What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 25 May 2015

Welcome to another week! Paula was lucky enough to go to Morroco with Moulden Marketing earlier in the year, and as well as enjoying a fabulous stay at La Mamounia, she also visited the newly opened and rather fabulous Royal Palm Beachcomber Hotel in Marrakech.

As we continue our series and look at new hotels around the globe, this week its Africa that beckons...

Africa is becoming the new battleground for global domination among hotel groups, so let's have a look at just some of the fabulous new openings!

Park Hyatt Zanzibar opened in March, and is the quintessential destination to experience the idyllic East African island of Zanzibar and embrace the rich culture, heritage and historical significance of the hotel's location. Sitting majestically on the beachfront in the heart of the Stone Town, a designated UNESCO heritage site, Park Hyatt Zinzibar provides the ultimate haven amongst Stone Town's labyrinth of winding alleys, bustling markets, mosques and famed Zanzibari doors, featuring magnificent ornate wooden carvings.

From the spacious, elegant guest rooms, authentic cuisine and spectacular views to the oceanfront infinity pool, Anantara Spa, fully-equipped fitness centre and exceptional meeting, event and private function facilities, Park Hyatt Zanzibar offers both discerning business travellers and luxury holiday makers rare, intimate and unforgettable experiences. 

Radisson Blu Marrakech is due to open in October 2015! Located in the recently built Carré Eden complex in the central Gueliz district, the Radisson Blu Hotel in Marrakech is surrounded by trendy bars and restaurants as well as a shopping mall populated with high-end international stores. Gazing at the hotel’s striking modern lobby, patio, restaurant and bar designed by famous architect Imaad Rahmouni, it’s easy to forget that the historic medina, with the vibrant Djemaa El-Fna square and famous souks, is just a short walk away. 

The 198 rooms and suites, created by acclaimed architects Lotfi Sidi Rahal and Meriem Benkirane, feature a warm, contemporary style and amenities like Free high-speed, wireless Internet and LED screens with satelite channels. The unique open dining area combines a restaurant, lounge and bar and serves organic meat and fish cooked over a charcoal grill as well as tapas and sushi. The hotel also features an aquarium swimming pool, an expansive patio with sun beds, a fitness centre, a spa and a ballroom, as well as 10 large meeting rooms for business events.

Park Hyatt Marrakech is set to open in 2016, and will welcome you into the exclusive universe of one of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands.

Only 15 minutes away from both the "medina" (old city) and the international airport of Marrakech, Park Hyatt Marrakech hotel features 131 spacious rooms and suites as well as 44 deluxe villas built inside the private gated grounds of the hotel complex. Park Hyatt Marrakech’s rooms, suites and private villas are generously sized and offer a unique atmosphere along with exceptional views of the landscaped gardens and the 18-hole golf course designed by Kyle Phillips.

At Park Hyatt Marrakech every staff member is dedicated to providing guests with an incomparable level of personalized service designed around your lifestyle and preferences.

Residents of the villas can enjoy full access to Park Hyatt Marrakech hotel concierge services, spa facilities, the golf course and clubhouse and to all other facilities and services the hotel has to offer.  Learn more about the Park Hyatt Marrakech villas.

Park Hyatt Marrakech presents a wide selection of authentic cuisines from different parts of the world and offers a diverse range of meeting facilities to cater an exclusive board meeting to large conferences and social gatherings.

Four Seasons Casablanca is opening towards the end of this year. Cool and avant-garde on the beachfront of Morocco’s largest city, Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca enjoys a prestigious resort-style setting, just a short distance from the business district and the historic city centre. 

The new hotel is part of the master-planned Anfa Place community, combining residential, business, shopping and entertainment. The 183 guest rooms and suites share a range of dining and recreation amenities in a style that mixes French and Arabic traditions. Meetings and events unfold in the ballroom and five function rooms, open to outdoor terraces that celebrate Morocco’s year-round warmth and sunshine.

