Latest news with #DesignHotels
Hospitality Net
28-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Introducing Eight New Members of Design Hotels
From charming retreats in Upstate New York and the Swiss Alps to urban wonders in Baltimore and Prague, discover the newest members of Design Hotels around the world. Situated in an array of locations ideal for different types of travelers, the following eight new members showcase unique transformations of spaces. In one, guests will discover underground concrete wine tanks that have become a series of inviting baths. At another, a family's former villa now boasts a beachfront all-suite hotel. And in a historic structure dating to 1912, visitors can sip craft cocktails amongst contemporary high-camp style in an homage to John Waters. Source: Marriott LA PUNTA ZICATELA, MEXICO At Hotel Humano by Grupo Habita in Puerto Escondido, local culture takes center stage. Steps away from Zicatela Beach, one of the most renowned surf destinations in the world, guests can blend in with the locals as they surf, chill, and repeat—or simply take in stunning Pacific Coast sunsets from a relaxed yet pampering atmosphere filled with gardens, fire pits, and poolside pleasures. Permeable lattice structures enable a seamless flow between interiors and the outdoors, while a rooftop garden and central courtyard provide ample room to lounge beneath the Mexican sun and fresh ocean breeze. Throughout the hotel, materials like exposed concrete contrast with clay tiles, raw bricks, and tropical wood details, all of which were sourced, produced, or handcrafted locally. Welcoming barefoot guests among simple luxury, the hotel places the focus on the enchanting Oaxacan coast and allowing visitors to effortlessly integrate with the local culture. TULUM, MEXICO A private coastal sanctuary of suites thoughtfully oriented toward the sea, XELA Tulum is a beachfront, soulful retreat for likeminded spirits seeking laidback luxury and an authentic experience in the heart of the Caribbean. The hotel was designed to evoke a sense of ease and a beach house ambiance, with a color palette dominated by soft, sand-like hues and warm oranges, accented by organic woods, woven fibers, and stone finishes. Originally a chic European family's private holiday home, the property now boasts a carefully preserved charm with the added amenities of contemporary communal spaces, a sophisticated bar, a serene spa, and a garden-facing gym. Additionally, three restaurants operated by the hotel offer a range of dining experiences: The on-property XELA Restaurant & Bar pairs a seasonal, local menu with signature cocktails. Nestled within a stylish nearby roadside shack, Los Bowls de Guadalupe presents healthy organic bites, smoothies, and bowls. And NÜ Tulum, an upscale experience also close to the hotel, was mentioned in Mexico's first Michelin Guide. Source: Marriott NEW YORK CITY, USA Tucked in the heart of Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, surrounded by old brownstones and tree-lined streets, The Moore greets guests with a classic façade that has deliberately been left untouched—a nod to Clement Clarke Moore, who developed Chelsea in the 1800s. Behind the historical façade is a lobby designed to feel like a living room and 81 luxe guestrooms, where the pervading feeling is more about home than hotel. Believing that the coziest spaces always present warm tones of woods and velvets, the hotel's designers augment a rich neutral pallet with off-white linen-textured walls, wide-planked oak-wood flooring, teak wall paneling, and furniture with brass inlays. Windows are draped in a modern, deep-charcoal velvet, framing plush fabric headboards and desk chairs upholstered in mohair and velvet. Downstairs, the 24-hour Cafe Moore serves pastries and resembles an old diner counter, while the seasonal roof terraces is home to Moore Wine bar. The hotel also has an intimate gym and offers partnerships with local businesses, including Bathhouse, Bombshell Pilates, Soul Cycle, and the neighboring restaurant Marsanne. KINGSTON, USA Less than 90 minutes north of Manhattan, Hotel Kinsley is spread across four historic buildings in the charming village of Kingston, close to countless hiking trails, local farms, breweries, and more. Graced by the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River, the hotel presents an inviting world of exposed beams, stone walls, and a mixture of locally scouted vintage pieces, custom furniture and millwork, and original moldings. Each of the four buildings, which date from the 17th to the 19th centuries, is set on a different street and contains its own unique story and aesthetic featuring designs by Robert McKinley, Vanessa Guilford and Aviva Blaichman. In one, guests will discover a serene gym. In another, infrared saunas and a private massage room await. Another hosts Restaurant Kinsley, which offers a fresh take on New American cuisine with indoor and outdoor seating. Similarly, every room has its own personality and gives the feeling of staying in a private residence, courtesy of features like original fireplaces and abstract art from the owner's private collection. Unifying the experience are watercolor illustrations, found throughout all buildings and created by a celebrated Brooklyn-based artist. Source: Marriott BALTIMORE, USA Farther down the East Coast is Hotel Ulysses in Baltimore's Mount Vernon Historic District. An homage to local icons John Waters, Edgar Allen Poe, and Billie Holiday, the hotel is a stylized world full of drama, mystery, and playfulness set within a nine-story structure built in 1912. Largely inspired by Waters's high-camp style, guests will discover vibrant leopard-print carpets, vintage furniture, and flamingo motifs. Rooms boast four color schemes—cerise, citron, jade, and azure—and are adorned with canopy beds, plush quilted bedding, hand-beaded Indian lampshades, charming antique finds, and handpicked artwork from around the globe. Public spaces, designed to pique curiosity, include the all-day café, market, and nightspot