property, which opened in early January 2014, houses a 378-room Courtyard by Marriott on floors 6-33, and a 261-suite Residence Inn by Marriott on floors 37-65.

The 68-story building is located just steps from Central Park and Times Square, offering convenient access to Carnegie Hall, the Broadway Theater District, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall, and a number of the guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Central Park, Times Square and the Hudson River.

The hotel’s 21st century telecommunications system offers coveted complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, as well as free international phone calls.

Each room also delivers 1.25 gigabytes of bandwidth with horizontal and vertical fiber optical cable network that allows for fast, extensive use on multiple devices at one time, and the in-room Smart TVs offer 60 HD channels.

Read more: Luxury Boutique The Cromwell to Open on Las Vegas Strip

Marriott Hotels
www.marriott.com

The Las Vegas Strip will welcome The Cromwell, the strip’s first standalone luxury lifestyle boutique hotel and casino, this spring.

With a prime location at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, one of the busiest intersections of the Las Vegas Strip, the hotel will feature 188 rooms and suites, a 40,000 square foot casino, hotel lobby bar, lounge, restaurant by Giada De Laurentiis and day and nightlife venues by Victor Drai.

The Cromwell will blend vintage with modern, drawing inspiration from the Coste Hotel in Paris with black Parisian-style awnings and gold fixtures adorning the windows.

The lobby is reminiscent of a parlor from the past, and bookshelves adorned with leather bound books clad the walls.

Giada De Laurentiis’ self-titled restaurant, Giada, will offer al fresco dining and a beautiful exhibition kitchen showcasing fresh pastas being made daily by hand and a signature antipasto bar, the first such offering on the Strip.

Victor Drai, nightlife innovator behind some of the most memorable nightlife experiences, will launch the renowned Drai’s After Hours, which will also introduce a dazzling rooftop pool, day club and nightlife venue.

Read more: Surf-Inspired SpringHill Suites San Diego Opens in Oceanside

The Cromwell
www.TheCromwell.com

Just in time for spring break, a new beach retreat has opened in Oceanside, Calif. Located just one block from the Oceanside pier, the new 149-room SpringHill Suites San Diego features panoramic ocean views and a coastal vibe.

The stylish, surf-inspired retreat is located within walking distance of the beach, Oceanside harbor and the shops, restaurants, museums and activities offered in downtown Oceanside. 

Guests also enjoy convenient access to such area attractions as Camp Pendleton, Mission San Luis Rey, Legoland California and the San Diego Zoo.

San Diego’s newest property was carefully designed to reflect Oceanside’s relaxed beach culture. Adding to the beach-house theme, a custom-curated collection of surf- and ocean-inspired artwork by Southern California artists hangs throughout the property.

A giant living wall mimicking wave patterns serves as a backdrop to a first-floor indoor/outdoor lounge area with a fire pit. Guests are also invited to relax at the rooftop pool or the second-floor view deck, complete with a fireplace and cozy seating.

Complimentary hot breakfast is served daily, and for lunch or dinner, visitors can dine at Hello Betty, a unique fish house concept by restaurateur, Peter Karpinski that is located adjacent to the hotel. In the lobby, the Market offers convenient 24/7 access to snacks and beverages.

For those who seek a car-free “green getaway,” the property is just two blocks from Oceanside train station, which is serviced by both Amtrak and San Diego’s local Coaster.

Through the end of May, visitors can enjoy 20 per cent off the best available rates. Guests must book online by May 31, 2014, and use promotional code NEW. (Some blackout dates may apply ,and the deal cannot be booked via phone.)

Read more: The Landing Resort & Spa Opens on Lake Tahoe

SpringHill Suites San Diego
www.shsoceanside.com

The shores of Lake Tahoe will welcome the first fire-star luxury resort this December.

The 88-room Landing Resort & Spa will provide guests with an intimate connection with the lake, including lake-view rooms, decks and patios, and private beach access for guests.

Warmth and light are key design features throughout the resort: all rooms have fireplaces, the lobby has an oversized stone-faced fireplace, outdoor fire pits on a lakeside patio outside the new Jimmy’s Restaurant serve as a gathering spot for guests with beautiful views of Lake Tahoe, and the resort is lit with romantic gas lamps.

Additional resort amenities include a large wine cellar featuring a special selection of 250 labels from around the world, a backlit onyx-walled bar, outdoor pool and hot tub, a state-of-the-art fitness centre with steam showers, and a lake-view meeting room and boardroom.

Complimentary amenities include valet service, business center, high-speed WiFi and internet connections. Seasonal amenities include complimentary “town cruiser” bicycles and free ski storage, ski valet and boot warmers.

Jimmy’s Restaurant, constructed and opening with the hotel, serves wood-fired Greek seafood and locally sourced California cuisine and includes private dining alcoves with fireplaces for a luxuriously intimate experience.

The Landing’s full-service spa and hair salon offers customised spa treatments using organic and natural botanicals, including sports-specific treatments perfect for guests enjoying outdoor activities on the lake or in the mountains.

The spa also includes a sauna, steam room, special couple’s room and relaxing Spa Sanctuary serving a selection of detoxifying teas

Located adjacent to Lake Tahoe’s Lakeside Beach, The Landing Resort & Spa provides private beach access for guests. To ensure the perfect vantage point for capturing the famous views, The Landing also boasts a 3,600-square-foot rooftop deck, perfect for parties, weddings and events.

The resort is within walking distance to the golf, outdoor concerts, nightlife, dining and shopping opportunities of South Lake Tahoe. 

Just three blocks from Heavenly Village and Gondola, Village Centre and gaming casinos, The Landing provides complimentary local transportation via Mercedes Sprinter to South Lake Tahoe hot spots.

Read more: Streamsong Lodge Opens in Florida

The Landing Resort & Spa
855.700.5263
www.thelandingresortandspa.com

Travellers looking to capitalise on Florida’s scenic natural setting, while getting away from the hubbub of the larger resort destinations, have a new option in Streamsong, Florida.

Located on 16,000 natural acres, the new 216-room, luxury Streamsong Lodge, which opened earlier this month, is located miles away from Florida’s theme park resorts.

“Our mission at Streamsong is to redefine what guests, particularly golfers from all over the world, should expect from a luxury resort,” said Richard Mogensen, Streamsong’s general manager.

Streamsong guests can enjoy critically-acclaimed golf, world-class bass fishing, a sporting clays facility, a unique grotto-style spa, exceptional food offerings, stunning vistas, and plenty of wildlife in an all-natural Florida setting.

Award-winning architect Alberto Alfonso designed Streamsong’s Lodge to showcase and celebrate the property’s natural location, and guestrooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling glass which provide unobstructed views of the property’s lakes and surroundings.

Streamsong guests can enjoy the property’s setting by strolling along a tranquil nature trail while watching for local birds and wildlife.

Or they can test their aim at the resort’s sporting clays facility; sample the prolific bass fishing lakes; and take a dip in the lakeside infinity pool.

Even the spa draws inspiration from the setting. AcquaPietra, a 7,000-square-foot grotto-style spa with seven unique pool experiences and nine treatment rooms, was designed to represent the prehistoric seas that once covered the region.

Golfers can experience two award-winning golf courses, Streamsong Red, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and Streamsong Blue, designed by Renaissance Golf Design (Tom Doak). The courses were recently ranked as the 12th and 14th best resort courses in the United States by Golfweek.com.

Three restaurants are located on site, including SottoTerra serving Italian cuisine and P2O5 with a menu that is influenced by traditional Floridian comfort food.

Fragmentary Blue, the Lodge’s rooftop lounge, serves pub-style small plates and provides the perfect spot for incomparable sunrise and sunset viewing and stargazing.

Located between Orlando and Tampa, Streamsong is convenient to two international airports and six regional airports.

