If Copenhagen is (more than probably) the best city in the world for its quality of life and status as a cutting-edge design centre, then Arne Jacobsen’s Radisson SAS Royal Hotel is one of its defining design statements. The ground and first floor public areas are currently benefitting from a comprehensive ‘refreshment’ under the direction of the interior team from designers Graven Images.

The Danish capital was recently awarded top spot of the list of the world’s best cities in which to live by lifestyle magazine Monocle, and the SAS Royal which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this month, set the ball rolling when it opened as not only Europe’s but the world’s first design hotel. The pieces created by Jacobsen specifically for the hotel, such as the Swan and Egg chairs, are still specified worldwide to this day.

The building itself has an incredible history and pushed boundaries as soon as it was constructed; it was the largest hotel in Denmark when it was completed in 1960 as the SAS Royal Hotel and was the first skyscraper in Copenhagen, with interiors which epitomised the 60s – think Don and Betty Draper of TV’s Mad Men, or the young Britt Ekland.

Although it has remained a style icon during the ensuing decades, time has taken its toll on the SAS Royal with inevitable wear and tear resulting in the loss of some of its original elegance. In addition some of the public areas have been subjected to some unsympathetic interventions, such as the clumsy conversion of a smart and sexy concession boutique area into a restaurant.

Graven Images was commissioned in 2008 by Radisson as interior designers to restore the integrity of what is arguably the most important project undertaken by Arne Jacobsen, and certainly the best showcase for his trademark functionalist approach.

The interior designer’s mission was to bring the public areas of the SAS Royal up-to-date, restoring their design integrity and thereby making them accessible to a wider audience without compromising any of the unique features. The focus has been on streamlining and ‘cleaning up’ the original spaces, rationalising the layout and providing a more appropriate back-drop to showcase the original Jacobsen features.

Design Director Jim Hamilton said, “It’s been an honour to work on such an important and interesting project, which is close to the hearts not only of the design community but of hotel aficionados worldwide. The new hotel will share many qualities with the old – it will be glamorous, stylish, contemporary and with outstanding comfort to attract a wide variety of clientele from Copenhagen’s own design and style conscious population, as well as visitors to the Danish capital many of whom come because of its reputation as one of Europe’s most important design destinations.”

New research finds that hotels marketed as “design hotels” achieve higher room rates and occupancy than their traditional counterparts.

Lukas Hochedlinger, a Vienna-based associate with hotel transaction advisory company Christie+Co., has studied the relative performance of Europe design hotels and finds that 70% percent of them outperformed their non-design competitors with regard to occupancy and that 81% are able to charge higher average room rates. In fact, 62% of design hotels boast similar or lower operating and maintenance costs compared to non-design hotels.

“It appears that design hotels are able to achieve a better bottom-line performance than non-design hotels,” Hochedlinger says. “With regard to their risk, this study shows that design hotels in Europe have, on average, a similar or more stable operational income and hence a lower volatility in returns. However, potential limitations that were identified for some properties include a higher development risk—for example, higher development costs and longer timing—as well as a higher obsolescence risk in case the design is not timeless.

With changing demographics and values, the design/lifestyle/boutique segment in Europe is expected to further grow over the next few years. As a consequence, new hotels in this niche will be increasingly forced to differentiate themselves from competitors.

Design hotels in Europe have the possibility to achieve higher returns, but only if real estate developers and investors obey certain rules before making an investment. Hochedlinger suggests that investors of design hotels follow four guidelines:

1. Assess the market thoroughly before starting the development of a design hotel. A design hotel might be a good investment if it brings something new to the market that does not yet exist.
2. Create something unique. This applies to interior and exterior design as well as to service design and other aspects. One has to create a feel-good atmosphere that makes it comfortable and enjoyable for guests to stay, and more importantly. Many design hotels have made the mistake to purely focus on chic design and staff.
3. Focus on functionality. The phrase “form follows function” should be guiding architects and designers of any hotel. Operational sequences, materials and technical appliances used can have a major impact on guests’ feel as well as operational and maintenance costs.
4. Sustainability is key. Considering economic, environmental and social aspects during the development and operations of a hotel are not only a popular trend but will become an obligation to stay competitive in the field. This is particularly true for design hotels: the concept and design should be timeless and efficient in order to reduce energy costs and prolong renovation intervals, materials and operational sequences should be well considered with the aim of reducing daily costs.

