Courtyard Hotels In San Diego | "NYC's 'Hotel Week' Offers Rooms As Low As $100 A Night"

Source           :     usatoday.com
Category      :     Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By                :     Nancy Trejos
Posted By   :     Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

For eight days in January, it will be very possible. The third annual Hotel Week NYC kicks off Jan. 3 and runs until Jan. 12. This time, 30 hotels will participate. The deal works like this. Hotels will offer fixed rates of $100, $200 or $300 a night, taxes not included. Some of the hotels typically charge up to $500 a night. For $100, you'll find such hotels as the Affinia Manhattan and Pod 39. For $200, you can get a room at the uber trendy Ace Hotel and the new Jade Hotel in Greenwich Village. On the higher end, you can book a room at The James New York and Thompson LES. Here's what you need to know: Be sure to mention "Hotel Week" when you call to book. But some hotels will let you book through their website. And, of course, the deal is subject to availability.For eight days in January, it will be very possible. The third annual Hotel Week NYC kicks off Jan. 3 and runs until Jan. 12. This time, 30 hotels will participate. The deal works like this. Hotels will offer fixed rates of $100, $200 or $300 a night, taxes not included. Some of the hotels typically charge up to $500 a night. For $100, you'll find such hotels as the Affinia Manhattan and Pod 39. For $200, you can get a room at the uber trendy Ace Hotel and the new Jade Hotel in Greenwich Village. On the higher end, you can book a room at The James New York and Thompson LES. Here's what you need to know: Be sure to mention "Hotel Week" when you call to book. But some hotels will let you book through their website. And, of course, the deal is subject to availability.

Source : usatoday.com/story/dispatches/2013/10/24/new-york-hotel-week/3157329/

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"Is This A Hospital Or A Hotel?"

Source           :     nytimes.com
Category      :     Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By                :     ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Posted By   :     Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

As the new St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, Ill., prepared to open in August, its chief executive exulted, “You feel like you could be at the Marriott.” In the $63 million community hospital, patients all enjoy private rooms, with couches, flat-screen TVs and views of nature. Its lobby features stone fireplaces and a waterfall. Some hospitals in the United States, like Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, have long been associated with deluxe accommodations, and others have always had suites for V.I.P.’s. But today even many smaller hospitals often offer general amenities, like room service and nail salons, more often associated with hotels than health care. In the current boom of hospital construction, private rooms have become the norm. And some health economists worry that the luxury surroundings are adding unneeded costs to the nation’s $2.7 trillion health care bill. There are some medical arguments for the trend — private rooms, for example, could lower infection rates and allow patients more rest as they heal. But the main reason for the largess is marketing.

In a highly competitive field, patients — sometimes now referred to as “guests” — appreciate amenities. The tactic works. “We found that patient demand correlates much better to amenities than quality of care,” said Dr. John Romley, a research professor at the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics of the University of Southern California, who has studied the trend. That means that hospitals can improve their bottom line and their reputation by focusing more on hospitality than health care — offering organic food by a celebrity chef rather than lowering medication errors, for example. As a result, American hospitals are looking less and less like their more utilitarian counterparts in Europe, where the average hospital charges per day are often less than a quarter of those in the United States, according to the International Federation of Health Plans.

The Henry Ford health system in Michigan caused a stir after it hired a hotel industry executive, Gerard van Grinsven of the Ritz-Carlton Group, in 2006 to run its new hospital, Henry Ford West Bloomfield. He had opened 20 hotels and his “focus on people and service excellence” has helped the hospital thrive in a competitive market, said Nancy M. Schlichting, Henry Ford’s chief executive, who decided to hire him. The idea was to take care of patients’ needs, she said, clinical and otherwise. While no one is getting nostalgic for traditional hospital food, open wards or revealing gowns, some worry that hospitals are going too far with the creature comforts. They are particularly concerned since most hospitals are nonprofit, so construction — directly or indirectly — is subsidized with public money.

With the prospect on the horizon of the Affordable Care Act’s lowering reimbursement, and interest rates rising, the hospital construction boom appears to be slowing. And, in choosing a hospital, patients should probably think beyond room service anyway. Many years ago, when I was a doctor-in-training, I was assigned to work on a hospital floor with V.I.P. rooms. Though the views were spectacular, the cardiac arrest team could not get there as quickly as it could to the regular wards. 

Source : nytimes.com/2013/09/22/sunday-review/is-this-a-hospital-or-a-hotel.html#h[]

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"Rosewood Hotels Hope To Convey"

Source           :     nytimes.com
Category      :     Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By                :     STUART ELLIOTT
Posted By   :     Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

A company that operates high-end hotels and resorts is joining the ranks of marketers in the lodging and travel categories that seek to sell potential customers on accumulating rich experiences rather than expensive possessions.The company, Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, is introducing a campaign that carries the theme, “A sense of place,” which is complemented with another phrase, “A true journey never ends.” The budget for the campaign — including print and digital ads, online video and a redesigned Web site — is estimated at $8 million.The campaign presents striking shots in a “living canvas” style by a Danish photographer, Anders Overgaard, of interesting and unusual things to do in cities where Rosewood has properties. For instance, one image, titled “Getting Lost in the Moment,” depicts a Temazcal ritual at the Rosewood Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, Mexico.A second ad, titled “Behind the Magic Curtain,” shows a couple in formal wear backstage at a ballet in New York, where the Carlyle is a Rosewood hotel. A third ad, titled “Hitting All the Right Notes,” features guests enjoying a pianist at the Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle.

Other experiences that are highlighted in the campaign include sailing a dhow and riding bicycles in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where Rosewood has one hotel and intends to open a second, in 2015; and getting fitted for a dress and taking a calligraphy master class in Beijing, where Rosewood is to open a hotel early next year.The campaign arrives as the company proceeds with expansion plans that involve doubling the number of properties under the Rosewood brand umbrella within five years. In the short term, in addition to the new hotel in Beijing, a Rosewood hotel is scheduled to open in London next month. Beyond that, the company has proposed opening seven additional hotels, in markets like Bali, Indonesia; Chongquing, China; Nassau, the Bahamas; and Phukut, Thailand. The campaign is being created for Rosewood by AgencySacks in New York, which specializes in advertising aimed at consumers at the upper end of the market; its slogan is, “We influence the affluent.” The Web site redesign is being handled by the Hong Kong office of Isobar, which is part of the Dentsu Aegis Network division of Dentsu.