Mandarin Oriental Marrakech is our final hotel opening of this week, and With the snow-capped Atlas Mountains as a backdrop, Mandarin Oriental Marrakech lies in 20 hectares of landscaped gardens and olive groves, only minutes from the bustling medina. With just 63 villas and suites, a world-class spa and 5 innovative restaurants and bars, it provides a unique oasis of luxury in the heart of the city.

Contemporary in style, the resort’s interiors have been conceived by French design duo, Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier who have combined their contrasting styles to create a balanced look. Patrick has focused on clean lines and symmetrical forms while Dorothée has added subtle Berber and Spanish Arabic touches. The Gilles & Boissier style is clearly seen throughout the hotel, with its emphasis on juxtaposing aesthetics: striking but discreet, luxurious yet unobtrusive.

Guests at Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech will delight in an atmosphere that combines the exotic charm and relaxed lifestyle of the Red City with the oriental heritage of the award-winning hotel group.

So that's it for this week folks, have a good one! 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 25 May 2016

Welcome to another week and whilst you might think that its unlikely you will ever be asked to find a hotel in cities such as Bahrain or Tel Aviv, we are great believers here at Cloud 9 Event Management that you never know when you might just get an enquiry!

So this week we are continuing our series of looking at new hotels around the world with a focus on those cities and others in the Middle East, all of which seem to be experiencing a surge in developments.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. recently announced that it will debut the W brand later this year with the opening of W Tel Aviv, which in addition to the hotel, will also feature The Residences at W Tel Aviv, in Jaffa. The ancient port city of Jaffa is south of the main city centre of Tel Aviv, and is currently undergoing a major restoration project that includes multi-million dollar investments in its vast infrastructure, as well as an extended sea promenade. The Residences at W Tel Aviv - Jaffa will be a primary focus throughout the continuation of the area’s improvements.
 
The W Tel Aviv Hotel will feature 125 guest rooms and suites, including one Extreme WOW Suite (W’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). In addition to panoramic views of the Mediterranean coast, the hotel will offer a signature restaurant, a bar and W Living Room (W’s take on the traditional hotel lobby). Other facilities and amenities include: an Away Spa, a SWEAT fitness centre and a WET pool deck. Guests can also expect the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever service philosophy, providing guests whatever they want, whenever they want it. The hotel will also offer a full-service, 24-hour WIRED business centre. It certainly sounds like our sort of place!
 
In the Kingdom’s capital city of Manama, the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay is a soaring architectural statement on its own exclusive island. Convenient for business and breathtaking for Bahrain holidays, this unique-in-the-world urban resort blends innovation and relaxation.   An important economic hub in the Gulf region, the Kingdom of Bahrain offers a modern, open attitude that also makes it a popular vacation destination. The capital city of Manama is a dynamic centre for culture and tourist attractions, providing abundant options for things to do in Bahrain.

Whether you are here for a Bahrain weekend getaway or a longer Bahrain holiday, the concierge team at Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay can custom-design your experience, combining historic sites, museums, theatre, golf and Formula One racing. With bold design, luxurious amenities and highly personalised care, the Four Seasons is redefining Bahrain as an international resort destination and the newly opened urban hotel has a resort-style atmosphere, with really rather spectacular facilities from pools, to fitness centres, restaurants, and a host of meeting and function options.

Surrounded by lush gardens and incomparable panoramas, the Grand Hills Hotel & Spa which opens on 15 July, is nestled in a picturesque pedestrian village amid pine-forested hills. The resort is an idyllic getaway from bustling Beirut, particularly during hot summer months. Nestled in Lebanon’s popular mountain village of Broumana, the resort is an alluring sanctuary a cool 750 meters above sea level, and a convenient drive from the coast, ski slopes, and Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport.

Spanning more than 35,000 square meters, the resort offers a picturesque pinewood pedestrian village setting, with exquisite gardens and stunning views of both the mountains and Beirut’s golden coast. The lobby and public spaces proudly reveal an eclectic ensemble of more than 1,200 pieces of art, sculptures, antiques, and handcrafted furniture that convey the compelling vision of the world’s most prolific diamond collector.
A sought-after destination that indulges mind, body, and soul, the world-class evian®SPA affords the perfect blend of peace and vitality. Architecture inspired by the sloping mountainsides houses a multisensory environment and a range of treatments around four basic themes that reflect the journey of evian® water.

