Dakota Mountain Lodge & Golden Door Spa Opens in Park City

Dakota Mountain Lodge & Golden Door Spa Opens in Park City, Utah;
First Ski Property for The Waldorf Astoria Collection

The prestigious Waldorf Astoria Collection opened its first ski resort, the Dakota Mountain Lodge & Golden Door Spa, in Park City, Utah. Dakota Mountain Lodge is located at the base of The Canyons® Resort, one of the top-rated mountains for skiing and snowboarding in the United States. Featuring 175 elegantly appointed guestrooms, world-renowned Golden Door Spa and award-winning Spruce restaurant, Dakota Mountain Lodge is Park City’s newest luxury property.

“Dakota Mountain Lodge is our vision of the perfect Park City experience: unparalleled access to world class amenities and service befitting a Waldorf Astoria Collection luxury property, within a stunning alpine setting,” said General Manager Jim Miller. “With an exceptional spa, fine cuisine and elegantly appointed accommodations, we are delighted to bring a new standard of luxury to Park City.”
Dakota Mountain Lodge & Golden Door Spa reflects a contemporary mountain elegance with dark finished woods, tile and stonework – a sophisticated and subtle departure from typical mountain lodge decor. Guests can gather year-round in the large outdoor courtyard that features fire pits and a heated pool and whirlpool spas with sweeping views of the surrounding mountain vistas.

Guestrooms are finished with custom designed furniture, natural colors and rich interiors to create a casual yet sophisticated retreat. Available in king or queen rooms, each room is designed with a gas fireplace, 42” HDTV, spacious bath with jetted tubs and/or steam showers, and private patio or balcony. Suites are one-to-four-bedroom, some loft style, and feature large gourmet kitchens with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The Presidential Suite is a six bedroom suite with private study, massage room and exhibition kitchen. Guests can enjoy panoramic views of the Wasatch Mountains in the suite’s Great Room through floor to ceiling windows.

Dakota Mountain Lodge features world-class wellness destination Golden Door Spa, widely recognized as the first luxury destination spa in the United States. As one of only six Golden Door spa locations in the world, the resort offers both a destination spa program and individual treatments in a resort setting from Golden Door. The 16,000-square-foot facility with 15 treatment rooms will serve as a day spa for locals, a resort spa for travelers and a destination wellness retreat for spa aficionados. The full service spa features a custom designed fitness center with an extensive menu of classes as well as a hair and nail spa.

Guests will also enjoy the first outpost of award-winning Spruce restaurant of San Francisco, which was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in 2008. Featuring the same convivial sophistication as the flagship location, the restaurant’s winning formula combines gracious, top-tier service, an exceptional wine program and Executive Chef Mark Sullivan’s contemporary American cuisine that showcases the finest in local and seasonal ingredients. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant has 160 seats with indoor and seasonal outdoor seating, private dining areas and a lounge.

The hotel also offers the option of full ownership with 104 spacious residences, ranging from 359-square-foot studios to 2,015-square-foot four-bedroom, four-bath suites. Hotel residences range in price from $400,000 to $2 million.*

For Information Please Visit CondominiumHotels.com/Contact.php

ROBB REPORT SELECTS THE RITZ-CARLTON CLUB AS THE “BEST OF THE BEST”

Ritz-Carlton Club San Francisco

The Ritz-Carlton Club, the premier fractional ownership program, has been awarded the distinction of top “Fractional” vacation home purveyor in the world for Robb Report’s 21st annual “Best of the Best” issue. A leading source for the luxury lifestyle, Robb Report has recognized The Club three times in this category.

This year, as The Ritz-Carlton Club celebrates its tenth anniversary, the brand has evolved to offer Members an expanded collection of vacation options beyond the award-winning fractional offering. The new Ritz-Carlton Destination Club is an equity-based program offering two choices – either a Home Club Membership (identical to the successful fractional ownership offering) which provides titled use of a residence for Members to return to throughout the year, or the newest deeded enhancement, Portfolio Membership, which affords the opportunity to discover a wide variety of premier destinations and accommodations through a points-based currency.

“It’s truly an honor to be recognized by Robb Report as “Best of the Best,” and it reaffirms the quality and prestige of our membership program,” said Peter J. Watzka, executive vice president and chief operating officer for The Ritz-Carlton Development Company, Inc. (an affiliate of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.).

Based on a full year’s search, the “Best of the Best” winners were chosen on the basis of quality of facilities, services and amenities as of March 2009. Yet, as Robb Report highlights in the magazine, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club has much more in store for the future by providing unparalleled experiences to its membership in beach, golf, ski and city destinations.

