Aman Nath, founder of Neemrana Hotels told the Indian press that his company will convert Hyderabad‘s Chowmahalla Palace into a heritage museum/hotel. Built over 200 years ago, Chowmahalla is renowned for its unique style and elegance. Chowmahalla is where the ruling Asaf Jahi dynasty entertained their official guests and royal visitors.

Bigger, biggest: Starwood announced that it opened 27 hotels in North America in 2011, more than it had predicted this time last year with the addition of several high quality conversions that were signed and opened during the course of the year. In addition, in 2011 Starwood signed more new deals than in the previous two years. In fact, Starwood’s North American division – the company’s largest with 550+ hotels – led all of its global divisions in new deal signings last year. Looking ahead to 2012, Starwood is slated to open 20 new properties in North America, not including late breaking in-the-year conversions which are expected to result in additional new hotels this year. Meanwhile Hilton Worldwide opened a total of 170 hotels and gained supply share in each of its global regions. In the United States, Hilton Worldwide has over 10 percent of the room supply market share, the largest in the country, as well as over 18 percent of the active industry room pipeline in the planning to construction phases.

Four Seasons Hotels unveils $16m website: The result of the investment is a slick, bright website, with a new booking process, social media integration and personal profile technology that allows users to set preferences and create a more targeted online experience. It is also optimised for mobile, which provides access to a scaled-down site that includes videos, images, room rates and booking. Four Seasons’ revamp is part of an effort to improve online revenue – though its website attracts 30m visitors each year, online bookings only account for 12% of total revenue, an increase of just 2% in five years. Ooh, we did that a lot cheaper at stylehotelsweb…

Also, Wyndham Hotel Group launched a new website. The website is part of Wyndham Hotel Group’s Direct Strategy designed to recapture business by driving more bookings through the company’s own channels. The strategy calls for improved brand websites, several of which have already been unveiled, as well as enhanced alternative sell, a distribution model enabling Wyndham Hotel Group brands to be sold on sister websites. The Planet Hollywood, Dream and Night websites seem to not ready yet. And we think Encore, Ramada’s subbrand could do with a better image for the market they are targeting.

Yes, the Palihotel Melrose is opening February 1st. Three years after opening his stylish extended-stay hotel, Palihouse Holloway in West Hollywood (now with  Sam Nazarian’s SBE empire), Los Angeles hotelier Avi Brosh is back again with this 32-room boutique hotel envisioned as a “European neighborhood inn”. Which is quite the opposite of the Palihouse Holloway, specifically regarding the size of the guestrooms.

The Stoneleigh Hotel in Dallas is joining Luxe. The 170-room hotel, which opened in 1924, is to be called the Luxe Stoneleigh Dallas Hotel & Spa in the 2nd quarter of 2012. Redesigned by internationally recognized interior design firm Forrest Perkins, the property recently underwent a $36 million renovation which restored its historic grandiosity and added a chic new personality and energetic vibe.

After making its debut in Cardiff, Wales, three years ago, UK budget brand Sleeperz Hotels has now added property number two to its budding portfolio: the 98-room, six-storey  Sleeperz Newcastle, which opened this week in the city of Newcastle, northeast England. Its guests might be getting a good night’s rest, but there’ll be no sleeping for this London-based group, however, as it is planning to develop a network of hotels across city centres in the UK. According to the group’s chief executive, David Myers, hotels in London and Liverpool are in the pre-planning stage and further sites are being considered in Birmingham and Bristol.

Stylehotelsweb is on annual leave. See you back after February 15!

Two name changes this week. Still the same management, but the Diva Resort in the Maldives is now Lux* Maldives and the The Tides Riviera Maya is now Viceroy Riviera Maya (see the blog item January 12).

Two prestigious city palaces on Vienna’s Schubertring will be transformed into the The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna and will open in the second quarter of this year. Schubertring is part of the Ringstrasse which encircles the old town of Vienna and houses the Vienna State Opera and the Museum of Fine Arts. Ritz-Carlton, Vienna will have 202 five-star rooms.

