Globe-Trotter, the British luggage designer which since 1897 has furnished luxury carryalls for the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and Winston Churchill, will soon add another formidable piece to its collection: a bulletproof case designed by Ross Lovegrove. Weighing in at under three pounds, it's the lightest rigid suitcase of its kind. Even before this news, Globe-Trotter was getting around: the luggage maker recently collaborated with J.Crew to craft limited edition pieces for its new luggage collection, and it showed up last year in the Conran Shop with a special rolling fashion statement.
The Lovegrove piece will make its debut during New York Fashion Week in September, posing from the windows at Moss. Until then, you can still get the perennial classic, the Centenary trolley suitcase in orange (designed by hand from Vulcan Fibre and lined in silk) at Moss for $1,580. The Lovegrove designed Air Cabin, by comparison, will retail for $3,500.
We get them whenever we travel but hardly give a second thought to all those plastic keycards from hotels. Sustainable Cards has created wood hotel key cards and they will get their big debut at the Democratic National Convention. Around 70,000 biodegradable key cards will be used in Denver hotels.. The Sustainable Cards will be emblazoned with the Denver 2008 Host Committee logo and made from sustainably harvested wood. Wooden key cards have been used in Europe for years. While it wouldn't seem like such a small item would make a big difference, switching from plastic cards to biodegradable wood can reduce plastic waste equal to the volume of seven 777 airplanes in one year. The company also plans to offer wood gift cards in the future.
This summer, luxury charter service V1 Jets opened up its seaplane service from Manhattan to the Hamptons (formerly reserved for members) to anyone with the price of a ticket, and it's proved to be very popular with the gliteratti. The 40 minute trip on an 8-passenger Cessna, which costs $495 one-way, has been taken by the likes of models Adriana Lima and Petra Nemcova, actors Pierce Brosnan and Jeremy Piven, and mogul Barry Diller. V1 Jets was founded in 2003 by hedge fund manager Andrew Zarrow who envisioned a way to utilize the excessive amount of "dead legs" created by private aircraft returning empty after delivering clients to their destinations, saving money and resources in the process.
Marnell Corrao Associates has announced the topping off the M Resort, Spa and Casino in Las Vegas. The $1 billion project is located on South Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway a bit of a ways from the Las Vegas Strip. The M Resort, Spa and Casino will have 390 guest rooms, nine restaurants, a destination wine cellar and tasting room, more than 60,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, a 23,000 square foot spa and fitness center and over 100,000 square foot pool and events piazza named Villaggio del Sole. Of course there will be a casino with over 92,000 square feet of gaming space including 1,846 slot machines, 64 table games and a state-of-the-art race and sports book. A March 2009 is planned.
The resort has also entered into a partnership with Taubman Center Inc. to create the first full-scale, department store anchored regional mall to be directly integrated into a casino resort. It will add one million square feet of in-line shopping to the resort and is expected to open in late 2011 or early 2012. Another feature of the resort will be a 63,000 square foot movie theater with 14 screens and 3,100 seat of all-stadium luxury seating with digital sound and premium concession selections,.
The Matthews Hospitality Group has announced via press release that two model residences in its Point Breeze development are open for viewing. Half of the 29 private residences within walking distance of Nantucket's cobbled downtown are already under agreement. (Because Nantucket real estate, like the island's timeless preppy togs, simply defies market trends.) Each owner will receive complimentary membership to Point Breeze's "ultra-elite" club, which features world-class spa, fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, five-star dining and concierge service. Nantucket property owners and frequent visitors can join in the fun by becoming members of the Club at Point Breeze.
A one-bedroom condo in the historically-inspired development starts at $1.5 million. The company has also broken ground on a similar project on Palm Beach Island, meaning your summers and winters are now covered.
Vacation...Time off...Getaway... no matter which term you use personal travel seems to be driven more by individual interests than any other purpose lately. In a recent survey taken by American Express Travel, 87% of respondents indicate taking trips for the pursuit of personal passions will continue or even increase over the next two years despite economic conditions. Whether you have always wanted to learn top culinary skills, play a new instrument, or attend a sporting event of your dreams putting your vacation funds towards individual enrichment seems to be the trend and personally I am all for it! Here are the top interests shared by Americans:
42% choose destinations for culinary reasons
28% take-off for a sporting event
25% traveled for adventure
21% skipped town for music-related opportunities
15% claimed educational interests for their travel
Most people expressed they are also willing to spend more money and stay longer for vacations that further their personal dreams. If you have time off I think why not grow as a person while enjoying time away from the daily grind.
As it turns out, Saudi Arabia may have not one of the world's most lucrative resources (duh, oil) but two. Recent prospectors have set their sights on Saudi Arabian sands to dig for gold in addition to other precious metals. The first commercial prospector allowed to set up mines in Saudi Arabia is Ma'aden, which has already invested $5.5 billion in equipment and development costs. When it comes to digging for financial rewards, who knew sand could be so fertile?