AgencySacks has been working for Rosewood since 2004 and was kept on after the company changed hands in 2011, when the previous owners sold to New World Hospitality, a unit of New World China Land, for $800 million. Rosewood is “a very-well-recognized brand,” says Sonia Cheng, chief executive of the company, which has offices in Dallas and Hong Kong. “We saw the opportunity to take it to the next level and expand Rosewood aggressively.” The campaign is intended to be part of efforts to “completely revamp” Rosewood “from a brand identity front,” she adds, to “keep up with what luxury travelers are looking for.¶ The campaign theme represents “a strong philosophy,” Ms. Cheng says, that gives the brand “a more modern look and approach.” “What Rosewood has right now is special,” she adds. “We want to make it as ‘un-hotel’ as possible.” By that, Ms. Cheng explains, she means that she wants to distinguish Rosewood from lodging chains that, as they grow bigger, “focus on quantity” rather than quality and make staying at each property “a cookie-cutter experience.” Rosewood, by comparison, tries to make each hotel “individualized,” she says, and let each have “its own personality that embodies local culture.”“What luxury travelers are looking for is not extravagance, but experience,” she adds. A campaign for Loews Hotels and Resorts, introduced in July, also seeks to portray staying at each property as a unique experience. The Loews campaign, which carries the theme “The room you need,” is created by the Catch New York agency.

After Ms. Cheng came to Rosewood following the change in ownership, a brand consultant and graphic designer, Robert Louey, “helped us with the direction” of the makeover, she says. Then AgencySacks was brought in to work on a new campaign. In many instances after a company changes hands, one of the first things the new owner does is look for a new agency. In this instance, Ms. Cheng says, she wanted to keep AgencySacks because “they know Rosewood inside out.” “It was a smart choice to make,” she adds. Introducing “A sense of place” as the new theme for Rosewood speaks to the desire to “create experiences for the guests,” Ms. Cheng says, in a “living canvas” approach. As part of that, the company is bringing experts it calls “curators” to the hotels, she adds, “and give the inside scoop on each location to the guests.” The curators come from areas like “the entertainment industry, the fashion industry, the art world,” Ms. Cheng says, and include Piers Morgan for the coming hotel in London; Condoleezza Rice for the Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park, Calif.; and Nina Garcia of Marie Claire magazine and “Project Runway” for the Carlyle in New York.

Under the previous ownership, says Andrew Sacks, president at AgencySacks, “the brand was a looser coalition” of hotels and resorts, with “each property individually named.” Now, the idea is “to make Rosewood a much stronger brand, a more prominent name,” he adds, which “has given us the ability to finally create a consistent brand campaign.” Giving “the affluent guest” a chance to “have a more immersive experience” makes sense, Mr. Sacks says, particularly when “some affluent travelers, our affluent travelers, are a little more creative, a little more artsy, and want experiences that are unique and different.” The photographs in the ads, in shining a spotlight on “moments that are unique and different,” he adds, are almost always devoted to experiences that are separate from the amenities or features of the hotel or resort. “The luxury of the hotels is table stakes” with the well-off target audience, Mr. Sacks says, so there is no need for the ads to show “tuxedoed waiters or 500-thread-count sheets.” That approach also “speaks to the confidence of the brand,” he adds, that it “doesn’t need to say” how luxurious each property is.“The main stereotype” about the affluent is that “they want fancy, they want Champagne and caviar,” Mr. Sacks says. “And they do.”  “Where a lot of advertising to the affluent falls short,” he adds, is in not realizing that the potential customers “have developed good radar to people trying to sell to them, not only advertisers but also people like real estate salesmen.” When marketers “use a lot of hyperbole, or the word ‘luxury,’ the affluent say, ‘They don’t get me,' ” Mr. Sacks says, “particularly postrecession.” High-income consumers “are looking to broaden their lives beyond the superficial trappings of luxury,” Mr. Sacks says, while at the same time they want to “pursue their experiential passions without sacrificing any of the wonderful things” that they expect when staying at a luxury hotel.

Source:nytimes.com/2013/09/23/business/media/ads-for-rosewood-hotels-hope-to-convey-a-sense-of-place.html?pagewanted=all#p[TcaIts]

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"Starwood Releases New Hotel App In Tandem"

Source           :     pandodaily.com
Category      :     Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By                :     CALE GUTHRIE WEISSMAN
Posted By   :     Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

Today is the day! I bet you know what I’m talking about, don’t you? The highly anticipated mobile release, right? Yep, it’s here: Starwood Hotels & Resorts has finally released its new app. Oh, you’re talking about iOS 7? Oh, well that’s cool too. Yes, it’s true, iOS 7 has finally been released today. We can now begin to see all the wonderful newfangled iOS things developers will be able to create. With this update comes new graphics, apps, controls, as well as a new developer language. Which really means that apps are going to have to update, and fast, if they haven’t already. But, as I alluded to earlier, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), the loyalty program headed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has released its latest app in both English and Chinese fresh on the heels of the iOS release. This morning in New York, the company’s senior vice president, Chris Holden, and its VP of global and digital, Clay Cowan, unveiled the new app, giving the press both a chance to see the new app as well as see the new OS in action.

Cowan and Holden reported that the company’s mobile reservations have risen dramatically over the last few years. In addition, the company projects that it will receive more online traffic from mobile devices than personal computers by 2015. It also dubs itself the “most global hotel company,” with properties in over 100 countries. While the company’s revenue decreased earlier this year, its profits exceeded estimates due to a tax benefit. With all of this, the company is hoping to increase its branding and clientele by keeping up with mobile trends. According to Cowan, the new app was tailored around two different types of user use-cases: the person who sits back and leisurely peruses the app to find the perfect hotel by looking at users’ instagrams, reviews, amenities list, etc., and the person who need to book a room now with a “quick burst of energy.” So users can easily browse endless information about potential hotels, or quickly book a reservation if they’re in a hurry.

Holden said that the company had been working on an iOS 6 update, when it received word about the news about iOS 7 a few months back. So the devs decided to scrap the original update and start building the 7 model from scratch. This seems to have worked out nicely because the app’s interface is easy to use and has some cool features. Take, for example, the app’s Foursquare and Instagram integration, allowing users to see what’s trending nearby their hotels and view perfectly filtered photos of beachside resorts.