With locations in San Francisco; Aspen, Colo. and St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. to name a few, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club offers the legendary service for which The Ritz-Carlton is renowned. Members benefit from a heightened level of service as they are paired with their very own member experience manager who will serve as their primary liaison. Additionally, Members will enjoy the privilege of a dedicated concierge staff providing services that include everything from airport pick-up and pre-arrival provisioning of the residence, to unpacking and pressing pre-sent garments and arranging a complete vacation itinerary.

About The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club is an equity-based luxury travel program where Members select either a Home Club Membership which provides a titled residence and usage at a property they can return to every year, or a deeded Portfolio Membership which affords the opportunity to discover a wide variety of locations and experiences. Combining an innovative choice for luxury vacations at some of the most sought-after destinations in the world and coupled with the legendary services of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club offers an inspirational vacation lifestyle tailored to each Member’s expectations.

For More Information: Visit: PrivateResidenceClubs.com

Ritz-Carlton New Destination Club

Ritz-Carlton Destination Club

After 80 years and more than 70 hotels providing legendary service, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, raises the bar again with the unveiling of a new way to enjoy an inspiring vacation lifestyle: The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club.

An evolution of The Ritz-Carlton Club, this equity-based private membership program offers two choices -- either a Home Club Membership (identical to the successful fractional ownership offering) which provides use of a titled residence at a property they can return to throughout the year, or a deeded, Portfolio Membership which affords the opportunity to discover a wide variety of premier destinations and accommodations.

Portfolio Membership

Many of the most distinctive travelers want the freedom and flexibility to visit an array of the world's most beautiful and elegant destinations. If you count yourself in their number, Ritz-Carlton Portfolio Membership will be your natural choice.

Portfolio Members use The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club currency called "Club Points" to craft the kinds of escapes others only dream of. Ritz-Carlton Destination Club vacation homes are yours to choose from.

With Portfolio Membership in The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, you'll find destinations that are available on your dates of travel. As a Portfolio Member, you'll have access to the Ritz-Carlton destination Club online member reservation system, which makes finding and reserving your vacation home nearly effortless. This powerful tool gives you real-time destination availability information, while offering the elegant simplicity you expect from The Ritz-Carlton experience.

Ritz-Carlton Destinations

With Portfolio Membership in The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, you own an interest in Ritz-Carlton Destination Clubs' select collection of unique luxury properties and gain access to dozens of The Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts. This collection includes Ritz-Carlton Club properties in Colorado, California, Hawaii, Florida, Bahamas and St. Thomas. In addition membership includes a usage plan for select Ritz-Carlton Hotels worldwide in twenty different countries. It's an entirely new way to experience renowned service and quality worldwide.

Membership Levels

Portfolio Memberships offer a beneficial interest in a trust where Members customize their vacations through a points-based currency. This annual allotment of currency is used to reserve accommodations based on travel dates and residence floor plan. Initial membership grants 5,000 Club points, but additional interests can be purchased in 2,500 point increments. Portfolio Membership pricing starts at $120,000 for 5,000 annual Club points.

The Portfolio Membership option allows the ultimate flexibility for the Member who prefers a different experience each time they travel. For example, a Member may decide to use a four-bedroom residence in Abaco, The Bahamas for a family celebration and use a one-bedroom in San Francisco for a romantic getaway. When choosing from the collection of residences, each is assigned a varying nightly point value. The new Hotel Exchange Program also enables Members who purchased a Portfolio Membership to utilize up to a 25% portion of their Club points at participating Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts worldwide.



If you would like more information from Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, Please Visit: PrivateResidenceClubs.com

First Home At Christophe Harbour Ready For Construction

Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts

At the height of the Caribbean season, Christophe Harbour recently celebrated another milestone in its steady development on 2,500 acres at the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts.

A crowd of media, government officials, local contractors, builders, and the homeowners’ families gathered at Sandy Bank Bay on Thursday, March 19 to break ground on the first home at Christophe Harbour.

Unspoiled and undiscovered, the Caribbean island of St. Kitts will soon offer one of the world's most sophisticated and desirable resorts. Christophe Harbour, on St. Kitts’ stunning southeastern peninsula, will set the scene for an unprecedented master-planned resort. The project spans 2,500 acres with access to six spectacular beaches. Its natural harbour, sheltered by green hills and high bluffs, will provide the ideal setting for mega-yachts as centerpieces of a seaside village of restaurants, shops, boutiques and a five-star luxury boutique hotel managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotels. Atop the green cliffs will be a Tom Fazio championship golf course and clubhouse plus a collection of luxurious villas, and private homesites.

