WYNDHAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS REJECTS UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL FROM CHOICE
Proposal Presents Unacceptable Risk to Wyndham Shareholders
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) adds five new properties to its portfolio of luxury boutique hotels this August. Enjoy laid back luxury at two new island properties in Thailand and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, or a stylish city break in Norway. Improve your golf swing and take in the views in Switzerland or indulge in the tranquility of a resort and spa in Italy. These properties offer luxury on their own terms, ensuring independently spirited travelers create unforgettable moments to last a lifetime.
Crans Ambassador, Crans-Montana, Switzerland
54 rooms from USD$318 per night inclusive of breakfast
At Crans Ambassador, the first thing to notice are the views – snow-capped in winter and sun-drenched in summer. Once you’ve torn your gaze away from the scenery, you’ll find there’s just as much to delight indoors. Plenty of natural wood and warm fabrics offer an understated, modern take on chalet style featuring large windows and private terraces overlooking the forest or the valley. In the Deluxe Suite, you can even enjoy this from the outdoor hot tub. To get a closer look, stop off at the hotel snow-sports shop, then make for the nearby ski lift. Or when the snow has melted, go in search of adventure, with everything from rock climbing and trail-running to a leisurely round of golf nearby. End your day at La Table Restaurant, where rustic Alpine dishes are served up with an ample choice of wine.
SLH Insider Tip: Wellbeing and indulgence are the focus here. The hotel spa features a gym with personal trainers on-hand to help achieve your goals, and a Performance Lab to pick up tips on improving your golf form. There’s also a heated indoor pool overlooking the valley and a number of private spa treatment rooms.
Cape Fahn Hotel, Koh Samui, Thailand
22 rooms from USD$502 per night
Opens October 2018
Welcome to your personal piece of Thailand. Cape Fahn Hotel is set on a private island, separated from Koh Samui by a small, walkable shallow channel caressed by the tropical sun. Across the bay, people gather on popular Choeng Mon Beach, but at Cape Fahn you have the sheltered shores almost to yourself. Influenced by traditional Thai architecture, each villa has a large plunge pool complete with private sun deck and decorated with plenty of natural wood complimented by a sea-inspired color palette. Spend the day relaxing at your villa, sampling local and international dishes from the room service menu or hop on a boat or paddleboard and go exploring. Then enjoy an evening of fine dining at the Cape Fahn Hotel restaurant, followed by a drink or two under a canopy of stars.
SLH Insider Tip: The Reading Room offers the perfect location to shrug off the cares of the world with a cooling drink and a good book, exclusively for guests.
Opus XVI, Bergen, Norway
65 rooms from USD$265 per night inclusive of breakfast
Crafted by descendants of Bergan composer Edvard Grieg and named after his famed concerto, Opus XVI offers guests a modern feel immersed in the city’s rich musical heritage. Every element of this luxury city center hotel plays a part in telling Grieg’s story, with original features including marble columns and polished granite walls alongside Scandi-chic design. Individually styled rooms pair block color palettes of natural tones with subtle details such as gold-accented furniture, strokably-soft upholstery or statement lighting. Whether you choose a Classic room or the Peer Gynt suite, named for Grieg’s masterpiece, each space is as comfortable as it is contemporary. With its location on Vågsallmenningen plaza, Opus XVI puts you steps from some of Bergen’s best sights. Take in the views from Mount Floyen and the KODE art galleries or learn more about Edvard Grieg at the Opus XVI library exhibition.
SLH Insider Tip: One of the architects behind the building, which was once Bergen’s grandest bank, was the composer’s cousin. Many of the rooms and suites are named after Grieg’s masterworks, and during summer months, lunchtime piano and opera concerts bring his works to life.
The Liming Bequia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines
14 rooms from USD$542 per night inclusive of breakfast
Opens November 1st 2018
Doing nothing is an art form in Bequia (Bek-way) and is the philosophy at The Liming. Channel pure escapism in one of the nine spacious, stylish villas including one five-bedroom mansion house, each offering exquisite vistas while retaining the privacy afforded by an exclusive Caribbean island. Spend days lounging beside your private infinity pool or the refreshingly peaceful beach. Those with a thirst for adventure could board a hand-built schooner for a day trip to Mustique, or head into Port Elizabeth, with its colorful wooden houses and bustling produce markets. Then as the sun sets, return to your contemporary villa to watch the sky fill up with stars.
SLH Insider Tip: If you’ve opted for the Gingerlily five-bedroom mansion house, you’ll have your own gardens as well as a kitchen for cooking up Caribbean feasts.