The Peninsula, Hong Kong, one of the world’s iconic hotels will be refurbishing all of its 297 rooms. The two-phase operation already started in the Peninsula Tower, so not to disturb the guests in the original Peninsula building, and will be finished by August 2012. The last phase, that of the original Peninsula, will last untill early 2013.

China’s HNA Group has given up bidding for Indian’s DLF Group Amanresorts portfolio, Reuters reports. DLF Group was seeking bids in the range of $4m. Reports say that biddings came not higher than $3m-$3.15m and DLF is stalling the sale.

Hotelier Andre Balasz of The Standard Hotels, The Mercer and Chateau Marmont fame also lost out on his bid to acquire New York’s Temple Court Building. The 1883-vintage, nine-story palace at Beekman Street  near NYC’s City Hall, encloses a breathtaking, glass-topped central atrium and is ringed on each floor by Victorian iron balustrades. The building was vacant for a decade, but became the talk of the real estate world after the owners removed the drywall and uncovered the majestic interior. The building is to be turned into a 200-room hotel. Balasz is said to have lost his $5m deposit after struggling to get the project financed.

What is opening in New York is the Out NYC, the city’s first gay-oriented hotel. The hotel’s website is taking reservations from March 1 and the renderings look very good indeed.

The Hues Boutique Hotel in old Dubai, which opened in October 2011, blends neutral colors with bold orange, green, blue and yellow themes to deliver a 4-star experience at affordable prices.

Draw Link Group employed a solid surface façade — normally used in working kitchens — for the hotel’s exterior as well as in areas such as the lobby, where it provides a blank canvas for colored lights that change to reflect various atmospheres. The lobby also features a cherrywood reception desk, polished marble finishes and a skylight. The property includes an abundance of glass — from a translucent elevator to see-through railings — to offer interesting views.

Each floor is identified by a different color scheme — orange for the first floor, green for the second, blue for the third and yellow for the fourth. The 103 guestrooms boast a two-tone color scheme combining white and the color of the floor level. Each room offers a sea view and is equipped with automatic touch panels controlling lighting and other electronics.

F&B outlets include three restaurants — an international restaurant, a tapas bar and all-day dining — as well as a minimalist, all-white lounge bar with a striking spider structure.

There are also two meeting rooms, a business center, a men’s spa, a women’s spa, a gym and a swimming pool.

Hyatt announces the opening of the Hyatt Capital Gate Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Already declared by Guinness as the world’s leanest building with its  18 degree lean – more than four times that of the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Hyatt Hotel occupies levels 18 (where the ‘twist’ starts) to 35. The hotel’s ‘sky lobby’ is suspended 80 metres above the ground on the 18th floor, offering panoramic views of the city. The spa and fitness centre on the 19th floor will include a swimming pool which cantilevers from the side of the building with 270- degree views of the surrounding horizon. Due to unique shape of the tower, each room on the floors above will have a different shape and orientation. There’s a restaurant serving Easter Mediterranean specialties, a lounge for drinks and snacks and on the ground floor a restaurant catering to the adjacent exhibition center offering a unique à la carte menu that revolves around small baked pastries with sweet or savory fillings. Shown here is the Capital Gate Tower (on the left), exhibition center and Aloft Hotel (on the right). See the Aloft profile for another image and nighttime angle of the Capital Gate Tower.

After the recent take-over by the Andre Balasz Hotel Group the Cooper Square Hotel in New York City’s East Village is now managed and part of Andre Balasz’ The Standard chain and renamed The Standard East Village – New York.

Rezidor announced the 2014 scheduled opening of the Missoni Hotel on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It will be the 66th country where Rezidor is present. Missoni Hotels in the collabaration between the Italian fashion house and the Rezidor group, which operates several Carlson brands in the EMEA region under such names as Radisson Blu and Park Inn. Missoni Mauritius will have 80 suites and will be designed in the iconic, colourful style for which Missoni is known. Missoni Hotels in Edinburgh and Kuwait are already open. Oman, Brazil and Turkey are planned.

