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.
Surf-Inspired SpringHill Suites San Diego Opens in Oceanside
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.)
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.
The Landing Resort & Spa Opens on Lake Tahoe
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.
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.
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 will open this summer in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood // (c) 2014 The Verb 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.
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
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 & Resortswww.ihg.com/intercontinental
The Peninsula Paris has officially opened for business, making this the luxury brand’s first property in Europe.
Located just steps away from the iconic Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées, The Peninsula Paris features 200 luxurious rooms, including 34 suites. Taking room with a view to new heights, five suites even feature their own private rooftop.
The hotel is also home to six restaurants and bars, including L’Oiseau Blanc, a rooftop bar with a 360 view of the city. Rounding out the experience are luxury boutiques, the Peninsula Spa, private reception rooms and Paris’ first above-ground Cigar lounge.
The property is located in a late 19th-century classic French-style building, dating back to 1908, when it first opened as the Hotel Majestic, one of Paris’ most famous historic landmarks. Following the wartime occupation of Paris, the hotel was converted into UNESCO’s headquarters in 1946, then in 1958 became the conference centre for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, used to host high-profile events until 2009.
Notable historic events at the hotel include the composition of “An American in Paris” which George Gershwin composed while staying at the hotel in 1928, and the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, negotiated by Henry Kissinger and bringing the Vietnam War to a close, in 1973 in the salon which is today Le Bar Kléber.
Care has been taken to preserve the heritage, authenticity and the spirit of the building, while setting spectacular new standards in design, luxury and comfort, and the building has been meticulously restored for more than four years by teams of French master craftsmen, utilising traditional techniques that date back hundreds of years.
The façade alone employed the talents of 20 skilled stonemasons from historic monument specialist Degaine to restore the 100,000 square foot area with its elaborate carved stone flowers, bows and ribbons.
Repairs were carried out where possible, carving missing portions by hand using stone dust paste, or where the bas-reliefs were severely damaged, the entire section was replaced by a new stone and hand-carved from scratch, using only photos for reference. Each flower cascade took a stonemason three weeks of work, with 12 hours for a small bow.
The hotel also benefits from a unique collection of specially curated contemporary artworks from Hong Kong-based Sabrina Feung Fine Art, including two major installations by internationally celebrated artists Ben Jakober and Xavier Corberó, widely acclaimed as Spain’s foremost living sculptor.
Heritage Hotels and Resorts, Inc has recently finalized plans to build a new 118-room hotel in the heart of Old Town, Albuquerque, N.M. The project which plans to break ground by late, has an estimated completion date in spring, 2016.
The contemporary boutique hotel will feature a contrast of ancient and modern elements to create a space that captures the legacy of New Mexico’s Native American culture and history in a modern and luxurious way.
“We’re creating a hotel where guests will experience the true culture of New Mexico in a way that has never been done before,” said Jim Long, CEO, Heritage Hotels & Resorts. “We are blending ancient building techniques from New Mexico Native Americans with modern amenities and designs from the best designers in the world to create a new hotel that will redefine and advance the architectural building style in our state.
The services, sacred architecture and accommodations this hotel will provide will embrace the native people’s spirituality, artistic sensibility and oneness with nature. ”
The new property will be built on five levels with guestrooms designed to extend outdoors onto gracious terraces showcasing views of the Sandia Mountains and the downtown skyline or overlooking the gardens and pool terrace below. The hotel, located adjacent to Hotel Albuquerque, will share Hotel Albuquerque’s pool, ballrooms and chapel.
The hotel will be the first New Mexico property planned by global design firm, Gensler, who drew inspiration from the Anasazi people and the indigenous ruins of Chaco Canyon.
“Heritage Hotels & Resorts presented a captivating conceptual vision as a catalyst for the design team,” said Adam Gumowski, Design Director at Gensler. “The result is a one-of-a-kind property that embraces the spirituality, sensibility and legacy of the indigenous ruins of Chaco Canyon, while simultaneously striving for a contemporary sophistication.”
Specific designs incorporated from the Native American cultures include building the hotel in solar alignment, as well as relying upon ancient masonry techniques, which have been incorporated into this project.
Like the designs of Chaco Canyon, this hotel will be constructed so the property’s solar orientation can make the most of the heat in the winter and the coolness in the summer. Guest rooms will be deeply recessed to allow for solar gain in winter but protect from the sun in summer. The hotel’s five floors will also be built in a traditional stacked pueblo style with the façade stepping back at the upper floors.
The entrance to the hotel will serve as a welcoming sanctuary, greeting guests with soothing sounds, flowing water and warming fires in winter.
Beyond the lobby–a two-story Kiva inspired space–local landscape architect, Mimi Burns, of Dekker Perich Sabatini has designed a landscape reflecting the randomness of raindrops touching the earth. She will also design tranquil gardens and landscaped opened areas.
