The Shoreline Hotel Waikiki Joins JDV’s Collection as its Newest Boutique Hotel & Second Hawaii Property

Last March, we blogged that Joie de Vivre (JDV) Hospitality would start managing its first Hawaii property, the Seaside Hotel; and after a renovation was completed, the 125-room hotel would be rebranded and join the JDV collection. Well, fast-forward thirteen months, and you have The Shoreline Hotel Waikiki—JDV’s newest boutique hotel.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.20.34 AMJust opening its doors this past Monday, “the 70s-inspired boutique hotel sits in the middle of some of Diamond Head’s best shopping and restaurants,” HotelChatter said. While it’s not a beachfront property, the actual ocean shoreline is under a mile away.

Commune Hotels & Resorts, JDV’s parent company, hired Anthony Laurino to redesign the property. Stephanie Silverstein of Pacific Business News reported, “The renovated hotel is inspired by 1970s architecture, with bold 1970s shapes and natural forms of local flora throughout the property.”

While the look is 70s inspired, the amenities are nothing but modern: flat-screen TVs, free WiFi, 24-hour front desk hosts, a Welcome Lei upon arrival and the Cha Cha Cha 2 Mexican restaurant and bar.

Originally owned by United Airlines, The Seaside Hotel was built in 1970 and was used as a perk house for employees and company retirees. JDV took over management last March after the hotel was sold to an unnamed buyer.

The Shoreline Waikiki Hotel is JDV’s second Honolulu property. The Coconut Waikiki Hotel has been open since spring 2012.

Screen Shot 2013-04-04 at 10.20.16 AMAlvida Surpia-Jones, general manager of both the Coconut Waikiki Hotel and Shoreline Hotel Waikiki, said that the California-based company has been looking to expand, and has plans to grow. “Joie de Vivre Hotels is definitely growing in different states other than California, so I can see that happening Hawaii, as well,” she said.

But as of now, the company is focusing on their two new properties.

“Shoreline brings a truly boutique and fresh hotel product to the Hawaiian market,” Niki Leondakis, Commune Hotels & Resorts CEO, said. “The carefree spirit and warmth of the JDV brand is reflected in the property, which marries daring design, individualized services and amenities in one of the world’s most coveted beach destinations.”

Whole Foods…Hotels?

Screen Shot 2013-03-20 at 10.08.38 AMWhole Foods. We all know and love the brand—we do at the McConnell office, at least. When the first store opened in 1980 in Austin, Texas, “it took the grocery world by storm, cultivating a culture of health-conscious eating,” HotelManagement.net writer David Eisen said. And now, according to reports, the brand is looking to bring that same feeling to hotels!

Eisen reported that Whole Foods is planning to open what it calls a health resort in or near downtown Austin, right near the company’s headquarters.

John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods, told USA Today that the company has the “perfect vehicle” for their new getaway. “Think of it as a center where people would go for a day, a weekend or a week for healthy lifestyle education.”

USA Today says that the health resort idea came from an in-house program to improve the eating and lifestyle habits of Whole Foods’ employees—focused on weight loss and reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol. Mackey said, “I’ve seen it improve the lives of our team members.”

Brand expert Robert Passikoff says that the health resort could possibly pay off in their favor in a major way. He told USA Today, “…to move from natural foods to natural spa works. Whole Foods is really a category unto itself.”

Whole Foods is currently negotiating on real estate and is seeking a hotel brand to operate their resort. They hope to have it open within the next three years.

Personally, we would love to stay at a Whole Foods-related resort. Would you? Comment and let us know.

A New Hotel is in the Works for SeaWorld Orlando

Homewood Suites by Hilton plans on adding a 134-room hotel near SeaWorld Orlando. According to reporter Richard Bilbao of the Orlando Business Journal, the hotel will sit on a 3.5-acre of land at the intersection of Central Florida Parkway and Westwood Boulevard. The land was purchased for $2.11 million by an undisclosed buyer.

This is a developing story, so we don’t know much else. Check back later for further details.

