The Suite Life

You may imagine the hotel of the future with robotic on-demand housekeeping, voice-activated room entry, and all kinds of other gadgets, which may not be far off, but InterContinental Hotels is looking beyond technology to the future of the environment.

Their new Innovation Hotel is a specially dedicated section of the IHG website that will showcase the hotel empire’s green efforts both now and for properties of the future. InterContinental isn’t looking at the future in terms of another century or even decade either, many of the green practices including low-emissions paint, solar roof panels, and recycled furnishings, could be in place within the next few years.

Let’s just hope other luxury hotels take the green out of their envy and put it towards their futures as well.

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Conde Nast Traveler has just released its Hot Hotel list for 2008. The list includes hotels in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Middle East, Australia and the Pacific, and of course, North America.

Here’s a sneak peak at the list’s North American Hot Hotels which included many Perfect Escapes accepted properties such as:

Aqua Cancun, Cancun
Rosewood Mayakoba, Mayakoba
Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen
La Purificadora, Puebla
Grand Del Mar, San Diego
Ivy Hotel, San Diego
Angler’s Boutique Resort, Miami Beach
Tides South Beach, Miami Beach
Hotel Sax, Chicago
Palazzo Las Vegas
Ritz Carlton Dallas

And many more…

Some of these properties have such exciting design and anticipation that they are already achieving big industry buzz before they even open. So make sure to book early as the hotter a hotel gets the harder it is to get into, and it’s going to be one steamy summer.

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See the entire Conde Nast Traveler Hot Hotel List for 2008.

The Chicago Tribune recently reported that hotels in the Windy City are stepping up their high-tech amenities in an effort to make guests feel more at home. While the general consensus is that nothing is as important as impeccable service when it comes to a hotel experience, it can’t hurt to lavish guests with high-tech amenities to accompany the custom pillows and service. In a world where people are plugged in to some sort of device almost constantly, hotels are reaching out to high-tech lifestyles who live in a luxuriously gadgety world.

The Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is installing HDTV’s into every guest room, while The Peninsula is upgraded cell-phone coverage and many area hotels are succumbing to the almost now standard amenity of free wireless internet.

Many Chicago hotels are also offering video game consoles, more accessible outlets, and in-room laptop storage safes in addition to the giant plasma TV’s and entertainment systems.

When you mix luxury with high-tech you can lay in your turned-down, fluffy bed, watching your HDTV, while your ipod charges in the alarm dock next to you, all while a concierge happily arranges for the phone charge your forgot to be replaced and dropped at your hotel room door. It’s virtual hotel bliss.

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For such a highly anticipated hotel, there has yet to be much in print or otherwise confirming what everyone is hoping for, a truly wonderful new TriBeCa, NYC property. Luckily, The Sunday Times of The Times UK managed to get an early glimpse of the hotel which is set to open officially in May (but is already on soft open). Here’s what we learned from the review…

If you had to pick three words to describe The Greenwich Hotel, they might be detailed, classic comfort, authentic. Ok, that’s four words but this hotel is truly a compilation of hand-craftedness, from the walls down to the books. Rustic American Oak beams, rich blues and greens and non-flashy comfort mix with hand-cut tiles, Italian accents, and carefully selected accessories. Clearly rich in thought and décor, the property does not shout for attention but rather sets a tone of welcoming luxury. There’s no elaborate front desk check-in, rather it’s done privately in each guest’s room, and soundproofing keeps noise to a minimum.

In addition to its American and Italian sensibilities, there is also a strong Japanese presence particularly in the Spa which apparently won’t open until the summer. However, what The Times found most amazing, was the one space most guests will not see, the Penthouse Suite. A 2-bedroom space on the top floor (8th floor), the suite features rooftop garden and hot tub, glass ceiling dining room, and of course amazing views. However, the views are one thing most guests will have access too, and many will be lucky enough to get a balcony as well. The Times suggested rooms 401 or 402 for this at no extra charge.

While The Greenwich has yet to be put to the test of guests and most reviewers, they have employed an A-list roster of hotel management, which in addition to the carefully though out design and décor lends itself to success, or at least the strongest possibility of it.

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By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes

For many people these days, going on vacation doesn’t necessarily mean turning off all electronic connections. In fact, many people are inclined to choose luxury hotels that cater to their plugged-in lifestyle allowing them time to enjoy the high-tech toys that are often pushed aside for webnars and calendar syncing.

A recent MSNBC article plugged in to the some of the luxury hotels with the best tech amenities. What they found is that technology is quickly matching other amenities in terms of personalization and creativity. Leave the pillow bar behind; it’s time for WiFi and Hi-Def options.

At the Hotel Monaco in Seattle, guests can compete in Guitar Hero III tournaments during the evening wine hour every Friday night. Hotel 1000 also in Seattle boasts a variety of tech-amenities including: no dead zones, digital thermometers that can be set to specific degrees and which turn on when they recognize guest presence in the room. Electronic button indicators letting staff know when not to disturb guest and when room is unoccupied for cleaning, virtual golf programs, and a variety of HD TV and music choices are also available for techy travelers.

At Hotel Sax in Chicago, The Studio: An Experience by Microsoft, was launched to create the ultimate digital space for guests including Xbox, a laptop work area, music library and digital music players, and home theater-style entertainment.

Hotel Teatro in Denver give guests GPS systems with programmed local outdoor adventures so they can have their connectivity and activities too. While on the opposite end, Le Parker Meridien in NYC takes high-tech even higher with a Wii exercise room in its health club so guests can play reality tennis with virtual partners at any level.

Clearly, luxury hotels are adding high-tech haute couture amenities in an effort to reach luxury travelers who unwind by staying plugged-in, but on their own terms. Be it through internet connectivity, video games and entertainment, or by interactive room technology for personalizing stays and communicating with hotel staff, these luxury hotels are no longer just virtual reality.

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Find Luxury Hotels in Chicago at Perfect Escapes.

Find Luxury Hotels in NYC at Perfect Escapes.

By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes