A Luxury Travel Blog

The Rocco Forte Collection – which currently has 13 luxury hotels in major cities across Europe - has revealed that its first property in the Middle East will open in Abu Dhabi this Autumn. It will be followed by a 146-bedroom property opening in Jeddah in 2011, a 90 All-suite Golf, Spa & Villa Resort in Marrakech in 2011 and a 275 bedroom property in Cairo in 2013.

Moroccan hotel operator, Kenzi Hotels Group, are driving forward their expansion and repositioning themselves as key players in the luxury market with the launch of the new ‘Premium Signature’ range. Recent openings include Kenzi Menara Palace, Marrakech, part of Summit Hotels & Resorts and the Kenzi Tower Hotel, Casablanca, part of Preferred Hotel Group.

2009 was a busy year with the launch of Kenzi Menara Palace, Marrakech, the latest 5 star resort and spa in the Kenzi Group. Opened in March, The Kenzi Menara Palace offers 236 luxury rooms including a Royal Suite in 12 acres of landscaped gardens and is situated in the Red City. Just 2 miles from Marrakech International Airport, it overlooks the Atlas Mountains in a peaceful location from which to visit Marrakech’s major attractions including the atmospheric Jamaa El Fna Square, the colonial quarter of Gueliz and several renowned golf courses.

Anantara Resorts is making its first move in Africa with the management of two unique five-star resorts in Morocco. Anantara Marrakech Resort & Spa and Anantara Mogador Resort & Spa will both open in 2011. Construction work will begin in late 2009. Owned by the Thailand-based Minor International, Anantara offers indigenous and culturally evocative luxury resorts in sought-after destinations with an emphasis on nature, gardens, space and sensual harmony. The rooms are luxuriously appointed and are usually housed in villa-type or low-rise accommodation.

Marrakech is to get a new 204-room hotel which will welcome its first guests in 2011. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Marrakech is Rezidor’s third hotel under development in Morocco, following in the footsteps of the Radisson Resorts which will open in Tangier and Saïdia. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Marrakech be a unique 5 star city resort geared for both business and leisure travellers, with two restaurants, a bar, almost 1,000 square metres of conference and meeting space, a swimming pool and a destination spa with a Moroccan hammam. It will be located within Carré Eden, an exclusive development which includes 80 luxury apartments, a shopping mall and entertainment facilities. Carré Eden can be found in the Guéliz district, a well-established commercial and residential area of Marrakech known for its trendy shops, fashionable bars and clubs.

Traditional Moroccan architectural style and sophisticated contemporary design will merge seamlessly at the new Raffles Taghazout.  The resort, just 40 minutes from Agadir International Airport, will reflect the rich culture, heritage and artistry of Morocco as well as the ambience of cultured luxury that distinguishes Raffles hotels and resorts around the globe. Superbly located on the pristine Atlantic coast with sweeping beachfront views of the azure waters, the resort will open in 2010 and will feature about 165 luxuriously appointed guest room villas as well as 60 Raffles Residences for private ownership.

Be it leisurely enjoyment or sporting pursuits, residents at Raffles Taghazout will enjoy a myriad of options. For those seeking a pampered spa experience, Raffles Amrita Spa, a signature component of all Raffles hotels and resorts, will provide a sanctuary of tranquillity and privacy. The resort also offers a diverse range of dining options, shopping at a traditional souk, tennis courts, a fitness centre and pool, as well as beach club access. And golf enthusiasts can look forward to playing 18 holes on a course designed by award-winning golf course architect David Kidd.

Virgin Limited Edition, Sir Richard Branson’s privately owned collection of award-winning luxury retreats, now has a special ‘Honeymoon’ offer for newlyweds when they book to stay at Kasbah Tamadot – a stunning Moroccan retreat set at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

Guests celebrating their honeymoon can truly relax in a luxurious and romantic setting after their big day. Included in the year round offer is four nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast, one private dinner for two in one of Kasbah Tamadot’s romantic locations, three dinners – a three course meal from the à la carte menu including a bottle of house wine. In addition to this, the happy couple will also receive complimentary space-available upgrade on check in, a bottle of house Champagne on arrival, a traditional Hammam spa treatment each and private return road transfers from Marrakech to Kasbah Tamadot. Rates start from €2,130.