Interiors of the hotel will done by Santa Fe based designer, Kris Lajeskie and will focus on a merger of ancestral knowledge with contemporary materials, furnishings and art. The color palette for the project will be the natural wool colors used by the master weavers of the Navajo reservation.
“Not since Fred Harvey has there been a visionary who has taken on with such vigour the creation and promotion of the ‘cultural hotel’ in the Southwest,” said Kris Lajeskie, principal of Kris Lajeskie Design. “Gensler did a brilliant job in their interpretation of Chacoan architecture, and my challenge was to create interior spaces that capture the essence of Mother Earth and the indigenous native culture. From the moment you enter, you will know you are in a very special place.”
Future plans for the hotel will include a signature restaurant featuring modern Native American cuisine, a luxurious spa, a rooftop restaurant and a rooftop wedding chapel. Hotel Albuquerque will be the owner of the new hotel, and managed by Heritage Hotels & Resorts. Hotel Albuquerque was acquired in 1999 by a group of local New Mexican families, led by Jim Long.
Giving Back
Each Heritage Hotel donates a percentage of its revenue to cultural causes.
Hotel Details • 118 guestrooms; 10 suites • Rooftop restaurant and lounge • Rooftop event terrace • Signature restaurant • Outdoor pool and lounge experience • Conference room facilities • 6,000 square-foot spa • 1,200 square-foot fitness facility • 3,000 square feet of street-front retail
About Heritage Hotels & Resorts Founded by Jim Long in 2005, Heritage Hotels & Resorts is a collection of culturally distinct hotels in New Mexico and is the largest independent hotel brand in New Mexico. Through their architecture, interior design, landscaping, cuisine, art, entertainment and music, Heritage Hotels & Resorts provides guests with a very rich, authentic, cultural experience.
Mondrian London at Sea Containers, the first-ever Mondrian-branded boutique hotel to open outside the United States, has recently announced that it is now accepting reservations in advance of its Sept. 30 opening date. The property, owned by Morgans Hotel Group, promises to bring the energy of the original Hollywood hotel to the iconic Sea Containers building, located on London’s revitalised South Bank.
The new property, which will feature a combination of unique riverside views, two exciting new bars, and a restaurant, will reflect a bustling urban vibe all within walking distance of such iconic attractions as the Tate Modern, Borough Market, and the Southbank Centre.
Home to 359 guest rooms and suites, the hotel was designed by Design Research Studio under the creative direction of Tom Dixon, who based his vision on the Golden Age of Transatlantic Ship Travel, using ocean liner cabins as his inspiration.
The bar, Dandelyan, headed up by cocktail expert Ryan Chetiyawardana (AKA Mr Lyan), will serve innovative cocktails and refined interpretations of the classics, taking inspiration from the botanical wilds of the British countryside and around the world. Mondrian London will also house an exclusive rooftop bar with breathtaking views across the city.
New York chef Seamus Mullen has crafted a menu combining the best of Britain with America, featuring fresh produce sourced from nearby Borough Market. Working alongside Executive Chef Luke Rayment, Mullen will create dishes full of the delicate and natural flavours that characterise his cooking.
The restaurant’s open kitchen and visible wood-fired oven are key features of the eatery, alongside a standalone-seated dining bar in the middle of the room and a private dining room with a terrace. During the warmer months, customers can enjoy outdoor seating on the terrace, along the banks of the River Thames.
The spa, AGUA Bathhouse & Spa, will embrace the social community of Roman bathhouse cultures and boasts six spacious treatment suites and Spa & Glamour Lounges. The boutique urban spa was designed to give guests the sense that they are submersed in a tranquil, underwater dreamscape.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it will open one of its leading-edge Aloft brand properties in Louisville, Kentucky.
Scheduled to open in April 2015 in the city’s central business district, the new-build Aloft hotel will feature 167 loft-like rooms, forward-thinking technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere.
“The Aloft brand in a terrific match for the lively city of Louisville and will likely attract savvy travellers and young professionals with its urban design and live music offerings,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood.
The property will feature the brand’s signature W XYZ bar, with programming that includes a lineup of local, emerging artists as well as some of the hottest bands scheduled through Live at Aloft Hotels programming. Other facilities include the Splash pool, 24-hour fitness centre and 2,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Owned by REI Real Estate Services, LLC and Poe Companies, LLC, and managed by White Lodging Services Corporation, Aloft Louisville Downtown will be located walking distance to the KFC Yum! Center, the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Waterfront Park and the shops, dining and entertainment at the Fourth Street Live complex.
