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WORLD’S BEST DINING SPOTS
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UNSEEN SCANDINAVIA
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ART IN TRAVEL
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BEST IN TRAVEL NEWS
21 ISSUE
AUGUST 2013
*FEATURE: NORWAY
If luxury could materialise itself as a car journey then it would certainly be one of Norway’s designated driving routes.
THE SMARTER TRAVELLER ISSUE
It is summer in the northern hemisphere and high rollers are flying off to lavish hot spots for their well-earned holiday. A soaring stock market and economic confidence in some markets are encouraging many to take more extravagant trips. The travel industry may still be stinging from what some call the Great Recession, but this summer does look steady, if not one of recovery, especially for the luxury sector. Travel at the top-end continues to rebound — consistent with luxury across all industries, according to the travel and hospitality consulting group at Deloitte. Luxury hotel chains have even surpassing their pre-recession peak when it comes to filling their rooms. The fact is those with higher pay packets never stopped travelling, they’ve increasingly demanded the Best in Travel and now thanks to new highs in the stock market they’re feeling secure enough to take longer vacations. What people are demanding though is a Smarter Holiday, one that’s well-planned and thought out, avoids the crowds, yet takes in the sites. Checks in to the best, not the most popular and taps into local knowledge. This is what we’ve tried to do with this issue from Norway to the best dining spots, we’re trying to be smart about our trips away. We hope you will be too. Enjoy! Nick Easen, Editor 6
BESTINTRAVELMAGAZINE.COM
EDITORS NOTE
BEST IN TRAVEL MAGAZINE IS CREATED BY WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS EDITOR Nick Easen editor@bestintravelmagazine.com DEPUTY EDITOR Susanna Housden PHOTO EDITOR Mark Hakansson ART DIRECTOR Samuel Sampi Kamffer (one2love) CREATIVE TEAM Nia Lewis, Kelly Footit PUBLISHER Manon Han www.bestintravelmagazine.com
PRESIDENT & FOUNDER Graham E. Cooke EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Manon Han BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Christopher Frost, Kevin Taylor, Sion Rapson EVENTS Susan Mundy, Nia Lewis WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS Momentum House, Lower Road, London, SE1 8SJ, United Kingdom www.worldtravelawards.com Copyright © World Travel Awards 2011
FRONT COVER IMAGE Geiranger Fjord, Innovation Norway
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Discover a place that captures your imagina
www.magicalkenya.com
MagicalKenya
@MagicalKenya
ation
Camping is usually a bare minimum ordeal. A few boxes of matches, unless you’re skilled at stone striking, a sleeping bag and canned foods cross your mind. Perhaps a cardboard thin camping mattress if you’re really lucky. Unless of course, you’re on a luxury camping safari in Kenya... We’re out there, what about you?
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DINING
The World’s Most Memorable Dining Experiences
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DINING
The world’s most memorable dining experiences...
...for
Classic Romance
ALAIN DUCASSE’S JULES VERNE RESTAURANT THE EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS
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Restaurants in tourist attractions as famous as the Eiffel Tower often spell mediocre food and tacky surroundings but not so the Jules Verne. As you’d expect from a man such as Ducasse – who can’t move for Michelin stars in his many worldwide establishments – the Jules Verne is a seriously grown up restaurant serving sublime French food with a modern twist. Zip up in the restaurant’s private lift and step out 125 metres above the Paris skyline, a particularly spectacular site at night. www.lejulesverne-paris.com
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The world’s most memorable dining experiences...
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Elevated Cuisine ~
DINNER IN THE SKY LAS VEGAS, USA
Due to open in late summer 2013, Dinner in the Sky will suspend diners on two open air tables 180 feet up in the air, offering 360-degree views of the Las Vegas strip and the surrounding mountains. Each table weighs in at nearly seven tons and seats 22 guests who are hoisted into the air and served a three course meal with wine – combining upscale dining with a thrilling ride. www.dinnerintheskylv.com
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DINING
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The world’s most memorable dining experiences...
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a Jaw-Dropping View SAFFIRE FREYCINET TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA
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Saffire has some of the best views and food in Australia - and that’s saying something. Set in a secluded spot on Tasmania’s east coast this 20 suite lodge prides itself on its incredible levels of service - with a tailored experience set up for each individual client. Its Palate restaurant is gloriously decked out inside but its the views across the water to the Hazard’s that you won’t be able to take your eyes off - glass of Tasmania’s finest sparkling wine and some freshly shucked oysters in hand. www.saffire-freycinet.com.au
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DINING
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DINING
The world’s most memorable dining experiences...