The two executives explained that this release is trying to transcend your average hotel booking app, and was built from a “tech developer standpoint.” What does this mean? Well, to be honest, not too much — it is still a hotel reservation app. It does use some of 7′s latest features, including a trippy background that utilizes the OS’s parallax 3D background. (All this means really is that if you move the device up and down, the background slightly shifts and morphs in a visually appealing way.) It also uses the new feature AirDrop, which allows iOS users to share files with each other. For Starwood, this lets users share their reservation information, or specifics about certain properties, with others. While there are some standout features like includes in-app booking and unfiltered user reviews (the latter is a smart marketing move on Starwood’s part), this doesn’t mean a new epoch for hotel reservation apps. It just means that Starwood has a good developer team, and hopefully others will follow suit. And for those who don’t have enough money for a Starwood reservation, if you ever want to spend hours hate-browsing by swiping through numerous user-generated photos from five-star resorts, there’s now an app for that.

Source :pandodaily.com/2013/09/18/starwood-releases-new-hotel-app-in-tandem-with-ios-7-release/

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"The Cafe Royal Hotel Unveils Its New Suites"

Source         :     telegraph.co.uk
Category     :    Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By               :    John O'Ceallaigh
Posted By   :    Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

Choosing where to stay in London is becoming increasingly difficult, but for good reasons. With a number of high-profile properties having opened in 2013, from Me London to the Great Northern Hotel, and more major launches to come, including the London Edition next month, Rosewood London in October and Shangri-La London in The Shard shortly after, visitors to the capital are spoilt for choice. In the face of all this competition, the capital’s more established hotels may not be able to claim they can offer a comparatively fresh product, but a handful are responding by launching new suites. Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill has unveiled its Saatchi Suite, which features such curiosities as walls made of soap and furniture that guests can take home; the Royal Suite at the InterContinental London Park Lane references the hotel’s regal background – it stands on the site of the Queen’s childhood home; at the Berkeley, a 260sq metre suite designed by Andre Fu is due to open in October. The Café Royal hotel, meanwhile, has also just announced the launch of six suites within the property. Opened in late 2012, the hotel is still introducing new products – its spa has yet to open – and the new suites will be the most luxurious accommodation options available at the property thus far.

The largest is the Empire Suite, which at 200sq metres has ample space for a living room with dining space, walk-in wardrobe, study and large bathroom finished with Carrara marble. The circular Dome Suite is described by the hotel as “the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll suite’ and includes its own DJ booth; more restrained, the Club Suite is inspired by the hotel’s French heritage and includes moulds of the changing faces of Napoleon.

The choices for guests continue, with the Tudor Suite inspired by the Elizabethan era and including an original Tudor fireplace and Jacobean symbols on the walls of the living area. The more modern Marquis Suite will impress visitors with its quintessential London views – it looks at the screens of Piccadilly Circus and directly over Big Ben – while the Celestine Suite is demurely decorated in soft yellows and includes ample dining space for guests who may wish to entertain. All of the suites are now available to book, with prices starting from £4,000 per night.

Source:telegraph.co.uk/travel/ultratravel/10272050/The-Cafe-Royal-hotel-unveils-its-new-suites.html

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"Hotel Of The Day: The St. Regis Deer Valley"

Source         :     forbes.com
Category     :    Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By               :    Caroline Patek
Posted By   :    Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

Some say the best hotels make you never want to leave, and this rings true when it comes to The St. Regis Deer Valley. From the scenic mountain location to elegant décor and guest-minded personal service, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel serves as a premier destination year-round. With 177 guest rooms and 26 private residences, the Park City hotel is big in size but boutique in its feel. Should you need assistance during your stay at the luxury hotel, the famous St. Regis butlers are on-hand to take care of your every need 24 hours a day—from unpacking your suitcase to delivering coffee and tea to your room. Grabbing a meal at J&G Grill is a must during your stay, where floor-to-ceiling windows afford views of the slopes and the menu features enticing options such as black truffle pizza with fontina cheese or Alaskan halibut with a miso-yuzu glaze and roasted maitake mushrooms.

Considering The St. Regis Deer Valley is located within a private residential community, the most popular way to access the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel is by the funicular. Built when the hotel was constructed in 2009, the two-cab funicular transports guests from the base at Deer Valley Resort—230 vertical feet—up to The St. Regis, all in a matter of 90 seconds. The cabs were designed by the Swiss company Gangloff, which created the first funicular in 1929 and served as the carriage maker to European royalty. Hop in one of the cabs and make your way up to the hotel, which is situated on 12 slope-side acres overlooking the Wasatch and Uinta mountains. The St. Regis Deer Valley’s lower level houses the hotel’s ski valet, conveniently located right next to the mountain’s Deer Hollow run. Valets will warm your boots and handle your equipment before you head out on the slopes.

Locals admit that summertime is Park City’s best-kept secret, and a stay at The St. Regis Deer Valley is no exception. Rates for the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel go down during the warmer months, making summer a great time for a family trip. The area is home to a massive bike trail system, which is the first and only Gold-Level Ride Center in the world awarded by the International Mountain Biking Association. Deer Valley Resort affords countless hiking trails, and a summer concert series at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater—at the base of the funicular—is a great way to spend an evening in Park City. Of course, we’d be remiss not to advocate for a trip to The St. Regis Deer Valley during ski season, when countless snow bunnies descend upon the Utah destination to explore the mountain. The luxury hotel’s outdoor fire pits along with its cozy library stocked with books and board games are the perfect way to unwind after an active day.

From the grand lobby with its stunning stone columns and large windows to the 14,000-square-foot Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Remède Spa Deer Valley, the hotel stands as the epitome of an elegant mountain retreat. Unique touches around the property convey a true sense of thoughtfulness: The St. Regis Wine Vault holds upward of 12,000 bottles, including some magnums that belong to the owners of the private residences, and The St. Regis Bar’s signature twist on a Bloody Mary, the 7452 Mary, gives a nod to the local community with black sea salt representing Park City’s mining history, High West Distillery vodka and “7452” signifying the altitude of the hotel.

Source:forbes.com/sites/forbestravelguide/2013/08/29/hotel-of-the-day-the-st-regis-deer-valley/

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"Tourism Spike Breathes Life Into Hotel Trade"

Source         :     independent.ie
Category     :    Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By               :    FINBARR FLYNN AND NEIL CALLANAN
Posted By   :    Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

Four years ago, Ireland's debt-laden hotels were contending with falling visitor numbers and new competitors financed by surging mortgage lending during the Celtic Tiger. That's when zombie hotels emerged, slashing room rates to stay alive and keep tax breaks granted during the boom. Now increasing demand for rooms, led by Dublin, is prompting investors from American billionaire John Malone to Russia's richest woman to buy hotels here. The capital generated more revenue growth per available hotel room than any other major European city in the 12 months through June, according to a survey by lodging-data provider STR Global.