With more than 75 hotels in 14 countries around the world, Starwood’s Aloft brand delivers a fresh approach to the traditional hotel landscape. Aloft recently announced that select properties will roll out Keyless Check-In, allowing guests to use their smartphones to check in to the hotel and open their guestroom door.
This follows on the heels of Smart Check-In, the first mobile check-in using RFID technology to truly bypass the front desk available at 14 Aloft properties.
When it comes to experiencing local culture when traveling, there are few programs we like better than Peninsula Hotels’ Peninsula Academy, in which each of the brand’s nine hotels provide activities the embrace and celebrate the local community and culture.
The Peninsula Academy was created to give guests an insider introduction to key aspects of culture, lifestyle, cuisine, arts and history through individualized classes, tours and activities.
Each hotel has developed their own programs, and bring their destinations to life by sourcing talented local partners.
Furthermore, each program was also developed to include bespoke Peninsula experiences and transportation, from private helicopter service and chauffeured Rolls-Royces to whimsical MINI Cooper S Clubman vehicles, so guests experience not only the local community, but also an authentic Peninsula experience.
Each property also features a WOW program, which offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience, from behind-the-scenes access to a New York Broadway show to a private helicopter ride to a secluded beach in Hong Kong.
WOW programs include:
Journeys of Peninsula: Luxury Peninsula Moments by Land and Sea
The Peninsula Hong Kong Guests enjoy a series of awe-inspiring journeys in true Peninsula style, departing the city in the hotel’s helicopter for the stunning beaches of Sai Kung.
Guests land and transfer to a luxury motor-cruising yacht, arriving at a secluded bay to enjoy a magical dining experience, before sailing back to the Star Ferry Pier, where a chauffeured Rolls-Royce awaits to whisk guests back to The Peninsula Hong Kong.
Additional Academy programs: • Hong Kong’s Traditions Well Served: A revival of disappearing arts and crafts • An Art Dialogue with Hong Kong: Insights into the contemporary art scene • The UNESCO Geopark Helicopter Tour: An unparalleled geological journey • A Gastronome’s Joy: The Dim-Sum-Making Journey • A Little Pastry Chef’s Adventure: Magical Children’s Cooking Classes
Timeless Shanghai: A Heritage City Tour
The Peninsula Shanghai Transported back in time to experience the enduring legacy of Shanghai’s famed 1930s heyday, guests will receive a tailor-made traditional Chinese outfit and enjoy a private guided tour of Shanghai’s finest heritage buildings and districts in the comfort of The Peninsula Shanghai’s Rolls-Royce Phantom limousine.
Among the highlights are a private visit to a museum of modern Chinese history and an opportunity to relax with a cup of Chinese tea in a traditional teahouse.
Additional Academy programs: • China’s Motor City: Shanghai Auto Museum Tour • Music, Colour and Facepaint: An Introduction to Chinese Opera • Art of the Century: An Introduction to Contemporary Chinese Art • The Sweetest Treat: Chocolate Making for Kids • Kites in the Skies: Chinese Kite-Making Class
Eriko Horiki: Washi-Paper Art Experience
The Peninsula Tokyo Kyoto native Eriko Horiki uses handmade washi rice paper to create sculptural works and installations that elevate this traditional Japanese craft to new artistic heights.
Her commissioned pieces feature in residential, commercial and public spaces around the world, including The Peninsula Tokyo Spa and Imasa restaurant at The Peninsula Hong Kong. Registered guests can meet with the artist in her atelier and learn more about washi-paper art in its traditional and contemporary forms.
Additional Academy programs: • A-list Pampering: Celebrity Beauty Retreat • Furin Making: Japanese Wind Chimes for Kids • Fold Your Way to Fun: Origami for Kids • A Taste to Savour: Sake Brewery Tour • The Art of the Kimono: Dressing Lesson
2,000 Years of Chinese Culture: An Aerial view of Beijing
The Peninsula Beijing This captivating program provides guests with a unique and luxury cultural experience that spans the history of China’s rich art heritage. It begins with a helicopter flight to the Great Wall, where guests take off for an aerial view of the renowned Bird’s Nest.
Following this, guests will indulge in a private Champagne brunch on the Great Wall overlooking the wild countryside. Guests also receive private access to a contemporary Chinese artist’s studio in the celebrated 798 Art Zone, where they enjoy The Peninsula’s Signature Afternoon Tea.
To finish it off, guests return to the hotel in comfortable Rolls Royce Phantoms to receive a revitalizing SPA treatment and enjoy a 6-course Peking duck finale at the award-winning restaurant, Huang Ting.
