Category: America

Which hotel is home to Southern California’s only swim-up bar?

Harrah’s Resort Southern California, located in San Diego county, is home to Southern California’s only swim-up bar.

The swim-up bar is one of a trifecta of pools that make up Dive Day Club, a venue that debuted last year as the resort completed the first phase of a multi-million dollar renovation.

In addition to the swim-up bar and the resort’s main pool, Dive also features a 400-foot-long lazy river, which winds its way through grottos and waterfalls.

Dive, which is rapidly becoming San Diego’s stay-and-play destination, is also home to nine hot tubs, 21 cabanas and 10 day beds.

Whether you prefer amped-up Vegas-style pool parties, grooving to retro beats, sipping ‘ritas in the late afternoon, or just chillaxing in the Southern California sunshine, Dive is hosting a summer full of events, with one sure to match your pool personality.

Service Industry Mondays
Every Monday, Dive offers complimentary admission to members of the service industry, who also receive discounts on select pitchers and buckets of beer.

Neon Nights – Fridays at Dive

Harrah’s So Cal lights up the desert every Friday night, during its themed pool party featuring live entertainment on the lazy river.

Adult Swim Saturdays

Every Saturday during the summer months, Dive Day Club transforms into Southern California’s most popular poolside destination, for Adult Swim Saturdays.

World-renowned DJs spin tunes at this Vegas-style day club, and while this season’s schedule  is still being confirmed, past appearances have included Lil Jon, Pauly D, EC Twins and Morgan Page.

Dive After Dark Saturdays

When the Vegas grooves end, the throwback fun begins. Every Saturday night, DJs encourage guests to shake their groove thing to popular dance music through the ages, from the 1970s to the present day.

With no cover charge, guests can cut a rug, enjoy margaritas at the swim-up bar, luxuriate in a hot tub, or simply lounge by the pool.

Dive Detox Sundays

Need a little downtime? After a lively Saturday, Dive slows things down on Sundays with a mellow afternoon of hydration and smooth island beats.

1st & Dive

Following a busy summer, dive into some football action. Watch NFL games on 9’ x 16’ poolside LED TV, with different games being
shown in each cabana, and food and drink specials all Sunday long.

Hotel guests staying in king rooms receive two complimentary admissions daily; guests staying in rooms with two beds will receive four complimentary admissions daily.

Entry fees for all other guests are $20/person Monday-Friday and $30/person for the Sunday Adult Swim. Saturday admission starts at $30/person and varies based on entertainment.

Dive Day Club
855.969.DIVE
www.DiveDayClub.com

For the staff of Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, the expression “out of this world” has recently taken on a new meaning.

The hotel has recently reached an inter-galactic milestone; it was selected by Virgin Galactic as the official preferred Virgin Galactic hotel and resort in Dona Ana County, New Mexico.

To that end, the luxury property, managed by Heritage Hotels & Resorts, Inc., is undergoing a series of large-scale renovations and upgrades in order to meet the needs of Virgin Galactic executives, and to welcome the first Spaceport America Astronauts and their families.

“We have been working hard at Hotel Encanto and are ready to welcome our global and national visitors to beautiful Southern New Mexico,” said Jim Long, Founder/CEO, Heritage Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

“We are proud to be selected as the preferred Virgin Galactic Resort for Dona Ana County and are fully committed to providing premium service to all future Astronauts and others who travel to our area as part of the Spaceport experience.”

Improvements at Hotel Encanto include remodeling a number of room into Executive Suite VIP Wings. Guests in the Executive Wings will experience VIP concierge service, private areas, customized room service menus, and upgraded first-class rooms and suites.

The remodeled room will have upgraded finishes throughout, including marble-clad bathrooms, custom cabinetry, and artisan-built furniture, all designed by Adriana Long.

“The new Virgin Galactic guest room design reflects the culturally rich style of Hotel Encanto along with an adventurous and contemporary attitude.  The design will be timeless and luxurious,” said Adriana Long, designer.

Hotel renovations also include additional poolside terrace rooms and outdoor spaces. Greg Trutza, an award winning landscape architect, has designed outdoor Spanish gardens, patios and a resort-style pool.

