World’s Best Hotel Designs – Gold Key Award Winners
Posted September 3, 2009 , add a commentThe 2009 Gold Key Award winners for ‘Excellence in Hospitality Design’ have been announced, and the world’s best hotel designs (urban) were judged to be the Andaz West Hollywood, InterContinental Chicago O’Hare and Las Alcobas in Polanco, Mexico.
Andaz West Hollywood & Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare
The best bar/lounge design was the W Hotel Atlanta Downtown, Atlanta, GA, along with the Mondrian Miami and the Punk Bar in Beijing, China.
Drink Shop, W Atlanta Downtown
The best guest room award winners included the Lydmar Hotel in Stockholm and the Mondrian Miami, along with the Miraval Guestrooms in Catalina, Arizona.
Lydmar Hotel, Stockholm
The best lobby/reception winners included the Smyth Hotel in New York and one of the ‘Best Suite’ design winners was Penthouse Eight at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, also in New York.
Tribeca Grand, New York
The Gold Key Awards are sponsored by Interior Design and HOTELS magazines, and finalists were selected by a panel of notable industry experts from more than 225 projects in 24 countries. The awards ceremony will be held during the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show® (IH/M&RS) on Nov 7-10, 2009, at New York City’s Javits Center.
For more details about all the winners and their designers in all categories, visit IHMRS.com.
Photos courtesy Hyatt Hotels Corp., IHG Plc, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, WorldHotels and Grand Hospitality.
Terrania on Shaky Terrain
Posted August 21, 2009 , add a commentIt’s not a good time to open a new luxury hotel, but the 582 room Terranea in Rancho Palos Verdes, just outside Los Angeles, lasted all of 2 months before the ground caved in - the Terranea has gone into default with one of it’s lenders, and missed a chance to get a very essential tax rebate agreement from the City.
Terranea, Rancho Palos Verdes
The oceanfront luxury hotel and accompanying resort facilities - built on the former site of Marineland of the Pacific - opened it’s doors on June 12, 2009, built over a 10 year period by the Lowe Hospitality Group with a massive price tag of $480 million.
Terranea’s primary lender is Chicago based Corus Bankshares, a bank which is itself in serious danger of being taken into recievership by the FDIC. Corus has invested $180m in Terranea, but is now unable to offer any more financial support to the Terranea.
This financial muddle led to Terranea missing a deadline for enrolling into a tax rebate agreement with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, for which it needed $12.5m. The agreement was apparently a very critical element of Terranea’s ability to remain financially viable, and it’s entire future is now at stake.
With $322 million in loans, struggling to keep it’s doors open due to lack of funds and support from it’s primary lender, the Terranea could quite possibly go into foreclosure, or be taken over by another entity.
The management says they’re talking to their remaining lenders - which includes Cascade Investment Co. which is controlled by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Cascade has filed a notice of default because Terranea has not been meeting it’s payments.
Photo courtesy Destination Hotels & Resorts.
Three Beaches of Downtown Chicago
Posted , add a commentFor most people, the word ‘beach’ conjures visions of crystalline Caribbean waters, exotic South Seas islands, or coastal destinations around the U.S. Few would think of the Midwest, yet smack dab in the heartland a series of beaches encircle Lake Michigan like a string of pretty pearls. On a recent trip to Chicago I walked three miles along its lakefront, from the southernmost end of Grant Park to the northern tip of the Gold Coast, to visit the city’s three downtown beaches.
12th Street Beach, a delightful crescent cove at the foot of the Adler Planetarium
I began at 18th Street, where a narrow parcel of land known as Northerly Island juts into Lake Michigan. In 1909, renowned architect Daniel Burnham developed the Chicago Plan, which envisioned several man-made islands along the shores of the cobalt lake. Northerly Island, the only one that was actually built, was created from landfill and later converted into a peninsula. Now home to the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, and Field Museum, the peninsula is commonly referred to as the Museum Campus. Here I discovered 12th Street Beach, a half-moon crescent cove hunkering at the bottom of a grassy slope behind the Planetarium. With its new beach house and free parking, 12th Street Beach is ideally located for a combined day of museum-going, picnicking, and sunbathing.
Swimmers, cyclists, joggers, and roller-bladers mass along the wide promenate connecting Ohio Street Beach with Oak Sreet Beach
From the Museum Campus I walked north along the lakefront. To my right, thousands of boats bobbed in the gently undulating waters of Lake Michigan. Grant Park stretched on my left, offering myriad opportunities to rest at landmarks such as Buckingham Fountain and the peaceful Cancer Survivors Garden. At Randolph Street I followed Lake Shore Drive as it curved to the east, crossing the Chicago River and strolling past the behemoth Ferris wheel at Navy Pier before entering Milton Lee Olive Park. Meandering pathways guided me back to the shores of the lake and Ohio Street Beach, a tiny pocket of sand tucked between Lake Shore Drive and a breakwater.
Oak Street, crown jewel of the three beaches in downtown Chicago
Although Ohio Street Beach has no services it provides excellent access to Oak Street Beach, a mile or so to the north, via a wide promenade that runs along the water’s edge. I walked its crowded length, keeping one eye peeled for mow-you-down cyclists and the other trained on swimmers clad in sleek neoprene suits and skullcaps who swim a mile along the promenade each day, weather permitting.