The Shelborne Hotel in Miami Beach renovated the first 50 of its 200 rooms. And the look mighty fine! When making reservations be sure to opt for one of these Premiere rooms.

Morgans Hotel Group announced its 7th hotel for the Mondrian brand. The 128 room is scheduled to open in 2014 in Istanbul’s, Turkey, old town near such sites as the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia, the Sultanahmet Mosque (or Blue Mosque), the Grand Bazaar and the 1,500 year-old Basilica Cistern. The hotel is expected to include original food and beverage options, function space, a spa renovated from an existing historic Turkish bath and additional facilities and amenities indicative of a lifestyle hotel. Already this year Morgans announced it has entered into hotel management agreements for Mondrian-branded hotels located in Doha (Qatar), Nassau (Bahamas), and London (UK).

Twenty Five Hours hotels will open its first hotel in Berlin in 2013. 25hours currently operates two hotels in Frankfurt and Hamburg each, one in Vienna and one is coming soon to Zurich. The 149 room project is located in the city centre west of Berlin, right in front of the famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church or Gedächtniskirche. It will enter into some stiff competition in a city already full of style and design hotels.

W Hotels Worldwide will mark its debut in France on February 14, 2012 with the new W Paris – Opéra hotel. 

Owned by Barcelona-based Meridia Capital, the hotel is set inside an elegant 1870s Haussman-era heritage building. W Paris – Opera has been designed jointly by W Global Brand Design and Rockwell Group Europe (RGe) led by Diego Gronda, its Managing and Creative Director. RGe is the Madrid office of New York-based Rockwell Group, founded by David Rockwell over 25 years ago. Known for iconic design projects including the 81st and 82nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, the Juana Manso complex in Buenos Aires and Wasabi by Morimoto restaurant in Mumbai, Rockwell Group’s projects around the world demonstrate the company’s capacity to understand global brands while creating immersive, experiential, locally relevant environments. Design has been at the forefront of W Hotels since 1998 with the launch of the first W hotel, W New York, which was designed by Rockwell Group.

“Through the opening of W Paris – Opéra, fashionistas and global jetsetters can now be on the runway with W from New York to London and Paris. Unique lifestyle programming within a cutting-edge designed environment will bring a new and distinctive experience to Paris and the Parisians alike.”

Situated across the street from the renowned Opéra Garnier, W Paris – Opéra is certain to become a buzzing landmark in the city. Inspired by the creative idea of “The Spark”, the hotel was conceptualised to create a dynamic dialogue between the following: the historic façade of the building, Paris as the “City of Light” and W’s DNA by infusing a sense of energy into the quintessential Parisian neighbourhood. This approach results in a stimulating fusion of New York’s dynamism and its never-ending energy with the sophistication and culture of Paris.

“Taking the W brand into Paris, a global fashion capital, if not the global fashion capital, will mark a true milestone in W’s global expansion into the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations”, comments Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “Through the opening of W Paris – Opéra, fashionistas and global jetsetters can now be on the runway with W from New York to London and Paris. Unique lifestyle programming within a cutting-edge designed environment will bring a new and distinctive experience to Paris and the Parisians alike.”

Elaborating on the design concept, RGe’s Diego Gronda comments, “For the first W Hotel in Paris, we wanted to provide guests with an unforgettable experience of the light and sophistication present all over this amazing city. Our design feeds off the elegance, richness and radiance of Paris, “La Ville Lumière”, while layering in the contemporary cool and free-spirited energy of New York. Our goal is to transform this historic building into a W Hotel that literally shines with innovative and unexpected details, materials and technology.”

The hotel design revolves around an oversized backlit digital undulating wall that defines the central core of the building and weaves through the public and private spaces. The “spark” will appear as a dotted pattern that forms abstract clouds. This wall will be set at various tempos to create different moods to match the season, event, time of day, and location within the hotel, bringing the historic building to life with a glowing vibrancy. The elevators, DJ booth and staircases will be cloaked in red to give the illusion of being inside an epicentre of energy.

