Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) now provides unique options to meet in actual palaces around the world, and offers many hotels and resorts having hosted royalty and heads of state.
ORLANDO, FL – Treating attendees like a King or Queen is not just a saying with Associated Luxury Hotels International. The ALHI Global Sales Organization now provides a truly unique way to ‘WOW’ your group, while separating your organization from the norm, as it now features 6 authentic Palaces converted to luxury hotels, in its worldwide luxury-level hotel and resort portfolio. After all, what better way to provide the “royal treatment” you desire to your valued attendees than by headquartering your meeting and incentive travel programs at an incredible Palace that was once home to royalty?
Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden.
While the ALHI portfolio features an amazing array of luxurious hotels and resorts in popular destinations across America and worldwide that have hosted royalty and/or prominent heads of state, those that were actual Palaces include:
- Vienna, Austria – Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna – Originally built for the World Exhibition in 1873, this elegant Five-Star hotel features inspiring architecture and is ideally located at the famous Ring Boulevard. Situated in the historic heart of the metropolis by the Danube, the splendid hotel features 152 rooms and suites, seven meeting rooms (including a ballroom for up to 260 people), two fine restaurants, three bars, the Ottoman-style Kempinski The Spa, a fitness center, and traditional Viennese High Tea. Vienna International Airport is just 25 minutes away.
- Dresden, Germany – Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden – Built in 1705 by the Saxon king, August “The Strong,” as a pledge of love to his mistress, the classically elegant hotel was impressively and faithfully restored to its full glory in 1995. Since then the hotel has hosted such dignitaries as U.S. President Barack Obama, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and Queen Silvia of Sweden, among many. Providing a beautiful combination of historic glory, contemporary elegance, striking architecture, and modern design, the hotel features a very appealing setting on the picturesque Elbe River. The hotel offers 214 luxurious guest rooms and suites; 20,903 square feet of meeting space (which includes a ballroom that can accommodate up to 500 people); and five dining venues. Dresden, a capital of European culture, is home to the famous Semper Opera House and offers many theatres, museums, galleries and classic events. Dresden International Airport is just 6 miles from the hotel.
- Frankfurt, Germany – Villa Rothschild Kempinski Konigstein – Nestled elegantly amidst the upper reaches of the Taunus mountain range, this exclusive 5-Star luxury hotel is the former Rothschild Summer Residence. Completed in 1894, this exclusive boutique hotel offers absolute luxury, with 22 individually designed guest rooms and suites, four meeting rooms with 2,045 square feet of meeting space, a lush 25-acre park, fine dining at Villa Rothschild, and free Wi-Fi in guest rooms and meeting rooms. Situated in close proximity to the financial center of Frankfurt, the hotel is just 20 minutes from Frankfurt International Airport.
- Istanbul, Turkey – Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul – Magnificently situated in the heart of Istanbul on the European shores of the Bosphorus overlooking the ancient city, the hotel was once an Ottomon palace and was home to the last Sultan. The only hotel in Istanbul that can be reached by yacht, helicopter and limousine, the Five-Star property features 313 beautiful guest rooms and suites (including the Sultan Suite, one of the largest in Europe), 20 meeting rooms, six dining and entertainment venues, a spa (which boasts an authentic Turkish Bath and offers Turkish Hamam treatments), a fitness center, and an infinity outdoor pool providing spectacular views overlooking the Bosphorus. The hotel is just 10 minutes from the renowned Taksim Square and the luxury shopping area of Nisantasi, and 30 minutes from Ataturk International Airport.
- Venice, Italy – San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice – Reopening in March 2016, this palatial retreat features 190 majestically appointed and spacious rooms and suites, many of them with panoramic views of the Lagoon and Venice, and others overlooking the park and island’s lush gardens. Located on its own 17-acre island, this peaceful and private island retreat offers six convention rooms for up to 400 people, elegant public areas, large courtyards, a spa, fitness center, historic monastery buildings, sophisticated cuisine, and a beautiful church dating back to the 12th century. Situated just a 10-minute complimentary boat ride from the hotel’s own pier to the famous St. Mark’s Square, this retreat features an impressive heritage and modern Venetian design, as well as three restaurants, three bars, a heated swimming pool, driving range, and tennis. Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is 6 miles from the hotel.
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Emirates Palace – Offering a truly magical place to enjoy the riches of the Arabian Gulf, this majestic and very glamorous hotel also serves as a palace (for protocol purposes). Going beyond 5-Star luxury, this palatial hotel provides unrivaled luxury in the heart of Abu Dhabi, and offers 394 ornate guest rooms and suites (decorated in gold and marble), 69,965 square feet of meeting space, a private beach, a marina overlooking a private bay, lush landscaped gardens, and private butler service 24 hours per day. Featuring traditional Arabic architecture, it boasts 114 breathtaking 18-meter-high domes, and is just 40 minutes from the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Emirates Palace.
