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Anne-Sophie Pic joins the Beau-Rivage Palace
02.12.08 - The hotel is delighted to announce that Anne-Sophie Pic is working with the hotel to re-launch the gastronomic restaurant. Following the Beau-Rivage Palace’s renovation and the creation of one of Europe’s most beautiful spas, Cinq Mondes the management has new plans set for the restaurant in 2009.
Anne-Sophie, like the Beau-Rivage Palace, boasts an impressive heritage. She is the third in her family to achieve three stars following on from her father and grandfather and the first French woman to earn the Michelin Guide’s coveted 3-Stars for over 50 years.
The chef’s association with the Beau-Rivage Palace will be Anne-Sophie Pic’s first venture outside the city of Valence in southeastern France where she will continue operating the original family restaurant, Maison Pic.
The opening of Anne-Sopie Pic at the Beau-Rivage Palace is planned for Spring 2009.
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Lausanne,
Switzerland
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Mandarin Oriental Prague New Beer Programme
11.11.08 - Mandarin Oriental, Prague is delighted to offer its guests with a unique opportunity to experience world-renowned Czech beer culture combined with luxury hospitality. The hotel’s new beer programme encompasses gastronomic menus with individual beer pairings available in Essensia restaurant: a series of “Czech Beer Academy” seminars held in the hotel’s vaulted cellars, and exclusive “pub crawls” which takes in some of the region’s boutique breweries. All led by Prague-based Evan Rail, an authority on Czech beer; the Beer Programme provides visitors to the city with insider knowledge of the city’s famous brew and culture. Finally; The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Prague is pleased to announce its new signature “Barley Ritual” treatment.
The Programme aims to present beer not only as the national Czech beverage but also as a cultural and culinary phenomenon whose distinct attributes complement both Czech and Asian cuisine. Selected Czech brews; well suited to Essensia’s authentic Asian and European cuisine, have been matched to each course of the restaurant’s new tasting menu, while a selection of regional Czech beers have been added to the restaurant and bar beverage menus. Additionally, guests can receive a crash course in Czech beer culture during informal complimentary beer tastings held at the hotel’s bar; Barego every Friday.
The Czech Beer Academy presents the subject of Czech beer in a broader international context. The seminars, held in the vaulted mediaeval cellar beneath Essensia restaurant, are led by Evan Rail, Prague-based beer expert and author of the celebrated The Good Beer Guide to Prague and the Czech Republic. The three-hour seminars include guided tastings of up to ten different beers and are enhanced by Czech and Asian food specialities.
Moreover, interested guests can attend an exclusive pub crawl with Evan Rail. In groups of up to ten, Rail will conduct an initial consultation to get a sense of guest expectations, before organising visits to a number of regional breweries suited to guests’ taste. Because these exclusive pub crawls are tailor-made, guests are recommended to book at least a month in advance.
The Beer Programme has also includes The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Prague. In addition to regular treatments The Spa has introduced its new signature treatment “Barley Ritual”. Barley is an essential ingredient in beer making and The Spa has borrowed the ancient grain as the primary ingredient for this healing ritual. Finely ground barley is used in a variety of techniques ranging from a delicate sprinkling onto the skin, gentle exfoliation, and massage variations incorporating rocking and vibration movements as well as targeted pressure. The treatment is based on principles of bio-energetic therapy to release deep tension and emotional blockages.
The programme overall highlights the great range of Czech beer types, all of which reflect various regional and historical conditions. In line with the latest gastronomy trends, the programme also emphasises the complex sensory qualities of Czech beer that have made it increasingly popular among gourmets, indeed on a par with wine.
With its new Czech beer programme, Mandarin Oriental, Prague inspires guests to go beyond the familiar Pilsner and gain a deeper understanding of this local phenomenon now becoming more well-known throughout the world.
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Prague,
Czech Republic
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New KidsOnly at One&Only Le Saint Geran
05.11.08 - With the school year now underway, parents’ minds are turning to the next holiday – and what better than an innovative, state-of-the-art kids club at one of the world’s best resorts, which takes looking after young guests to another level? The new KidsOnly at One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius, opening its doors to young adventurers in October, offers all this and more – created by professionals who understand that happy kids mean happy parents.
Chests filled with gold coins, a map showing the whereabouts of hidden treasures, ropes and pulleys and sea shells galore, the design of the clubhouse takes its inspiration from Bernardin de St Pierre’s legend of Paul et Virginie, the tragic lovers immortalised in the romantic novel about “Le Saint Géran”, the doomed ship which sank off the coastline of Mauritius. Authentic materials including driftwood, and netting, combined with seascapes and sailors ‘charms’ to encourage imaginative minds and create a stimulating surrounding.
Andrew Milton, General Manager, said: “At One&Only Le Saint Géran we want our young guests to have just as a great time as their parents. The KidsOnly activity programme and clubhouse have been designed to encourage play and laughter in a safe environment, providing our young visitors with the opportunity to make friends, learn new skills and most importantly, to have fun. The aim is to raise the bar and create the ultimate kids’ holiday. Our experienced and enthusiastic KidsOnly staff can’t wait to see the smiles on the faces of all the little guests who walk through the doors.”
The action packed KidsOnly activity programme provides something for children of all ages and tastes. Each day of the week sees a different theme, Paradise Island to Aquatic, and a fresh selection of activities for the various age groups, all fully supervised by highly trained, multilingual staff, enabling parents to relax, safe in the knowledge that their kids are having the time of their lives in good hands.