Raffles Resort Marrakech will comprise 150 luxurious rooms and suites, and 36 luxury villas. In addition, the resort will offer three exquisite dining options, state-of-the-art conference and meeting facilities, and the signature RafflesAmrita Spa. The resort will enjoy an exceptional location, just one kilometre away from the old city of Medina, well-known for its ancient monuments dating back to the 12th Century.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has announced an agreement with Moroccan developer, Groupe Cadex, to open its very first property in Morocco in the beautiful resort destination of Marrakech.   Somewhat surprisingly, this is not only the first venture into Morocco for the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand, but also for parent company InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). The new-build resort development – the InterContinental Marrakech Resort & Spa – is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2011 and InterContinental is working closely with Groupe Cadex to create the finest resort in North Africa.

• La Villa des Orangers – Marrakech, Morocco
• Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh Egypt – Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
• Table Bay Hotel Cape Town – Cape Town, South Africa
• Belle Mare Plage Hotel – Belle Mare, Mauritius
• Ngorongoro Crater Lodge – Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
• Le Touessrok – Trou d’eau Douce, Mauritius
• Cape Grace – Cape Town, South Africa
• Hyatt Regency Sharm El-Sheikh Resort – Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
• Steenberg Hotel – Constantia, South Africa
• Shamwari Game Reserve – Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Come back tomorrow for the final instalment – the best in Canada!

For the first time in more than 40 years, Norwegian Cruise Line is going to deploy one of its ships in Europe for the whole year round. The 2,400-passenger Norwegian Jade will remain in Europe until the spring of 2010 – a change from the original plans to sail back to the US in November 2008. Instead she will follow new itineraries from Barcelona, including 12-day eastern Mediterranean sailings, 9-day Canary Islands and Morocco voyages and a 14-day Mediterranean cruise.

Terry Knealing has dropped me a note to draw my attention to his top 10 choices for small luxury hotels worldwide over at LifeOnTop.com.  For the purposes of his list, small hotels are defined as ones that have less than 125 guest rooms and suites (so not necessarily all that small!) Here goes:

1. Oberoi Udaivilas - Rajasthan, India
2. Le Sirenuse - Positano, Italy
3. Las Ventanas Al Paraiso - Los Cabos, Mexico
4. Amanjena Resort Marrakech - Marrakech, Morocco
5. The Setai - Miami, Florida
6. Chateau de Bagnols - Bagnols, France
7. The Milestone Hotel - London, Great Britain
8. The Wheatleigh - Lenox, Massachusetts
9. Ladera - St. Lucia, West Indies
10. Il Falconiere, Relais et Chateaux - Cortona, Tuscany, Italy

A new travel club is poised to cause quite a fuss among luxury travel goers – GoldSmith. The brainchild of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, purveyor of the much-loved guide books and website, this exclusive invitation-only level of Smith membership is a brand-new booking and concierge service that customises and coordinates its clients’ entire trip. From homing in on the comfiest bed adorned with 1000-thread count sheets in Mykonos to recommending a hidden gem of a Riad in Marrakech, Mr. and Mrs. Smith curate their clients’ holidays, with luxury and individuality being of paramount importance. Of the countless perks associated with being a part of this exclusive travel club, some of the favoured Goldsmith benefits include deals on flights and car hire, access to VIP airport lounges and significant upgrades at all Smith hotels. There’s even discounts at premier retailers such as Mulberry (30%) and Jo Malone (20%).

A weekly pick of luxury travel links for your perusal…

• Find your Tuscan soul with Toscana Mia tours
• A taste of Italy in Baltimore from Sabatino’s
• Experience Morocco in London: Mamounia Lounge
• Greece’s new launching K2 Smart Jets

Suite name: Ifri Suite
Resort: Kasbah du Toubkal, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Size of accommodation: 110 sq m
Cost per night: 420 euros
What makes it special? The 12m glass wall in the lounge with views of Jbel Toubkal the largest mountain in North Africa.

This generous garden apartment comes with a deluxe double or twin bedroom, with rolltop bath with shower, twin wash basins, bidet and WC. It offers a generous living area – the large lounge has a 12m glass wall opening to a balcony with views of waterfalls and the High Atlas Mountains.

The accommodation is complete with a fitted kitchen, a private sun/breakfast terrace and access to a shared garden.  It is easily accessible from Marrakech which is just 40 miles away.

The $600 million Royal Resort Cap Malabata, in Tangiers, Morocco, is being officially launched today. The  resort is a mixed-use tourism, commercial and residential destination on the Mediterranean coast and the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the two distinctive but complementary elements of the $1.4 billion ‘Gateway to Morocco’ project. The second is the Royal Ranches Marrakech, in the city of Marrakech.

According to news just in, Golden Tulip Hospitality are introducing a new luxury brand.  The Royal Tulip, as it will be known, will be a five-star brand and be first introduced to Amsterdam, Berlin, Casablanca, Mirbat and Dallas TX.  Golden Tulip Hotels and Golden Tulip Resorts will continue to cater for the four star market.