Hochedlinger also finds that almost three-quarters of the Europe design hotel supply are individually operated properties. Compared to the United States, where lifestyle developments in resorts are popular, the trend in Europe has been the development of boutique hotels in urban areas, with 70% of all identified design hotels being located in cities.

Hochedlinger performed the survey as part of a master’s thesis at Danube University in Austria. He has extensive experience in the field of hotel advisory and valuations, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. Starting September, he will represent Christie+Co in Vienna with a focus on the Austria and Central and Eastern Europe markets. He can be reached at lukas.hochedlinger@gmail.com.

Property In Bentonville, Arkansas Will Become Catalyst For Culture, Entertainment And Economic Growth

BENTONVILLE, Arkansas — 21c Museum Hotels, a growing brand of properties that combines a boutique hotel and contemporary art museum, today announced plans to build its newest property in downtown Bentonville. The estimated $28 million project will be based on the core concept created for the award-winning 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, which was voted the #1 hotel in the U.S. and #6 in the world in the Conde Nast Traveler’s 2009 Readers’ Choice awards. The hotel is expected to break ground this fall and open in 2012. Project investors include a Walton family partnership, Bentonville Revitalization, Inc. and 21c Museum Hotels.

21c Museum Hotels also are under development in Cincinnati, Ohio and Austin, Texas with plans to develop 15 properties over the next three to five years.

“We created the first hotel in 2006 as much out of our love of the arts and revitalization of downtown Louisville, as we did for a hotel investment,” said Steve Wilson, founder and chairman of 21c Museum Hotels. “My wife and fellow co-founder Laura Lee Brown and I wanted to make our hometown an even more vibrant place to live, work and visit. In the process, we discovered, almost by accident, that art can drive commerce while serving the community. Members of the Walton family expressed a similar desire to support the further renewal of downtown Bentonville and to create a hub for culture, entertainment and outdoor activities in the city.”

“21c Museum Hotels is about bringing people together with art and each other in new ways,” Wilson noted. “We succeed by providing a lively cultural experience for travelers and community residents alike. This hotel will be a creative, educational and civic resource for the people of Northwest Arkansas, as well as add some 160 jobs to the local economy.”

Originally, the founders had no plans to expand outside of Louisville. However, the hotel’s success both as a hotel and art museum attracted the attention of other civic-minded community leaders around the world who were interested in adding to the existing cultural and arts scene in their hometowns. The hotel’s 150+ RevPAR Index compared to its competitive set and 300+ RevPAR Index compared to the Louisville market was an added incentive.

“The growth of 21c Museum Hotels is something that has happened organically,” says Michael Bonadies, president and CEO. “Our success has resonated with forward-looking communities and has surpassed our expectations. With two other projects in development, we envision at least 15 properties open within three to five years. Our developments will focus on dynamic cities, both large and small, that have a thirst for contemporary cultural, dining and hospitality destinations, and where there is a strong local partner. Each project will be unique, designed to fit the needs and tastes of the local community. We believe our hotel will play a meaningful role in making the Bentonville area an even better place to visit, live, work and play, a formula that can be duplicated worldwide.”

“The best days for Bentonville and its downtown are ahead,” said Mayor Bob McCaslin. “Today’s announcement only increases the excitement that already exists around the future opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. This prestigious facility will help complete the transformation of Bentonville into a world renowned destination.”