For the creative, there is plenty to learn from mosaic making and Mauritian Sega dancing to kite making and cookery classes - where little chefs are kitted out in personalised chefs’ uniforms. Night time treasure hunts and banana-boating are ideal for little adventurers while budding actors will enjoy taking part in the stage productions. Active types are in for a treat with golf initiations, mini beach Olympics, volleyball, tennis and boat rides. And the extensive white sand beaches and calm water of the lagoon make One&Only Le Saint Géran the ideal spot for young water-sports enthusiasts. The resort offers water-skiing, snorkeling, surfing and kayaking, with specially adapted equipment for young guests learning the ropes, such as Aquaplanes which enable children to water-ski directly from the beach.
The clubhouse is a wonderland packed with the latest toys and games, and a dizzying array of electronic gadgetry and crafts. The Movie Room is a treasure trove, featuring the latest video game systems from Sony PS3, XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii and a 52-inch LCD TV with a digital surround sound system. A karaoke system is also available for kids to recreate the hit songs of their pop heroes.
KidsOnly at One&Only Le Saint Géran is a complimentary service for the resort’s guests aged from four to 11 years old. Children under four years must be accompanied by an adult and baby-sitters are available at a nominal charge. KidsOnly opens its doors from 10am to 10pm each day with activity programmes running throughout these hours on a daily basis. Activities also include special lunch and dinner menus. A programme of activities for guests aged between 12 and 17 years is also available and run by their own dedicated Sports and Entertainment team.
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Pointe de Flacq,
Mauritius
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Dior Institut at the Plaza Athénée.
09.10.08 - The Plaza Athénée is pleased to announce the opening of its brand new House of Beauty, Dior Institut at the Plaza Athénée.
Associating innovation, refinement and stimulation of all 5 senses, Dior Institut offers a unique moment to reveal your skin’s youthfulness. The renewal is spectacular: the skin is radiant, the face refreshed and the general appearance is toned.
In the world of haute couture there are so many small rooms with big, mythical implications: models' dressing rooms, fitting rooms, VIP rooms… In the world of beauty, the mythical small room is exemplified by the treatment room, a private space secluded from the outside world where beauty care is administered to bring out the full radiance of the client's skin. In this sense, the environment of the Dior Institut is a natural extension of the couture house, a place where the brand's emblems and signature touches are highlighted in a luxurious setting enhanced by creative lighting effects.
First steps, and first impressions of the Institut: descending an historical staircase that gradually leaves the ambience of the Hôtel Plaza Athénée behind. A wall filled with images recounts the Dior legend and opens onto a broad vaulted gallery that seems to go on forever. A central pool crowned with a glistening "droplet" of blown glass, arched arcades leading to the treatment rooms, precious materials with plush, iridescent textures… Everything here, down to the tiniest detail, emanates incomparable luxury and refinement. All five of the spacious treatment rooms, including a double VIP room, are decorated with silver and white updated versions of Dior's emblematic medallion chairs and mirrors embellished with the "caning" motif. These symbols of the couture house are juxtaposed with the modernity of a white marble diagnosis table equipped with a state-of-the-art computer system.
A relaxation and herbal tea lounge completes the Dior Institut experience, while a fitness space, hammam steam bath and sauna are available to supplement and prolong the benefits of the treatments.
In accordance with the client's lifestyle, expectations and desires of the moment, the Dior Institut offers a selection of innovative treatment programs for women and men adapted to each individual's time constraints.
They include four "active life" treatments plus several "multi-day" options developed specifically for the Dior Institut at the Plaza Athénée: "Active lifestyle" treatments
75’ Chrono facial and 75’ Chrono Body care: The ideal anti-jet lag treatment: 75 minutes to look radiant and well-rested after the exertions of traveling. An expert massage straightens the back, boosts the body's energy levels, brightens the complexion and leaves the eyes looking refreshed. Total Radiance Facial: Maximum radiance in record time, perfect before an evening out, for the "morning after" or any time the face needs a refresher. A 45-minute session that's easy to fit into a busy schedule.
Reviving Leg Treatment: Marvelous after shopping, this leg treatment relieves fatigue and puts a spring back in the step. Ideal before an evening out or just for
pleasure. 75 minutes.
The Resident programs: Depending on the length of the client's stay - 3 to 5 days or 2 weeks - synergistic combinations of several facial and body treatments are offered to achieve maximum effectiveness. Just what's needed to work a minor miracle…
L’Or de Vie: This exceptional regenerating treatment is based on a miraculous concentrate created through an alliance between the Dior Innovation Center and the legendary Château d'Yquem vineyard. Rare ingredients derived from Yquem grapevines, whose antioxidant capacities are among the most powerful ever discovered, are combined with an original protocol to make this extraordinary treatment a truly unique experience. 120 minutes.
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Paris,
France
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The Peninsula New York Spa
13.09.08 - The first phase of The Peninsula New York’s exciting spa renovation has been completed on 8 September with the opening of the fitness center and the pool.
Located on the 22nd floor, guests will enjoy the bright and airy new fitness facility, which includes a selection of the latest in cardiovascular and strength training equipment, and a tranquil sun-lit studio. The serene, glass-enclosed pool features a sophisticated new look that includes teak columns set against a cool black tile floor.
The crown jewel of the renovation will be unveiled in December 2008 with the opening of The Peninsula Spa by ESPA. The chic and elegant new spa will feature 12 treatment rooms including a spacious couple’s suite; men’s and women’s private relaxation lounges; and locker rooms featuring luxurious thermal experiences.
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New York,
United States
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Click here to view the interactive map of the luxury hotels under development.
Heads and chefs
Hotel Splendido
Portofino,
Italy
Amstel
Amsterdam,
Netherlands
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