What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 9 March 2015

Welcome to another week at Cloud 9 and we're sure you'll all like to here that it's National Bed Month - time for a lie in before learning about the importance of a good night's sleep!

Organised by The Sleep Council, the month aims to remind us all of why a sound sleep is good for our health. Forget the old saying that if "You snooze, you loose."  It's thought that a good sleep has amazing properties that make you healthier and happier, and can even add years to your life!

At the Sleep Council website, you can find out all about the essentials you need to have the perfect sleep, and of course, the right bed should be your number one priority. We can help you with just that and thanks to Huffington Post for the inspiration, below are 17 hotel beds you need to try...

U.S. Grant, San Diego

Comfort begins with the Luxury Collection and is enhanced with Italian linens, plush down comforter, robe and slippers. Their pillow-top mattresses are mentioned on several review sites as "huge and super comfortable"!

Graham & Co. Phoenicia, NY

With paired-down but cosy beds in a stylized upstate motel The Graham & Co is located at the foot of Hunter Mountain and just two blocks off of Phoenicia's main street, approximately 2.5 hours from New York City!

Cavallo Point, Sausalito, CA

Their Contemporary Two Queens room is highly recommended featuring modern design, two queen beds in one room, and inviting gas fireplace. Some rooms enjoy views of the San Francisco Bay or Golden Gate Bridge. Accommodating up to four persons in 450 square feet, this room is ideal for families with children or friends travelling together.

Bay Lake Tower, Disney World

The only Disney beds to make the cut, these mattresses reside in the modern Bay Lake Towers at Disney's Contemporary Resort. 

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, CA

Embracing the dramatic beauty of the California coastline, Post Ranch Inn is a serene retreat where romance and connection thrive. The 39 guest rooms and two private homes blend rustic elegance with luxury and comfort, offering stunning ocean or mountain views. Post Ranch is a destination in which to relax and reconnect with yourself, your partner and the environment. With this is mind, their guest rooms do not include televisions or alarm clocks - Great for the perfect nights sleep!

Kensington Marriott, London

During your London visit enjoy comfortable accommodation in their modern guest rooms. Pillow-top mattresses and custom duvets ensure a good night's sleep in the heart of South Kensington!

Charles Hotel, Cambridge, MA

Every guest room at The Charles is designed to provide you with all the comforts of home. The rooms offer panoramic views of Harvard Square , Cambridge or Boston. All of our Cambridge hotel suites are generously appointed with custom designed down quilts, Italian waffle bathrobes and slippers and turndown service upon request.

The Caledonian, Edinburgh

Stay at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - home to 241 elegantly furnished guest rooms and suites, many with spectacular views of historic Edinburgh Castle. Renovated to Waldorf Astoria's peerless, internationally-renowned standards, each room and suite offers a backdrop of luxury, style and sophistication, with bespoke furniture, eclectic artwork and pristine en-suite bathrooms with marble and burnished chrome fittings. These beautifully furnished, elegant spaces are equipped with luxurious beds complete with an exclusive Waldorf Astoria Serta mattress and a unique pillow and bedding menu.

The Palazzo, Las Vegas

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the accommodation at The Palazzo, including a bed chamber with a plush king-sized pillow-top bed and 400-count wool throw blankets!

XV Beacon, Boston

Offering the best in Boston hotel accommodations, each room is seamlessly balanced with

modern and antique furniture, sharing the same warmth and handsome colour scheme of taupe, cream and espresso. 

This palette marries furniture and furnishings, including the Frette linens, which provide visually crisp, tailored lines and are pure luxury to tuck into. 

Mindfully designed, our rooms are ideally suited for hosting an intimate party or simply relaxing. Sleek modern lines enhance guest rooms' modernism and functionality, while gas fireplaces and canopy beds lightly accent our traditional New England soul. In-room thermostats and water conservation options, such as third-day linen changes, leave eco-choices in guests' hands.

InterContinental Asiana Saigon, Vietnam

Their spacious and well appointed rooms offer clean designs and an elegant marble bathroom featuring walk-in shower and separate bath. The rooms offer magnificent views over the modern Ho Chi Minh City from our unique floor-to-ceiling windows. 

The Roosevelt, Los Angeles

From the historic Spanish Colonial lobby, you'll find the Hollywood Roosevelt has taken on rather a dual personality over the years. The Tower is original 1927, where Clark and Carole carried on. The Cabanas are vintage 1950's famous as Marilyn's place of residence around the time of her very first modelling shoot - at the Hollywood Roosevelt pool, no less. The Roosevelt offer ultra comfortable luxurious new beds with custom-made 400 thread count SFERRA linens. 

