Destinations: Market Update

All the news fit to print for in-the-know business travelers

Four Seasons new openings in Miami, China, London, and Vietnam

The new Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club endeavors to transform the Miami Beach spa experience. Fusing Latin American ambiance with a lineup of European-trained aestheticians and experts in acupuncture, aromatherapy, and neuromuscular massage, the spa also features a Middle Eastern “Traditional Hammam service,” oceanfront meditation areas, and serenity lawns for yoga and Pilates classes.

Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin, opened in January in the Central Business District, is outfitted with 259 rooms, including 44 suites. The property houses two ballrooms, eight function rooms, a VIP Room, a spacious outdoor balcony, five restaurant venues, and over a dozen private dining rooms.

Four Seasons The Nam Hai in Vietnam

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An and Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square both opened their doors in January 2017. Guests of Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai will find refreshed villas, an enhanced beach program and lagoon spa, a new beach bar, and a new Vietnamese cooking academy. With just 100 guest rooms and 41 private residences, the intimate Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square has a warm, masculine feel. Maritime-inspired details grace the elegant architecture and interiors of what previously served as the Port of London Authority headquarters, including conferences spaces that will accommodate up to 200.
fourseasons.com

La Quinta Resort & Club in the Coachella Valley

Few California desert hotel properties have the history of La Quinta Resort & Club. In the 1920s, Walter H. Morgan purchased 1,400 acres from and brought his vision to life. In the end, a quaint group of casitas and a dining room rose from the ground, and Morgan called the cluster La Quinta. After a recent multi-million dollar renovation, the resort is home to 620 casitas and suites as well as 98 villas, a 23,000 sq. ft. spa, 41 swimming pools, 53 hot spas, 23 tennis courts, and Morgan’s in the Desert – a  2014, 2015, and 2016 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient. The resort also offers guests five world-class golf options including The Stadium Course at PGA West.
laquintaresort.com

Delta’s Expansion at LAX

Delta’s $1.9B LAX expansion is slated to open at Terminals 2 and 3 in May 2017. Aimed to ease connections between Delta and its partners, the new hub will be home to gates for Delta and partner airlines including Aeromexico, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, and WestJet. The airline is also upping the ante with its re-imagined private lounge, Delta ONE™ at LAX, where elite passengers arrive at an exclusive entrance, quickly check luggage, and relax in a private lounge before heading to expedited security. The long-awaited, much improved Delta Sky Club will also be opening its doors.
delta.com

The Boulders Resort in Arizona

The Boulders Resort has long been a favorite of Arizona-bound golf enthusiasts, with two internationally renowned Jay Morrish-designed championship golf courses.  However, a lavish new clubhouse elevates the scenic golf destination with an expanded pro shop, members’ lounges, event space and restaurants.

Business groups will want to take a swing at use of the Boulders Club’s enhanced 1,886 sq. feet of meeting space. The sharp, contemporary space updates Southwestern Design with new carpeting, lighting and with retractable glass walls opening onto the expanded Boulderview Terrace uniting the indoor space to the inspiring natural surroundings. Adobe-wood burning fireplaces and outdoor bar service make this area ideal for evening receptions.

New Golf Academy programs include the Caddiemaster program, which reinvents the “timeless tradition” of playing golf with a professional golf caddy who provides a few assists in helping players master the challenges of the Boulders golf courses. Certified Fitness Trainer and Golf conditioning/Fitness specialist, Nichol Cavarra leads the Golf Fit program ($350/person), a three-hour session of golf and fitness that includes Body and Swing assessment. Participants take home a customized Golf Fitness specific Starter Program to improve  flexibility, strength, proper biomechanics, functional motion and burning calories and fat.

The Grill Kitchen & Bar, overseen by Executive Chef Brian Archibald, promises a sophisticated casual dining experience combining the polished service of the main resort, an open-gallery “chefs in action” kitchen, and an extraordinary wine list with an imaginative menu of “American Classics.” Selections run the gamut from hearty hickory smoked prime rib and seafood to fresh salads, Cubano sliders and the famed Divot Nachos.
theboulders.com

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas in Hawaii 

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, situated on 16 oceanfront acres of North Kā’anapali Beach, officially opens on April 15, 2017 and at press time was confirming reservations for May and beyond. The resort, whose apt name “nanea” translates to “relaxation” in Hawaiian, offers guests a stay rooted in ancient Hawaiian culture. After receiving necessary permits for the first two buildings in late 2016, the property reached its completion milestone two and a half months ahead of schedule.

The world-class amenities at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas suited for business retreats and vacations alike will include an expansive lagoon-style swimming pool, oceanfront cabanas, WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio and the Westin® brand’s signature SuperFoodsRXTM menu, with nutrient-rich and delicious options to tempt every palate. The aesthetic elements of the resort — from the Pu‘uhonua o Nanea Cultural Center to the locally sourced art — is a direct tribute to native culture and traditions. Mauka Makai Restaurant (mauka: toward the mountains; makai: toward the ocean), the resort’s full-service restaurant, pays tribute to the farming and fishing cultures of ancient Hawai‘I and will exclusively feature indigenous plants and vegetables grown on-site and from local farms to complement popular local dishes.
westinnanea.com

Marriott Doubles Down in Dallas

On Valentine’s Day, Marriott International, Inc. paired up with Atlantic Hotels Group and Civitas Capital Group to unveil a 224-room dual-branded Aloft and Element hotel development in the up-and-coming Love Field district in Dallas. The duel hotels anchor a new upscale mixed-use development one mile from the busy Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) and the Dallas Medical business districts.

Aloft and Element Dallas Love Field occupy one multi-story building anchors West Love, a 37-acre mixed-use development that also includes apartments and more than 24,000 square feet of retail space. Although the hotels have their own dedicated space and elevators, they share a common entry, 6,500 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor swimming pool and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Aloft Dallas Love Field offers 133 loft-like rooms and amenities including Re:fuelSM by Aloft – a one-stop gourmet grab & go food and beverage area, plus live, local music at the brand’s signature W XYZ® bar as part of the signature Live At Aloft Hotels music series. The hotel also features SPG Keyless—the industry-first keyless entry system that enables guests to use their smartphone or Apple watch as a room key—and fast, free Wi-Fi throughout the property.

Element Dallas Love Field’s 91 light-filled, homey studios sport modular furniture, fully equipped kitchens, and spa-inspired bathrooms.. Guests will be able to stay on the move with Element’s complimentary Bikes to Borrow program, which offers guests complimentary bikes along with a local trail map, and enjoy the brand’s signature RISE breakfast stocked with refreshing smoothies, wholesome granola and more and RELAX evening wine reception – both complimentary.

According to Toni Stoeckl, Global Brand Leader and Vice President of Aloft and Element Hotels, the eco-focused Element promotes a life in balance with its emphasis on smart, sustainable living, while Aloft caters to today’s hyper-connected global traveler with its tech-forward mindset and live music scene at the W XYZ® Bar. The twin hotels are convenient to downtown Dallas, the Dallas Medical District, the Design District, the shops and restaurants at Dallas Market Center and AT&T Stadium.
starwoodhotels.com