A Luxury Travel Blog

Set close to the edge of the Grand Canyon’s southern rim, the El Tovar Hotel has a restaurant where the views are to die for. Here, Southwestern flavours prevail throughout the menu, whether it be buffalo carpaccio on roasted crostini or wild Alaskan salmon tostada with a tequila vinaigrette. The best tables go quickly on a first come first serve basis, so be prepared!

Embassy Suites Hotels, an upscale Hilton brand, is planning to open 62 franchised hotels in the next three years. It currently has 192 hotels, and officials say the planned properties represent the strongest development pipeline in the brand’s 24-year history. New properties will include locations in Memphis, Denver, New Orleans, Houston, St. Louis and Miami. The Embassy Suites Jackson-Ridgeland will be the brand’s first in Mississippi, and is scheduled to open in November 2008.

The brand is also expanding in Latin America, with properties in Valencia, Venezuela; San Jose, Costa Rica; Tijuana, Mexico; and Panama City, Panama.

Enjoy England have got 8 luxury Escape to Hadrian’s Wall Country 2-night breaks for 2 people to give away in a free prize draw. Stay in one of 4 Marriott hotels in the region (Newcastle Gosforth Park, Newcastle MetroCentre, Sunderland, Durham) - and they’ll even throw in a year’s free pass to all English Heritage wall sites.  To enter, simply click here. Entries must be received by 30th September 2008.

One of Jeddah’s leading luxury hotels, the Rosewood Corniche, will be offering private dining suites for guests during Ramadan. Three VIP suites will feature private dining rooms in which diners will be served Iftar and Sohour meals created especially for the suite guests. Each suite has its own Majlis, decorated in the style of a traditional Bedouin tent, complete with Arabic lanterns and floor seating on plush cushions.

In addition to the combination of luxury and privacy, Rosewood Corniche is an ideal venue for pilgrims due to its close proximity to the Holy City of Mecca, some 50 minutes away. The hotel provides customised Umrah trips for guests in its collection of BMW limousines.

Emirates’ passengers travelling to Dubai during the religious month of Ramadan can enjoy two nights accommodation from as little as $57 a night per person. The offer, which runs from 1st September to 30th September 2008, involves six select hotels in Dubai; the Marco Polo Hotel, Novotel World Trade Centre Dubai, Ibis World Trade Centre Dubai, Highland Hotel, Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City and the Hyatt Regency Dubai. Extra nights with bed and breakfast are also available at special rates, providing bookings are within the offer period.

Karma Resorts’ second property, Karma Samui on the idyllic Koh Samui, Thailand recently celebrated its second year of operation with a stylish, beach-themed party on its golden sands. Over 100 guests were treated to a night of exquisite, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine created by executive chef Stefano Leone, accompanied by flowing champagne and fireworks. Music to accompany the evening was provided by the resident DJ from Bangkok’s renowned Sukhothai Hotel.

The birthday celebrations were attended by resort staff and guests; dignitaries from Koh Samui and Bangkok; friends of the resort; and familiar faces including England rugby star Dan Scarborough, visiting the resort for his honeymoon. A number of the Karma Resorts team involved in the construction of the property also returned for the celebration, including design and construction manager, Richard Manser, and his family.

A unique combination of luxury, space and privacy, Karma Samui is nestled in a serene cove and offers 36 exclusive villas constructed in the style of a village, all boasting magnificent sea views. Elements of traditional Thai and contemporary design merge to create a perfect harmony of East meets West, providing the highest standards of service and resort facilities including a Chakra Spa. Karma Samui embraces the concept of choice, offering bespoke experiences and lifestyle options to suit every requirement.