"There's a fair bit of capital in the marketplace looking for what people now believe is a good investment again," said Kevin McGillycuddy, managing director of Brehon Capital Partners. The Dublin-based private-equity firm and partner Midwest Holdings bought the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt in Wicklow in February and opened the five-star Marker Hotel in April.

Tourism, Ireland's largest indigenous industry, was devastated by the global financial crisis, with visitor numbers plunging 23pc between 2008 and 2010. Demand for hotels evaporated, causing the occupancy rate to fall to a 16-year low of 59pc in 2009, according to a survey by Crowe Horwath, an accountancy and consultancy firm. Since then, visitor numbers have begun to pick up. The occupancy rate climbed to 64pc in 2012 from 61pc a year earlier, Crowe Horwath said. That's reflected in the property market. Hotel values have climbed about a fifth in downtown Dublin since September 2011, more than any other part of the Irish property market, brokers CBRE and Savills estimate. "Trade is very strong," said Peter MacCann, general manager of the five-star Merrion Hotel, opposite Government Buildings on Merrion Street. "We have to be careful – and this goes for every hotel – that we don't get greedy. We have got to protect the business to get it to come back."

Source:independent.ie/business/irish/tourism-spike-breathes-life-into-hotel-trade-29524257.html

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"Paris Hotels Attempt To Lure Customers By Playing Up Literary Links"

Source         :     theguardian.com
Category     :    Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By               :    Kim Willsher
Posted By   :    Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

"The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeking new landscapes, but of having new eyes." Words full of insight. But it is doubtful that the author of À la Recherche du Temps Perdu (Remembrance of Things Past) imagined that his oft-cited quote would be used to brand "literary-themed" hotels 100 years after the first publication of his defining work. The rise of the belles-lettres establishment, celebrating France's literary culture, and even that of its neighbours, is the latest marketing sensation in the French capital, as hoteliers come up with ever more innovative – or desperate – ways to attract guests. Sandwiched between a fast-food restaurant and a kebab house opposite the Gare de l'Est, the Le Marcel hotel has ideas well above its station. Born and raised in the chic 16th arrondissement, Proust would have spent little time in this, the gritty 10th, other than while passing through to catch a train.

But Le Marcel does not let the lack of linksto the great man spoil the promotional plot: "Marcel Proust's spirit hovers all around," says the hotel brochure. "The Marcel dresses up in indigo. This color (sic), a major element of romantic literature, is present everywhere in slight touches to recall that infinity is ubiquitous."

The rooms are named after some of Proust's most famous characters: the Saint Loup, after Robert de Saint-Loup, the boyhood friend of the narrator in À la Recherche du Temps Perdu; Guermantes, the duchess whose glamour seduces the young protagonist; and Swann – all characters that feature in the seven-volume work. There is, of course, a room named the Madeleine, after the cake that sparks the narrator's prolonged bout of recollection.

In the neighbouring 9th arrondissement, Les Plumes hotel pays tribute to literary lovers: George Sand and Alfred de Musset, Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud, Juliette Drouet and Victor Hugo. Set on the Rue Lamartine, named after the Romantic poet Alphonse de Lamartine, the hotel even has literary quotations etched on the shower glass. And in L'Hotel in the St Germain des Prés district, guests can sleep in the room in which Oscar Wilde died. One of the first literary-themed hotels was the Le Pavillon des Lettres, which opened in 2010, a stone's throw from the French president's residence at the Élysée Palace, where 26 rooms pay tribute to writers including William Shakespeare, Émile Zola and Franz Kafka. Whatever the conceit, it appears to work; Le Marcel is full, and Laurence Guilloux, director of the recently opened four-star R Kipling hotel, says its leather armchairs, fireplace and library are popular both with the "young and dynamic" and "older couples who like the ambience … it's about creating a character, a personality for each hotel".

It has been a good year for Paris hotels of all kinds, especially the high-end luxury establishments. Despite the economic recession and a slight drop in numbers on 2012 – a record year – the city's tourist authorities say 2013 is set to be "one of the tourist grands crus" for the capital. A fall in French guests has been compensated by an increase in British, American and, above all, Asian visitors. Georges Panayotis, founder and chairman of the marketing and tourism research company MKG Hospitality, said the luxury hotels had done particularly well, justifying the investment in renovations many had undergone. "Despite the difficult economic contest, the French hotel business has shown a remarkable resistance," he said. The emergence of author-themed hotels, he said, had shown the willingness of Paris hoteliers to raise their game in the face of international competition and demonstrated that the "investments are justified and profitable". "The idea of themes, of innovation, of specialising, not just in hotels but restaurants, is all part of this," he said. "We're going back to the basics of the quality of service and welcome à la français."Outside the Gare de l'Est, a group of young Britons was heading for the hotel they had chosen on the internet because it "looked clean and was good value". Would they choose a literary-themed hotel next time? "If it wasn't too expensive, why not?" said Josh, a business student from Southampton. "Sounds fun. Maybe for a romantic weekend rather than a trip with friends, though."

Source : theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/24/paris-hotels-play-up-literary-links

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"Hotels.com Creative Review Is Underway"

Source         :     adweek.com
Category     :    Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By               :    Gabriel Beltrone
Posted By   :    Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

Travel accommodations website Hotels.com is reviewing its creative advertising account.The lead role is currently handled by Y&R in Chicago, which won the business in 2009. Y&R declined to comment on the review, or whether the agency would defend.The search is understood to be well underway, with requests for information due back from participating agencies in coming days. A full list of contenders could not be immediately determined.Hotels.com, based in Dallas, Texas, spent $39 million across media in 2012, with about $30 million of that amount going to television, per Kantar estimates.

Ark Advisors in New York is handling the review process for Hotels.com. The search consultant also handled the 2007 review that saw the account land at TBWA\Chiat\Day in New York, the lead creative agency for the brand before Y&R.Ark Advisors referred calls to the client. Representatives for the brand did not return calls before press time.Hotels.com is owned by online travel giant Expedia, based in Bellevue, Washington, which uses 180LA as its lead creative agency.Competitor Booking.com, owned by Priceline, at the beginning of this year moved into the U.S. advertising marketing with work from its agency.