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a new complex in a 100-acre park currently under construction with a permanent collection of American art ranging from the colonial era to contemporary works. The iconic wood and glass building will house galleries, meeting and classroom spaces, and a large auditorium. The Museum will be linked to downtown Bentonville by sculpture and walking trails and will be located approximately a quarter mile from 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Bentonville.

21c will be located on the northeast corner of the Bentonville town square within walking distance of not only Crystal Bridges but also the worldwide headquarters of Walmart. Like the Louisville museum and hotel, it will be woven into the fabric of downtown, welcoming both visitors and members of the community to experience its rotating exhibitions, participate in its programs and enjoy its culinary offerings. With more than 12,000 square feet of exhibition, meeting and event space, 21c will present curated, rotating exhibitions, dynamic installations and live art events. Exhibition space will be open to the public free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The preliminary plan features a five-story contemporary building with an active street level presence. The hotel will offer a spa, fitness center and other amenities. The hotel also will feature a restaurant that supports sustainable agriculture and serves contemporary cuisine showcasing locally grown and produced ingredients. It also will showcase the 21 Museum Hotel’s iconic penguins, created by Cracking Art Group.

Design Architect Deborah Berke & Partners, who created the cutting-edge 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, will collaborate with Little Rock-based firm Polk Stanly Wilcox and Louisville-based co-developer Poe Companies on the 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville. The property in Bentonville will be designed, constructed, and operated incorporating green practices and using sustainable materials.

Deborah Berke & Partners other projects have included the Yale School of Art & New Theater, the Marianne Boesky Gallery in New York and the James Hotels in Chicago and Scottsdale. Deborah Berke & Partners won two 2009 Design Awards from AIA New York State and was a finalist for the 2008 National Design Award for Interior Design, which is given by the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper Hewitt Museum for exceptional and exemplary work in domestic, corporate, cultural interior design.

About 21c Museum Hotels
21c Museum Hotel was founded by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, philanthropists and arts patrons, who shared a vision to make downtown Louisville an even more vibrant place to live, work, and visit. 21c is a 90-room boutique hotel, contemporary art museum, award-winning restaurant, and cultural civic center in historic downtown Louisville. With over 5,000 square feet of art-filled meeting and event space, 21c guests enjoy authentic Southern hospitality and accessible luxury while exploring the work of contemporary artists in North America’s only museum dedicated solely to art of the 21st Century. Voted the #1 Hotel in the U.S. and #6 in world in the 2009 Conde Nast Traveler annual Readers’ Choice Awards, 21c Museum Hotel is dedicated to redefining the art of hospitality.

The projects are among 10 hotels expected to open this year for Starwood’s latest brand.

After a year of tremendous growth that made it one of the fastest and most successful hospitality industry launches ever, Aloft Hotels this week announced expansion plans for key global markets from Brussels to Bangalore—and one of Aloft’s first New York City properties, in downtown Brooklyn.

Aloft, a Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. brand, is set to open 10 new hotels in the coming year, with half of its 2010 pipeline consisting of international properties. With nearly 40 hotels open since its June 2008 debut, the Aloft brand became the talk of the hospitality industry by going global while in launch mode, opening China’s Aloft Beijing Haidian and Aloft Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in the brand’s first 15 months.

“The Aloft brand is an important source of fuel for Starwood’s strategic, global expansion, with owners, developers and guests embracing the game-changing concept,” said Simon Turner, pPresident of global development. “The brand, which has an existing presence in four countries, is at a pivotal point in its growth cycle and is poised to continue to break new ground in 2010 as it debuts in India and Europe, while further establishing its presence in the U.S. and China.”

Created to offer an alternative to the traditional select service segment of the hotel industry, the Aloft brand delivers style at a steal, with urban-influenced, modern, open and vibrant design – and a social guest experience – all at an affordable price point. In the same way that W Hotels broke through the clutter of conformity in the upscale hotel arena a decade ago, Aloft is shaking up the industry for the next generation of traveler.

