Looking to recommend a swanky sojourn without having to include long-haul flights to Asia or Europe in the booking process? We’ve got a handful of options across the United States that your clients will relish—whether it be a chic ski resort or a renovated luxury property in a trendy destination.
Resorts Up the Ante
Over on the U.S. west coast, for instance, the W Seattle has completed a multimillion dollar renovation that includes updates to all of its 415 guestrooms, nine suites, and the hotel’s signature Living Room. Guestrooms feature bluetooth-enabled TV, WiFi, and Bliss Spa bath amenities, plus the brand’s Whatever/Whenever service providing guests with “whatever they want, whenever they want it.” The brand also announced that W Seattle, whose decor is heavily influenced by the city’s aviation history, will soon be home to the first W Sound Suite in North America—a new private music studio and writer’s room for professional recording artists, studio musicians, and hotel guests, too. Rates start at $280 per night.
Los Angeles, which Tamy Martelli, regional director for the U.S. and Canada for Discover Los Angeles, says, “offers new hotels, restaurants, and museums, so the possibilities are endless to explore, relax, visit, and experience,” will see the debut of the newly redone Hotel Figueroa this December. This Downtown property has undergone a multi-million redesign and rehabilitation, taking it back to its original Spanish Colonial 1920s roots. The property, which first opened in 1926 as an exclusive women’s hostelry, now features 268 contemporary guestrooms, two dining venues, four bars, a pool, intimate public spaces, a private art collection and creative programming, including an Artist in Residence program. Hotel Figueroa is located across from the Staples Center and is near the Los Angeles Performing Arts Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Broad Museum, making it an ideal pick for those clients who want to be near the city’s nightlife, culture and dining options. Rates range from $269 to $1,999 per night.
On the U.S. east coast, Montage Hotels & Resorts has announced the final phase of expansion and debut of its first east coast resort, Montage Palmetto Bluff, located in South Carolina. The $100 million newly expanded resort is set within the 20,000-acre Palmetto Bluff community, a centuries-old maritime forest surrounded by 32 miles of riverfront. The property now offers 200 accommodations, cottages and suites; six restaurants; three pools; Spa Montage; and the Paintbox children’s program.
The highlight of the expansion was the addition of a new Inn, which sits along a lagoon waterway and was inspired by the R.T. Wilson, Jr. mansion built on the property in the early 1900s. The Inn includes guestrooms, a lobby lounge, the Jessamine restaurant and Octagon Bar & Gathering Place, plus the Spa Montage featuring outdoor relaxation areas including hot tubs and cold plunge pools, as well as the lagoon-side Fore & Aft restaurant. The property is currently offering special rates through December starting at $299.
Le Meridien Charlotte, located in Charlotte’s Uptown neighborhood, also recently completed a multimillion dollar renovation. Here, guests can take in 360-degree views of the city at the property’s City Lights Rooftop, a popular hangout for locals and guests alike; and dine at the on-property steakhouse, Evoke. Guests can also take in the nearby Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, the property’s partner in its Unlock Art program. Le Meridien Charlotte features 300 guestrooms, a fitness center, an indoor pool and seasonal outdoor pool, plus a Guest Experience Specialist who helps guests coordinate local excursions.
Mohonk Mountain House, in New Paltz, New York, meanwhile, has unveiled the resort’s first new accommodations in over a century. The new Grove Lodge, located next to a tranquil fern grove on the 1,200-acre property, features six guestrooms and a great room—ideal for a family escape, according to Eric Gullickson, v.p. and general manager of Mohonk Mountain House, who refers to the new lodge in a press statement as an “ideal home away from home that truly reflects the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley.” This 2-story, 7,000-sq.-ft. lodge features a fireplace in each guestroom as well as luxurious bathrooms complete with soaking tub and separate shower. When it’s time to dine, guests can take in the heritage and culinary traditions of the Hudson Valley with locally sourced options including chocolates from Hudson Valley Chocolates, a selection of locally brewed beers and spirits from Catskill Distilling Company and Tuthilltown Spirits, plus wines from Benmarl/Fjord Vineyards, Brotherhood, Clinton Vineyards, Millbrook, and Whitecliff Vineyards. Guests are able to book single rooms or the entire lodge; nightly rates start at $1,090 dbl and include meals and most activities.
Also going under the knife, so to speak, is the historic headquarters of the former New Orleans Public Service, Inc. (NOPSI), which will open as the NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans, a luxury 217-guestroom hotel that’s part of Salamander Hotels & Resorts’ Signature Collection. NOPSI Hotel will also join the Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ LVX Collection. The property, which originally opened in 1927, will reopen its doors next spring, on the corners of Baronne and Union streets. After it’s restored, it will offer 74 suites, a regionally inspired restaurant, and a rooftop pool and bar. Guestrooms, ranging from 350 to 800 sq. ft., will feature neutral colors with gold accents, and the bathrooms will incorporate a spa-like tile design plus a spacious shower. The hotel’s ninth floor will house the Presidential Suite, as well as four Spa Suites with spacious terraces that can be used for in-room spa treatments. “The redevelopment of the former NOPSI building into the new NOPSI Hotel is another sign that our city’s economy is growing and booming,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu in press materials.
Ski Chic
For ski enthusiasts heading to West Virginia, Snowshoe Mountain has recently unveiled a collection of luxurious lodging on the mountain—the Brigham Collection, which includes options ranging from studio units to 6-bedroom homes. The Brigham Collection is available throughout the mountain at Black Bear Crossing, Camp Four, Corduroy Inn, Pedestal House, Powderidge, Seneca, Silver Creek and others. These upscale stay options feature granite countertops, flat-screen TVs, and expansive kitchens and bathrooms, all complemented by such niceties as exclusive pre-arrival concierge support, an onsite personal vacation planner, and expedited check-in at the Corduroy Inn, as well as the ability to have ski school arranged for kids or spa bookings made.
Over in Colorado, The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort debuted its refresh this past June. It includes updates to 36 of its guestrooms; a renovated gym with new cardio equipment; and a new hydro-therapy facial machine at the RockResorts Spa. The property features 60 guestrooms, Tavern on the Square restaurant, the outdoor winter Alderhof Ice Rink, plus a ski-in/ski-out location at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Rates start at $278 per night in mid-November.
Oxford Ski has added new properties to its portfolio across Aspen, Deer Valley, and Jackson Hole, including Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole in Wyoming. It features 124 guestrooms and suites complete with a fireplace, as well as a balcony or terrace where guests can enjoy views of Teton Village. For those guests who like to take in a bit more luxury, suggest one of the 34 two- to five-bedroom private residences featuring fully equipped kitchens, dining areas and spacious living rooms. The resort also features an outdoor heated pool and hot tubs, heated towels and robes, and the Alpine Spa featuring a Private Spa Suite, plus complimentary hot chocolate and s’mores.
Contact Information
The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort: vail.com/info/arrabellehomepage
Hotel Figueroa: hotelfigueroa.com
Le Meridien Charlotte: lemeridiencharlotte.com
Mohonk Mountain House: mohonk.com/grove-lodge
Montage Palmetto Bluff: montagehotels.com/palmettobluff
NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans: nopsihotel.com
Oxford Ski: oxfordski.com
Snowshoe Mountain: snowshoemtn.com/plan-your-trip/lodging/brigham-collection-lodging
W Seattle: wseattle.com