Aston Waikiki Beach, Waikiki 

Directly across Kalakaua Avenue from Waikiki Beach, this 645-room hotel features comfy, contemporary guest rooms and suites with naturally inspired décor. Some 85% offer full or partial ocean views, while most are decked out with a private balcony where you can soak up the scenery and the action that make Waikiki such a hot destination. 

Fountainebleau, Miami

A total of 1,504 guest rooms offer luxurious comfort and privacy. From guest rooms to three bedroom suites and penthouses, your stay will be made unique by providing a variety of room/suite configurations. Many guest rooms and suites have breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as the twinkling necklace of lights that reveals Miami Beach at night. Modern sophisticated interior designs create an atmosphere of quiet and calm for effortless relaxation.

Four Seasons, Sydney 

Spoil yourself with Sydney's best luxury accommodation decorated in contemporary grand-luxe style. Relax in luxurious room or suite that overlooks the Sydney skyline, George Street or Walsh Bay, unwind in a City Harbour-view Room with partial views over Sydney Harbour, or treat yourself to full harbour-view accommodations that offer dramatic panoramas of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Walsh Bay. The views are exquisite. 

Hotel St. Cecilia, Austin

Perhaps the Saint Cecilia's most significant offering is an exquisite night's sleep on a handmade organic bed made by Hästens, Sweden's most revered bedding company. Bathrooms are outfitted with custom kimono bathrobes and Le Labo bath products. The hotel offers a variety of other amenities and services to inspire and delight. 

Loews Hollywood 
Each and every one of our newly renovated 628 guest rooms and lavish suites is decorated

in a refined mix of slate grey plus deep violet and burnt orange accents. The colours may be dramatic but the overall feel is one of sophistication and serenity. Modern wallpaper, cerused oak furniture and iconic Eames chairs complete the look. Since their hotel is a commanding 20 floors, they have some of the best views in the city. All of their bedrooms are equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, crisp 100% cotton sheets, embroidered robes and Comfort Zone skin and body products ensuring you'll feel pampered throughout your stay. 

That's it for this week folks, sleep well and enjoy your week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 28 May 2013

Welcome to another week and as we have been a tad busy with various events, judging and the general day to day mania that currently surrounds Cloud 9, our destination guides have been somewhat overlooked of late.

However, as we are running the PRCA DARE Awards in Edinburgh this year and we are making a welcome return to this fabulous city, it seemed appropriate to bring you one of our destination guides, so here we go with Destination Edinburgh....

Here’s a little bit about the city as a whole…

Edinburgh, in Scotland, is justly named Europe's festival capital and is the perfect all-round venue. Thousands of visitors come to the city for a wide range of events, product launches, business meetings, training seminars and educational events. Edinburgh is a world leading centre for business, finance and education, and home to the first Scottish Parliament in 300 years.

The city excels as a major international centre for meetings, product launches and conferences providing the highest standards of services and facilities expected of a world class conferencing city. It has an excellent infrastructure for conferences and specialist events with the greatest of choice whatever your needs. For conferences and meetings, there can be few more inspirational places in the world than Edinburgh.

The City is a bustling place and popular visitor destination. Famous annual events like The Edinburgh International Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Six Nations Rugby,  The Royal Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh Hogmanay and Fireworks Party's provide just a few excuses why you should take your event to Edinburgh. You might also want to go to Edinburgh for the theatre. Later this year Edinburgh will be showing the Lion King from October until January 2014!

Edinburgh is also an ancient city with an amazing history to perhaps incorporate into your event. Edinburgh's famous places consist of The Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, Princes Street, Edinbugh Castle and so many other fascinating places around the city centre.  Edinburgh is also a fabulous destination for playing golf in Scotland and for relaxing in its charming restaurants and pubs. 

Edinburgh's suburbs make up an important part of the city as well.  The Historic Queensferry is a fabulous attraction if you want to get the very best views of the Forth Bridges to the bustling suburbs of Portobello, Morningside and Leith and the very chic area of Stockbridge.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at some venues!

Edinburgh Castle: Situated in a stunning location on the Castle Rock with unrivalled views over the City of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle is Scotland’s most famous landmark and is available for hire for exclusive corporate and private events.

The newly refurbished Queen Anne Building is situated in the heart of the Castle in Crown Square and provides a flexible venue for lunches, meetings, product launches or banqueting.The Jacobite Room offers a contemporary setting within a historic 18th century building with magnificent views over Princes Street. With its adjoining room, this area offers a flexible venue for a variety of events.

Guests attending an evening event at the Castle can enjoy a private tour to see the Scottish Crown Jewels and Stone of Destiny which are housed in the Castle.For larger groups of up to 500 people, the whole Castle can be hired for a reception. Guests have exclusive access to the Castle’s highlights including the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Great Hall and the Royal Apartments.

