PHOTO: The Corinthia Hotel St. George in Malta hosted the celebration. (courtesy Corinthia Hotels

Corinthia Salutes Dedicated Employees at Anniversary Bash

In December, the Corinthia Group celebrated its 51st anniversary with a grand gala dinner and awards presentation night held at the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa in San Anton, Malta. The event was hosted by the group’s founder and chairman, Alfred Pisani.

Award presentations were held in the hotel’s Chameleon hall and included continuous service certificates and awards to 77 Corinthia Malta employees with five to 40 years of uninterrupted service and 15 ‘Employees of the Year’ from the company’s hotels and other subsidiaries in Malta, Hungary, Libya, Portugal, Russia, Sudan, The Czech Republic, Tunisia and the United Kingdom.

On Dec. 6 1962 the Pisani family inaugurated the upmarket ‘Corinthia Restaurant’ in the family’s art nouveau villa in San Anton. The fine-dining restaurant was soon to become the focal point for the Island’s ‘gourmet’ society.

By 1964, plans were drawn up for the 155-room Corinthia Palace Hotel on Villa Corinthia’s extensive grounds. The deluxe hotel was eventually inaugurated in June 1968 in the presence of The Duke of Edinburgh.

New European Properties in Design’s Portfolio Push New Frontiers

Design Hotels is adding six new members in Europe to its distinctive portfolio of properties reflecting “mindful design.” The new European additions reach from Sicily to the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia. The portfolio now has more than 260 members in 170 destinations worldwide.  

- Stockholm’s The Art Nouveau Ateneum Girl’s School is being transformed by the Nobis Group into the 92-room Miss Clara – named after the school’s first headmistress Clara Strömberg. Built in 1910, the old school building is being restored with its high ceilings, expansive windows and grand rooms fully intact. 

All rooms will be outward-facing, overlooking Sveavägen Boulevard. At street-level, a restaurant and bar will thrive on the urban buzz of the evolving Stockholm City district.

- Due to open at the end of January, 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin is situated in a 10-story high-rise The hotel is part of a complex of 1950s-era historic buildings including the Zoopalast cinema and the so-called Bikinihaus, a post-war architectural icon of West Berlin. 

Historical preservation has been a focus of the redevelopment, while at the same time creating a modern, progressive space. Thanks to the hotel’s location between Berlin’s zoo and the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (memorial church) and the shopping strip of Kurfürstendamm.

- The 30-room Royal Snail in the Belgian town of Namur is situated at the foot of a citadel. The four buildings of the hotel were joined without undertaking any major structural alterations. Paintings by 19th century Namur-born artist Félicien Rops offered inspiration for the interiors, and the city’s symbol, the snail, has been incorporated into the hotel’s branding. 

The furniture, beds and linens are all hand produced by craftsmen from the area. A spa, outdoor pool and manicured gardens provide plenty of spaces to relax while the landmark restaurant, L’Agathopede has become a destination in its own right.                        

- Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter is welcoming SKT. PETRI a hotel located in a former 1930s department store. The project has been taken on by the Nordic Hotels & Resorts group. The Skt. Petri will undergo extensive renewal and renovation in the coming year.

- The Anemi Hotel on the Cycladic Island of Folegandros sits against the rocky terrain of the village of Karavostasis and features a dozen two-floor whitewashed buildings. Limiting the buildings’ height to only two stories throughout has ensured they do not interrupt the serenity of the surrounding landscape. Inside, 44 rooms and suites are peppered with furniture by the likes of Charles & Ray Eames, B&B Italia and Vitra.

- The Zash Country Boutique Hotel in Riposto, Sicily features views of Mount Etna, the sea and vineyards. A former 1930’s manor house, former winery, and a Mediterranean garden all rolled into one, the hotel retains as many of the property’s original features as possible. 

The result is a nine-bedroom hotel, set within a garden with panoramic sea views and interiors which feature oak flooring, volcanic stone cladding and high vaulted ceilings. Wide refurbished windows and glass walls shape the building, flaunting the hotel’s surrounding. Located in the entrance of the old winery, the hotel’s bar serves some of the region’s best wines and evoking a sense of the building’s past lives through its stone walls.

- The Rooms Hotel Kazbegi in Stepantsminda, Georgia is backed by the dramatic Caucasus Mountain Range. The hotel, a structure of wood, glass and steel, features 156 rooms, all with views across the mountainous terrain. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby lounge keep the interior and exterior visually linked. 

A restaurant serving traditional Georgian fare interspersed with a host of international dishes is accompanied by a bar with its own fireplace and cigar menu. Meanwhile a sweeping sun terrace provides a place to relax and soak in the rugged surroundings.

After Facelift Le Grand Bellevue Brings Younger Look to Gstaad

After a year-long renovation, Le Grand Bellevue opened this month under new ownership and with a new look. The re-launch of Gstaad’s oldest palace hotel introduces a fresh sense of vitality as the new look is stripped of the formalities and grandeur of its more traditional neighbors. The 57-room hotel now strives for the welcoming feel of a country house hotel that is targeting a new generation of luxury travelers.

The hotel’s signature restaurant Leonards features bistro-style cuisine by Michelin-starred chef Urs Gschwend whilst Le Petit Chalet is a Swiss mountain cabin, seating an intimate 18 guests with a menu of hearty Swiss dishes. Added perks include: the hotel’s ‘Carnozet’ which houses 10,000 bottles; an exclusive Sushi Bar; Cigar Lounge; 18-seat Private Cinema and a Club Room playing host to international DJs throughout the season.

Le Grand SPA offers a sanctuary for wellness in partnership with Bamford Spa and the Swiss facial brand Cellcosmet. Extensive facilities include: eight treatment rooms; an array of heat therapies including Turkish hammam, Himalayan salt inhalation grotto and outdoor Finnish sauna; a fully equipped gym; yoga and Pilates studio; and a swimming pool opening up onto a lavender-clad terrace during summer months.

Top Designers Brought In to Refresh Hôtel de Crillon

Designer Karl Lagerfeld has been commissioned to design two suites for Paris’ famed Hôtel de Crillon, which has just become a part of the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts collection. Lagerfeld sees the hotel’s suites as “grand apartments.” The Parisian landmark is currently undergoing a complete restoration and will reopen in 2015. Renowned for his ability to revive history with an edge, Lagerfeld’s suites will epitomize Rosewood’s A Sense of Place philosophy.

The Hôtel de Crillon, located on Place de la Concorde, has stood through the reign of two French Kings, the French Revolution, the rise and fall of the Napoleonic Empire and the birth of the League of Nations. The current restoration will add a contemporary polish to the hotel while remaining respectful of its traditions and faithful to its character.

The architect of the restoration is Richard Martinet while the new interiors are being created, under the artistic direction of Aline d’Amman, by three Paris-based decorators, Chahan Minassian, Cyril Vergniol and Tristan Auer.

Taj Adds Two London Addresses

The Taj Group has rebranded two London hotels: the St. James' Court, A Taj Hotel and Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences. The St. James' Court in the London district of Westminster is bordered by Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus and just steps away from other key landmarks. Since opening its doors in 1902, St. James' Court has regularly hosted royalty and many heads of state.

Some of the enhanced and differentiated experiences include in-room check in, signature welcome and signature fragrances. Guests will also have access to an extensive fleet of exclusive vintage and classic vehicles, including the Jaguar DS420 Daimler limousine 'Grand Princess’ and Lord Mountbatten's vintage Daimler 'Silver Baroness'.

Meanwhile, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences is further enhancing its luxury offering through bespoke experiences such as the Taj Royal Attache butler service, optional Jaguar airport transfers and exclusive horse and carriage rides. In addition to the two signature suites - the world’s first Jaguar Suite and the Cinema Suite - the hotel is remodeling other suites. In 2014, it will add a new lobby and reception lounge, a new restaurant, tea and library lounges and an exclusive private dining area.

"The success of our London hotels provided the impetus to consolidate our brand presence in the UK, being an important source market for Taj,” said Deepa Harris, senior vice president global sales & marketing of the Taj Group.

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