Villa Neri Resort & Spa, Linguaglossa, Italy
24 rooms from USD$311 per night inclusive of breakfast
Hidden among the olive groves and fragrant pine trees of Etna Regional Park is Villa Neri, a hotel that pairs impeccable good looks with warm, personal service. This boutique spa resort takes elements of traditional Sicilian living and turns them into something fresh and contemporary. White walls and clean lines turn the spotlight onto individual details, from classic tiling to wooden flooring. Many suites have views of Etna, with extra luxuries such as in-room hot tubs, wine cabinets and fireplaces. By day, relax by the pool, or devote your time to Petra Spa. Massages and beauty therapies draw on plant essences and natural ingredients from the surrounding landscape, complemented by a sauna, Turkish bath, plunge pools and relaxation area. Venture out to explore Linguaglossa village, or head to the beach at Taormina. Then return to Villa Neri and watch the stars come out from the privacy of your personal terrace.
SLH Insider Tip: Named after the 12 fountains dotted around the outdoor dining area, Le Dodici Fontane offers a sensory journey through the flavors and cooking traditions of Sicily. In summer, dine outside with the fragrance from the herb gardens and olive groves drifting on the air.
And in other news…
Eichardt’s Private Hotel, Queenstown, New Zealand
Those looking for the best in luxury land and lake will now be spoilt for choice as Eichardt’s Private Hotel has recently acquired the region’s first premium nautical cruiser, the Pacific Jemm. The 24-metre Falcon 80 S is a welcome addition to the Eichardt’s Private Hotel offering (including the country’s most exclusive accommodation: The Penthouse). Complete with all the modern amenity one expects of the hotel experience, the lavish vessel includes four luxury suites and has at its beck and call two crew alongside Eichardt’s’ famous chef. Options for cruising include scenic daytrips to Glenorchy and a helicopter over to the West Coast for crayfish before anchoring up to cook the catch. For the truly adventurous, guests can super-charge the experience with their pick of an Aston Martin, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, Audi R8 or Porsche 911 to race to Glenorchy before being helicoptered over the Southern Alps.
Rockliffe Hall, Durham, United Kingdom
Rockliffe Hall recently launched its latest exciting addition – Mischmasch. The ‘wonderland of curiosities’, set within one and a half acres of woodland, offers an enchanting space in which children (and big kids) can play and explore. There are six arctic pods nestled beneath the trees, an eco-adventure playground and an interactive water feature. Mischmasch gets ‘curiouser and curiouser’ as you move out of the pods and into a wide-open space featuring climbing frames, slides, tennis courts and the water feature where children can run in and out of jets of water. The centrepiece of the new development is the Looking-Glass House, a stunning addition to the hotel’s entertainment space and a perfect venue for weddings and corporate events.
Healthouse Las Dunas, Estepona, Spain
Healthouse Las Dunas welcomes guests seeking a Mediterranean sun-soaked relaxation and has recently unveiled the new restaurant FELIX. As a reinvention of the former Bistro FELIX, the new restaurant is led by chef Manuel Camisuli with a commitment to Mediterranean cuisine with Asian influence, and over 300 selections of wine. FELIX includes a bar dedicated exclusively to Japanese food under the concept “Omakase”, with exquisite dishes served by chef Jose María Viera in a ceremonial style environment. The decor provides a unique visual experience and the live music offers an enjoyable atmosphere.
Hotel Belles Rives, Antibes, France
The Hotel Belles Rives, the Art Déco jewel located on the gorgeous French Riviera, has just opened a complete beauty corner facility. The Belles Rives chooses to celebrate its brand-new beauty corner with the famous beauty brand Valmont, a family company that perfectly reflects the spirit of the place. Inheritors of the Swiss medical tradition, the brand draws incredible natural resources from its own land and within the most recent development of cellular cosmetics, in order to offer a moment of harmony in a refined environment. Elegant treatments are presented in a place that breathes art and style, creating an intimate link between wellness and expertise.
About Small Luxury Hotels of the World: Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) matches independently minded guests with independently spirited hotels. The diverse collection of over 500 hotels in more than 80 countries around the world includes everything from cutting edge design hotels and city center sanctuaries to historic country mansions and remote private islands – all SLH hotels are consistently different, however, they are all united by the fact that they offer the best locations, highest quality, personalized service and a truly authentic way to discover a destination. Guests can join SLH’s loyalty program, INVITED, to receive Small Luxuries from their very first visit. Reservations for any SLH hotel can be made online at www.slh.com or via the iPhone app, by contacting a travel agent or calling a Small Luxury Hotels of the World reservations office; click here to view a listing by country.