...for
Secluded Luxury FASANO RESTAURANT, HOTEL FASANO LAS PIEDRAS PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY
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Part of the Hotel Fasano Las Piedras, the Fasano restaurant is sculpted into a granite ringed grotto on one of the Punta del Este’s highest peaks with spectacular sweeping views of the hotel’s 1,000 acre estate and the sea rising in the distance. The Italian menu is inspired by the Fasano family’s famous Sao Paolo restaurant with homemade pastas, meats cooked on an open grill and the freshest of seafood. After dinner, amble back to a sleek bunker style cabin or take a dip in the spring fed rock pools created by award winning Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld. www.laspiedrasvillasfasano.com
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The world’s most memorable dining experiences...
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a Touch of Nature MINARET STATION WANAKA, NEW ZEALAND
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First you arrive on a scenic helicopter flight – it’s the only way to get in via the pristine lakes of Wanaka to the high country farm of Minaret Station situated at the head of a picturesque valley in the Southern Alps. Welcome drinks kick off on the terrace followed by a delicious hearty three-course luncheon served by the in-house chef Leungo. The Mountain Kitchen here is a magic way to enjoy lunch like no other in New Zealand. It is so remote - ringed in by rivers, lakes and parklands with no public road access. The lodge is open year round and can be booked individually or exclusively. www.minaretstation.com
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DINING
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Azure to indigo blue views unfurl here on Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives. Twenty minutes by speedboat from Malé Airport brings you to Lankanfushi Lagoon, our natural swimming pool like no other. Tropical palms sway overhead as bare feet sink into white sands as soft as sifted flour. All 45 over-water villas, including iconic Crusoe Residences secluded in the shallow lagoon, rise over the Indian Ocean, angled towards the infinite horizon where the vibrant sky melts into the expansive sea. Visit us at www.gili-lankanfushi.com
LANKANFUSHI ISLAND, NORTH MALÉ ATOLL, REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES T +960 664 0304 F +960 664 0305 MANAGED BY HPL HOTELS & RESORTS
Maldives' Leading Luxury Resort
Indian Ocean's Leading Spa Resort
Indian Ocean's Leading Luxury Resort
Norway* THE POWER OF PEOPLE AND PLACE If luxury could materialise itself as a car journey then it would certainly be one of Norway’s designated driving routes, perhaps in a classic open-topped car. Only on four wheels can you get to grips with the sheer size and scale of Norway’s scenery. This is best experienced along dedicated highways that blend breathtaking engineering and architecture seamlessly into this formidable landscape.
In a country packed to the sky with breathtaking fjords, seascapes and mountains, for the Norwegians to brand country road 63 between Langevatn and Sogge Bridge the “Golden Route” is incredibly significant. That’s because this high octane ribbon of tarmac that snakes through the western Sunnmøre Alps near the town of Ålesund would win Olympic gold for its awe-inspiring collection of glaciated valleys, hairpin bends and emerald green fjords. One of these deep sea lochs is in fact 28
It’s also peppered with a number of high-end retreats with facilities that draw the breath-taking scenery into your room. These spots certainly ensure after a hard days driving that you’re guaranteed great food and a relaxing stay with crisp mountain air to compliment the crisp bed sheets.
and claw, but engineers have cleverly woven eye-popping vantage points and world-class architecture to the tune of 31 million Euros into the landscape -- effortlessly. We’re talking luxurious wayside cafes and restaurants. In fact the built environment at picnic spots, conveniences and lay-bys is as convivial as the natural one. In fact its top-class by anyone’s standards and a far cry from when it was a packhorse trail in 1936.
The Geiranger-Trollstigen Route gives you 106 full-on kilometres of nature, raw in tooth
recognised on the UESCO World Heritage list – even the Norwegians gawp at the views here.
more > BESTINTRAVELMAGAZINE.COM
DESTINATION
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Norway* This is one of 18 National Tourist Routes that wind through Norway’s outstanding scenery including some of the deepest, longest, narrowest and most scenic fjords in the world. The goal here has been to draw visitors in with beautiful drives, unique buildings, viewing platforms and pieces of art. If you like architecture and nature bundled together effortlessly in a way that only the Scandinavians know how, then this is the place to head to.