John Hancock Center looms over Oak Street Beach
Without a doubt, Oak Street Beach is the crown jewel of the three downtown beach parks. Located at the northern end of North Michigan Avenue, it is ringed by skyscrapers and landmark hotels that grace Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Beneath the looming black John Hancock tower, beach-goers sprawl on colorful towels in the wide, soft sand or join a pickup volleyball game at one of several nets set up by the city. Concessions, restrooms, and a waterfront outdoor restaurant are available, but there is no parking; this is definitely a walk-to beach. Strangely, palm trees lined the shore. They were obviously new and recently planted, leading me to speculate whether they could possibly survive Chicago’s often brutal winter weather. I guess I’ll just have to come back this winter to find out; it’s as good an excuse as any to return to this great city!
Article and photos by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers by Chicago River and Michigan Avenue
Posted August 7, 2009 , add a commentPosted by Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip
Chicago River View from Sheraton Hotel photo by Nancy D. Brown
Conveniently located off the #3 bus stop line, I arrived early at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. I was one of 1,500 women (and a handful of men) to attend BlogHer, a blogging conference held in July of 2009 at the Sheraton Hotel. If I was a single guy, this would certainly be the place to hang around the lobby for the weekend. But I was not single and I was ready to check in, as I was speaking on the travel panel at the conference.
While my room wasn’t ready (it was 8 a.m. and check in was at 3 p.m.) The front desk staff offered to check my bag and call my cell phone when the room was available. I got a voice message at noon saying that my room was ready. Nice customer service!
My room, #1711, was a standard king with the signature “Sweet Sleeper” bed. The room typically rents for $179 with high speed internet access tacking on an additional $12.95 fee. For cheap skates like me, guests can visit the Link Cafe downstairs for free access to internet and printers.
Sheraton Standard King Room #1711
I was staying at the hotel for three nights and appreciated its convenient location to Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, often referred to as the “Magnificent Mile.” The weather was positively gorgeous and reminded me why I love this lively city with its Millennium Park and stunning architectural wonders. However, being a California girl, I don’t think I could stand the cold winters.
Lost Luggage Tips
I’m going to slip in a plug for my post on “Lost Luggage Tips” on my What a Trip website. Unfortunately, my bag didn’t arrive on my non-stop United Airlines flight from San Francisco. I was reunited with it after a couple of days. Check out the video I made asking fellow travel writers for their Lost Luggage Tips.
Nearby Dining Recommendations
I discovered three great restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. For tapas and sangria, check out Emilio’s at 215 E. Ohio Street. If you’re in the mood for Cajun food, give Heaven on Seven a try, at 600 North Michigan Avenue. My personal favorite, Chicago deep dish pizza at Pizzeria Due.
Photos by Nancy D. Brown
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers 1 (800) 233-4100
301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Chicago’s Hyatt Regency McCormick
Posted , add a commentPosted by Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip
Hyatt Regency McCormick, Chicago
While I don’t recommend arriving in Chicago at 1:30 in the morning on a flight from San Francisco, it’s safe to say that I didn’t encounter any rush hour traffic. I was in the windy city to speak about travel writing at the BlogHer conference. This was only my second visit to Chicago and I was excited to be back in this museum filled city.
Unfortunately, my luggage, on a non-stop flight from San Francisco, didn’t arrive on my United Airlines flight. I should have known better than to check my bag, but I was attending a conference and knew my carry-on suitcase would not be able to hold the items I would take home with me.
The folks at Chicago Hyatt Regency McCormick were very understanding of my situation. I was given the key to an $850 Executive Suite and a fully-stocked toiletries bag was delivered to my beautiful hotel room. At least I had a wonderful view of downtown Chicago and the lake while I waited for my luggage to be delivered.
Executive Suite & Cool Jazz
Executive Suite 2933
My room was on the twenty nineth floor of the 33-story hotel. There were nineteen Executive Suites at the Hyatt Regency McCormick with one suite located on floors 14-33. For the convention goers, the 800 room Hyatt is connected to the McCormick Place Convention Center and Arie Crown Theater via a concourse pedestrian walkway and is a ten-minute drive from downtown Chicago. I appreciated the complimentary shuttle that dropped me on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, otherwise known as Michigan Avenue. Check with the hotel for shuttle service times or hop on the #3 bus, which will take you downtown to shopping and dining heaven or Millennium Park, between Randolph and Monroe streets.
The hotel is hip on social media, is on Twitter and even has a blog, but still doesn’t offer wireless internet throughout the facility. Plans are underway to remedy the Wi-Fi situation. If you find yourself staying here mid-week in the summer, you can check out Cool Jazz Thursdays from 7-9 p.m., where a Columbia College jazz quartet plays music on the patio. Available at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts worldwide, the company is offering a collection of value-added packages such as Amour, Balance, Awaken and Explore. The “Field Explorer” package includes two tickets to the Field Museum and complimentary one-way shuttle service to the museum.
In case you were wondering. United Airlines did eventually deliver my bag to the hotel. If you ever find yourself separated from your luggage, I have some Lost Luggage Tips for you to consider.
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (312) 567-1234
2233 South Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616
Photos by Nancy D. Brown
