From skyscrapers to villa retreats, new developments keep popping up in Thailand’s capital city, giving travelers a more diverse set of options when it comes to hotels. New to the scene: The Siam Hotel, which intends to keep luxury exclusive and bring a bit of recluse back to the city.

The hotel is set to open in March 2012, but the build-up to this boutique Bangkok hotel is brimming. The owners, a famous Thai family of musicians and actors, conceived the notion of the Siam after being gifted the land. The Siam is privately owned and managed by Siam Hotels & Resorts, with input and financing from the Sukosol family.

The 39-suite luxury retreat in the city’s historic Dusit district features some typical hotel amenities—and some not-so-typical. Conceived by Thai rock star and film actor Krissada Sukosol Clapp and acclaimed architect and designer Bill Bensley, the urban luxury hotel includes pool villas, open-air rooftop terraces, four traditional Thai teak wood houses inspired by Thai silk designer Jim Thompson, a private art gallery, Thai boxing ring and a private screening room.

But can it lure luxury guests to Bangkok? Read more in my column on HotelNewsNow.com

New York’s East Side is a story of wealth, glamour and greed. It’s home to some of the most iconic buildings in the city, as well as some of the most famous landmarks in the nation. Through the years, the East Side has seen its share of deceit and descent, but through its tumultuous past it has remained one of the most coveted addresses in the world. The hotels that line the East Side of Manhattan have interesting tales to tell, among them the Carlyle Hotel, The Pierre and the Renaissance New York Hotel 57 — three hotels with three very different stories to tell of affluence, affiliation and aspiration.

New York in the 1920s was filled with ideas of growth, ambition and indulgence. The beginning effects of the Great Depression were still years away, and much money was to be made, and had, in New York City. From bank world centers to prohibition parlors, New York then was as diverse and coveted as it is today. Our tour starts at 35 East 76th Street at Madison Avenue, where the famous Carlyle Hotel resides along Manhattan’s legendary Gold Coast.

The Carlyle Hotel…Then: The 35-story Carlyle Hotel opened in 1930 as one of Manhattan’s premier properties, dominating the skyline on the Upper East Side. Its guests were equally as rich as its interior designs. The hotel’s guest book reads like a “Who’s Who” of the world’s most talked about figures – presidents, heads of state, kings and queens all called the Carlyle home at one point, including the late Princess Diana of Wales, as well as Hollywood elites. The Carlyle grew to become a mecca for the world’s most influential individuals who visited New York. But it’s the hotel’s famous Cafe Carlyle that continues to shine a light on Manhattan’s celebrated past.

The Carlyle Hotel…Now: Set straight out of a black-and-white movie scene, Cafe Carlyle is one of New York’s classic cabarets, hosting nightly shows from some of Broadway’s best known talents. On any given night you’ll find Woody Allen, Steve Tyrell and John Pizzarelli reminiscing over their days growing up in New York. The cafe seats up to 90 for a performance, evoking a supper club atmosphere that takes any generation back to the days of a budding Upper East Side. You’ll want to dress up for a night at Café Carlyle – after all, and after almost 50 years, the cabaret club is still the see-and-be-seen place among Manhattan’s elite. Famed Broadway actress Elaine Stritch recently took the stage at the Cafe Carlyle, crooning about her days as a young woman vying for parts on Broadway, and sleeping her nights in the corner room at Carlyle Hotel. It was during her performance that she waxed poetic about the Carlyle, recalling the wise words of her husband John Bay who once said, “Everything looks better from the corner room of the Carlyle Hotel.”

Read more from my column on Boston.com

Having already established itself as a solid business market, Moscow’s emerging hotel industry is receiving renewed attention from investors looking to tap into a burgeoning leisure class.

Not surprisingly, branded assets are leading this new wave of development. Rising from the center of Moscow Centre, for example, is the InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya, which is set to open its doors in November.

“Emerging markets are important, and there’s a need for more branded hotels in significant growth markets like Russia,” said Oliver Horn, GM of the InterContinental Moscow. “The Russian capital is extremely important, both for inbound and outbound travel. Russians have started to travel a lot over the last few years, and they like to use brands they’re familiar with. So if they become familiar with and get to like the InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya, they are more likely to want to stay in an InterContinental hotel while abroad.”

While Hilton Worldwide, Raffles and Ritz-Carlton already sit in top markets in Russia, the country’s hotel development race has been heating up since early 2010. As the InterContinental Moscow readies to open its doors in Moscow, leading lenders are spending significant dollars on future development projects.

