Hotel Buzz: New Versailles Hotel? Plus, The Regent Palms Turks and Caicos Goes Independent

versailles
Photo courtesy of the Chateau de Versailles

With another week behind us, don't miss this roundup of the latest luxury hotel openings and renovations to share with your clients. 

Luxury Hotel to Open at the Palace of Versailles?

The Chateau de Versailles could be in store for a new luxury hotel in three buildings just outside the palace grounds. 

The three buildings -- the Hôtel du Grand Contrôle, the Petit Contrôle and the Pavillon -- date from the 1680s and have views over the Orangerie, although they have been unoccupied since 2008 and have fallen into disrepair. 

Accor Hotels is reportedly interested in bidding on the 60-year concession to manage the property. 

Luxury Travel Advisor's Joe Pike and Karen Whitt, general manager of The Palms Turks and Caicos.
Luxury Travel Advisor's Joe Pike and Karen Whitt, general manager of The Palms Turks and Caicos.

Exclusive: The Regent Palms Turks and Caicos to Operate as Independent Property

On Thursday Luxury Travel Advisor learned that The Regent Palms Turks and Caicos will once again operate as an independent property, The Palms Turks and Caicos, starting September 1. 

General Manager Karen Whitt will continue to be general manager of the luxury property, which is a Virtuoso member. 

We had an opportunity to talk with Whitt about what the move to go independent means for the property -- you can watch that interview here

Il Sereno to Open in Spring 2016 in Lake Como

The long-awaited second hotel from the Sereno Group now has an opening date. 

Il Sereno, which was first teased back in 2011 by the company famous for its St. Barth's property, will debut in spring 2016 on the shores of Italy's Lake Como. This announcement follows the hotel's original opening date, which was set for 2013. 

The hotel will be set on a bluff on the lake's eastern shore, next to the village of Torno and six miles from the city of Como. A private dock will allow guests to arrive in the hotel's wooden boat. Inside, the property will boast 34 suites decorated by Patricia Urquiola, plus a 60-foot infinity pool and a terrace restaurant. 

anantara peace haven tagalle resort

Anantara Delays Sri Lanka Opening to November

The Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, Anantara's first property in Sri Lanka, has pushed back its opening date to this November. 

Originally scheduled for a July 2015 opening, back in June the property began taking bookings for October. When it opens Anantara Tangalle will have 152 rooms and villas with custom made Sri Lankan furnishings and al fresco spaces for relaxing, including interconnecting accommodations for families and groups. 

120 rooms offer a bedroom and bathroom with a rain shower and separate oval bathtub, as well as a terrace or balcony with a daybed and dining furniture overlooking tropical gardens or the ocean. 32 one- and two-bedroom villas will have private plunge pools, loungers and space for dining outdoors. Inside, guests enjoy a separate living space and amenities such as a Bose sound system. The two bedroom villas also have an indoor dining room and pantry.

For dining, the resort will have six restaurant, bar and lounge venues. Journeys, an all-day international dining restaurant, will serve world classics and Sri Lankan, Middle Eastern and Asian specialties a la carte or buffet style, with pool and ocean views. For lunch and dinner, Sri Lankan inspired Teppanyaki dining will be available at the Verele beach restaurant. At the cliffside Il Mare, chefs will create seafood and freshly made pasta dishes based on the local catch. El Vino will serve tapas and wine. By day the poolside bar will offer refreshing beverages, light bites and sundowner cocktails, and for a charming retreat the lobby lounge offers high tea with a Sri Lankan twist.

smyth, a thompson hotelSmyth, a Thompson Hotel, Reveals Room Reno

In renovation news, Smyth, a Thompson Hotel, debuted its newly updated guestrooms and suites, marking the end of the second phase of a hotel-wide refresh at the Tribeca property. 

Soho-based Gachot Studios, founded by John and Christine Gachot and known for its work on New York City’s The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, The Sterling Mason Residences and Acme restaurant, spearheaded the renovation project. Inspired by classic Tribeca lofts, the new interiors in the guestrooms and four suites -  the Penthouse, Smyth Suite and two Thompson Suites - draw from the design aesthetic in the hotel lobby spaces. Many materials were sourced locally from Tribeca and greater New York City. 

The four suites are meant to resemble a classic pied-a-terre. Each has its own dining and living room with unique, vintage pieces. Inside are custom black sisal area rugs by ALT for Living, lounge chairs upholstered in a Gachot-designed custom striped fabric, pendant lighting by trans-LUXE, sofas by Montauk Sofa and Bensen, custom coffee tables fabricated by Woodworks, and eclectic artwork. The Penthouse has a master bedroom, living area, full dining room and kitchen with a wet bar for entertaining, plus an 800-square-foot landscaped terrace with a palette of warm wood and black accents. The Smyth Suite includes a master bedroom, living area and dining room with a 300-square-foot terrace.

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