And don’t forget—our friends Clean the World’s corporate headquarters is also based in Orlando. Maybe another partnership will be in the works! Want to know if your hotel is partnered with Clean the World? Check out their list here.

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Ritz Carlton Introduces a New Hotel Brand

Screen Shot 2013-02-13 at 1.37.18 PMWhen you hear the name, Ritz-Carlton, you think top global luxury hospitality brand. “But if there is one knock the company gets in deluxe travel circles,” Larry Olmsted, contributing writer to Forbes.com, said, “it is for being ‘too cookie cutter.’”

And that’s where Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand comes in—signature one-of-a-kind boutique resorts around the world, each with a distinctive sense of place (Olmsted).

According to the Ritz-Carlton company, “The Reserve is for travelers seeking to discover a singular location and peerless resort that, through its design and services, has a distinctive personality that blends together the culture, history and heritage of its setting. The Reserve brand extension will be distinguished from other award-winning resorts by offering guests’ exotic, hand-selected ‘hideaway’ destinations globally; a relaxed, casually elegant atmosphere; and an even greater level of individualized service through a higher staff to guest ratio.”

The first Ritz-Carlton Reserve was opened in Phulay Bay, Thailand. And on December 12, 2012, the second Reserve—Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve—opened in Puerto Rico.

The resort is the 1,400 acre former Laurance Rockefeller estate. It has 100 guestrooms, 14 one-bedroom suites sitting directly on the beach and one villa. Other features include floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that entirely disappear to create seamless ocean views, outdoor garden showers, individual infinity-edge pools, a water sports center, three 18-hold golf courses, luxurious cabanas and much more.

Herve Humler, President and COO for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C, said, “The philosophy behind Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is to immerse guests into Puerto Rico’s rich history and extraordinary landscape while providing an unparalleled luxury travel experience unlike any other. Reflective of Laurance Rockefeller’s vision from more than 50 years ago of a natural sanctuary, the island is a combination of historical charm and metropolitan life blending serenity and a pristine backdrop—a perfect location for the Ritz-Carlton Reserve experience.”

Future Ritz-Carlton Reserves are planned for Los Cabos, Mexico; Muscat, Oman; Tamuda Bay, Morocco; and the Turks & Caicos.

For more information on the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand, check out Olmsted’s article on Forbes.com.

Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.’s CityZen Receives Prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award for 2013

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CityZen, the acclaimed signature restaurant at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C., has been awarded the coveted American Automobile Association’s (AAA) Five Diamond Award for 2013 for the seventh year in a row. According to its official press release, “the restaurant remains the only establishment to have earned this symbol of excellence in Washington, D.C.”

The AAA Five Diamond Award is given to selected restaurants that demonstrate the highest level of excellence in every aspect of operation. To be considered, the restaurants must undergo a thorough inspection by one of AAA’s professional evaluators. AAA Diamond ratings reflect the overall food, service, décor and ambiance offered by the restaurant. Only 53 (out of 26,000) restaurants reviewed by the AAA in the United States have achieved the prestigious Five Diamond distinction.

Since its opening in 2004, CityZen has delighted guests with its modern American cuisine, under the guidance of critically acclaimed Executive Chef Eric Ziebold. “This level of recognition is truly appreciated, and we are thrilled to be recognized once again by AAA with this distinction for 2013,” he said. “We strive to provide an exceptional dining experience dining experience for our patrons, so to have AAA reward us for our efforts, it is a great accomplishment that is shared equally among our team members. We are honored to be part of an exclusive group of acclaimed restaurants across the country.”

Congratulations, CityZen and Mandarin Oriental, D.C.!

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The hotel’s unique location on the southwest waterfront makes Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. the only hotel offering views of the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument, Tidal Basin and Washington Marina.  In addition to exceptional accommodations and gracious service, the hotel features the Forbes Four-Star Spa at Mandarin Oriental, the Southern-style restaurant Sou’Wester, and the AAA Five Diamond CityZen.