“Along with sharp design, smart technology, and accessible price points, there’s a genuine buzz inside Aloft properties that’s been appealing to guests around the world,” said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of Starwood’s specialty select brands. “The energy of Aloft matches the dynamic business environments where we’re expanding.”

This year, three Aloft hotels will open in India alone, where the corporate travel market is estimated at more than US$3 billion by Business Traveler magazine. The Aloft brand plans properties for Chennai, India’s fifth-largest city and its second-largest exporter of software and infotech; Bangalore, the “Silicon Valley” of India; and Coimbatore, one of India’s fastest-growing cities and a powerhouse in textiles and engineering.

Europe’s first Aloft hotel will open its doors in Brussels, near the heart of the Belgian capital and European Union hub. And stateside, the Aloft brand will open two New York City properties—one in the Big Apple’s Brooklyn and the other in the heart of Harlem.

Located at the historic intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine, this $350 million complex, developed by Gatehouse Capital and owned in a joint venture by HEI Hotels & Resorts and Gatehouse Capital, in affiliation with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro), offers W’s jet-setting guests, residents and Hollywood’s fashionable locals a fully integrated contemporary lifestyle experience.

The opening of W Hollywood kicks off another year of international growth for W Hotels, which is on track to more than double its global portfolio by 2011.

“Opening in Hollywood, the epicenter of pop culture, marks a true milestone in W’s global expansion into the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “W Hollywood further demonstrates our passion for entertainment as well as our leadership in cutting-edge design, which sets the stage for W’s unique lifestyle programming that will make W Hollywood the coolest place in town.”

“The opening of W Hollywood marks the completion of a ten year journey for Gatehouse Capital and our partners, and we are proud to introduce this stunning, modern, and truly sustainable property,” said Marty Collins, president and CEO of Gatehouse Capital, developer of the W Hollywood Hotel & Residences. “We have paired an iconic brand to an iconic intersection in a city that is a global destination recognized the world over, and in doing so, ushered in a second Golden Age that will redefine and revitalize modern Hollywood.”

“W Hollywood is a crown jewel in our investment portfolio, and offers a truly unique location that is a perfect blend of lifestyle, entertainment, hospitality and commerce,” said Clark Hanrattie, Chief Investment Officer for HEI Hotels & Resorts. “We are confident that W Hollywood will be the flashpoint of entertainment, art, fashion, culture and music on a global stage for years to come.”

Old Hollywood Glamour Meets Modern, Cutting-Edge Design

Dedicated to contributing to a green-conscious community and a cleaner environment, W Hollywood is registered for LEED®-Silver certification and is also the largest property registered for LEED® certification in Southern California, combining eco-conscious construction and access to public transportation with the incorporation of an on-site Metro Red Line Station that connects the hotel with the extensive Metro Rail and Bus system serving Los Angeles County. With top architecture firm HKS Architects, interior designers designstudio ltd., interior architecture firm Daly Genik Architects and landscape architect Rios Clementi Hale Studios at the helm, this team of world-class design professionals offered inspired interpretations from the idea of a new Hollywood glamour.

In this spirit, W Hollywood guests are given star-studded treatment in true Hollywood fashion as they walk the plush “red carpet” to arrive at the Welcome Desk and signature W Living Room, W’s modern take on the hotel lobby. Guests, residents and LA insiders can sip and socialize on the adjoining outdoor terrace and ground-floor lounge, featuring black tufted leather sofas, lounge chairs and a decadent backlit lobby bar crafted of glowing Onice Fantastico onyx. Punctuating the contemporary Living Room is a spectacular spiral stair case of white marble set against a backdrop of a curved bronze mosaic wall and a striking chandelier cascading from the gilded ceiling above.