Source : adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/hotelscom-creative-review-underway-151830

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"From Outsiders To Innkeepers In China’s Sleepy Countryside"

Source         :     nytimes.com
Category     :    Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By               :    MIKE IVES
Posted By   :    Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

Brian Linden welcomed the guests to his boutique hotel in one of its courtyards at the end of a cobblestone alley here, surrounded by old stone walls and polished wood balconies.He invited the group, from Greenwich, Conn., to peruse the hotel’s book collection, which he created years ago as a doctoral candidate in Sinology at Stanford University. “And if any of you are light sleepers, what I recommend is, turn on the fan for some white noise,” Mr. Linden said. “Because there’s no white noise here at all.” The hotel is far from the noise of any major city, which Mr. Linden, an American who first arrived in China in 1984 as a student, thinks is one of its draws. He and his wife, Jeanee, are among a small number of foreign entrepreneurs in rural China who operate boutique hotels in restored properties that have historic charm. They converted a courtyard residential complex in Yunnan Province, built before the Communist revolution, into the Linden Centre.

More hotel rooms are being built in China than anywhere else in the world, according to data compiled by STR Global, a market forecaster. At the top end, luxury brands like Aman Resorts and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts are racing to open new hotels in the country. For some rooms, they are charging China’s emerging superrich the equivalent of more than a thousand dollars a night. Mr. Linden and other foreign owners of smaller boutique hotels say they would rather offer tourists more distinctive lodging. Like Japan’s ryokans, Italy’s villas and America’s Victorian bed-and-breakfasts, China’s boutique retreats could lure travelers with their link to the past, especially since they have been replaced in major cities by modern buildings. In China’s upscale hotel market, “nobody’s taking the lead to do anything sustainably; all they’re doing is just tapping into a flow of tourists,” Mr. Linden said. “Some people have to come in here and really show China that there are other models, and those people have to be fairly altruistic because when we started, this wasn’t a very lucrative type of project.”

Guests at the smaller independent hotels like Mr. Linden’s include a smattering of wealthy Chinese seeking escape from the bustle of big cities, but the vast majority are foreigners. Mr. Linden’s hotel is comfortable, but he offers few frills. He said that most Chinese who can afford to stay — nightly rates range from 900 to 1,200 renminbi, or about $145 to $195 — typically prefer more luxurious accommodations that include television sets and air-conditioning. The Linden Centre is a 25-minute taxi ride from Dali, a popular Yunnan destination, and a morning’s drive from Lijiang, a city of 1.2 million that is one of China’s largest magnets for domestic tourists. Chris Barclay, whose riverside boutique hotel in Guangxi Province features a restored mud-brick barn, said that many of his Chinese guests booked for three nights. But they often leave after the first, out of frustration with the lack of amenities. Local officials are intrigued by his project, Mr. Barclay said, but are amazed that any hotelier would market such humble lodgings to upscale travelers.

For the officials, it would be like “building a hotel out of ice in Lapland,” Mr. Barclay said with a laugh. “They’re still trying to process it.” But Huang Yinwu, an architect in Yunnan who for several years led a historical restoration in the Shaxi Valley financed by the Swiss government, said many of the urban Chinese he has met, whether backpackers or high-end travelers, are increasingly open to rustic getaways. For now, a handful of foreign hotel operators appear to dominate China’s market for boutique retreats. They acknowledge that their work can be challenging. It took the Lindens three years to restore their courtyard complex, in part because it is protected by the same national heritage regulations that apply to the Great Wall. The restoration was complicated by jurisdictional battles among local, provincial and national heritage officials, Mr. Linden said. Mr. Barclay had to negotiate with a village council that opposed his plan to install toilets in his Yunnan Province inn, which was built during the Qing dynasty. (He ended up renovating some nearby public toilets.) It also has taken several years to train his Chinese staff to cater to foreign guests, he said. And because foreigners are not allowed to own land, those who manage boutique hotels under lease agreements are at the mercy of the local authorities. “Legally, it’s a big mess,” said Julien Minet, a French ethnologist who operates a small bed-and-breakfast inn in a quiet village in Anhui Province. “Maybe one day I will lose everything, and I’m prepared for this.” As for marketing, the hoteliers say they depend on word of mouth and their Web sites to attract guests, mainly foreigners. Mr. Barclay and Mr. Linden lecture about their work when they travel. And the Lindens have high school exchange programs and allow international scholars to stay free in exchange for giving talks, practices Mr. Linden said helped raise his hotel’s profile.

Although the number of Chinese guests is slowly increasing, the entrepreneurs say they are not in a hurry to advertise in the mainland market. The boutique hoteliers are all doing well enough by catering to mainly foreign clientele. Mr. Linden said the occupancy rate at the 16-room hotel is now 65 percent to 70 percent. A sister hotel in Xizhou is tentatively scheduled to open next year, and the Lindens are pursuing other projects across Yunnan Province, including one on a tea plantation near the China-Myanmar border. The Lindens’ hotel is far from an authentic representation of China, said Ian Rowen, a geography doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado. However, he said, the Lindens have created a novel and tasteful way to introduce international tourists to Chinese and some ethnic-minority traditions. “It’s a good example of the way that heritage tourism can proceed,” said Mr. Rowen, who has worked in China’s tourism industry and conducted academic research at the Lindens’ hotel.

The Lindens, who also own an art gallery a few hours north of Chicago, discovered their Yunnan property in 2005 while traveling across China in search of a place to begin their dream project. They signed a 20-year lease in 2007. Part of the draw was that the complex, which covers about 3,700 square meters, or nearly 40,000 square feet, had escaped destruction during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. But it badly needed a face-lift. For the next three years, the couple poured about $600,000 of their savings into a restoration. “We never were building equity in the buildings, because we don’t own them,” Mr. Linden said. “Our equity in the future is really just our brand. And that’s tied so much to Jeanee’s and my story.”

Source:nytimes.com/2013/08/14/business/global/in-chinas-countryside-travelers-find-foreigner-run-hotels.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"A Fun Weekend in San Diego"

Source         :    http://hmghotelsblog.com/
Category     :    Affordable Hotels in San Diego

By               :    hmgmanagement

Posted By   :    Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

Last weekend, I embarked on a mileage run to sunny San Diego for some weekend-fun with friends. Luckily, my friend and I both cleared complimentary upgrades on both segments to SAN (EWR-IAH and IAH -SAN) as only United Premier Gold members. Our first segment included seats on United’s 767-400, equipped with new lie-flat seats, which is always a fun treat.When we arrived in San Diego later that evening, we checked into our hotel, the Courtyard Marriott Downtown (great location in a historically-preserved building), and walked over to the Andaz San Diego for some roof-top drinks with some of our other friends. After a fun night at the Andaz, we called it a night to catch up on sleep.