The resort houses an unrivalled array of epicurean options to suit any palate, from refined French dining at Chez Alain to the essence of Italy at Pasquale Restaurant. Indulge in shisha, thirst-quenchers, and light mezze, or retreat to an intimate alcove to savour cigars and fine spirits. In short, it looks rather fabulous!

Another hotel which has caught our eye in Beirut  is the new Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort. Situated on the beautiful Lebanese coastline right next to Beirut, the Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort is currently being built over an area of 65,000 square metres, and will become the place to be for both guests and locals. Rafic Hariri International Airport is close by. The hotel will have more than 153 rooms and suites, two restaurants serving international and Lebanese specialities and various bars. Ample leisure activities and relaxation opportunities are available with 5,000 square metres private sandy beach, a marina with 47 berths, a luxurious spa spread over 1,500 square metres, several pools, water ski, sailing and diving. Set to open later this year, we'll be keeping a close eye on this development! 

Scheduled to open in 2016, overlooking the Grand Mosque in the centre of Makkah, the Jabal Omar development (that will include the Conrad Makkah) among 24 other properties, will help to meet the demands for a wider variety of accommodation from the rising number of pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia every year.

Hilton Worldwide will manage 30 percent of the rooms in the development, across six hotels - four Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties, including an all-suites hotel and a convention centre, a DoubleTree by Hilton and the first Conrad hotel in the country.

Also, not quite ready to welcome its first guests yet is the new JW Marriott Manama, Bahrain Hotel, in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which is set to open next year. The hotel will have 274 rooms and suites and 102 residences in Bahrain Bay, adjacent to Bahrain Financial Harbour and opposite the diplomatic quarter.

The hotel will have an executive lounge with ocean view; one casual and five speciality restaurants; four lounges, including a lobby lounge and bar, a pool bar, quiet bar and rooftop lounge/bar; and 17,119 square feet of meeting space.  Recreational facilities will include a health and leisure club and spa, indoor and outdoor pool, tennis and squash courts.

So there you have it, a little knowledge to help you go a long, long way! Have a great week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 18 May 2015

Welcome to another week and we're all gearing up for Eurovision here at Cloud 9 Towers. 

Yes, we know it's cheesy. Yes, we know that the UK's glory days are over. Yes, we know that the voting is so political that its hard for us to stand a good chance. Yes, we know that Electro Velvet,despite having a good song this year, are probably doomed. 

But, irrespective, we'll be waving our flags and hoping that we don't see nil points on the scoreboard! So in the spirit of Euorovision, which this year is being held in Vienna and is celebrating its 60th Anniversary, we thought this was the perfect opportunity to take a look at some of the best hotels in the Austrian capital.

Vienna has always been dignified, but there's a thick layer of whipped cream around almost every corner. Its baroque architecture, art galleries and museums, rich musical heritage and café's and cakes have been magnets for tourists since the days of the Grand Tour. 

Our selection of the best places to stay in Vienna varies from the Hotel Sacher, an institution where old world charm meets modern luxury to the Pension Suzanne, a family run guesthouse with superb service and an unbeatable central location.

Part of the city's appeal is its compact centre ('innere stadt'), which forms the 1st District. All the sights, restaurants and cafés and best places to stay in Vienna are within an easy walk. The medieval city is contained by a broad horseshoe-shaped road of 19th-century palaces, the Ringstrasse, where all the grand old hotels are found. The Grand Hotel Wien has been a Viennese hub since the early 20th century and still exudes class and style.

The Hotel Imperial, Vienna's grand dame, opened its doors in 1873 and is still in fantastic condition with massive suites and marble everywhere! An alternative to these old faithfuls would have to be The Ring a new "casual luxury" hotel, all slick style and cool unfussy rooms.

