Kempinski Hotels is ushering in a new era of first-class hospitality with the opening of The Apurva Kempinski Bali, a luxurious haven that captures the essence of Indonesian culture, art and identity.

The resort will open on February 1st in the upmarket Nusa Dua area of Bali, with 475 well-appointed guestrooms, striking suites and discreet villas in a quiet beachfront setting.

Six restaurants, bars and lounges allow guests to soak in the sensational natural setting, with sweeping views and indoor/outdoor dining venues that celebrate regional flavours.

An immersive ocean-facing spa and fitness centre offers treatments inspired by traditional Balinese healing practices, to promote balance and wellbeing.

Other facilities include a 60-metre swimming pool and a separate kids’ pool, and an innovative family club creates meaningful shared moments for families of all ages.

For events, business meetings and weddings, The Apurva Kempinski Bali offers a 1,076 sq. m. pillar-free ocean-view Grand Ballroom and a collection of meeting rooms with ocean vistas.

“Spectacular, sensational, curated and serene, The Apurva Kempinski Bali takes the form of a majestic open-air theatre, where centuries of Indonesian culture are distilled and brought to life,” said Michael Henssler, chief operating officer, Asia, Kempinski Hotels.

“We are excited to welcome this outstanding resort to our Asian hotel portfolio: another masterpiece in the Kempinski constellation.”

The Apurva Kempinski Bali becomes the second Kempinski property in Indonesia, and follows two other major openings in the past six months: The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore and Emerald Palace Kempinski Dubai.

“I have called this beautiful country home for the past 12 years, and The Apurva Kempinski Bali is truly an embodiment of Indonesian culture and craftsmanship,” said general manager, Vincent Guironnet.

“Apurva means ‘unique and magnificent’ in Sanskrit: it’s a fitting title for a resort that’s like no other.”

Source: Breaking Travel News

Dusit International has marked the launch of The Beach Club at Lubi Plantation Island, an exclusive island retreat in the Davao Gulf, Philippines.

Commanding an impressive location at the heart of Lubi Plantation, a 36-hectare master-planned leisure township within a former coconut plantation, The Beach Club invites visitors to experience an upscale island lifestyle amid unspoiled reef, coral gardens, exotic marine life, and lush tropical fauna.

Easily accessible by boat from the mainland, the family-friendly retreat features a large swimming pool, a children’s play area, an events hall, the Tarictic Grill & Snack Bar serving barbecued favourites, and a private beach stretching 50 metres.

Visitors can also easily arrange to explore the island’s prime snorkelling and diving sites.

Owned by Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation, The Beach Club at Lubi Plantation Island, Managed by Dusit marks the first stage of a three-pronged project which will also include two hotels – dusitD2 Davao and Dusit Thani Residence Davao.

Both of these properties will be located in the heart of Davao City’s new central business district, Lanang, only 30 minutes by boat from The Beach Club, and just 15 minutes by car from Davao International Airport.

Slated to open in February 2019, dusitD2 Davao hotel comprises 120 well-equipped guest rooms and suites decorated in a contemporary, vibrant style.

The focal point of the hotel is a lush, landscaped courtyard featuring a lap pool, a wading pool, a children’s pool, and deck areas for relaxation.

From here, guests will enjoy direct access to an international restaurant, lounge areas, and a lobby set within a striking, glass-enclosed pavilion.

Other hotel offerings include Namm spa, a state-of-the-art gym, four meeting rooms, and two large ballrooms accommodating up to 1,000 guests.

Dusit’s signature Benjarong Thai restaurant is expected to open in mid-2019.

The Dusit Thani Residence Davao hotel, meanwhile, is slated to open adjacent to the dusitD2 property in April 2019.

The hotel will comprise 178 well-appointed studios and suites.

Lim Boon Kwee, chief operating officer, Dusit International, said: “The opening of The Beach Club at Lubi Plantation Island signals an exciting time for Dusit in Davao, and we are delighted we can give visitors the opportunity to experience this beautiful sanctuary ahead of the opening of the two hotels – dusitD2 Davao and Dusit Thani Residence Davao.