Ash—Bar, where guests can enjoy breakfast and afternoons can stretch long into nights; Bloom's, a plush cocktail bar serving up classics from the Prohibition era as well as famous drinks from the 1970s; and The Coral Wig, a cocktail bar tucked in the hotel's alley inspired by the clubs of 1980s-era Manila. PRAGUE, CZECHIA Set in a 19th-century landmark building with beautiful views of the Vltava River, Sir Prague Hotel is a Gothic wonder with an inviting contemporary spirit in the heart of the Czech capital city. Built in 1884, the structure was once home to Prague's Ministry of Coal. Inspired by this history, the hotel's designers drew attention to traditional stonework and ornate ceilings, while introducing geometric shapes and graphic patterns inspired by the Czech Republic's Cubist era. As a result, contrasting materials provide a unique and energetic aesthetic, with rooms also featuring whimsical artwork. Guests can relax in the library, where soft lighting, elegant woodwork, and Murano chandeliers create a quiet place to unwind or rendezvous. Steps beyond this urban sanctuary are the famous Dancing House and a unique mix of UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architecture as well as Art Nouveau and Cubist landmarks. Source: Marriott MARTIGNY, SWITZERLAND Located at the foot of the Swiss Alps in the once-thriving Roman settlement of Martigny (33 kilometers south of Montreux), Hôtel Borsari is situated within a stunningly renovated former agro-industrial site and winery. The hotel's bold design combines this history with an eclectic mix of midcentury pieces, embraced by warm deep-wine reds and complemented by concrete, brick, granite, terrazzo, oak, and larch. Each floor is characterized by dark green, dark red, basalt black, or blue, each of which represent the fundamental elements of the region: foliage, grapes, minerals, and spring water. Underground, guests will discover a series of original borsaris, or concrete wine tanks, that have been transformed into extraordinary baths. Back upstairs, a cobblestone courtyard between the hotel's two buildings offers the ideal setting for alfresco indulgence at the in-house dining outlets Le Cercle, focusing on culinary delights, or La Saucithèque, showcasing the hotel's emphasis on wine. MÜNSTER, GERMANY A welcoming city hotel that could easily belong in Stockholm, Amsterdam, or New York, Mauritzhof Hotel Münster presents sublime elegance with an artistic flair on a promenade just minutes from Münster's historical center. Oiled oak-parquet floors, regional limestone, and a warm, dark color palette create a sophisticated, inviting setting. Works by local artists abound, including those of well-known photographer Berthold Socha. The open-plan lobby features a fireplace alongside pieces by Gubi and Fredericia to create a relaxed lounge space. The hotel is perhaps most recognized for Reckos Restaurant, a unique and sought-after destination in the city, where locally inspired, down-to-earth dishes celebrate the region's finest produce and the changing seasons. Plus, an outdoor terrace equipped with heaters and canopies is the perfect year-round setting for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or enjoying a sunset cocktail with friends. About Design Hotels For 30 years, Design Hotels has been at the forefront of a movement in travel by crafting a handpicked portfolio of 300+ independently owned and operated hotels in over 50 countries. From cultural hubs in fast-paced cities to tiny off-the-beaten-path escapes, each hotel reflects the vision of its pioneering owner—or 'Original'—who possesses a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, thought-provoking design, and architecture. More than a collection of hotels, Design Hotels brings forward-thinking member hotels insightful travel industry expertise – from trend forecasting and creative consultancy, to PR, marketing, and global sales representation. Design Hotels is headquartered in Berlin, with branches in London, Los Angeles, New York, and Singapore. In 2019, the company partnered with Marriott Bonvoy ® , expanding the reach of its member hotels and offering its community access to the industry's leading loyalty program. About Marriott International Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 9,100 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 142 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on X and Instagram. About Marriott Bonvoy Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International's award-winning travel programme and marketplace, gives members access to transformative, eye-opening experiences around the corner and across the globe. Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 31 extraordinary brands offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments™, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques®. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalisation and contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind. To enrol for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit To download the Marriott app, go here. Travelers can also connect with Marriott Bonvoy on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok. View source
New York Times
07-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
How to Get a Great Rate on a Hotel Room