The next morning, we returned back to the Andaz for a lovely roof-top breakfast. The good thing was: since we’re all Hyatt Diamond members from the SMD4 (including my friend who stayed the night at the Andaz), we basically were able to order and eat whatever we wanted from the menu for free, thanks to the generous breakfast credit for Diamond members. I enjoyed a delicious breakfast burrito, ricotta blueberry pancakes, and a berry smoothie.After breakfast, we checked out of the Courtyard Marriott and checked into our new hotel for the night, The Bristol, which I booked using Hotel Tonight credits (related post). The Bristol is a short, five-block walk from the Courtyard Marriott and is a lovely, eco-friendly boutique hotel. After getting settled in the new room, we started off with the idea of going to the beach, but after a few half-joking comments about going to Mexico, that quickly became the plan instead.

Two out of the 3 of us had passports on hand (my passport’s permanent residence is in my purse – you never know!), and another had a Global Entry card but was unsure at the time if that would be sufficient-enough for him to exit. He elected to stay behind and wait for a few minutes for us to go in-and-out. We parked the car in one of the many lots designed for curious tourists like us (since the rental car did not have insurance coverage in Mexico), followed the pedestrian walkway to Mexico, and soon enough we came face to face with the metal revolving doors at the border.As an east-coaster, this was exciting to me; I thought it would be a fun and novel experience to say I quickly walked-on over to Mexico, stayed for a few minutes, and then went right back through the revolving door leading to the U.S. Lots of my west-coast friends have done this several of times in the past, so it’s gotta be quick and easy, right? Silly for me to think it would be such a painless procedure. Apparently it doesn’t work that way… anymore at least.

When made it to the other side, we snapped our picture, and headed for the exit only to be surprised by a tremendous line to re-enter the U.S. I’m talking hours long. It was endless. And it was certainly not moving. Crap. Now what?We decided maybe if we took a cab across the border, that’ll be faster since the car lane was definitely moving at a normal pace. A few minutes later, my friend and I piled in a van with 16 other people for $5 a head. I thought this was brilliant. “$5 for at least two hours of my time back is totally worth it”, I thought to myself.Surprise surprise – after driving about 20 feet, and at the same time being just 50 feet shy of the exit booths, the van is now parked in a line behind 7 other vans. The driver gets out and starts talking with the other parked vans. Some other people in the van take out books to read. This, to me, meant that this was a normal occurrence and a lengthy process. He we go again.

After two hours, we finally made it to the exit booth and to passport control where we were questioned before being allowed back into the U.S. While waiting in that short line, I witnessed an arrest of someone trying to cross the border illegally, and listened to a disheveled American who was allegedly robbed of all of his belongings, including his passport. I wonder what eventually happened to him.After re-uiniting with our friend who stayed behind, we decided that we still had time to catch the sunset from the “Top of the Hyatt” bar at the Hyatt Manchester on the harbor, which claims to have the best sunset views in San Diego. We each enjoyed a cocktail and enjoyed the beautiful panoramic sunset overlooking the city before heading to dinner with other frequent flyers and readers in town.

I absolutely love meeting new people in every city I visit, connecting with those who I’ve met at previous events, and having the chance to put faces to readers (hence the reason why I’m having a NJ reader dinner this weekend, come join!). With that said, I sent out an open-invite to dinner in downtown San Diego via Twitter. A nice group of us enjoyed delicious skirt steaks and laughs at an Argentian restaurant called Puerto La Boca before calling it a night.The following day was also sunny and beautiful, but also our last day in town before our red-eye flights home. We wanted to take in as much of the gorgeous weather as we could. We opted to start the day off right with breakfast on the beach at Sheerwater, located inside the historic Hotel del Coronado, and then headed to La Jolla for a beach-view lunch during restaurant week at George’s on the Cove before heading to SAN to head home.

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"Del Rey: Former Courtyard now operates as DoubleTree by Hilton hotel"

Source       :   http://argonautnews.com
Category    :  San Diego Vacation Hotels
By              :   The Argonaut in News
Posted By   :   Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

The former Courtyard by Marriott hotel near the Marina Marketplace in Del Rey has converted to the Hotel MdR, a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, and is slated to undergo a $7 million renovation.The hotel has been purchased by Channel West Group and Arris Investments LLC. Evolution Hospitality of San Clemente is the new operator and senior principals of Evolution have also made an equity investment in the hotel.The renovation project is scheduled to take place between November 2013 and February 2014 to complete contemporary design upgrades across the property.“Our hotel’s conversion to the DoubleTree by Hilton brand marks the beginning of a very exciting growth phase for our hotel,” says Karen Filson, director of sales and marketing for Hotel MdR Marina del Rey. “Joining the DoubleTree by Hilton family allows us to further enhance each guest’s experience with the superior level of service synonymous with the brand – starting with the warm chocolate chip cookie welcome guests receive the moment they step through our hotel doors.”Preliminary renovations began at the hotel in 2012, with updates to all 277 guestrooms and suites. When property renovations complete in early 2014, the hotel will unveil a more modern design crafted by Atlanta-based architecture firm, CMMI, according to Evolution Hospitality.

Among the enhancements will be the addition of six new guestrooms, bringing the total number of guestrooms to 283.Additional upgrades include the addition of a poolside seating area for the hotel’s new restaurant concept, which will be announced in 2014, a new outdoor fireplace and fire pit by the resort-style pool, a Ping-Pong room, new audio-visual equipment for the hotel’s 5,725 square feet of meeting space, and a redesign of the lobby and front desk areas.Guests will also be offered complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property, and 24-hour fitness and business centers.“We look forward to bringing the DoubleTree by Hilton standard of guest service to even more travelers with the introduction of our Hotel MdR Marina del Rey,” said John Greenleaf, global head of DoubleTree by Hilton. “The convenient location of this hotel to the area’s most popular tourist and business destinations makes it a great addition to the DoubleTree by Hilton portfolio.”