The Berners Hotel, an Edwardian edifice in London's West End, is set to re-open in 2009 following extensive renovations restoring the famed spot to its former glory. The four-star hotel, named for Josias Berners who purchased the land on which it stands in 1654, was originally constructed in 1835 as five conjoined houses in the classical style. At the turn of the 20th century it was converted into a luxury hotel; King Edward VII was said to have frequently entertained his mistress, Lillie Langtry, in a private suite of rooms there, and it also served as the London premises of famed Russian jeweler Carl Fabergé. All 176 rooms as well as the landmarked public spaces are being restored to their Edwardian splendor under the auspices of JJW Hotels' Luxury Collection.
The Lusso Collection portfolio of multi-million dollar residences in the world's most desirable vacation spots has just announced an exclusive new membership club. The 30 properties in the Collection, worth an average of $4 million each, are located in luxe spots such as Cabo San Lucas, Aspen, Miami, Hawaii and the Bahamas (the Turks & Caicos property is pictured above). Each features an on-site concierge, pre-arrival grocery shopping and a chauffer service from the nearest airport. The new offering enables members to experience the properties for 21 days out of the year for a deposit of $325,000 and annual dues of $21,000. Only 50 of the Lusso 21 memberships are available. By year's end the company plans to expand its portfolio to 39 properties in 21 destinations, including Europe.
The SLS Hotels brand is scheduled to debut this fall with the opening of the much anticipated SLS Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, and although we'll have to wait a bit to see the real thing we have some computer generated photos to get a sneak peak a couple months early. Big names like Phillip Starck, José Andres, and Moss are associated with the project which is said to offer "an evolved luxury hospitality experience for today's evolved traveler." The SLS Beverly Hills (and all the SLS hotels to follow) will be managed as part of The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts under Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Hotel Renew bills itself as Honolulu's first luxury designer boutique hotel. Designed by Jiun Ho, the small hotel is located near Waikiki Beach and offers just 72 rooms. The rooms use Shoji screens, natural rock, wave patterns in the bedding and carpet and the customized spa-inspired robes and lifestyle amenities to create an air of tranquility. Each room includes an 80" projection television or 32" LCD HDTV, CD/DVD player, iPod compatibility, and WiFi access. The hotel is also dog-friendly ( up to 20 pounds with a security deposit of $50 and a fee of $25 per night) and smoke free.
Hotel Renew is also home to Lounge Renew which offers breakfast and coffee in the morning, healthy treats and smoothies in the middle of the day and signature cocktails and libations in the evening. Rooms start at $175 per night. Reviews on Trip Advisor look great, this hotel is rated top in their reviews of Honolulu hotels.
The over-the-top Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi is offering a $1 million, week-long stay which it claims is the world's most expensive holiday package. The Palace Suite package includes first-class airline tickets, a chauffeur-driven Maybach for the week, a personal butler, daily spa treatments, and day trips via private jet, the Gulf-based Khaleej Times Online reports. The offer is being made as an attempt to earn the hotel a slot in the Guinness Book of World Records, and part of the proceeds will be donated to charities in the U.A.E., the paper reports. The luxe day trips include jetting to Iran to weave Persian carpets and to Bahrain to dive for deep sea pearls, which will then be set for you in custom-designed jewellery.
Her hotel will apparently be environmentally friendly, although how exactly we're not sure -- except that she was quoted as saying "It's built with no fossil fuel at all... in Abu Dhabi - where they have all that oil."
Pamela was first inspired for the project after traveling to the area this past June with the Make a Wish Foundation. No word on what her hotel will be called, or when it will open for business.
The new Aviator hotel in Farnborough, England has dubbed itself the "UK's sexiest airport hotel." The hotel is located at TAG Farnborough, an airport that caters to private jets and business travelers. The Tines Online recently checked it out, finding that the building, which looks like a plane propeller, has a distinctive charm. The hotel, founded by the people behind the Malmaison and Dakota chains, has 150 rooms spread over three floors, with 19 suites on the fourth floor. Rooms include Bose sound systems, flatscreen TVs, large beds and wifi. Suites have both a bathtub and a power shower. The hotel includes two bars, one for the suite holders only and one for the rest, The Brasserie which serves seasonal menus.
The TImes Online reviewer deemed the hotel very stylish indeed but questioned whether those landing at Farnborough might just truck on to London instead. Now at least, weary travelers have the option of an elegant stay without a long car ride. Rates start at £195.
The One Key Travel Card is a like a membership card to a time share but more upscale. It includes first-class homes, personalized service, and local knowledge, without a significant outlay of upfront capital or whole ownership. Members have access to a worldwide portfolio of selected homes, as well as a dedicated member services representative. Cards are available by number of nights: 15, 25 or 45, for $34,900, $49,900, or $84,900, respectively. Use the nights in any combination. Pricing includes access to One Key Homes, daily housekeeping, and member services. Inquire about membership here.Choices of home style / themes include beach, city, mountain, leisure, and "hidden gems."
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As it turns out, Saudi Arabia may have not one of the world's most lucrative resources (duh, oil) but two. Recent prospectors have set their sights on Saudi Arabian sands 
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