Beatles Week at the Hard Days Night Hotel will be launched tomorrow with various events taking place throughout the city of Liverpool.  Along with The Cavern Club, the Hard Days Night Hotel will play host to a number of live bands.  Please find below the current line up:

Friday 22nd August
8.00pm - Acoustic Beatles
9.00pm - Marcus
10.00pm - Bob Bartey
11.00pm - Jan Britten Owen

Saturday 23rd August
8.00pm - Gavin Pring
9.00pm - Tony Skeggs
10.00pm - Tony Murtagh
11.00pm - Acoustic Beatles

Sunday 24th August
8.00pm - Two of Us
9.00pm - Hal Bruce
10.00pm - Gary Quinn
11.00pm - Alison Crowe

The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong has launched a new treatment - a caviar collagen facial. Available from 19th August to 30th November 2008, and priced at HK$1,400 this 75-minute facial is designed to rejuvenate tone and texture while leaving skin with a more youthful glow and softer feel. Guests booking their facial before 5 p.m. may choose the extra-luxurious option of the caviar collagen facial followed by a hair blow dry in the Mandarin Salon with a glass of Champagne for an additional HK$200.

Benefits of the caviar collagen facial include instant firming effects, reinforcement of the skin’s natural defence system and gentle soothing of irritated skin. To ensure the benefits continue, guests are given a moisture serum to take home and apply for the following seven days. For best results, an intensive five-week programme is recommended.

If you’re a family of more than four, you’ll know how difficult it to find good quality accommodation sometimes.  Invariably you will need two interconnecting rooms which can drastically increase the cost. At The Ritz they are currently welcoming the chance to entertain the younger generation, offering families the chance to stay at The Ritz for only £500 per night inclusive of service charge. This offer applies to families of up to five people who will be accommodated in either two rooms or a suite. Your children will become members of Kidz@theritz, membership of which entitles them to a welcome goodie bag, complimentary ice cream, milk and cookies on turndown and children’s amenities that include bathrobes, slippers and toiletries. Their Teen Concierge is on hand to assist with recommendations of fun things to do in London.

The second annual Ultratravel 100, a consumer-driven survey in Ultratravel magazine (distributed monthly with The Daily Telegraph in the UK) has announced the following winners:

Tour Operator

Winner - Kuoni www.kuoni.co.uk

Runners-up 
Audley Travel www.audleytravel.com 
Bales Worldwide www.balesworldwide.com
Cox & Kings www.coxandkings.co.uk 
ITC Classics www.itcclassics.co.uk

Cruise Company

Winner - Cunard www.cunard.co.uk

Runners-up 
P&O Cruises www.pocruises.com 
Princess Cruises www.princess.com 
Royal Caribbean www.royalcaribbean.com
Silversea www.silversea.com

European Hotel

Winner - Four Seasons George V, Paris www.fourseasons.com/paris

Runners-up
cipriani, Venice www.hotelcipriani.com
Claridge’s, London www.claridges.co.uk
Danieli, Venice www.hoteldanielivenice.com
Plaza Athénée, Paris www.plaza-athenee-paris.com

Middle East Hotel

Winner - Burj al Arab, Dubai www.burj-al-arab.com

Runners-up
The Chedi, Muscat - www.chedimuscat.com
Four Seasons Hotel Doha www.fourseasons.com/doha
Jumeirah beach hotel, Dubai www.jumeirahbeachhotel.com
Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai www.madinatjumeirah.com

African Indian Ocean Hotel

Winner
Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town www.mountnelson.co.za

Runners-up
The Bay Hotel Camps Bay, Cape Town www.thebay.co.za
Le Prince Maurice, Mauritius www.princemaurice.com
Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives www.tajhotels.com
Le Touessrok, Mauritius, www.letouessrokresort.com  

Asian Hotel

Winner - Raffles Hotel, Singapore www.singapore.raffles.com

Runners-up
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong
The Oriental, Bangkok www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok
The Peninsula, Hong Kong www.hongkong.peninsula.com 
Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore www.shangri-la.com/singapore

Australasian Hotel

Winner - Park Hyatt, Sydney www.sydney.park.hyatt.com  

Runners-up
The Charlotte Jane, Christchurch www.charlotte-jane.co.nz 
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney www.fourseasons.com/sydney
The Observatory, Sydney www.observatoryhotel.com.au
Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney www.shangri-la.com/sydney

North American Hotel

Winner - Four Season Hotel New York www.fourseasons.com/newyorkfs

Runners-up
The Carlyle, New York www.thecarlyle.com
Le Château Frontenac, Quebec www.fairmont.com/frontenac
Mandarin Oriental, New York www.mandarinoriental.com/newyork
Waldorf Astoria, New York www.waldorfastoria.hilton.com