Victor Drai Returns to Create New Nightlife Destination in Hollywood

The piece de resistance is undoubtedly the hotel’s expansive open air rooftop pool deck, bar and nightclub Drai’s Hollywood, from nightclub impresario Victor Drai. Replete with spectacular panoramic views, first rate architectural design, a “Drai’s style” restaurant featuring the creative cuisine of Chef Claude Segal and an ultra exclusive lounge on the ground floor of the hotel for members and invitation only events, there isn’t another space in Los Angeles that can attract the stars like this crown jewel of nightlife. The pool decks and club are adorned with a selection of chaises, sun beds and sectional sofas surrounding a fire pit, while the raised Ipe wood deck is adorned with Moroccan-inspired cabanas, outfitted with lounging sofas and flat screen TVs.

Sip, Mix and Indulge at IDG’s Latest Restaurant Concept

Delphine Eatery & Bar makes its debut at W Hollywood with its classic and modern interpretations of French cuisine from Innovative Dining Group, the restaurant group behind such Los Angeles hot spots as Sushi Roku, Katana and BOA Steakhouse, among others. Delphine, conceptualized Zeff Designs, evokes the atmosphere of the South of France by blending vibrant colors, classic archways and an open-air feel inspired by the Cote d’Azur. Guests can also grab a bite and watch the latest premiere or visual art feature at Station Hollywood, an al fresco outdoor lounge setting equipped with a 600 square foot drop-down cinema-style screen, cushy teak framed sectional seating, fire pits and an outdoor bar.

Recharge High above the Hollywood Scene

After an evening of indulgence, escape the scene and recharge in one of W Hollywood’s 305 guest rooms, including W’s signature WOW Suites and the Extreme WOW Suite (W’s reinterpretation of the traditional Presidential Suite). Guestrooms and suites feature W’s signature beds with a feather-top mattress, 350 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, goose down comforters, state-of-the-art entertainment and a fully stocked Munchie Box (W Hotels’ twist on the hotel Mini Bar).

Escape to Hollywood’s First Bliss® Spa

Bliss Spa arrives in Hollywood for the first time with more than 6,000-square-feet of tension-fighting facilities with a focus on manicures and pedicures, facials, waxing, and skincare services as well as bliss signature massages. Seven treatment rooms and bliss trademark touches such as rhythm & blues tunes, a retail beauty boutique, and legendary brownie buffet make bliss hollywood the ultimate destination for stylish jet setters and spa and beauty-loving locals. W Hollywood guests and residents receive “BIP” (Bliss Important Person) status for priority reservations and exclusive in-room sampling, while sought-after sink side bliss amenities are provided in all guestrooms and suites.

W Hollywood’s other distinctive elements include substantial modern retail space, 10,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and pre-function space, and 15,000 square feet of ultra-modern event space, including The Great Room (W’s take on the grand ballroom). Creative in approach and innovative design, meeting spaces set the stage for success using a unique W Sensory Set Up® with mood music, signature scents and more to engage and energize attendants. W Hollywood’s full service business center, WIRED, is also open 24 hours a day.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that the Minneapolis-based Chambers has joined Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand with an international presence of 105 hotels and resorts.

See the Le Meridien Chambers on stylehotelsweb

The addition of Chambers has increased the brand’s footprint to 10 hotels in North America. Opened in 2006 by prominent art collector Ralph Burnet, Chambers is considered one of the world’s top art hotels, featuring more than 250 original artworks by such noted artists as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Gavin Turk. The hotel has been renamed Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis.
“Le Méridien shares with its guests a passion for style, art, architecture, design, and cuisine, all focal points of Chambers and owner Ralph Burnet,” said Eva Ziegler, global brand leader, Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide. “Chambers will serve as a flagship for Le Méridien’s North American portfolio, and a perfect example of its new direction as a creative hub in vibrant cities around the world.”

“For the last year and a half, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits the Starwood organization brings to a hotel property,” said Burnet, referring to W Minneapolis – The Foshay, his other hotel property which opened in late 2008. “Le Méridien embraces contemporary art and cuisine the way that the W brand revels in fashion and music. Chambers is clearly all about great art, food and service – which makes this a tremendous fit.”