The area includes terraces, balconies, fire pits and fountains built out of old world stone accents, providing more than 2,500 square feet of updated and newly added additional space for private functions and VIP gatherings. 

The hotel also remodeled its nightclub patio, designed by Long. The new Azul Ultralounge now includes a large, contemporary outdoor patio with luxury contemporary furnishings.

“By partnering with Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, we further our vision of investing in the local New Mexico community while we define the Virgin Galactic astronaut experience,” said Virgin Galactic CEO, George Whitesides.

“Future astronauts will come from around the world to New Mexico, so it’s important that they experience the outstanding local offerings and character as part of their experience.”

The hotel also plans to hire VIP Guest Concierges that will act as Ambassadors on behalf of the hotel and any Virgin Galactic guest. Additionally Hotel Encanto plans to hire multilingual staff to help with international travelers.

Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces
www.hotelencanto.com

Arizona’s distinctive natural landscape and wildlife are now more accessible than ever at Loews Ventana Canyon, which has recently opened a new butterfly garden and tortoise exhibit.

The resort, recognized as an environmental leader for its design and preservation of its desert surroundings, is the first Arizona resort or hotel to feature certified butterfly and desert tortoise exhibits.

“This is just one way we are embracing nature on our property and giving guests an up-close-and-personal experience with our local flora and fauna,” said Brian Johnson, Managing Director of Loews Ventana Canyon.

“In addition to enhancing our beautiful surroundings, these new features offer something that’s unique, educational and fun for visitors to help them connect to Tucson’s wild side.”

Butterfly Garden

Located just steps from resort’s pool, the 1,500-square-foot butterfly garden, certified by the National Butterfly Association as a national butterfly garden and a monarch flyway, features 20 types of plants to attract more than 60 species of butterflies.

The resort partnered with the Southeast Arizona Butterfly Association to develop the garden and identify plant species such as Mojave milkweed, Arizona foldwing and Arizona milkweed that are most enticing to butterflies.

Tortoise Exhibit

In addition to the garden, two desert tortoises now reside at the resort in a new 800-square-foot tortoise exhibit that was certified by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

The exhibit, built by the resort landscaping staff in consultation with the museum and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, is part of the museum’s Tortoise Adoption Program to benefit the welfare of captive and wild tortoises and turtles.
Loews Ventana Canyon

The 398-guestroom Loews Ventana Canyon Resort features two Tom Fazio-designed PGA golf courses, a kid’s camp, a full-service spa and fitness center and many nearby hiking trails.

Loews Ventana Canyon
800-234-5117
www.loewshotels.com/ventana

COMO Hotels and Resorts will open its first US property, Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach, in December.

Singapore-based COMO Hotels and Resorts, owns, among other properties, two other Metropolitan hotels in London and Bangkok as well as the the private island resort of Parrot Cay by COMO in the Turks & Caicos.

The new 74-room Metropolitan by COMO will occupy an original 1930s building in the heart of the city’s Art Deco District, with direct access to the beach and a private swimming pool.

Located on Collins Avenue and 24th Street, the property has views that stretch across the Atlantic to the east or the Intracoastal Waterway to the west, flooding rooms with light.

Interiors are by the Italian designer Paola Navone, who preserved the hotel’s Art Deco heritage and contrasted it with an urbane, contemporary spirit in shades of peppermint green and dusky grey, with surfaces of cool white marble and shining chrome.

The hotel will feature two restaurants. The Traymore, the headline restaurant, will showcase Floridian seafood, with an emphasis on fine dining and traditional service; the poolside restaurant will be more relaxed, with wood-baked pizzas and easygoing pick-up food to enjoy during the day.

The Met Bar will offer premium spirits and Champagnes, while the rooftop COMO Shambhala juice bar will be a space to revitalize with a bespoke juice blend after a workout, beachfront run, or massage.

The COMO Shambhala Urban Escape will feature four treatment rooms and a rooftop hydrotherapy pool. A daily schedule of complimentary yoga and Pilates will also be available to guests, reflecting the company’s commitment to wellness.

COMO hotels focus on wellness, cuisine, adventure, culture, service and design, while trying to uphold a strong, sustainable approach towards the people and places where they operate.

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