Starwood Capital unveil plans for Baccarat Hotels & Resorts, as The Luxury Collection debuts in Poland and Viceroy looks to expand in the Middle East
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The Latest Hotels: Sofitel, Kempinski & The Stairs
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Over the last decade, collaborations between luxury brands and contemporary artists have gone beyond mere artistic partnerships towards a new kind of luxury branding.
PARIS – Art and fashion have always developed side by side, for fashion, like art, often gives visual expression to the cultural zeitgeist. During the 1920s, Salvador Dalí created dresses for Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiapparelli. In the 1930s, Ferragamo’s shoes commissioned designs for advertisements from Futurist painter Lucio Venna, while Gianni Versace commissioned works from artists such as Alighiero Boetti and Roy Lichtenstein for the launch of his collections. Yves Saint Laurent’s vast art collection, recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris, testified to his great love of art and revealed the influence of a variety of artists on his own designs.
In the 1980s, relationships between luxury brands and artists were advanced when Alain Dominique Perrin created the Fondation Cartier. In the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, a book marking the foundation’s 20th anniversary, Perrin says he makes “a connection between all the different sorts of arts, and luxury goods are a kind of art. Luxury goods are handicrafts of art, applied art.”
The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemparain building in Paris
Starwood Capital unveil plans for Baccarat Hotels & Resorts, as The Luxury Collection debuts in Poland and Viceroy looks to expand in the Middle East
Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York, set to open in 2014
Starwood Capital unveil plans for Baccarat Hotels & Resorts, as The Luxury Collection debuts in Poland and Viceroy looks to expand in the Middle East
Louis Vuitton and Gucci may have expressed a desire to slowdown rampant retail expansion, but luxury hotel brands show no sign of slowing. W Hotels has revealed the Starwood brand will more than double its presence in Asia alone by the end of 2018, to nearly 20 W Hotels and Retreats in nine countries in the region.
Viceroy, spurred by the success of its “strong and successful hotel” in Abu Dhabi, is considering expanding further in the GCC countries, eyeing Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE. “As we look across the GCC there are markets that we benefit from greatly from an outbound basis at the moment," explained CEO Bill Walsh.
“Saudi Arabia is a very strong market for many of our hotels in North America and it would be fantastic to have a presence in that market. Not only would it make sense for our standalone business to be in the kingdom but it would also help accelerate business from that market to other properties.”
“ Starwood Capital Group has launched Baccarat Hotels & Resorts & lifestyle eco-brand 1 Hotels & Resorts ”
Following the overhaul of New York City’s iconic Essex House hotel, JW Marriott are anticipating 50% growth over the next four to five years, with 79 JW hotels up and running by 2015, according to vice president Mitzi Gaskins. “We’re opening in Cabo and Turks & Caicos. We just launched Venice. We plan to open soon in Macao and Hanoi.”
Meanwhile Starwood Capital Group today has announced the launch of two new hotel brands, the luxury brand Baccarat Hotels & Resorts, and the lifestyle eco-brand 1 Hotels & Resorts, with five hotel openings scheduled under the group’s hotel brand management company, SH Group.
Baccarat Hotels will seek to position the venerable French crystal company as a leader in luxury lifestyle. Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York is expected to open in 2014, coinciding with the brand’s 250th anniversary, located on 53rd Street just off Fifth Avenue. The 50-story glass tower will feature 114 guest rooms including 26 suites, as well as 61 private residences, including a five-bedroom penthouse duplex with an outdoor terrace.
Ritz-Carlton, Abu Dhabi
Ritz-Carlton has debuted its ninth property in the Middle East, with the 532-room luxury resort Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal. Located on the waterfront, the vastly spread Venetian-designed Abu Dhabi property comprises 10 stately buildings arranged in a crescent formation, housing 447 guestrooms and suites, in addition to 85 private one- and two-bedroom villas.
Website: ritzcarlton.com/AbuDhabi
Source: Gulf News
The Stairs, Bali
French designer and architect Philippe Starck has created The Stairs, a luxury hotel resort on the Indonesian island of Bali. The 12-villa property is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Nicolas Panzani, Noel Cibriani and Hugues Revuelta, boasting a host of amenities including a patisserie, restaurant, bar lounge, boutique, Mezzanine library, signature Spa and gym.
Website: thestairsbali.com
Source: Superyachts.com
Kempinski Ambiance, Delhi
Kempinski has launched its first independently managed hotel in India, in the commercial district of Shadara in East Delhi – Kempinski Ambience Delhi. The 480-room hotel spans two towers, connected by a sky bridge. Kempinski Ambience Delhi features banqueting facilities of over 6,500sqm including India’s largest pillar-less ballroom in a luxury hotel that can accommodate up to 6000 guests.
Website: kempinski.com/delhi
Source: Hospitality.net
Sofitel, Vienna
Accor’s Sofitel has opened in Vienna, overlooking the Danube Canal and a short walk from Stephansplatz, the heart of Austria’s capital. French interior architect Jean Nouvel has created a timeless, sleek and contemporary design for the hotel’s 82 elegant rooms and suites. The property also boasts a deluxe spa and penthouse-level modernist bar under a vibrant ceiling by Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist.
Website: sofitel.com/vienna
Source: CPP Luxury
Hotel Bristol, Warsaw
Following an extensive multi-million dollar renovation, Starwood’s Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts has debuted in Poland with Hotel Bristol in Warsaw. The 168 room and 38 suite hotel – originally founded in 1901 – has been clothed in understated shades of ivory and blue, creating a subtle Art Deco backdrop for contrasting charcoal and ebony furnishings.
Website: hotelbristolwarsaw.pl
Source: Hospitality.net
For more in the series of The Latest Hotels, please see our most recent editions as follows:
– The Latest Hotels: Mandarin Oriental, Luxury Collection & W Hotels
– The Latest Hotels: St. Regis, Ritz Carlton & Aman Resorts
– The Latest Hotels: Westin, Banyan Tree & Shangri-La
Creative Strategist, Digital
Sophie Doran is currently Senior Creative Strategist, Digital at Karla Otto. Prior to this role, she was the Paris-based editor-in-chief of Luxury Society. Prior to joining Luxury Society, Sophie completed her MBA in Melbourne, Australia, with a focus on luxury brand dynamics and leadership, whilst simultaneously working in management roles for several luxury retailers.