Read more from my article on Hotel News Now

Today’s hotel guest is starting to look at the hotel as part of the destination, and not just a place to lay their bags. In an effort to accommodate and engage the social savvy traveler, hotels are starting to recreate their lobby and public areas to invite a more “social space” for guests, and the results are pretty positive.

Walking into the lobby at the Mandarin Oriental Washington DC is like walking into a public state of the union meeting. At any given time you’ll find lobbyists, members of Congress, journalists, bloggers and yes, travelers, sitting in the same area – at the hotel’s bar and lounge area located at the center of the lobby.

At the InterContinental Boston, the hotel’s Rumba bar is an immediate draw for travelers and guests. The bar sits in the center of the lobby, acting as a meeting place and bringing a new attitude to the typical hotel lobby ambiance. In the same lobby area, and just a few steps in the other direction, the Concierge Lounge gives guests the opportunity to use iPads to create their day’s activities, and solicit ideas from other travelers and hotel employees.

Read more from my column in 4Hoteliers.

If you listen closely, you can still hear the swooshing of the wide Victorian dresses on women as they walked down the hallways of the St. Pancras Hotel in the 1800s. Built to accommodate the glamor of the time, the unusually wide hallways at the St. Pancras are adorned with dimly-lit chandeliers and red and gold accents. The suites connect on the first floor of the Chamber’s Quarters so guests could have a parlor room, dressing room and bedroom. As the trains rumble into the station below the hotel, you half expect to see men in dress coats and top hats step off the platform, their leather luggage properly in tow, heading into the hotel for a glass of scotch as the night’s party slowly begins.

Originally built in the late 1800s, the St. Pancras train station soon became a staple among London’s elite. Not only did it connect East Midlands and Yorkshire with London, but it included a hotel designed by George GIlbert Scott – an architect commissioned from Victoria to create the memorial in Hyde Park to Prince Albert – that wrapped gothic attitude around English civility. The station started operating in 1868 and by 1873, the Midland Grand hotel (built as part of the station) welcomed its first guests. The rooms featured 18-foot ceilings, neoclassical murals and marble floors. The wallpaper was created specifically for the hotel — an ornate red and gold fleur dy lys pattern — and the accessories (everything from mirrors to pillows) were handpicked for each room.

The new majestic hotel was a divine addition to the classic architecture that lined the city streets. The St. Pancras station and hotel introduced London to a new way of travel and living. Not only was it the first time trains connected in the north side of London, but the hotel was the first to introduce the Ladies’ Smoking Room — the first public room in Europe where women were allowed to smoke, acknowledging the status (and often, wealth) of women.

Read more here and view photos of the hotel’s grand opening event.

Hoteliers often ask me, ‘Why do we need to invest in social media?’ My response: ‘How well are you connected with your consumers?’

My question is usually met with blank stares and raised eyebrows. What does one have to do with another? How does social media have anything to do with getting to know your consumer? Simply: it has everything to do with it. Social media is often the human connection hotels are missing.

It’s easy to get lost in the groove of the workday. Between meetings, management, last-minute owner requests and endless press calls, the day of a hotelier can quickly turn from ease and engagement to chaos and commotion. So how do monitor the demands of your guests with the demands of your day? Social media.

Read more from my column on how hotels can increase their “human connection” through social media on 4Hoteliers.com

When the Ritz-Carlton approached me in December 2010 and asked if I wanted to cover their “Countdown” – the 10 days prior to opening a hotel – I enthusiastically said “yes!” Having followed the building of their Hong Kong hotel for nearly  year, and fresh off a tour of the hotel (which was then just a construction site), I was beyond intrigued by the mystique of this hotel. Sure, it would be the highest hotel in the world, but there were so many questions I had about how it would all come together; the idea of being on the inside as the hotel opens would be a dream assignment. I had one condition: It was to be exclusive. Get all the media you want the day of the opening, but for 10 days prior to opening I wanted to be the only media inside the hotel. The deal was agreed upon and I was off to Hong Kong.