In addition, ALHI’s distinctive portfolio – which specifically serves the meetings and incentive marketplace – also features distinguished hotels and resorts that have hosted royalty and/or prominent heads of state, including:
- Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island (Nassau, Bahamas) – Once a popular retreat for royalty, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, this elegant resort provides spectacular views of the Caribbean and offers 404 sumptuous guest rooms and suites and 9,118 square feet of meeting space.
- Willard InterContinental (Washington, D.C.) – A most celebrated Washington, D.C. landmark, this distinguished hotel is often called the “Crown Jewel of Pennsylvania Avenue.” Serving as a focal point for elegant dinners, meetings and social events for more than 150 years, this grand hotel has hosted almost every U.S. president since Franklin Pierce in 1853. On August 28, 1963, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. finished his famous “I Have A Dream” speech while a guest at the hotel.
- The Cloister on Sea Island (Sea Island, Georgia) and The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club (St. Simons, Georgia) – For over 80 years, Sea Island has been the host to U.S. Presidents, world leaders, dignitaries and elite business organizations, which included the 30th G8 Summit in 2004. As one of only six U.S. destinations to have hosted a G8 Summit, the Forbes Five-Star, 250-room The Cloister on Sea Island and the exclusive 40-room The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club are recognized as spectacular and secluded sites for productive meetings.
- Colonial Williamsburg Hotels (Williamsburg, Virginia) – Spanning the 1,057 rooms of The Williamsburg Inn, The Williamsburg Lodge, The Williamsburg Woodlands and the Colonial Houses, the sophisticated Colonial Williamsburg Hotels feature 105,000 square feet of meeting space, and have hosted U.S. presidents, a wealth of heads of state, and a recent visit by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh.
- Sandals Royal Plantation (Ocho Rios, Jamaica) – Nestled within a magnificent coral bluff in Jamaica’s lush garden parish of Ocho Rios, this all-oceanview, all-butler, 74-suite boutique resort has hosted such heads of states as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Richard Nixon.
- Loews Madison Hotel (Washington, D.C.) – Opened by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the newly renovated 356-room hotel has hosted every U.S. president since then.
- The Biltmore (Miami/Coral Gables, Florida) – A place of beauty and Old World charm, the 150-acre, 273-room historic resort is a favorite among heads of state, celebrities and sports stars.
- The Greenbrier (White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia) – For over 200 years, the luxurious and renowned 710-room resort has welcomed distinguished guests from around the world. In 1914, President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson spent their Easter holiday at the resort, and Joseph and Rose Kennedy traveled from Boston for their honeymoon.
- Ojai Valley Inn & Spa (Ojai, California) – Situated just 75 miles from Los Angeles, this elegant Five-Diamond, 220-acre retreat is surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest and majestic Topa Mountain range, and has hosted such U.S. Presidents as Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.
- The Breakers (Palm Beach, Florida) – Established in 1896, the legendary and newly renovated resort has hosted U.S. presidents, European nobility, and a “who’s who” of American business (such as the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan).
- Hotel del Coronado (Coronado/San Diego, California) – Located on Coronado’s picturesque white sands, and built in 1888, the iconic 679-room resort is widely considered one of the country’s most beautiful resorts. It is no wonder that such U.S. presidents as William Howard Taft, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson have stayed at this world-class resort.
Villa Rothschild Kempinski Konigstein.
In addition to these hotels and resorts with appealing royal ties, ALHI offers an array of other outstanding options that can make the group feel like royalty. This includes midtown Manhattan’s totally transformed Lotte New York Palace, fresh off of a comprehensive $140 million renovation.
Plus, ALHI offers the impressive “Level 5 Collection” luxury brand segment, which offers 28 remarkable hotels and resorts that have achieved the industry’s highest and most celebrated honors, including the AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star Awards. Options include Wisconsin’s celebrated The American Club Resort, Las Vegas’ acclaimed Bellagio, Cancun’s extraordinary Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun, and California’s renowned Pebble Beach Resorts, among others. For information on these, and many other truly exceptional “ALHI Level 5” hotels and resorts, visit alhi.com/level5 .
“Whether you want your group to stay at an actual Palace, or at an exceptional luxury-level hotel or resort where they will ‘get the Royal treatment,’ there are authentic and distinctive solutions to accommodate virtually any group’s luxury-level needs in the ALHI Membership portfolio,” said ALHI President Jim Schultenover. “It just takes one call to your nearest ALHI Global Sales Office (GSO) professional to find out that solutions that will work best for your group’s specific needs and desires.”
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.