“THE CHALLENGE IS TO INTERPRET THE MOOD OF A PARTICULAR PLACE,” says Per Ritzler, head of international relations at Norwegian National Tourist routes. The routes are really about economic development and dispersing the wealth accrued by Norway's oil and natural-gas sector to rural areas through tourism. Six of them are completed and the remaining 12 will be completely laid out in the next eight years. “High quality architecture and innovative thinking have given us unexpected installations. Some are in sharp contrast with the surroundings, others are in harmony with the landscape -- but never indifferent,” explains Ritzler.
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DESTINATION
As you reach the top of the Trollstigen, which is Norse for Troll Ladder. You climb 852 metres from sea level to a glacial plateau. With 11 hairpin bends under your belt there’s a chance peer over the edge of the thundering Stigfossen waterfall at one of the new vantage points that opened only in June last year – further down another platform appears to be suspended in thin air. Only designer steel sheets and glass plates separate you from a 200 metre chasm to the valley below, just as impressive though is the new visitor centre and restaurant. It took eight years for Oslo architect, Reiulf Ramstad to complete the concrete and glass structure that appears to float above the glacial melt water like a mirage. “Our main focus is always to have a humble approach to the environment and through our architecture get the visitors to gain a greater sense of nature and the interaction between the two,” explains Ramstad.
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Drive south for 30 minutes past grandly named mountains including the Dronningen (the Queen) the Kongen (the King) and Bispen (the Bishop) and you hit another design gem, near Valldal -- the aptly named Juvet Landscape Hotel which has received Norway’s top architecture prize – the A. C. Houens Fund’s certificate. Seven incredible luxury “guest” houses balance on thin metal poles above granite boulders. They were designed to fit into nature without damaging it. Their smoked-glass sides offer floor to ceiling panoramic outlook of snow-capped peaks and the gurgling Valldøla River below, while the dark brown monochromatic interiors focus everything towards the view. “It was an experiment. They’re not taken from a catalogue. They are handmade,” says hotel owner, Knut Slinning. “Other people can replicate the rooms, but they can’t replicate the rock and the river.” These minimalist boxes of striped pinewood are open for their fourth season and took five years to construct. Global celebrities have stayed here – Slinning wouldn’t say who, just that they are in the music business. Gudbrandsjuvet is only five minutes away from the hotel and was designed by the same architect Jensen & Skodvin. A AUGUST 2013 ~ ISSUE 21
snaking metal viewing platform allows you to peer into the deep ravine of the Valldola below, while the café offers uninterrupted views of the mountains. It’s all about the interplay between nature and human design.
Other luxurious experiences in Norway Checkout the newly opened Hotel No 13 in Bergen, a spectacular hotel by Nordic Choice Hotels,
Next stop is the Linge Ferry Quay; the waiting room also has the mark of another Oslo architect, same with the viewing platform at Ørnesvingen -- the Eagle’s Bend. A fitting steel and wire walkway with built in waterfall. It is a fitting landmark with astounding views down to the World Heritage-listed Geiranger fjord 600 metres below and the famed Seven Sisters cascade. No stay in this area is complete unless you check-in to the historic Union Hotel, a classic property with deluxe suites that look over the incredible Geiranger fjord, popular with Norwegian royalty. There are few hotels in the world that have a history that dates back to 1891 and even fewer who have a classic car museum in the basement. And to finish this architecture-cum-nature tour, route 63 takes you to Flydalsjuvet Gorge. Sit in the designer brushed steel and wood seat unveiled by the Queen of Norway. The rest and information point here is from a Bergen architect they recycled a timber building nearby that was several hundred years old for this site.
also behind The Thief in Oslo, a new Design Hotel, which opened in January this year with its artstrewn interior and cutting-edge façade. www.nordicchoicehotels.com Hurtigruten, the famous cruise experience that takes on Norway’s jagged coastline is also introducing a new fjord this Autumn – Hjørundfjord for the first time in two decades: -- it’s a big deal. www.hurtigruten.com Also in Oslo, if you get a chance head for the restaurant Maaemo. It caught food-lover’s attention globally when barely after a year of it opening it earned two Michelin stars. Proof that Norwegian food is more than just reindeer sausage and dried fish. www.maaemo.no If you’re looking for a luxury retreat check-in to the Sagafjord Hotel closer to Route 63. After half a year of rehabilitation it opened its doors to welcome guests just last year. In the second season business is going strong. www.sagafjordhotel.no
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LA CIGALE
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An Exceptional Experience for the Senses
One of the most impressive landmark to grace GCC skyline... La Cigale Hotel lives up to its reputation and introduces a new level of comfort to hotel and leisure facilities in the Qatari city. The hotel is only 15 minutes away from Doha International Airport and at proximity distance from the souqs, shopping malls, Corniche and major landmarks. La Cigale offers 225 luxurious rooms and suites, 11 dining and entertainment outlets, 2 state-of-the-art ballrooms, 5 versatile meeting rooms, a world-class spa, 20m daylight indoor swimming pool, and a 490m2 gymnasium.