“Ideal for day trips, special events, and memorable meetings, The Beach Club at Lubi Plantation Island offers a unique escape amidst nature, and we look forward to delighting visitors of all ages with our unique brand of Thai-inspired, gracious hospitality in this stunning island setting.”

Source: Breaking Travel News

At least 14 people have been killed following an attack on the dusitD2 hotel complex in Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta said the attackers, believed to be from Somalia-based militant group al-Shabab, had now been “eliminated”. 

However, there are reports of ongoing gunfire at the scene.

It is unclear how many attackers were involved in the incident, which began on Tuesday afternoon.

As many as 700 people were believed to have been in the hotel complex at the time of the assault.

A US citizen is among the dead, the US State Department said, and a British citizen was also feared killed.

The attack began at about 15:00 local time when at least four gunmen threw bombs at vehicles in the car park before entering the lobby, where one blew himself up, police say.

The five-star DusitD2 hotel has 101 rooms.

Located in the Westlands suburb, minutes from the central business district of the capital, it has its own spa and several restaurants.

A statement from hotel operators Dusit read: “Following an explosion that occurred earlier near dusitD2 Nairobi hotel, local authorities have taken control of the area and are investigating the incident.

“We are working closely with them but cannot comment anything further as this is an active investigation.

“The safety and security of our guests and employees is our highest priority and we are closely monitoring the situation.”

Source: Breaking Travel News

Bless Hotel Madrid has opened its doors to guests.

The hotel becomes the first to open under the Bless Collection Hotels brand from Palladium Hotel Group.

Further hotels will be rolled out in cosmopolitan cities and international beachfront destinations starting with Ibiza this summer.

Bless Hotel Madrid is located on Calle de Velázquez in the heart of the city’s fashionable Salamanca district.

Housed in the former Gran Hotel Velázquez, the site has historically been a social hub for locals, particularly the bar area which was named Roulette and famed for its Vermouth based cocktails.

Maintaining the original essence of the property, Bless Hotel Madrid will continue to offer locals an inner-city sanctuary as well as providing guests with a stylish base from which to explore the Spanish capital.

The hotel boasts 111 rooms, rooftop pool, bowling alley, spa and gym, gourmet destination restaurant, three bars and conference spaces.

Renowned Spanish designer and architect Lázaro Rosa-Violan incorporated elements of the property’s former glory including the marble staircase and glass dome with modern materials and colour schemes to create a quintessentially Madrilenian ambience with a contemporary slant, blending the best of Madrid in the 1950s to the present day.

Source: Breaking Travel News

La Résidence de la Pinède will become Cheval Blanc St-Tropez on its reopening in May.

Cheval Blanc St-Tropez will become the fourth Cheval Blanc Maison, after Cheval Blanc Courchevel, which opened in 2006; Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives in 2013; and Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France in the Caribbean in 2014.

The Cheval Blanc Maisons invite a selective clientele to discover their exceptional locations, each of which has been chosen for its history, its culture and its surroundings, whether it is in a city of world renown or a preserved landscape far from the beaten path.

Always with elegance — the mark of the art of French hospitality — each Cheval Blanc Maison displays a contemporary and bold style while being in harmony with the cultural and architectural norms of its surroundings.

Cheval Blanc St-Tropez has been designed with the goal of embodying the unique lifestyle of the French Riviera, modern and refined, while maintaining authentic charm and human scale, much like a home to create a sense of intimacy and discretion.

Today, Cheval Blanc St-Tropez has been deliberately downsized to welcome guests with 30 rooms and suites, allowing highly personalised services.

Just at a short walk from the famous village’s bell tower, the Maison embraces its deep local roots.

A native of St-Tropez, the architect Francois Vieillecroze knew to preserve the spirit of this traditional structure, perfectly situated next to the Mediterranean and in harmony with its ancient pine grove and inviting beach.

Cheval Blanc St-Tropez, which has been owned by LVMH Hotel Management since 2016, will open its doors on May 16th.

Source: Breaking Travel News