This week has seen a variety of hotel news, from a much buzzed-about Alabama boutique property set to open, to the debut of several new suites around the world. Here’s the latest.
12 New Wellness Suites at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is debuting 12 new Wellness Suites this month. Travelers will enjoy a personal Spa Concierge, who provides counsel on spa treatments and in-suite fitness amenities, including a yoga mat, dumbbells, resistance bands, and a Life Fitness Activate Series Recumbent Lifecycle Exercise Bike.
After the intro, guests can enjoy a massage on the upper terrace of the suite with views of the Banderas Bay. Alchimia Apothecary Aromatherapy Kits with scents ranging from cedar and lavender to tangerine and myrrh are available later in the day, as well as a Vitamin C Sprinkler that lightly spritzes guests on command with a warm bath of vitamin C essential oils.
Additional accommodations include a Nikken Kenko pillow, comforter and LED Lamp with a clock and timer that increases gradually, simulating the dawn and dusk.
The 12 Wellness Suites will make their debut in late October, followed by two Wellness Suites at sister property Casa Velas to be completed by the end of November.
Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook Announces October Debut
The Kessler Collection, a portfolio of 11 artistically-inspired boutique hotels and restaurants, has announced the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook in Alabama will open its doors on October 23.
Situated in the affluent Mountain Brook suburb of Birmingham, the 100-room boutique hotel will include an on-site Grand Bohemian Gallery affording rare, local and international artwork. The property will also have a signature Poseidon Spa, interactive cooking school, wine blending experiences and a tasting room, as well as a rooftop terrace and a restaurant.
The hotel’s interior design focuses on a European, floral atmosphere, with bold colors and oversized chairs, as well as custom designed carpets and lighting meant to reflect the grounds of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Guestrooms are decorated with rich colored drapery and Mitch Kolbe artwork, while The Bohemian Presidential and Vice Presidential Suites have hardwood floors, custom interior textiles and furnishings, and offer views of the gardens. The Grand Bohemian Presidential Suite also has two balconies, a custom bar, and fireplace. The bathrooms are fitted with Calcutta gold marble counters, colorful glass sconces and framed antique glass vanity mirrors.
For dining, Habitat Feed & Social is the hotel's rooftop restaurant, serving regionally inspired cuisine and botanically inspired cocktails. Guests can also visit the hotel’s cooking school, which offers lessons on modern cuisine with both hands-on and demonstration style, or visit the Bohemian wine tasting school next door. Here, visitors can taste 32 different types of wine from an automated wine dispenser, blend their own custom red varietal during a 90-minute interactive educational class, and even create a personalized label.
The Poseidon Spa offers a living wall garden, organic wall coverings, custom chandeliers and teal velvet seating. Treatments include herbal poultice massage, lavender peppermint scalp treatment and an aqua gel facial masque. Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook will also offer a 24-hour fitness center.
Unique New Space Suite at Kameha Grand Zurich
Kameha Grand Zurich, Autograph Collection’s first property in Switzerland, unveiled its new Space Suite this week.
The 224-room property is already well-known for its cool interior designs by Marcel Wanders. However, the new suite was created by German artist Michael Najjar, and was made to resemble the inside of a space station. Najjar has been training for the last three years “for a civilian journey to space on board Virgin Galactic,” as reported by CNN.
The Space Suite, which goes for $2000 a night, comes with a "zero gravity" bed which appears to float in the middle of the air, a steam bath with “views into the universe,” and a video installation depicting space debris in Earth’s orbit. The suite’s TV is linked to the International Space Station’s live feed, and upon arrival guests are welcomed with an automated vocal greeting inspired by John Carpenter's science fiction film "Dark Star."
Rosewood Hotel Georgia Debuts Royal Suite in Vancouver
The Rosewood Royal Suite recently debuted on the 45th floor of the The Private Residences at Hotel Georgia, in Vancouver.
The four-bedroom pied-à-terre boasts a long list of accommodations including a media room, den, dining room, and kitchen. However, the crème de la crème might be the 180 degree views of the city through walls of glass, as well as the balcony.
Guests of the Rosewood Royal Suite are allowed access to an in-suite private chef and a wardrobe consultant who can arrange a shopping excursion. Guests are also treated to evening cocktails in-suite and a daily spa treatment at Sense, A Rosewood Spa. The price of a stay in the Rosewood Royal Suite is just over $11,000 per night.