Although a 1st District address is plumb, the neighbouring districts, such as 4th, 7th and 8th, are still convenient and the hotels often better value. Viennese hotels are, almost without exception, well-run and pristine (even the most modest pension has good quality linen), but many are decorated in an oppressive Biedermeier style. We have tried to ferret out the elegant ones, as well as recommending a number of fresh, contemporary boutique hotels.

Our pick of the best contemporary places to stay in Vienna includes the Hollman Beletage - hard to find, but persevere, it's worth it! Do&Co a chic property with the best location in town and fresh modern architecture and design.

Alternatively check in to the Altstadt. This hotel is just outside the Ring, but offers a great mix of styles from classic to avant-garde and houses the owner's stunning art collection.

Best budget place to stay in Vienna. Its popularity has continued to grow and now, with one budget airline flying directly to the city, and another to nearby Bratislava, Vienna has

never been cheaper or easier to get to.The best places to stay in Vienna reflect this with an increasing number of properties popping up to suit even the strictest of budgets.

A good choice for those trying to save their Euros is the Pension Nossek, a traditional and great value guesthouse with a superb central location. Take note it's hugely popular, so book well in advance!

But if Vienna is not for you and you would rather stop in and watch the contest, then maybe a little Eurovision Party is the tonic for you! But just how do you set about organising this?

Well, firstly sort out your invites. Never invite people who just don’t get Eurovision, they will ruin your night and you will spend all night explaining why cross dressing and clogs are fun when you should be singing.

Theme your party with lots of food and drink, so have drinks and food from as many countries as you can. Not as easy now there are so many contestants and semi finals to endure so you may need to do your shopping last minute!

An international buffet can be fun, and if you ask your guests to represent a different country each, you can all then contribute to the cost. This works well if you can persuade your guests to also dress accordingly in the national costume of the country they are representing! Lets face it, dressing up is fun!

Invest in a few flags, and some bunting. Especially great if you can do this for the different countries who are going to be represented. 

Run Eurovision Bingo and a sweep stake, and make sure you have lots of past Eurovision hits to hand, for the boring bits!

Lastly, make sure you get hold of a Eurovision Scorecard, so you can see just how well, or badly we are doing, and you download one of these from the beeb website!

So have a great week, and enjoy Eurovision!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 11 May 2015

Welcome to another week and we're following last week's look at some of the new hotels opening around the world, with a few more we've found. To mark the start of what will hopefully be a sunnier period, weather wise, we thought that we'd just look at the Caribbean. That way even if the good old weather in blighty lets us down, we can always dream of that fabulous Caribbean sunshine.

Or you may even decide to take a last minute holiday to one of these hotels if, like us, you just love being in the sun...

We begin with Paradise Beach Nevis which opened on 26 January 2015 and is a stunning island beauty offering the only private beachfront Villa Resort on Nevis.  Located just feet from the white powdery sands of the Caribbean, their villas are distinctive for their unforgettable views of the ocean overlooking the island of St Kitts and the impressive, Mount Nevis.  Beckoning back to a time when the world was untouched, you will experience complete privacy and island grandeur in their unique luxury villas, built with Indonesian-thatched roofs, hand cut exposed beams, and 20-foot vaulted ceilings.

Very shortly after, Sandals opened their new, beautiful resort in Barbados on January 28, which is an all-new retreat in the spirited St. Lawrence Gap area, offering undeniable luxury with inventive accommodations spanning three unique villages, world-class cuisine with international appeal, including a festive Indian cuisine restaurant, and innovative bar and pool designs. Unwind to the relaxed calypso beat, enjoy the sun & surf and explore the sexiness of your suite, an abode designed with your utmost comfort in mind and featuring everything from ocean views, Butler Elite service and zero-entry access to Barbados' largest and longest lagoon pool, to private tranquility soaking tubs on most patios and terraces.

However, the most intriguing upcoming venue in the Caribbean is The Baha Mar Resort which in total, will have 2,900 hotel rooms and residences, a 100,000 square foot casino, an 18-hole, 72-par Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, an ESPA spa and more than a dozen pools. Plus a 200,000 square feet convention centre - sounds insane we know!

