The Grand Hotel Loreamar Reopens in French Basque Country
Arguably one of the best sandy beaches in France is located in the Basque town of Saint Jean-de-Luz. Surrounded by the lush foothills of the Pyrénées, the charming oceanfront resort has been a top Atlantic destination for centuries of vacationers. Here on the beachfront promenade, the Grand Hotel Loreamar is a legendary landmark of the Belle Epoque.
This five-star hotel reopened on June 1 after months of renovation and refurbishment work under the guidance of interior architect Patrick Ribes. The idea was to showcase the same Art Deco spirit, reinterpreted for the 21st century. Bathed in natural light, the 52 guestrooms are decorated with gold, silver, and black accents to conjure the color palette of the 1930s. Rooms have been enlarged, and the new Junior Suites have terraces overlooking the ocean.
Esperanza, An Auberge Resort Reopens in Los Cabos
Relais & Châteaux member Esperanza, An Auberge Resort reopened in Los Cabos on June 1 following an extensive renovation.
The property now sports completely redesigned guestrooms, a revitalized Cocina del Mar restaurant and Lounge Bar, enhanced pool and terrace with new cozy lounge spaces and cabanas and refreshed spa and public spaces. In celebration of Esperanza’s reopening, guests can take advantage of a “Rediscover Esperanza” travel package and special spa promotions.
Auberge Resorts Collection tapped interior designer Mary Alice Palmer of HKS Architects and landscape architect George Girvin, to lead the resort’s re-design.
Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito to Debut in 2018
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has announced plans for the debut of the Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito in 2018 as Rosewood's third property in California.
Approximately 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles in Santa Barbara, the new hotel will be on the site of the former Miramar Beach Hotel, a local landmark.
Spread over 16 acres, the Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito will offer 122 guestrooms and 48 suites, many of which will be in single-story cottages and bungalows. Amenities will include an oceanside bar and restaurant with an outdoor terrace, a signature restaurant, two swimming pools, a Sense spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, beach club and screening room. In addition, there will be 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including a 6,000-square-foot ballroom.
Guests staying in the oceanfront suites and rooms will be able to walk directly from their accommodations onto the sand.
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Embarks on Renovation Project
The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has welcomed guests to the banks of the Chao Phraya River for over 135 years. To keep up its esteemed reputation, the hotel embarked on a renovation project in May that’s expected to last seven months (during low season). The work is concentrated on the Authors’ and Garden Wings, which are closed for the duration of the renovation. The hotel’s main River Wing is unaffected by the work.
Le Normandie restaurant and the Author’s Lounge are closed, along with the Authors’ Wing boutiques -- they will reopen in December 2015. An alternative destination for Afternoon Tea is the Lobby Lounge, where it is offered from 12 to 4 pm upon reservation. The renovation will bring enhanced facilities, including 14 new suites with balconies. As reported by The National, the hotel seeks to “attract big-spending guests through a new strategic marketing program that would focus on suites rather than normal rooms because of the high demand for such accommodation from international markets.”
Rocco Forte to Open Shanghai Hotel
Sir Rocco Forte, chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels, attended a signing ceremony in Shanghai on June 3, where he announced that a Rocco Forte hotel is set to open in the city in 2018, marking the group’s first move into the Asia Pacific market.
Rocco Forte Hotels will partner with Longhua International to be part of the Longhua International Aviation Service Centre, a new urban complex in Shanghai’s Xuhui Riverside area known as West Bund. Rocco Forte Hotels will be the exclusive luxury international hotel provider to the project. The new modern area will span 7.2 hectares, with an overall floor space of 510,000 square meters, dedicated to business and government office spaces, retail and fashion outlets, cultural amenities such as theaters, and other landscaped recreational spaces.