60 Suhaim Bin Hamad Street, Doha - Qatar T +974 4428 8888 I F +974 4428 8000
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ART
the art in travel
Travellers engage in one or more of a number of activities while in a hotel, airplane or airport. Relaxing, eating, sleeping, working and perhaps in the terminal a bit of shopping, but the idea of indulging in culture and immersing one’s mind in the world of arts is not a recreation that springs to mind, until now. Recently top-end travel establishments and carriers have gone to great lengths to fill their hallways, guest and dining rooms, back-seat screen schedules with works of art in a bid to make our time away more memorable. They’ve even gone one step further with tickets to exhibitions, collaborations with top galleries and art is moving into other travel spaces as well. Every three months a rotation of local artists mix their canvases with a vast collection of 4,000 pieces of Thai art hanging at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, that’s a lot of art to take in during your stay. “The challenge is to make the art look fresh and appeal to repeat
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visitors,” says Holger Schroth, general manager of the hotel. When you check in to a new collection of 19 hotels that are collaborating in New York – calling themselves the Design Collection – you’ll get offers on art and culture-focused events, including discounts to the city’s Museum of Arts and Design. It is not just hotels that are getting in on the act, earlier this year Virgin Atlantic’s club lounges in London Heathrow, New York’s JFK and Newark hosted eleven bespoke pieces of art by British artist Ben Eine. There was a virtual art gallery on the in-flightentertainment system on flights between the two cities with videos about the artist.
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passengers and exhibitions are on a six months rotation. The last one was focused on the artist Rodin with 50 original works of art including the Thinker and the Kiss sculptures. Not what you would expect in an airport space! The Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel chain at its three central London properties teamed up with the Victoria and Albert Museum earlier this year combining accommodation, breakfast and tickets to the new David Bowie Is exhibition dedicated to the iconic musician. While the popular hotel, Crowne Plaza Canberra in Australia’s capital district had a similar offer for the French artist Toulouse-Lautrec and his exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia.
“The challenge is to make the art look fresh and appeal to repeat visitors” 40
Ten, one-of a kind pieces were available too, but priced at £2,500 to £15,000, The Mexican government launched ‘Mayan Parade’, a cultural exhibition in airports across Europe, North and South America to promote and explain Mayan culture at the end of the Mayan calendar at the turn of last year. If you walk through the Museum Space at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport they are now showcasing French art and culture. It’s free for
In fact teaming up with art museums is in vogue at the moment: Take the Alexander, a recently opened luxury hotel in Indianapolis in the U.S. It features paintings and installations curated by the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Here over 40 works of art by more than 20 contemporary artists have been installed, including 14 specific commissions for the opening. While the nearby Conrad Indianapolis opened an art gallery on the first floor recently that has a specific art experience program bringing in curated Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso prints and other works of art into the hotel’s public spaces.