Additional Academy programs: • The Tastes and Sounds of Beijing: The Art of Dumpling Making • A Walk through Beijing’s Past: Rickshaw through a Hutong neighbourhood • Brushstrokes of the Past: The Art of Chinese Calligraphy • More than Fortune Cookies: A Junior Patissier coupon for nexium over the counter programme • Fly High in the Beijing Sky: The Mastery of Kite Making
Behind the Curtain: Broadway Up Close Experience
The Peninsula New York Broadway from an insider’s perspective as guests learn first-hand what goes into a production – both on stage and off – of some of the most famous theatre productions in the world.
This program enables guests of The Peninsula New York to tour the Theatre District, take in a Broadway show and meet a key member of the production when the curtains close.
Additional Academy programs: • Kids in the Kitchen: Creating Edible Delights • The Stylish Bride: Shopping for the Ultimate Gown • Taste of Central Park: Foraging Tour and Picnic • MoMA: A Pre- or Post-Opening Tour • FDNY Tour: Fun at the Fire House • Harlem Gospel Brunch: Historic Tour and Church Service • Brooklyn Bridge Walking Tour: Private Tour and Pizzeria Lunch
Princess for a Day: How to be a Perfect Princess
The Peninsula Chicago This once-in-a-lifetime-experience is fit for a young lady who aspires to be the most regal Princess in the Kingdom. She will learn what it takes to be a true Princess– how to greet her royal subjects, drink tea properly, curtsy and more.
The experience includes a princess dress, tiara and shoes and a horse-drawn pumpkin carriage ride to a shopping spree at a nearby store. A Prince presents a glass slipper for a fairy tale ending to the day.
Additional Academy programs: • Broadway in Chicago: Exceptional Seats to Preferred Performances • Little Bakers: Pastry Class for Aspiring Chefs • Historic Chicago Neighbourhoods: Guided Cultural Tour • Exotic Car Adventure: From Roadway to Racetrack • Chicago Firehouse Excursion: For Young Firefighters-in-Training • Art Institute of Chicago: Private Tour of Revered Art Collection • Private Architectural Boat Cruise: River Tour of Chicago’s Skyscrapers
Escape to Xanadu: Malibu Surf, Sand and Sun
The Peninsula Beverly Hills A day at “Xanadu”, the fabulous Malibu oceanfront estate that was once owned by actress Olivia Newton-John, star of the movie of the same name.
A Peninsula car will whisk guests up the Pacific Coast Highway to this fabulous Malibu property, where they will enjoy an afternoon of beach fun, including kayaking, swimming and private surfing and paddleboard lessons with Rod Samper, instructor to the stars.
Additional Academy programs: • Behind the Scenes at a Major Studio: A Private Tour of Warner Bros. • From Movie Palaces to Disney Hall: Historic Buildings of Los Angeles • Seven-Wheel Family Adventure: A Beverly Hills Scavenger Hunt by Coach • Fly Away to Malibu Wine Country: A Helicopter Tour, Wine Tasting and Lunch • Red Carpet Glamour: A Hollywood-style Photo Shoot • Hollywood Piano Legend: A Private Lesson and Lunch • Kids, Cookies and Cupcakes: Young Pastry Chefs Academy
Fine Wine meets Adventure: Elephant Ride in Hua Hin Hills
The Peninsula Bangkok Vineyard Discover one of the hidden gems of Thailand, the only vineyard in the world where fine wine meets adventure. Formerly a corral where Asian elephants were domesticated, the vineyard is now home to the majestic land mammals.
Guests will be transported to Hua Hin via private helicopter where their experience will include a private tour atop an elephant through the majestic vineyards and a private wine tasting and meal prepared by Peninsula chefs.
Additional Academy programs: • Thai Painting Class: A fun and easy art class • Herbal Discovery: Discover the Secrets of Thai Herbs • The Joy of Thai Cooking: An Introduction to Thai cuisine • Footprint from The Past: An exploration of Bangkok’s old quarters • Thai Martial Art: Muay Thai kickboxing and holistic body massage • Junior Chef: A fun way to discover children’s cooking talents
“Spirit of Corregidor”: World War II Tour by Helicopter and Land
The Peninsula Manila Guests depart from the hotel via private helicopter for an aerial tour of the city before crossing the water to the rocky island fortress of Corregidor for a two-hour private tour of the island that stands as a memorial for the valor, courage and heroism of its Filipino and American defenders against the invading Japanese forces in World War II.
Additional Academy programs: • Defining Luxury: Jewellery by Wynn Wynn Ong • Manila Design: Experience Philippine Art, Design and Fashion • Art in the Hills: 27 Years of Philippine Contemporary Art • A Taal Tale: Tour of the Grand Old Houses of Taal Town • If These Walls Could Speak: Tour of the Old Walled City of Intramuros • Lutong Pinoy: Sweet Cooking the Filipino Way for Kids • Pasalubong: A Filipino Craft Class for Young People