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego|"Hotels Near The Mcrd In San Diego California"

Source : http://mmotels.blogspot.com
By : mmotels.blogspot
Category : Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
Posted By : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels

The Marine Corps Recruitment Depot, also known as MCRD, is a recruiting and training facility located in San Diego. Each year, future Marines are trained physically and mentally at the MCRD and take part in a graduation ceremony upon the successful completion of their program. Parents and friends who want to support their loved one by attending the event can stay at one of the many hotels located just a few miles away.

Courtyard San Diego Old Town

The Courtyard San Diego Old Town hotel is less than one mile from MCRD and under five miles from the San Diego International Airport. The hotel's location in Old Town San Diego provides easy access to a plethora of restaurants, including Fred's Mexican Cafe and El Agave, a Mexican restaurant that also houses a tequila museum. Guests who are visiting the city for the first time can enjoy a trolley tour leaving from Old Town; the tours are offered throughout the year, and haunted tours are offered in October. The Courtyard San Diego Old Town has more than 150 guest rooms, 16 of which are suites. Guests can take advantage of discounted tickets to San Diego attractions, including the San Diego Zoo and USS Midway Museum.

Howard Johnson Sea World

The Howard Johnson Sea World hotel is less than a half mile from the recruitment depot. The hotel is also near the city's Sea World theme park; guests will find the park less than three miles away. The hotel offers discounted tickets to Sea World, as well as to the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park and Legoland. Families staying at the Howard Johnson Sea World for the MCRD graduation can enjoy a shuttle service that is arranged by the hotel specifically for the event. A complimentary airport shuttle is also offered throughout the year for all guests. The hotel's other amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, free breakfast and wireless Internet service.

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina

The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina sits just over one mile from the MCRD. The hotel is right on the San Diego Bay, and many guest rooms offer views of the bay or downtown San Diego skyline. The hotel is ideal for active guests, who will find a basketball court, jogging trails, water volleyball and tennis courts right on the premises. The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina also affords guests the use of four boats, the largest of which can accommodate almost 50 people. All guest rooms feature modern contemporary decor, and some rooms also offer a private deck or patio.

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego | "The latest in luxury: Underwater hotels"

Source        : http://www.luxuo.com
Category    : Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By              : Luxuo
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels

A futuristic-looking luxury hotel made up of spaceship-like discs that recalls Star Trek’s Enterprise is set to be built partially underwater in the Maldives.

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

The Polish developers of the Water Discus Hotel received the green light last week by the national ministry of tourism to begin construction off the island of Kuredhivaru, where the ambitious underwater project will be built amidst delicate coral reefs in crystal clear waters.

The two-part structure caters to guests with different preferences: those who want an underwater marine view of tropical fish and colorful coral, and those who prefer aerial views of their lush, blue-skied surroundings.

The specs are impressive: suspended up to seven meters above water on five pillars, the upper deck will house the hotel restaurant, a spa, a rooftop seawater pool and a tropical garden, as well as a helicopter landing pad.

The lower underwater deck — built up to 30 meters below the surface — will house 21 soundproof guest rooms and the hotel bar as well as a submarine, airlocked dive center that leads divers straight into the ocean. For deep-sea divers, the dive center also includes a decompression chamber.

Underwater Hotels

Other water activities include three-passenger submersibles for deep-sea exploration, motor boats, water-skiing, jet skis and underwater scooters.

Plans are also afoot to build a similar project in Dubai. No details are available on when the hotel is scheduled to open.

Meanwhile, the spectacular marine world of the Maldives is the setting for another luxury, underwater restaurant and hotel.

Set five meters below the surface of the sea, the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island hotel and features 180-degree views of the coral gardens.

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego | "Proclaims the Hottest Beach Hotels in San Diego"

Source        : http://www.digitaljournal.com

Category    : Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

By              : San Diego Vacations Hotels

Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels

It's no surprise San Diego is a top vacation destination with gorgeous weather and an average of 146 sunny days every year. With miles of coastline and plenty of popular hotels to choose from, San Diego is a beach lovers paradise, so while much of the country is currently dealing with springtime storms and inconsistent weather, visitors are sitting pretty at the top beach hotels in San Diego.

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

SanDiego has announced that the best way to escape a storm is by getting out of town and heading to sunny San Diego. Lucky for visitors, SanDiego has tried the pina coladas and checked out the hotel pools to determine the hottest hotels in San Diego for a vacation on the beach.

1.) L'Auberge Del Mar: 

For the ultimate in luxury at the beach in San Diego, look no further than L'Auberge Del Mar. Located on the beautiful beaches of North County San Diego, L'Auberge features high-end accommodations, a full service spa, beachfront setting, fine dining and a hotel bar scene that will keep guests toasty while enjoying ocean breezes. L'Auberge Del Mar is a highly recognized beach hotel in San Diego with accolades including being ranked a AAA Four Diamond Property. Its oceanfront pool, modern beach cottage appeal and top notch service make L'Auberge Del Mar the top pick for a stay at the beach in San Diego.

2.) Carlsbad Seapointe Resort: 

The quaint beach town of Carlsbad in North County San Diego offers a laid back vibe mixed with gorgeous beaches, fun shopping and big name attractions like LEGOLAND California and the Flower Fields at Carlsbad. A stay at the Carlsbad Seapointe Resort combines this relaxed appeal with family-friendly accommodations and amenities including a pool overlooking the ocean, Jacuzzi, a fitness center and even tennis courts. It's easy to enjoy the beach while staying at Carlsbad Seapointe Resort as it's just across the street from popular Carlsbad beaches and it offers complimentary pool and beach equipment so guests can make the most of a beach vacation in San Diego.

3.) Pacific Terrace Hotel: 

This San Diego hotel on the beach puts guests literally on the boardwalk and just a few short steps to the water. Its location in the thriving coastal town of Pacific Beach makes it a popular destination for young adults looking to have fun as well as couples looking for a little oceanfront romance. Featuring a waterfront pool with lounge chairs and a hot tub, the Pacific Terrace Hotel is not only a great hotel but it's also a hot hangout. It has a mellow beach vibe while providing some of the best oceanfront views in San Diego. Guests can walk to the beach or hit Mission Avenue for a fun bar or nearby restaurant making this an exceptionally convenient beachfront San Diego hotel.

Harsh weather through parts of the country is the perfect excuse to book a vacation in sunny San Diego. Take the advice of SanDiego and stay in one of these hot San Diego hotels on the beach to make the most of the sunshine.

This article was written by Carli Leavitt, the editor of SanDiego. Carli is a San Diego native with a wealth of knowledge about local hotels, attractions, things to do and nightlife venues throughout Southern California.