Read more: Boston’s Pop Culture Celebrated at The Verb Hotel

Streamsong Resort
www.streamsongresort.com

Planning a road trip to America’s top ballparks this summer? Be sure to make a stop at The Verb hotel, an edgy new look at a classic mid-century modern motor hotel.

The Verb hotel, which re-imagines the historic Fenway Motor Hotel, serves as a pop-culture museum of sorts, paying tribute to the key role Boston played in hosting influential artistic, musical and cultural talents.

Music and pop-culture memorabilia that reflect Boston’s heritage adorn the public spaces, including historic Boston Phoenix covers and photographs of musicians who performed locally or appeared on WFNX, Boston’s famed classic rock station.

Opening summer 2014, The Verb hotel will provide a hip-casual hangout in the midst of the vibrant, spirited Fenway neighborhood.

“The Verb reflects the energy, music and attitude that are at the heart of the Fenway neighbourhood,” said General Manager Anna Gaffney. “The Verb’s place in history, its experiences and subsequent stories to tell, make this a spot like no other.”

Samuel’s & Associates, the developers behind the project, have launched many of Fenway’s newest residential, retail and commercial spaces.

“We saw a real opportunity to create something unique in this space, while respecting the independent spirit of the local community, building on the arts culture in Fenway and delivering real hospitality in a world that moves too fast,” said Steve Samuels, Chairman and Principal of Samuels & Associates. “The Verb will be a distinctive destination and experience for locals, tourists and business travellers alike.”

The Verb will feature 94 guest rooms, all at an affordable luxe price point. An outdoor pool and surrounding pool deck give the property a unique edge. Signature cocktails and bar bites will be served at the outdoor pool and in the lobby area.

The Verb hotel is set to open in summer 2014, and reservations will be accepted starting April 1, 2014.

Read more:IHG to Develop InterContinental Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles

The Verb Hotel
www.theverbhotel.com

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced that it will develop a 900-room InterContinental Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California. The luxury hotel will be the centrepiece of the Wilshire Grand project, a $1.1 billion development by Korean Air and Hanjin Group.

Once completed, the property will be the largest InterContinental hotel in the Americas region. The 73-story, 1,100-foot-tall development is set to be the tallest building in the western United States, providing unobstructed 360-degree views of Los Angeles. Currently under construction, the development will house the InterContinental hotel as well as offices and retail space, and is set to open in 2017.

The first hotel to be built by Korean Air in the U.S., the Wilshire Grand property will feature 900 guestrooms located on floors 31 through 69, while the lower seven stories of the building will house business and convention facilities, including 370,000 square feet of office space.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will develop a 900-room InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property in downtown Los Angeles, California. // (c) 2014 AC Martin

The new property will reflect the four ecological typologies of Los Angeles while also embracing the laid-back sophistication of the city. The natural wood and warm colors in the building will reflect the city’s beach culture while the hotel’s sky lobby–located on the 70th floor, and the first sky lobby on the west coast–will incorporate Los Angeles’ car culture into the design through abstract representations of car lines into the internal paneling and décor.

The Wilshire Grand will also have tailor-made facilities to offer a special experience for its guests. The upper part of the building will be a dome, inspired by the shape of an airplane, and the banquet room will feature glass doors for guests to overlook the panoramic view of the garden. Moreover, windows in the guest rooms can be opened to allow customers to fully enjoy the pleasant weather of LA.

“We are delighted to have InterContinental Hotels & Resorts join our Korean Air family of hotels,” said Heather Cho, vice president of Hanjin International Corp. “The InterContinental brand is well-respected by world travellers and embodies the luxury experience we intend to provide at the Wilshire Grand.”

From its humble beginnings in 1945, Hanjin and Korean Air have become one of the largest logistics and travel/hospitality companies in the world, including the largest Asian airline in Los Angeles. The InterContinental brand began just a year later in 1946 and has grown to more than 180 hotels globally, with an additional 51 additional hotels in its development pipeline. InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts www.ihg.com/intercontinental

Read more: Fireplace Butlers Make the Season Right in Boston