Historic features of the 19^th-century building, such as ornamented columns, vaulted ceilings, marble staircases and fireplaces, have been partially restored, celebrated and often juxtaposed against contemporary elements. The original stained glass windows and mosaic flooring on the second floor will be protected to reflect the building’s heritage.

Commenting on the new W Paris – Opéra, David Rockwell says, “I am thrilled at this fantastic opportunity for Rockwell Group Europe to showcase their extraordinary talent in creating transformative and evocative spatial experiences for W Hotels’ debut in Paris.”

The five-storey hotel will have 91 stylish guest rooms, including 20 suites and two Extreme WOW Suites (W’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). With soaring ceilings up to three and a half metres in height, the guest rooms and suites offer a contemporary, spacious design and stunning views of Opéra Garnier and the Parisian streets. The Extreme WOW Suites feature a shower that is concealed behind two huge, classical Parisian doors creating an alluring effect within the suite. This will be complemented by an oversized three-metre circular bed set in the middle of the suite.

The vibrancy of the space goes beyond the illuminated wall, and into patterns and features throughout the hotel. In the guest rooms, unexpected elements such as a backlit bridge that wraps the entrance corridor with white patterned lights, a sculptural faucet, and molding that breaks into different pieces complement the design concept. Paris-based artists have been commissioned to add cutting-edge artistic interventions to the rooms.

W Paris – Opéra will offer a signature restaurant and destination bar, as well as a SWEAT^® fitness centre. Guests will enjoy spectacular views of the Opéra Garnier from the hotel’s ground level and mezzanine floors, including the Living Room, a stylish social space where visitors can mingle and relax. At the hotel’s grand entrance, “The Spark” takes the form of a black resin bar shaped like a molten sculpture and other customised furnishings that demonstrate the energy from the spark wall.

Meridia Capital was advised in this project by GCA Architects, a renowned architecture and interior design firm with global experience. The firm was very committed and proactive in the initial design phases of the hotel based on RGe’s concept. GCA also played a key role in the development of the implementation project.

W Paris – Opéra is located at 4 rue Meyerbeer, 75009 Paris, France, across the street from Opéra Garnier, and near Galeries Lafayette and Place Vendome in the 9th Arrondissement. The area contains many places of cultural, historical and architectural interest, and is a key business centre in Paris.

The opening of W Paris – Opéra will mark a significant milestone in the W brand’s global expansion, following the debuts of W London – Leicester Square, W St. Petersburg, W Taipei and W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak in 2011.

W Paris – Opéra is now accepting reservations. Rooms start from EUR340 ($474) per room per night plus VAT.

The pop-up phenomenon may be old news in retail and restaurants, but temporary hotels is a concept just gaining ground (makeshift bedrooms in Kreuzberg or Nakameguro art galleries excepted). Today the Berlin-based Design Hotels group is staking the first big claim to the trend on the beach in Tulum, Mexico. The company’s founder, Claus Sendlinger, who moved with his family to Tulum last year, is spearheading the opening of Papaya Playa, a spiffed-up campus of cabanas once belonging to three now-shuttered resorts on about a half mile of beachfront land.

He brought in his creative team from Berlin to make simple stylish improvements to the 99 structures — “make it a bit more comfortable but keep the rawness,” he says — leaving about half of them with shared bathrooms, including a clutch of jungle huts with communal bunk beds that rent for $25 a night to the many backpackers, yogis and spiritual nomads who regularly drift through town. But Occupy Tulum this isn’t. There are 40 ocean-facing cabanas with private decks and hammocks, a spa, a boutique, raw food to go from 42°Raw, and a restaurant run by the folks behind Bar 25 andKaterHolzig in Berlin. An international network of D.J.’s and artists will provide weekly entertainment and contribute to monthly full-moon events dreamed up by the Berlin creative agency Mamapapcola. “The fun part is that we brought our friends,” says Sendlinger, who adds that no one’s arm had to be twisted; most of them were already fans of Tulum.