Edinburgh Castle can also offer an exclusive facility for daytime events in the 19th century Gatehouse Suite. This area provides an ideal setting for small corporate meetings. The adjoining private terrace which overlooks the Royal Mile lends itself particularly to summer champagne receptions.

Dynamic Earth:“An event at Dynamic Earth is like nothing on Earth.” Set within the stunning surroundings of Salisbury Crags, the Palace of Holyrood House and opposite the new Scottish Parliament, it's a venue that guarantees to make your event truly unforgettable.

The Stratosphere can be used as an elegant venue for Weddings, Christmas Parties, Exhibitions, and Fashion Shows. Situated upon the Stratosphere, the Ozone, with its unspoiled views of the surrounding area is a versatile and soundproof enclosure which can be used independently as a conference suite or breakout room by day. Alternatively it can be transformed in to a stylish entertainment and dance area combined with The Stratosphere for Gala Dinners.

The Biosphere is a modern, stylish and versatile venue, with unique features such as a private suite with a turret shaped feature room and a high arched ceiling. When fully open, it can seat 300-theatre style or banquet up to 200 guests. It can also be subdivided into two self-contained meeting rooms which is ideal for conference catering. There is also a complimentary PA system and extensive AV equipment is available.The Earthscapes provide a range of theming opportunities to make your event stand out form the crowd; pre-dinner drinks in the tropical rainforest or a cool cocktail by the iceberg!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: So you’re looking for a corporate event? Private Function? Or perhaps whisky tasting?  Or better still…. a combination of all three!

If you fancy a one-of-a-kind  event,  that meets every requirement and surpass

every expectation then The Malt Whisky Society is the right place for you! They can cater for buffets, canapés, light lunches and formal fine dining – carefully tailored to match the style of your event. A whisky tasting can be an unusual way to break the ice at a party. An original way to wind down at the end of a meeting. The perfect accompaniment to fine dining. Or an entertaining occasion in its own right. Just 0.6 miles from the city centre, this is a perfect central location to visit for you event to make the most of what Edinburgh has to offer.

The Hub, Edinburgh's FestivalCentre: The Hub, Edinburgh’s Festival Centre, with its imposing spires and contemporary interiors is a spectacular setting for prestigious events. It's also hosting our PRCA DARE Awards this year!

The Historic Grade A Listed Building is renowned for its integration of contemporary design with classical Victorian architecture, which has created one of Edinburgh’s most dramatic venues. The richly decorated Main Hall, elegant Dunard Library, vibrant Cafe Hub and the more intimate Glass Room are ideal for conferences, prestigious dinners, exhibitions and special events that demand a creative edge. Whether it’s a meeting for 4, dinner for 40 or a reception for 400 The Hub’s versatile yet stylish facilities will provide the perfect setting. Its location at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is in the heart of the historic Old Town. This makes it the perfect venue for those looking to host an exclusive event in Edinburgh. Led by Head Chef, Suzanne Lynch, The Hub’s cuisine is famous for its Scottish flavour with a contemporary edge. 

Vue Cinema Edinburgh: Just think of it…Big screens, comfy stadium seating, national locations, and state-of-the-art projection equipment. A Vue cinema is an excitingly different yet surprisingly cost effective location for your next conference.

Give your conference, annual meeting or presentation star billing with cutting edge facilities and high-end hospitality provided by Vue Conferencing and Events. The venue has stadium seating through out for uninterrupted views, high definition Digital Projectors for maximum presentation impact and has a fully equipped bar.

The experienced team at Vue Edinburgh have the technology and expertise to take care of your every need as you inspire your guests and wow your audience. They can cater for any corporate event, from small presentations to international AGMs with live satellite link up.

The King James, Thistle: The King James  is conveniently located in the heart of Edinburgh, which is easily accessible via the M8 and M9, or by rail or air. Located right in the heart of the city, just off Princes Street and only a short walk from key sights and attractions, including Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile and a host of shops, bars and restaurants.

With 143 guestrooms, including suites, there is plenty of space for a weekend event. You have all the facilities you would expect and are designed to give you comfort from the moment you walk through the door. Wireless broadband internet access, provided by BT Openzone is available throughout the hotel.

Eat in the stylish restaurant and enjoy a choice of modern dishes and home cooked favourites. Or for a more relaxed and informal settings try the bar where you can enjoy a drink and a variety of menu choices from snacks to light meals. There are seven meeting rooms, all with air conditioning and offering plenty of natural light to create a comfortable, productive environment with state of the art audio visual equipment to hand. The largest room, the Lothian seats up to 250 theatre style. Available are six smaller rooms suitable for conferences, team briefings training events and board meetings plus break out areas where you can stretch your legs have an informal chat or check your messages.

Don't forget that we have a complimentary venue finding service that covers the entire UK and abroad so if you want a venue for any event, just float on over to Cloud 9!

Enjoy.