Christophe Harbour offers exceptional real estate opportunities for second- and third- homeowners seeking resort residences that include services from Mandarin Oriental. All of the condo hotel residences at the Mandarin Oriental are fully furnished with optional rental management programs available. A very limited number of condo hotel residences will be released in the founders program; reservations for these are presently being accepted. Plan your tropical escape for St. Kitts now. Resort Home price range is from the 500's to 2.6 million.

Contact - CondominiumHotels.com For Full Information packages

Slice of Paradise in Bora Bora - Four Seasons Private Residences

Bora Bora – merely speaking these evocative

words surely conjure up dreamy images of

Heaven on earth. And justifiably so, for Bora

Bora is, one of the world’s most mystical places

to visit. Now, for a very fortunate few Bora Bora

lovers, a chance to actually OWN their own slice

of Paradise!

The incredibly crystalline, turquoise lagoon

is set in a perfect oval, encircling the towering

Mt. Oteman’u, sits in the cobalt-blue Pacific,

and altogether creates a serene, tranquil oasis

of luxury.

James Michener appointed this fair queen of

an isle as “the most beautiful island in the world”

decades ago, and still, to this day, the island

transfixes every one lucky enough to behold

Bora Bora.

Up until very recently, Bora Bora was available

to foreign visitors only for short visits. It was

mostly starry-eyed honeymooners that ventured

to this South Seas getaway to enjoy the ultruluxe

hotels in Bora Bora, and revel in their glorious,

unique overwater bungalows.

New developments in French Polynesia have

now made it possible for a fortunate few to buy

property located adjacent to the Four Season

Bora Bora Resort, located Motu Tehotu, a small

islet on Bora’s northeastern barrier reef.

Accessed upon the internet under “Own

Bora Bora,” this is truly a rare and unique “one

of a kind” opportunity. Just 15 parcels of land,

ranging from ½ to 1 ½ acre lots, are available.

Eight lots face the Pacific Ocean with its tranquil

sea breezes, and the remaining seven front the

dreamy Bora Bora lagoon, with its quintessentially

recognizable Mt. Oteman’u taking center

stage.

Home designs are by Toronto designer firm

Yabu Pushelberg, and will feature traditional a

free-flowing architectural floor plan, with such

Polynesian details as thatched pandanus roofs,

rough-hewn beams, limestone walls, natural

colored textiles and, of course, infinity edged

swimming pools.

All are full ownership private residences, says

Jim Jacobson, the company’s Director of Global

Sales, adding that perhaps as many as five home

sites are already under serious consideration.

Property taxes are low in French Polynesia

to begin with, continues Jacobson, and a further

tantalizing extra is that developer Thierry Barbion

has paid more than five years of the development’s

property taxes in advance.

Interested buyers will be asked to fill out a

simple, two-page foreign investment application

form.

The home sites are connected to the nearby

Four Seasons Resort, reached by a pleasant,

other-worldly quarter mile mile walk. Or call the

hotel’s Concierge for a golf cart ride, if you wish.

Five floor plans are offered, Pearl, Presidential,

Villa, Lagoon and Pacific, from smallest to

largest.

Prices for the lots range from $3,000,000 to

$7,000,000 and construction costs are estimated

from $3.6 million for the smaller floor plans to

$17,000,000 for the massive 11,500-square foot

oceanfront floor plans.

Pricey, to be sure, but as John Lactot,

the project’s VP of Sales and Marketing says:

“you’ve entered the stratosphere. This is Bora

Bora, Four Seasons and there’s only 15. Once

they’re gone, they’re gone!”

Act fast, now, or forever bid adieu to owning

a slice of Paradise, Bora Bora style

Article above by Larry Dunbar - Caviar Affair

For More Information - Visit: CondominiumHotels.com

Try Out The Abercrombie and Kent Residence Club

Abercrombie & Kent - Los Cabos, Mexico

Abercrombie & Kent - Deer Valley, Utah

Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club

Abercrombie and Kent brings nearly 50 years of unsurpassed travel expertise to the world of destination clubs. Now you can have access to extraordinary homes, European villas, boutique hotels and insider experiences in coveted locales around the globe.

A&K Equity Membership

The A&K Residence Club is not your typical destination club. A&K Residence Club is the largest equity-based club in the destination club industry. Unlike non-equity clubs, A&K Residence Club members own the club and have direct input into how club resources are used. All the residences are owned debt-free. A&K manages the club on the members' behalf.

A&K Destinations

Membership in the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club provides access to a growing collection of private residences and travel experiences around the world, with a personalized service component that allows you and your family to simply - enjoy.

A&K residences offer everything that makes a house a home, not to mention everything that makes a vacation extraordinary. Gourmet kitchens, spacious family living areas and the finest furnishings surround you with comfort and style. At every destination, you’ll have Members-only access to spas at exclusive resorts and preferred golf privileges at private courses. And, inside the homes and out, children will find plenty to keep them busy, from video games to local activities.