Sendlinger himself is a longtime blow-in to the area, and he’d had his eye on this piece of land for six years before finally making a deal with its owner. Five years ago, he says, such an arrangement wouldn’t have been possible, but the financial crisis has created more opportunities in the hotel business for those who are “good at moving into a temporary space and creating something. I see this happening more and more.” And if it works this winter, it may become permanent — with some further construction and the help of solar and wind power. What won’t happen is a 500-room tower or luxury condos. “That would kill Tulum,” he says. “We want our kids to have as much as possible the same Tulum as we have.”

Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 Brings Stylish and Affordable Accommodation for Next Generation of Travellers to the Heart of Bangkok’s Entertainment District.

The heart of Bangkok beats a little faster today with the official opening of Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11. One of Starwood Hotels & Resorts brands, Aloft is for the modern and tech-savvy traveller looking for a vibrant, social experience. Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11- the Aloft brand’s first hotel in Thailand – offers all that and more in a stylish setting all at an affordable price point.

“The debut of Aloft in Bangkok underscores the strength of the Starwood network and the power of the Aloft brand,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Speciality Select Brands for Starwood. “Aloft’s emphasis on high design combined with its tech-savvy features and social atmosphere translates globally and is attracting a growing group of loyal travellers. Aloft’s international expansion so early in the brand’s life cycle is unprecedented.”

Infused with the DNA of W Hotels, the 296-room Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11 caters to the modern traveller seeking an eclectic, unique experience. With urban-inspired design, Aloft guestrooms feature loft-like decor with soaring nine-foot ceilings, Aloft’s signature platform beds, oversized showerheads and BlissÓ Spa products. And, to maximize both work and play, each room offers free Wi-Fi and a plug n’ play connectivity station for charging all electronics and syncing with the 42″ LCD HDTV. Incorporating industrial design elements throughout the hotel, Aloft features a buzzing bar scene in the open lounge, a grab-and-go café, a full-service fitness center, and an outdoor swimming pool.

For Aloft, the goal is to re-imagine the hotel model by creating a concept that encourages guests to spend more time in public areas, using innovative and surprising materials to focus on smart design solutions. The free flowing energy throughout the hotel, modern design and mood lighting set the tone for a diverse and stylish destination, day and night. This being the first Aloft opened in Thailand, local architecture firm Hassel added customized touches to the space so it would blend with the local culture and market. As the hotel accommodates a plethora of business travellers, the hotel’s meeting space is a welcome feature. An additional exclusive amenity to this Aloft location is access to an all-day, full-service dining restaurant on site featuring fresh local seafood. Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11 will bring a refreshing change to the hotel scene in Bangkok.

What’s more? At Aloft, guests never stay out of touch. The hotel provides free Wi-Fi in all public areas, enabling guests to stay connected and share their experiences with their loved ones.

Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 meets the needs of tomorrow’s traveller throughout their Bangkok visit, whether it’s for business or pleasure. re:fuel by Aloft is an easy option for travellers on-the-go, providing everything from light meals and healthy bites to mix & match munchies and dreamy delights, offered 24/7. At w xyz bar, guests can mingle with new friends over signature sips and a “snack-attack” menu, or get down on the dance floor while the resident DJ spins during one of many special music-theme nights. The re:mix lounge gives guests the option of a playful place or quiet space, where they can do everything from play a game of pool, sip a drink, enjoy free Wi-Fi and slip from day-to-night with lighting and music to switch up the mood. Fun perk – complimentary digital tablets will be available for patrons’ use while visiting the lounge and bar. And, also available for guests at Aloft is Crave - an all day restaurant conducive to a lively atmosphere featuring delicious lunch and dinner buffets offering local seafood and international favourites. The restaurant stocks over 3,000 bottles of wine from more than 250 labels in its wine cellar – available to order via digital menu tablets.