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“The good thing is that it creates memories. A business leader will remember hosting a meeting amongst Picassos...” ...says Greg Tinsley, general manager of the Conrad hotel. “But it is sometimes difficult to gain respect and popularity as an artful destination when you are first thought of as a place to eat and sleep.” It’s not just classical art, St Martins Lane Hotel in central London has been hosting the Best Art Vinyl competition where 50 eclectic sleeve designs were on display. The award compiled global public votes online. “Good art, exhibition space and creative spaces allow hotels to have a different story or point of interest for their guests,” Adam Shopkorn, cultural ambassador for Morgans Hotel Group who owns the hotel. “It’s challenging to break out of the standard exhibition formula and put on displays that are more interactive and less formulaic.” The visual cultural medium has now been taken to the next level in our airports with UA Cinemas opening an IMAX theatre in Hong Kong International airport. Travellers with long layovers can watch movies on the over-sized and impressive million dollar screen. It’s not just about clear imagery and laser-aligned sound, this is the largest cinema screen in Hong Kong. Certainly art has come of age in our travelling spaces. It’s moved beyond the museum space and is becoming more accessible to not only road warriors but the holidaying public as well. And as more of us travel we are more likely to come in to contacts with more high-art and culture on the road. And that can’t be a bad thing. AUGUST 2013 ~ ISSUE 21
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For the fifth consecutive year, Jetwing Hotels is proud to be recognised again at the prestigious World Travel Awards. This year's nominations cover a variety of coveted categories including Jetwing Vil Uyana as Sri Lanka's Leading Boutique Hotel, Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions as Sri Lanka's Leading Wellness Hotel, Jetwing Lighthouse as Sri Lanka's Leading Spa Resort and Jetwing Blue as Sri Lanka's Leading Resort. In a journey spanning many decades, Jetwing Hotels have been consistently honoured and our achievements at the World Travel Awards are due to you, our valued patrons, as well as our outstanding associates and esteemed stakeholders. For details and reservations email reservations@jetwinghotels.com
Jebni
HOTEL~ SRI LANKA
www.jetwinghotels.com
O,boy
OBEROI IN DUBAI
A new address for Asian luxury
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NEW HOTELS
W
ith many new hotels opening their doors in Dubai over the last few years, it’s understandable that only a handful cause the travelling public to sit up and pay attention. The Oberoi’s first foray into the United Arab Emirates last month is certainly one of them. This luxury property looking on to the iconic sky-piercing Burj Khalifa and its needle-like spire is a traveller’s praise to the skyline of the fast moving Emirate. Each of the 252 rooms and suites have floor to ceiling windows allowing every guests at the spectacular views. “With the opening we offer discerning travellers an oasis of tranquillity with service which is warm, caring and personalised,” explains Karim Bizid the general manager. “We are confident that The Oberoi, Dubai will add tangible value to the hospitality sector in the United Arab Emirates.” That’s because key team staff at the hotel have been trained rigorously at The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development. Expect top-notch service, the fact that they have in-room check-in, Les Clefs d'Or concierge services and a 24-hour butler; means that they are taking hospitality seriously. In fact the Oberoi group is hoping to bring in a new level of hospitality to Dubai with the opening of this hotel, a hard call in an emirate already known
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for incredible heights of service and standards in the hotel sector. Located at The Oberoi Centre the hotel is right opposite the Burj Khalifa – many travellers have said looking onto this building is better than actually being in it. It is also central enough that both downtown and the Dubai Mall are only a short cab ride away too. Already Umai the contemporary Pan Asian restaurant in the hotel, the Nine7one all day dining restaurant and Ananata Indian specialty restaurant are proving popular The India-based Oberoi Group now operates 30 hotels worldwide. Founded in 1934 it’s branched out from it’s South Asian roots and now operates a Nile cruiser and a river vessel in the backwaters of Kerala and then there is the five-star Trident brand. It has hotels all over the globe including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Egypt, Australia and Hungary. The luxury brand is looking to open a new property in Abu Dhabi, according to local media. “We are actively looking at opportunities in Abu Dhabi,” says P.R. Oberoi, the executive chairman of the Oberoi Group. “We are planning a number of new hotels in the region and will be making announcements shortly.” So watch this space.
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INTRIGUE RISES GLAMOUR REVEALED NEXT BEIJING BOGOTA MILAN VERBIER WHOTELS.COM
©2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SPG, Preferred Guest, Aloft, Element, Four Points, Le Méridien, Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.
STEP INSIDE, FEEL ALIVE. REVEALING THE VIBRANT DESTINATION IN DOHA
The W Doha Hotel & Residences, the first lifestyle hotel in Doha, brings all the buzz of New York City to vibrant Doha. Located in the heart of Doha, where “majesty meets metropolitan style, arts meet archaeology and history meets haute couture”, each room is filled with iconic design, tech savvy amenities and a stylish ambiance allowing guests to fully escape the day-today into the trend- setting W brand. Savour award-winning cuisine, at Market by JeanGeorges for an international culinary journey, or Spice Market, for a modern take on Southeast Asian street food, both by 3 star Michelin Chef JeanGeorges Vongerichten. Soak up the atmosphere in the W signature Living Room experience or linger over coffee before grabbing a cupcake to go in the W Café. Play the night away during memorable evenings listening to the latest world beats from international and up and coming DJs in Crystal, or mingle with the hippest crowd at Wahm, the indoor lounge and poolside retreat. Elsewhere the choice for guests is endless, from the Bliss® Spa experience, the first and only in the region, for indulgent spa days, to the SWEAT Fitness Centre and the WET pool area for private openair swims. Guests also have access to W Doha’s Happenings, reveling what’s new/next in the world of fashion, music and design. All of these experiences are supported by the brand’s signature Whatever/ Whenever® concierge service, providing guests whatever they want whenever they want it (as long as it’s legal!).