The A&K property portfolio from, private residences to European villas to luxury urban apartments to boutique hotel suites, is unparalleled. Members have access to over 40 locations with on-site destination host to arrange one-of-a-kind, exclusive "insider access" excursions that give members an authentic, indigenous experience at each location.

Membership Levels

The Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club currently offers three categories of equity memberships, each one tailored to fit the needs and lifestyles of their Members. Membership options available include 15, 30 and 45 vacation days per year with cost ranging from $225,000 to $495,000 to join. 

Trial Membership Available Until April 15

Between now and April 15, A&K Residence Club is offering Trial Memberships ranging from $7,000 to $11,000 for a seven night stay at one of seventeen three- and four- bedroom residences during 2009. This allows you to take your family and friends to one of their incredible homes for less than the cost of renting a single luxury hotel room. Further, you will receive the incredible A&K service that A&K members enjoy - from pre-arrival planning with A&K Global Experience Managers to dedicated service from A&K Destination Hosts.

As of today, the following are just a few examples of extraordinary vacations that are still available:

Spring and Summer Beach Excursions to Mexico, Hawaii, Dominican Republic, or Turks and Caicos

Golf Getaways to Scottsdale, Arizona; Kiawah Island, South Carolina; or La Quinta, California

Mountain Retreats to Deer Valley, Sun Valley, Lake Tahoe, or Snowmass

Fall and Winter Vacations to Hawaii, Mexico, Lake Tahoe, Deer Valley, Jackson Hole, and Snowmass Colorado.

Visit our website: PrivateDestinationClubs.com

Use our Contact Form to have a representative from A&K schedule you vacation today!

New Hilton brand expected to replace Cosmopolitan - Denizen Hotels will also come to other tourist destinations

Hilton Hotels Corp. said Tuesday it's creating an eclectic brand called Denizen Hotels and is working to bring that brand to Las Vegas and other major destinations worldwide.

The Denizen brand is expected to take the place of the Cosmopolitan, an under-construction resort at Harmon Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, as Hilton Hotels executives have been working at the Cosmopolitan site for months.

A Cosmopolitan spokeswoman would not confirm that scenario.

Hilton, based in Beverly Hills, has been working on a new hotel brand with the idea that it would replace the Cosmopolitan name, according to people familiar with the project. The Cosmopolitan was created by developer Ian Bruce Eichner, whose resort was foreclosed upon by Deutsche Bank last year.

Deutsche Bank, which now owns the project, has hired several development and design firms to work on the resort since it bought the property in a foreclosure sale in September. At the time, developers said the 3,000-room resort, including nearly 2,200 condo-hotel units, was expected to open in mid-2010.

The bank has yet to name two key roles: a casino and hotel manager. The casino manager, which could be a separate company, would need a Nevada gaming license – a process that could take up to a year – to operate the casino.

The bank recently expressed dissatisfaction with the design of the rooms underway at the resort and may redesign them.

The Denizen brand is part of a trend in the hotel industry of creating upscale, boutique brands catering to more discriminating and worldly customers.

In an interview with HotelWorld Network Tuesday, Ross Klein, Hilton Hotels' Global Head of Luxury & Lifestyle Brands, said the brand was developed with the troubled economy in mind. "Had Hilton launched at an earlier time, the company would be doing recalibrating to the concept, due to the economic situation," the publication said.

Klein told the publication that about 70 percent of the design of each Denizen-branded property will be brand-specific and about 30 percent will be unique to the location.

A Web site for Denizen Hotels uses images of clean-energy windmills to describe the proposed Las Vegas location, which would cater to the type of customer who describes himself as an "eco innovator".

"I want to feel socially responsible in my consumer choices," this prototypical customer says.

"Denizen Hotels, a lifestyle brand that will attract business and leisure travelers across cultures and generations and has an authenticity that will appeal to today’s sensibilities, will be highlighted by exceptional design and service at an accessible price point," Hilton said in a statement, adding it will be part of Hilton's luxury portfolio that includes the Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels & Resorts brands.

Hilton said development negotiations are under way for Denizen resorts and destinations in key cities including Abu Dhabi; Austin, Texas; Beverly Hills and Hollywood; Buenos Aires; Cancun and Los Cabos, Mexico; Istanbul; Jerusalem; Las Vegas; London; Miami; Montreal; New York; and Washington, D.C.

Hilton is already a big player in Las Vegas with several brands including Hilton Grand Vacations, Embassy Suites, Doubletree, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn. It also markets rooms for the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino.

A spokeswoman said the company had no further details on plans to bring the brand to Las Vegas.

For More Information Visit: CondominiumHotels.com - enter "Denizen Hotel" in projects of interest