Need to burn off last night’s excesses? Drop into re:charge, Aloft’s full-service, 24/7 fitness centre with state-of-the art fitness and weight-training machines. Or, dive right in and enjoy Aloft’s outdoor swimming pool and adjacent kids pool. For business guests who want to enjoy a fun and productive experience, the hotel offers over 265 square meters of meeting space and pre-function area. Finally, Aloft’s guest can access to Bangkok’s trendiest clubs – Bed Supperclub and QBar for a-free entry.

Aloft Bangkok is situated on Sukhumvit 11, the epicentre of the city’s thriving Sukhumvit entertainment district. The hotel is an easy five-minute walk from the Nana BTS Skytrain stop with convenient access to world class shopping at the nearby Siam Paragon and the Emporium Shopping Centre. From European-style pubs to retro bars, the Sukhumvit District hums with endless nightlife, offering something for everyone. The neighbourhood’s diverse culinary options reflect the city’s reputation as a cultural melting pot; the vast selection of food and dining vary from walk-up street stalls and casual cafes to some of Bangkok’s finest restaurants. The bustling, buzzing Sukhumit region is conducive to Aloft Bangkok’s commitment of providing guests a complete social guest experience!

To celebrate its arrival, Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 has unveiled its special opening rates. Under the chic campaign called ‘Style at a Steal’, Aloft offers savvy travellers a chance to experience Aloft Bangkok with attractive rates starting at only THB 2,111++ per room per night for a Chic room and THB 2,411++ per night for an Urban room. The special rates are inclusive of free unlimited hotel-wide and in-room broadband and wireless internet access, free shuttle Tuk Tuk from Nana BTS Skytrain station and Sukhumvit MRT Subway station, and free entry to Bangkok’s trendiest clubs – Bed Supperclub and QBar. Guests who stay two consecutive nights or more will receive a F&B voucher to enjoy at Crave restaurant.

Scandic Grand Central Opens in Stockholm, an eclectic mix of the past and the future.

On the 11th of November, Nordic hotel chain Scandic’s new lifestyle venture, Scandic Grand Central in the city center of Stockholm, Sweden, held its opening party. The hotel is the result of the hotel chain’s new drive to attract more international travelers and attract new target groups.

The hotel has 391 rooms, conference facilities, gym, restaurant, bistro and a large hotel bar/lounge open to the public. Scandic’s ambition is to develop unpretentious yet innovative hotels that are considerate of the environment as well as compassionate. Scandic Grand Central will be infused with Stockholm’s ‘downtown’ street culture and its vibrant atmosphere.

Scandic Grand Central opened in a historic location on the corner of Stockholm’s two most tourist-friendly streets – Kungsgatan and Vasagatan. The property, which is has been transformed into Scandic’s newest hotel, was erected in 1885 by renowned builder CO Lundberg, becoming known as “The Lundberg Palace.”

The hotel’s central location is only a short walk from Stockholm’s Central Station, with access to trains, subways, buses and the Arlanda Express.

Cultural pulse at Stockholm’s center

Scandic Grand Central, as the name suggests, strives to be a central meeting place for a range of guests. The facilities are as open to Stockholm residents just as they are to hotel guests. The hotel bar and bistro act as meeting places for in-the-know locals around Kungsgatan, both during the day and evening. Music lovers can flock to the bar Acoustic for live music 3 to 5 days a week.

Elements of creativity vibrate from the walls

One of Stockholm’s most prestigious architecture firms Koncept is responsible for Scandic Grand Central’s unique interiors and design, which result in the feeling of a hotel that has always existed. Music, playfulness, photography and creativity stand as core elements. The Stockholm culture vibrates through the large portrait photographs of well-known Stockholm personalities such as Adam Tensta and Jonas Akerlund.

Blogger’s Inn – a new, cost free offer for digital entrepreneurs

Scandic has developed a “Blogger’s Inn” room at Scandic Grand Central, with the help of Frida Ramstedt of design blog Trendenser.se. The room’s amenities and fixings, carefully tailored to the needs and desires of digital entrepreneurs, reflect the results of a thorough market survey.