With nearly 1,000 square metres of ultra-modern meeting and event space, W Doha is able to host business and social gatherings of up to 600 people. WiFi internet access and state-of-the-art AV equipment are available for use at the click of a button. Welcome to where amplified entertainment and innovative cuisine are within reach of W Doha WHERE TO FIND US West Bay Area, PO Box 19573 Doha, Qatar t: +974 4453 5000 t: +974 4453 5343 f: +974 4453 5354 e: info.wdoha@whotels.com WWW.WHOTELDOHA.COM
BEST IN TRAVEL
News
EVERY MONTH WE ASK OURSELVES, OUR NETWORK AND THOSE THAT ARE ACTIVE IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD -- WHAT’S CHANGED, WHAT’S BEEN UPGRADED AND RENOVATED, WHAT’S REVITALISING AND REENERGISING TRAVELLERS AROUND THE WORLD. WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THINGS FROM ARUBA TO ZAMBIA, THE AMAZON TO ZARATOGA IF WE ARE TO BRING YOU THE BEST IN TRAVEL, SO HERE GOES:
This summer sees the award winning contemporary Japanese restaurant Zuma, pop-up for the season at the D-Hotel Maris resort in Turkey (see photo above). Zuma’s chefs, mixologists and DJs have all been flown in to D-Hotel Maris to create this ultimate dining experience. www.dhotel.com.tr
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NEWS
W Hotels - which plays host to jet setters and fashionistas in a series of hip hotels in glamorous locations across the globe – are opening two new properties this year. September sees the full opening of W Bangkok in the city’s prestigious Embassy Row whilst W Verbier will open its doors in December just in time for the upcoming ski season. It really will be the coolest place to stay in town. www.starwoodhotels.com
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Le MĂŠridien Koh Sam
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LIFE TOGETHER WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE PLUNGE POOL SUITE FROM THB 7,999+++ OCEAN FRONT POOL VILLA FROM THB 16,999+++ - Arrive to a rose-filled room with chocolates and sparkling wine - Le Méridien eye-opening buffet breakfast for 02 persons daily - 02-hour massage for 02 in a private couples suite at Le SPA - 03 Course set dinner for 02 at Latest Recipe Restaurant - Relax longer with 3pm late check-out (subject to availability) - Roundtrip airport/resort chauffeur Le Meridien transfers Valid for booking from now until 30 April 2013 for stays completed by 20 December 2013. For more information or to make a reservation call +66 7796 0888 or email rsvn.kohsamui@lemeridien.com
LE MERIDIEN KOH SAMUI RESORT & SPA N 09° 28’ E 100° 03’ T +66 7796 0888 lemeridien.com/kohsamui
The brand new Medina Palms officially opens its doors this month right next door to the Watamu Marine National Park on Kenya’s coastline. The property is hoping to set a new benchmark for luxury and exclusivity on the coast. It is also one of the most ecologically sensitive properties on this coastline. www.medinapalms.com At the beginning of August, Island Resort opens in the Seychelles, a private 10-villa luxury beach retreat. It is situated on Round Island, in the National Marine Park and only 15 minutes by boat from the capital Mahe. You can also exclusively rent the whole island for up to 24 guests. What a thought. www.round-island.com
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NEWS
Silversea Cruises will launch its new expedition ship Silver Galapagos this September. It will be the only luxury expedition ship offering socially and environmentally responsible ecotourism to the Galapagos archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s an amazing chance to see sun-basking land iguanas, giant tortoises, blue and red footed boobies, colourful marine iguanas and Darwin's famous finches. www.silversea.com A new Ritz Carlton is set to open on Aruba in late 2013. The brand’s always been synonymous with luxury and this hotel won’t disappoint. The oceanfront resort will bring unprecedented opulence to the island in the form of 320 stunning rooms, a 15 treatment room spa and of course the legendary Ritz Carlton service. www.ritzcarlton.com AUGUST 2013 ~ ISSUE 21
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