Of course, we're most interested in the hotels that will open and it's quite a mix, they are as follows: 

Baha Mar Resort and Casino
Summer fun is a breeze at Baha Mar Casino & Hotel, where you can play a round of golf at the golf course, cool off in one of the 6 outdoor swimming pools, and enjoy a treatment at the full-service spa. Want a nice, cool drink? Try the beach-side bar or one of the resort's other drinking venues including a beach bar and a swim-up bar. Additional amenities at this 4-star resort include a water park, outdoor tennis courts, and a fitness centre! 




Rosewood at Baha Mar 
Nestled against the famed sands of Cable Beach, Nassau, the Bahamas, Rosewood at Baha Mar will be island hospitality at its finest. This is a place that wears its British colonial heritage proudly on its sleeve, while melding it with every global amenity imaginable. A stunning mix of intuitive service, culinary treasures and Bahamian culture, Rosewood at Baha Mar will offer a range of authentic restaurants, an apothecary-style Tea and Floral shop and an array of distinctive Bahamian artwork. Minutes away the bustle of downtown Nassau awaits, the Bahamian capital providing a lively contrast to the serenity and tranquility of the resort. Epitomizing relaxed oceanfront living at its best, Rosewood at Baha Mar will give every guest a gilded glimpse into the soul of the islands, gracing every holiday not only with crystal waters and pure white sands, but also warmth, joy and opportunity. Truly, this is a destination to be savored, and explored!



SLS Lux at Baha Mar
In the heart of Baha Mar – The New Riviera, SLS Hotels takes its standards of style, luxury and service to an exotic new locale with SLS LUX Hotel & Residences at Baha Mar. A feast for the senses.  A creative cocktail of sophistication and playfulness.  A hotel with style, luxury and service with elements of creativity and community, SLS LUX at Baha Mar will be an irresistible Bahamian retreat for the most discerning global traveler. Featuring 300 rooms, including 107 residences, world-class décor, unforgettable dining and nightlife experiences, exclusive access to the sbe Collection and global concierge—this unprecedented destination and ownership opportunity can be yours.



Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar

As part of the epic endeavour at Baha Mar, their awe-inspiring resort overlooks the sparkling waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Cable Beach. Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar features 707 opulent rooms and suites including 85 stunning residences with contemporary décor, high-end amenities and mesmerizing vistas. Lounge on their pristine beach, enjoy the vibrant nightlife at the 100,000 square foot Las Vegas style casino enhanced by ocean views, indulge in rejuvenating spa rituals at the 30,000-square-foot spa, ESPA at Baha Mar, and savor soulful cuisine at more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges. From the lush landscape blooming with native flowers to the glistening show lake fountains, guests will indulge in an unforgettable Bahamian experience.

Looks like there will be something for everyone!

Well we hope that has put you in the mood and from all of us here at Cloud 9, we wish you a great week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 4 May 2015

Welcome to another week! We love discovering new hotels and venues worldwide here at Cloud 9 and it seems that in 2015 there is an explosion of new hotels globally. Whilst in the past few years it seemed that all of the major new chains were setting their sights on China and India as well as other parts of Asia, there is a huge resurgence in Europe and also in the States. Additionally Dubai is also expanding at a huge rate, as if any more hotels could be squeezed in!

In the US there is and has been a huge amount of activity especially in New York, Miami, and Chicago, but also in areas like Boston and in the South. Additionally Africa is also seeing an upturn with three new hotels in Marrakech, and one each in Cassablanc and Zanzibar.

But which are the ones to watch? Well we've picked some of our favourites that have either opened in the last couple of month or are about to welcome their first guests...

Built in 1906 by John Jacob Astor IV, scion of one of America’s wealthiest families, The Knickerbocker played host to the world’s biggest names in entertainment, politics, culture and high society in the earliest years of the 20th century. Its iconic Beaux-Arts design, glamorous European luxury, and welcoming American hospitality made it “the” place to be for glitterati and dignitaries, while its legendary barroom became known as “The 42nd Street Country Club.”