South American Hotel

Winner - Alvear Palace, Buenos Aires, www.alvearpalace.com

Runners-up 
Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro www.copacabanapalace.com.br
Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires www.fourseasons.com/buenosaires
Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco www.monasterio.orient-express.com
Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya, Yucatan www.mandarinoriental.com/rivieramaya

Caribbean Hotel

Winner - Sandy Lane, Barbados www.sandylane.com

Runners-up
Carlisle Bay, Antigua www.carlisle-bay.com
Cobblers Cove, Barbados www.cobblerscove.com
Jumby Bay, Antigua www.jumbybayresort.com
Raffles Resort, Canouan Island, Grenadines www.canouan.raffles.com

European Airline

Winner - British Airways www.ba.com

Runners-up
Air France www.airfrance.com
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines www.klm.com
Lufthansa www.lufthansa.com
Virgin Atlantic www.virgin-atlantic.com

Middle East Airline

Winner - Emirates www.emirates.com  

Runners-up
Etihad Airways www.etihadairways.com 
Gulf Air www.gulfairco.com  
Qatar Airways www.qatarairways.com
Royal Jordanian www.rj.com

African Airline

Winner - South African Airways www.flysaa.com

Runners-up
Air Namibia www.airnamibia.com
Ethiopian Airways www.ethiopianairlines.com
Kenya Airways www.kenya-airways.com
Royal Air Maroc www.royalairmaroc.com  

Asian Airline

Winner - Singapore Airlines www.singaporeair.com

Runners-up
Cathay Pacific www.cathaypacific.com
Malaysia Airlines www.malaysiaairlines.com
Royal Brunei Airlines www.bruneiair.com  
Thai Airways www.thaiair.com

North American Airline

Winner - American Airlines www.aa.com

Runners-up
Air Canada www.aircanada.com
Continental Airlines www.continental.com
Delta Airlines www.delta.com
United Airlines www.united.com

Worldwide Airport

Winner - Changi, Singapore www.changiairport.com  

Runners-up
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Thailand www.airportsuvarnabhumi.com
Doha International, Qatar www.dohaairport.com 
Dubai International www.dubaiairport.com
Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong www.hongkongairport.com

Worldwide Spa

Winner - Chiva-Som, Thailand www.chivasom.com

Runners-up 
Banyan Tree Phuket www.banyantree.com
Champneys, United Kingdom www.champneys.com  
Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia www.pangkorlautresort.com
Thermae Bath Spa, United Kingdom www.thermaebathspa.com  

Worldwide Ski Resort

Winner - Zermatt www.zermatt.ch

Runners-up
Aspen, Colorado www.aspensnowmass.com 
St Moritz www.stmoritz.ch
Val D’Isère www.valdisere.com
Whistler, British Columbia www.tourismwhistler.com

Worldwide Destination

Winner
Australia www.australia.com

Runners-up
Italy www.italiantouristboard.co.uk  
New Zealand www.newzealand.com
South Africa www.southafrica.net  
United States of America www.visitusa.org.uk  

At the back end of last year the Burj Al Arab launched Junsui- a modern buffet restaurant offering authentic Asian dishes prepared live in opulent surroundings specifically designed by Khuan Chew. Junsui, meaning ‘Pure’ in Japanese, is open to external guests for lunch and dinner, as well as serving breakfast to in-house guests. The restaurant consists of twelve live cooking stations, incorporating authentic cuisine (hot, cold and pastry) from China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Korea. The family-friendly restaurant is be located on the ground mezzanine floor, with stunning views over the Arabian Gulf, The Palm and The World islands, and includes an adjacent cocktail lounge for pre- and post-dinner drinks.

Beijing’s newest hotel opens today, fractionally late for the Olympics but still able to take advantage of the spectacle. The Opposite House has 99 generous rooms (reputedly among the largest in Beijing) and was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. This new boutique hotel has a Mediterranean restaurant and one that specialises in North Asian cuisine, as well as two bars, a café and a facility for private dining.