With the cost of hotel stays generally trending upward — 2024 saw the highest recorded average daily rates in the U.S., for starters — the luxury hospitality world may not seem the most fertile bargain-hunting ground. But you can still find deals, and they go well beyond those you can obtain by converting your credit card and loyalty points into discounts. Here are six ways to get the best prices at some top hotels. When a hotel first opens or signs up with a new booking site, room rates are sometimes heavily discounted. A good starting point is the boutique and luxury hotel membership program Dis-loyalty, run by the Ennismore Lifestyle Collective. For a membership fee of $18 per month, you'll get deals and perks at 10 hotel brands (Mondrian, SLS and the Hoxton, among others) that include 50 percent off any of the site's new hotels within the first three months of opening day. One current example: At the Hoxton, Florence, in Italy, which opened in March, members can book a late May stay for a starting nightly rate of $235, compared with the standard $470. Another membership-based hotel collection, Design Hotels, offers free membership and various discounts — among them, 50 percent 'debut' savings on certain properties that are new to the collection, including Xela Tulum, a 12-room hotel on Mexico's Caribbean coast that opened in late 2023. At press time, a sample starting rate in May on the Design Hotels site was $266 per night — half the standard $532. Image Credit... Ilya Milstein Roberto Cowan, a co-founder of the Desert Vintage boutiques, which has outposts in Tucson, Ariz.; New York; and, later this year, Paris, suggests calling the hotel directly for the best rates. You never know where a politely asked 'Is that the best you can do?' will lead, he says. Among his biggest successes was a New Year's trip to Harmony Nosara, an upscale surfing and yoga retreat in Costa Rica. After the website showed there wasn't any availability on the days he was hoping to visit, he phoned the front desk and was told that the hotel could accommodate him if he were willing to change rooms during his stay. 'I was in the most beautiful place, I didn't mind having to move [rooms], and they were willing to work with me because of the inconvenience,' he says. In the end, he saved about 40 percent on rooms that typically run about $1,000 per night at that time of year. Wendy Perrin, the founder of a travel advice website, thinks front desk diplomacy may also work to your advantage in other scenarios: say, when you're already at a hotel and trying to extend your stay, or you're showing up last-minute, late at night, without a reservation. 'The closer you get to the time when the value of the room is going to perish,' she notes, the likelier you are to get a discount. Many hospitality brands, marketing consortiums and booking sites have newsletters you can sign up for with a complimentary membership. Though these dispatches are meant primarily as travel inspiration, they also tend to direct subscribers to a wide range of discounts. Small Luxury Hotels, for example, recently offered up to 20 percent off suites at about 168 properties, such as Torralbenc, a farm turned luxury retreat on the Spanish island of Minorca, and the Gaia Riverlodge, a cluster of thatch-roofed cabanas in Belize. And Mr. & Mrs. Smith promoted up to 35 percent off last-minute hotel stays over Easter weekend in destinations including Denver and Buenos Aires. Membership can confer other money-saving perks, too, says Perrin: upgrades, late checkouts, free meals and even the occasional free night. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Telegraph
07-03-2025
- Telegraph
The design-led Almyra Hotel is set amongst rich history
First impressions count for Almyra, a member of the Design Hotels group. Its contemporary whitewashed design imbues a chilled vibe for everyone who visits. This terraced complex, spread across eight acres of landscaped gardens, combines luxe materials such as Carrara marble with natural materials and artisanal touches. Meanwhile, the accents of blue found across its 188 guest rooms complement the cerulean waters that lap its prime seafront location in central Paphos. It's a mere 20-minute drive from Paphos International Airport and it's in striking distance of the area's best beach. A 10-minute stroll will also take you to the city's historic harbour and Unesco-protected Archaeological Park, with the cobbled old town only a 5-10-minute drive away. Almyra goes above and beyond when it comes to catering for couples and families. Those keen to shake off all cares with a pampering spa treatment or yoga session can retreat to the adults-only Almyraspa, with its heartstopping sea views and state-of-the-art gym. Its health-focused Eauzone restaurant serves everything from spa-healthy fruit shakes to heritage cocktails, and there's an inviting adults-only Almyraspa pool. Beyond the spa, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to taking a dip, with the hotel's four outdoor freshwater pools, one of which is adults-only and two of which look out to sea. Those with young travellers are well taken care of, too, with interconnected family rooms, a shaded children's pool and age-specific clubs that welcome children from four months to 12 years old. Its brilliant Baby Go Lightly baby concierge service allows parents to lighten the load when they travel, by ordering everything from nappies and sterilisers to baby toiletries and even prams ahead of their arrival. There are English-speaking babysitters available for a fee and a varied kids' club programme – spanning pottery lessons to baking sessions – with local excursions offered to older children, too. Dining at this stylish hotel is, as expected, a five-star experience, with no fewer than four restaurants for guests to choose from. Savour Mediterranean-Asian fusion flavours at Almyra's al fresco signature restaurant Notios, and sizzling Cypriot sensations at the traditional seafront taverna, Ouzeri. The hotel's main restaurant, Mosaics, serves breakfast and becomes an atmospheric dining space come evening. Then there's Antasia, an architecturally cool restaurant, bar and beach club that's a short seafront walk from the resort – here you'll find Asian and Medinspired flavours, expertly crafted cocktails and a chilled soundtrack that will hit the spot for fun-loving guests. When you've had your fill of the hotel's excellent cuisine, you can try the restaurants at Almyra's sister hotel, Annabelle, just a few minutes' walk away. Guests can enjoy access to four championship golf courses, which are a 15- to 30-minute drive away. The golf scene here joins a list of activities, including personal training and other pursuits offered by Almyra, and some of the greens have stunning views of the south Cyprus coastline.