Open for just fifteen years, The Knickerbocker was one of three entities—along with the subway and the New York Times—whose arrival at the crossroads of 42nd Street and Broadway transformed sleepy Times Square into New York City’s biggest tourist destination. The onset of Prohibition marked the beginning of the end for the hotel renowned for its lavish parties and nightlife, and in 1921 the property was converted into offices. Designated as a New York City Landmark in 1988, The Knickerbocker is reborn today as a Manhattan’s premier luxury lifestyle hotel, and it looks great!

Staying in New York,  the Baccarat Hotel & Residences  is a contemporary Manhattan take on a classically elegant Parisian hôtel particulier. It blends influences past and present to create sumptuous spaces, both grand and intimate that inspire wonder with their enchanting surprises and carefully considered details. 

Sought after Paris-based design duo Gilles & Boissier created nearly every piece of furniture for the hotel’s soaring salon-style public spaces, as well as the 114 light-filled rooms and suites of the hotel. Weaving artisanal Baccarat crystal elements throughout, they lavished attention on each surface, be it a sparkling mica-covered vaulted ceiling, silver-leafed wood paneling, pleated-silk walls or a monumental marble table. New York design masters Tony Ingrao and Stephen Sills, respectively, handled the 60 residences and the ground-level contemporary French restaurant, Chevalier.  The skyline-shaping international architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, meanwhile, designed the soaring state-of-the-art tower itself, creating a prismatic glass façade — directly across the street from the Museum of Modern Art — that recalls the radiance of Baccarat crystal and subtly reflects and refracts light up and down its 50 stories.

Over in LA you'll love the new Mama Shelter Hotel which is fun, funky and very very quirky!  

Design and comfortable rooms rates are at the heart of the Mama Shelter brand, and with its warm bars & restaurants, lively look and feel, free wifi and free movies, its certainly one of the ones on our hit list!

Over in Canada  we suggest you discover more than just the new Element Hotel in Vancouver Metrotown. Nearby are Metropolis at Metrotown—a mall with hundreds of shopping, dining, and entertainment options—and Metrotown Station, which is 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver by SkyTrain. Energize in a smarter space. Their open-flow guest rooms are designed to meet all your needs, with fully-equipped kitchens, the signature Heavenly Bed®, and more, all thoughtfully arranged to rejuvenate you for work or play.

Inspired by Westin^® Hotels & Resorts, Element Hotels promotes balance through flowing, multi-purpose spaces. Influenced by nature, the smart, environmentally-friendly design maximizes space and enables you to use each area in multiple ways.

Starwood, who is the brand behind Westin is also opening an Element Hotel in Amsterdam and also a  W Amsterdam, both later this year. The 160-room Element Amsterdam will move into a former office building located inside the Gelderlandplein shopping center. A win-win for everyone and a seemingly perfect fit, so to speak, for Element.The new Element will have the core "elements" of the brand, including studio style rooms with signature Heavenly bed, energy efficient kitchens, and large flexible work spaces. There will be a 24-hour fitness center and "grab and go" gourmet pantry, flexible meeting spaces and 24-hour business center, and free WiFi everywhere you are.

 A little closer to home, Manchester's newest five star hotel is now open on King Street - the seriously stylish Hotel Gotham. The old Midland Bank Building is now one of the "sexiest hotels in Europe”. With its name inspired by Batman’s fictional American home city, Hotel Gotham takes its design inspiration from the landmark Art Deco building in Manchester designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1928. 

It has been painstakingly restored and transformed from its banking past into a 60-room hotel, with what they describe as a "nostalgic and decadent design". It includes a 6th floor restaurant called Honey and a 7th floor private members bar called Club Brass. The restaurant, open to non-residents, will boast fabulous views across the city through original arched windows, and the main reception will also be located on the 6th floor.

Meanwhile the swanky Club Brass offers an exclusive rooftop retreat for VIPs, with sleek leather booths and intriguing design features with a nod to its banking past - including leather satchel light fittings, bowler hat displays, green glass and bankers’ lamps. We'll certainly be giving it a try the next time we are in Manchester!

That's it for now, have a great week and we'll see you soon!