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego | "Insider Tips From Hotel G Beijing"

Source        : http://blog.splendia.com/
Category    : Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By              : Hotels In San Diego
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels


We’ve all been there…you can’t wait to start discovering a new place, but you don’t know where to start. Beijing is one of the world’s biggest and most vibrant cities, with a rich cultural heritage and masses to explore. Splendia dropped into Hotel G and talked to some of the hotel staff…et voilà! We’ve researched the top insider tips of this buzzing metropolis so you don’t have to.

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

If I want luxurious boutiques and authentic Chinese goods, where should I go to shop?

Susanna Zhang, Concierge: Beijing, the capital city of the Five Dynasties of China, has thousands of years worth of history. You can find traditional handcrafts with typical Eastern features in the many markets and business streets. For those with an interest in Chinese art and trinkets, Liulichang Street is a must. If you’re looking for world-famous brands, head for Wangfujing Dajie, one of the most well-known shopping streets in the city.

What’s the city’s slickest bar?

Kevin Zheng, Chef: I’d definitely choose the Kerry Hotel’s Centro Bar. It’s sexy and vibrant, with effortlessly sleek decor – all mirror-smooth surfaces and stylish design touches. The lighting is flattering and the atmosphere oozes the sophistication of a classic hotel bar. It’s a great place to start your night, and the bar staff are not only cool and trendy, but know all there is to know about the latest liquid fashions (don’t miss the Cha Chao cocktail).

I want to take my date on a romantic dinner. Where should I go?

Kevin Zheng, Chef: I’d go for the intimate LMPLus restaurant, a low-key cosy Italian eatery only five minutes from Hotel G in the CBD compound of Central Park. It has a classic menu and unfussy decor, a warm and welcoming atmosphere and great service and food.

If you were to move, what would you miss most about Beijing?

Serge Couturiaux, General Manager: The lively street atmosphere: the roads are full of vendors and packed with all kinds of people.

What do you like about people from Beijing?

Serge Couturiaux, General Manager: The Chinese cosmological system puts an emphasis on continuity and the need to fit in with one’s surroundings – people from Beijing have really mastered this art! They are hugely proud of their city and never miss an opportunity to remind each loawai (foreigner) of it.

Is there a quiet place where you can escape the crowds?

Susanna Shang, Concierge: Try Chaoyang Park - Beijing’s largest. It’s not far from the city centre and you can always find a tranquil spot on the grass.

What’s your all-time favourite Beijing dish?

Kevin Zheng, Chef: There is just nothing like a perfectly roasted duck with crispy bronzed skin and tender, succulent meat. Beijing has vast numbers of restaurants serving this famous dish, but Quanjude and Bianyifang are probably the best known.

Give us an experience that is unique to Beijing.

Serge Couturiaux, General Manager: Without a shadow of a doubt, the sunset from the top of the Coal Hill, an artificial mound north of the Forbidden City. It’s Beijing’s highest hill, from which you can enjoy a spectacular view: stretching from the Forbidden City just in front of you to the super modern CBD office towers on the left, to the mountains that tower to your right.

What’s the best time of year to visit?

Susanna Zhang, Concierge: Definitely April and May: the weather is perfect and there are dozens of outdoor music and art festivals. Rooftop terraces are opening and welcoming expats, locals and tourists alike – everyone’s happy to welcome back the sun!

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego | "The Best Travel Books of Spring"

Source        : http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com
Category    : Courtyard Hotels In San Diego
By              : Hotels In San Diego
Posted By   : San Diego Rancho Bernardo CA Hotels


Though it might not be quite time to hang up your winter coat for good, a bushel of books have sprouted to inspire a bout of warm-weather wanderlust.

Courtyard Hotels In San Diego

There’s something here for fans of every genre: memoir, fiction, adventure, natural history, history, even poetry. But what binds each of these books together is a compelling tale and a great sense of place.

Check out our top picks for spring, then let us know what’s on your #TripLit list (or recommend a perennial favorite) by leaving a comment:

Paris Reborn: Napoléon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Quest to Build a Modern City (Stephanie Kirkland): A vivid historical narrative about how the City of Light got its Second Empire good looks.
Walking Home: A Poet’s Journey (Simon Armitage): A renowned English poet walks 256 miles in 19 days along Britain’s Pennine Way, giving a poetry reading in a different village each evening in exchange for a bed.
Chasing Alaska: A Portrait of the Last Frontier Then and Now (C.B. Bernard): A reporter follows in the footsteps of an explorer ancestor who hiked, boated, and fished his way through Alaska, collecting Native artifacts along the way.

Gold Rush in the Jungle: The Race to Discover and Defend the Rarest Animals of Vietnam’s “Lost World” (Dan Drollette, Jr.): A veteran science writer reports on the Southeast Asian region where scientists fight to protect rare and endangered animals like the barking deer and the Kouprey forest ox from poachers.
The Turk Who Loved Apples: And Other Tales of Losing My Way Around the World (Matt Gross): This collection of never-before-published essays from The New York Times’s former “Frugal Traveler” columnist provides insight into the life and times of a professional travel writer.

Strange Stones: Dispatches from East and West (Peter Hessler): An anthology of essays by The New Yorker’s former Beijing correspondent on China, Japan, Nepal, and the U.S.
Fast Times in Palestine: A Love Affair with a Homeless Homeland (Pamela Olson): In this soulful memoir, a Stanford grad who spent two years living in Ramallah takes readers into the mundane, ancient, tragic world behind the news headlines.

Between Man and Beast: An Unlikely Explorer, The Evolution Debates, and the African Adventure that Took the Victorian World by Storm (Monte Reel): In this true-life adventure tale, gorilla fever grips Victorian England after amateur naturalist Paul du Chaillu brings back the first specimen from his daring expedition to what is now Gabon in West Africa.

New England Notebook: One Reporter, Six States, Uncommon Stories (Ted Reinstein): Quirky characters and who-knew attractions throughout New England fill this collection of stories and anecdotes.
The Paradise Guest House (Ellen Sussman): A survivor of Bali’s nightclub bombing returns to the island to attend a one-year memorial ceremony of the tragedy in this descriptively evocative novel about healing and second chances at love.

The Last Train to Zona Verde: My Ultimate African Safari (Paul Theroux): The master travel writer returns to Africa for what he says is the last time for a journey that takes him from Cape Town, through Namibia, to disheartening Angola.