Design Hotels has added six new member hotels to its community, bringing the total number of new properties to more than 25 this year.
BERLIN – Whether located in the heart of a buzzing city like London, Paris, Buenos Aires and Istanbul or in the cradle of stunning landscapes on Portugal’s Northwestern coast of Caminha and the remote Swedish island of Gotland – each of these properties absorbs you into the local scene. “As the collection of Design Hotels™ properties evolves each year, we look beyond their bricks and mortar to the actual experiences that they open up. Each hotel is coloured with the passion of its owner, be it cuisine, art or regional wines. These facets add rich layers to the discovery of new and familiar places,” says Claus Sendlinger, CEO of Design Hotels.
Designed by Conran + Partners, local contemporary art is the highlight at South Place Hotel in London where individually chosen pieces find pride of place in rooms and public spaces, including an annual prize designed to encourage graduates of London art schools. The focus on food and entertainment is evident in the three wine and dine options with an elegant seafood restaurant on the rooftop, classic British bites through the day and night, and a speakeasy vibe at the bar afterhours. Another champion of the arts is Hotel de Nell located in Paris’ eclectic, artistic 9th arrondissement. The restored 19th century palace is an airy, minimalist haven by acclaimed architect Jean Michel Wilmotte. La Régalade, the hotel’s bistro offers “bistronomie”, a new food movement in French cuisine by one of the country’s leading chefs, Bruno Doucet.
In Buenos Aires, Hotel Pulitzer is a testament to contemporary style with steel-trimmed modular furniture, myriad mirrors and trompe l’oeils of latticed woods. Located in the historic center of the city, the 13th floor Sky Bar is a high point of any guest’s stay. The 17-storey zinc and titanium façade of Gezi Hotel Bosphorus in the heart of Istanbul offers sweeping views of either the Bosphorus, Taksim Gezi Park, or the hotel’s own lush garden. Inside this green-certified property, each of the rooms has been inspired by an element of one of Mondrian’s paintings and so strong, linear forms blend with sumptuous materials and high-tech flourishes.
Off the path prizes
At Fabriken Furillen, get a full visual blast with an industrial building set against a moonscape-like setting on the island of Gotland in Sweden, and Scandinavian design at its best inside. The former lime factory capitalises on the aesthetic sense of photographer Johan Hellström and the hospitality expertise of Nobis Group owner Alessandro Catenacci. Design & Wine Hotel in Caminha, Portugal, features 18 bespoke rooms that are inspired by a painting, graphic design, street art or fashion. The hotel showcases traditional Portuguese cuisine with a modern twist, paired with regional wines.
The list of six new members with opening dates is below.
ARGENTINA
Hotel Pulitzer, Buenos Aires (March 2011)
FRANCE
Hotel de Nell, Paris (November 2012)
PORTUGAL
Design & Wine Hotel, Caminha (May 2012)
SWEDEN
Fabriken Furillen, Gotland (January 2000)
TURKEY
Gezi Hotel Bosphorus, Istanbul (September 2010)
UNITED KINGDOM
South Place Hotel, London (September 2012)
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