Le Méridien Chambers was designed for those individuals who recognize and are inspired by contemporary art and cuisine combined with great service. Behind the hotel’s distinctive mahogany double doors, guests are greeted with an eclectic mix of original, contemporary art by internationally renowned artists. Video monitors line the guestroom corridors with a constant display of award-winning video art, and during their stays, in-the-know guests take the stairs whenever possible to enjoy, Elemental, the five-story mural that runs the entire height of the hotel’s main stairwell. In the hotel’s Burnet Gallery, guests may purchase works by international, national and local artists.

Designed by Rockwell Group (Kodak Theatre, Nobu, among others), Le Méridien Chambers’ timeless, chic design provides an ideal backdrop to its contemporary art collection. The hotel wraps around Eden, an open-air, grotto-style lounge courtyard that is open year round and features a large, sleek, 10-foot square gas fire pit. During the winter months a portion of Eden transforms into, Ice Chamber, a 256-foot bar created from 12,000 pounds of crystal clear ice. A fifth floor lounge offers dramatic 360-degree vistas of the downtown Minneapolis skyline via floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a surrounding balcony. D’Amico Kitchen, the hotel’s restaurant offers critically acclaimed creative, contemporary Italian fare by the Twin Cities’ legendary restaurateurs, Larry and Richard D’Amico. Live streaming video of the restaurant’s behind-the-scenes activity is projected nightly on a massive screen on one of Eden’s courtyard walls.

Le Méridien Chambers features 60 guestrooms, including six suites and nine junior suites. All the guestrooms feature original artwork and are furnished with contemporary furniture, platform beds with custom mattresses and 400-thread-count, Egyptian cotton bed linens. Rooms are equipped with all the necessities that satisfy a contemporary lifestyle, including 42″ plasma TVs, complimentary high-speed and WI-FI Internet access, and iPod docking stations, alarm clocks. Spacious closets and wardrobes in each guestroom are ideal for long-term stays.

Since being acquired by Starwood in November 2005, Le Méridien has become known for creating a curated art-driven experience that engages its guests from the moment of arrival. Le Méridien’s newly introduced arrival experiences have been designed to transform the guest experience from functional and transactional to one that emotionally connects with guests and resets their minds, leaving the outside world behind for the world of Le Méridien brand.

Curated by international arts provocateur Jérôme Sans, Le Méridien’s cultural curator since 2006, and developed together with members of the LM100, Le Méridien’s family of cultural innovators, elements of Le Méridien’s arrival experience include: a Transitional Portal, which is a visual and audio “wall” of sound and art that engulfs each guest; Sensory Experience, illustrated through Le Méridien’s signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART programme that includes an artist designed key card that offers access to the guestroom and to the hotel’s affiliated local arts organization; and lastly, the Elevated Experience, created especially for Le Méridien by French music composer and producer Henri Scars Struck that transforms the event of riding an elevator into an “elevating experience” through sound. In November 2009, Le Méridien arrival experience was awarded “Most Innovative Concept in the Upscale Hotel Industry” at the 10th annual Worldwide Hospitality Awards in Paris.

Le Méridien signature scent has been designed in collaboration with Le Labo founders and LM100 members Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roshi, while coffee is served throughout the day at the lobby bar as part of Le Méridien coffeehouse atmosphere. Guests of Le Méridien Chambers will notice that some of these Le Méridien brand elements will go into effect immediately, while others will be introduced over the coming months.

Located in the heart of the Twin Cities’ cultural, business and social scenes, Le Méridien Chambers is just a block from the center of the city’s business, financial and shopping districts. Patrons may stroll across the street to world-class theater and concerts at the historic Orpheum, Pantages and State Theatres. The critically acclaimed Guthrie Theatre, Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Institute of Arts are all within five minutes by taxi. Nightclubs, bars, restaurants and art galleries that fill the city’s Warehouse District are within easy walking distance.

See the Le Meridien Chambers on stylehotelsweb