Scandic’s new lifestyle venture represents a continuing flirtation with new target groups and a further step towards more individualized hotels. In 2006, Scandic made their first move into a market of more individualized hotels through the neighboring hotels Scandic Anglais and Scandic Malmen.

The Armani Hotel Milano — the second hotel to be launched within the Armani Hotels & Resorts project, following the Armani Hotel Dubai— has opened in Milan, Italy, within the palazzo at Via Manzoni 31.

The hotel’s 95 guestrooms and suites offer a variety of options, from Armani Deluxe Rooms (up to 484 sq ft/45 sq m) to Armani Signature and Armani Presidential Suites, ranging from 1,830 to 2,153 sq ft (170 to 200 sq m), on two levels. Every room features a small vestibule that creates an intervening space before the intimacy of the bedroom is revealed. Each bathroom includes a shower enclosure in discreet one-way glass that allows a view out from inside the shower cubicle but no view in the other way.

All public areas are concentrated on the hotel’s seventh and eighth floors in the so-called glass “hat,” which affords panoramic city views.

The Armani/Ristorante, located on the seventh floor, offers traditional Italian gastronomy, while the Armani/Lounge with the Armani/bamboo bar serve informal meals, afternoon tea or a drink before dinner.

The eighth floor, meanwhile, is entirely devoted to beauty and relaxation. The Armani/SPA consists of six dedicated treatment rooms, a couples suite, a gym and a pool.

Also available around the clock is the Armani/Business Center, which boasts a private conference room, two boardrooms and a separate kitchen.

After nearly a century, the circa-1915 Bories Cold Storage Plant will breathe new life with the December debut of The Singular Patagonia, Chilean Patagonia’s newest luxury retreat, the result of a meticulous 10-year restoration and renovation.

Set on nearly 100 acres (40 hectares) overlooking the Fjord of Last Hope along the shores of the Señoret Channel in southern Chile, the new property pays homage to the once thriving factory’s historic past while delivering all of the conveniences and comforts guests expect today. It also offer guests the singular adventure of exploring a pristine landscape heretofore not accessible to the public and reserved exclusively for their enjoyment.

The Bories Cold Storage plant built by the Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego to process the millions of sheep, and their byproducts, which were subsequently distributed to major European markets.

After 70 years in operation, the demise of the industry in the 1980s brought upon the factory’s disrepair luckily to later be rescued by the great-grandchildren of one of the factory’s original employees, John MacLean Fraser, and subsequently declared a Chilean national monument in 1996.

With the hopes of continuing the family’s impact on the area and economy for generations to come, the MacLean family turned to the Sahli-Lecaros family, also descendents of the plant’s original founders, to ready the building in partnership for its next chapter as a luxury hotel.

The Singular Patagonia’s design team, led by famed Chilean interior design company Enrique Concha & Co worked in concert with local architect Pedro Kovacic to carefully combined the old industrial structure with a modern, sleek wing of 57 guestrooms.

After a day of adventure, guests can retreat to The Singular’s Barbara Morrow designed 3,000 sq ft (278 sq m) eco-spa.

In The Singular’s restaurant Chef Laurent Pasqualetto will re-imagine traditional, local recipes; fully respecting the region’s culture and its rich byproducts. Most of the elements used in the kitchen will be natural including the strict use of only non-caged / bred animals. The menu will focus on local products, both grown in the hotel’s garden and sourced locally, including tooth fish, golden eel, Patagonian hare, lamb, white strawberries, rhubarb, algae, seaweed and Patagonian honey. Accompanying the delectable dishes coming out of the kitchen graced with as much beauty as the surroundings will be a wine list based on the local terroir, presenting the best selections (roughly 16) from each grape-growing valley of Chile.

The Singular Patagonia will also house a museum in the original industrial section illustrating the history of the region and the significance of the factory in the development of the area.