Of course, being an exclusive meant I was going to work overtime. And I did. My goal was to bring readers the inside details of how this luxury brand opens its hotels, and an iconic one at that. I’d share everything from employee communications and training sessions to food shows and cocktail tastings. I’d explore every aspect of the hotel – from the 102nd floor to the 118th – and report live from Hong Kong on how the hotel was literally coming to life. I watched as artwork was unveiled from its wrapping and murals were being strategically placed on the ceiling. I ate with the chefs, drank with the bartenders, cleaned with room service, greeted with front of the house, planned with concierge and more, and each night from Hong Kong I filed a story. Deadlines are deadlines, no matter what the time zone.

Below are the links to the series of stories that published from the 10 days inside the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong before it opened.

Huffington Post:
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: Live From The Highest Hotel in the World
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: 7 Days Until Opening
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: Sneak Peak at OZONE, The Highest Bar in the World
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: The Food
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: The Spa & Serenity
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: The Opening

USA Today:
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: Countdown to world’s tallest hotel opening
World’s highest hotel: Employee fashion show teaches ‘what not to wear’
Sneak peek: Dizzying views at world’s highest rooftop pool
World’s highest hotel: Fire drills part of opening sky-high hotel
Photo tour of world’s highest hotel: Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, which opens today

The Missoni name is synonymous with luxury fashion and decor, so it’s no surprise the Missoni-brand hotels embody both. The minimalist design perfected by the Missoni label translates into a sexy, seductive masterpiece. In 1969, Women’s Wear Daily, then considered the ultimate word on fashion, wrote “Missoni is in the lead with one of the most sinful dresses among those inspired by Art Déco”. Now, with one hotel under its belt and another one opening on March 1, Missoni is taking its legacy fashion knowledge making its mark in the hospitality industry.

At the helm of the label for 50 years is Rosita Missoni who, along with her husband Ottavia Missoni, created a unique and imitable style that’s coveted by designers around the world. In 1997, Senora Missoni handed the reigns of the fashion label to her daughter Angela, but has since devoted her time and talent to MissoniHome collections. The collections arm of the company helped foster the 2005 relationship between Missoni and Brussels-based Rezidor Hotel Group and together the two companies launched the first Hotel Missoni in Edinburgh in 2009.

On the eve of the latest Missoni hotel opening – Hotel Missoni Kuwait opens March 1 – I caught up with the fashion house matriarch to learn more about the concept of hotel design, her dream destinations and the talk of Europe – the Royal Wedding.

Read my entire interview with Senora Missoni on Huffington Post Travel

With one month into the new year, hotels have begun implementing their 2011 plans for growth and with good news: spending on luxury travel is on the rise, allowing luxury hotel groups to price out accordingly and recover from a few years of a less-than-ideal bottom lines.

Today’s luxury traveler is back in the game, but with a new set of expectations, and luxury hotels are responding in a positive, and profitable, way.

As the traveler puts plans into place to hit the road this year, hotels are making changes to their approach in an effort to attract new guests.

The luxury hotel trends for 2011 are nothing short of a powerful re-emergence into an always evolving space…

Read more from my column on 4Hoteliers.com.

As a new year begins, so do new travel plans. I crisscrossed the globe in 2010 – from Shanghai to Sydney and Manhattan to Miami – and visited many hotels that left a lasting impression. Now that 2010 is over and 2011 has begun, I’ve put together my list of the must-see luxury hotels to visit in 2011. As you start planning your travels for this year, consider one of these locations and don’t miss these places to stay:

Four Seasons Los Angeles, Beverly Hills lobby

1. Canyon Ranch Miami: For those who like staying stateside, a trip to the Canyon Ranch Miami is a must. The a la carte version of its Lenox and Tucson all-inclusive resorts, Canyon Ranch Miami Beach offers guests the tranquility and rejuvenation aspects you expect with a Canyon Ranch, without all the seclusion that comes with the bigger properties. You can dine where you want, drink what you want and partake in all the mind/body activities that you want, or you can just lay by the beach and indulge in some of the freshest food from the Canyon Ranch kitchen.
2. Costa d’Este Resort, Vero Beach: Gloria Estefan’s luxury Florida resort is located oceanside on the private Vero Beach. The 94-room luxury hotel resort offers its own restaurant, bar, spa and fitness center and is only a short distance away from shopping and activities in Vero Beach. The best part? Thanks to its private-by-nature owners, you can truly escape in this luxury hideaway and forget you’re in Florida.
3. Four Seasons Los Angeles, Beverly Hills: This Four Seasons continues to be my favorite of the Four Seasons family. The Four Seasons Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, is an opulent property tucked away in the lush gardens of Beverly Hills. It’s hidden location means everyone maintains their privacy, from business guests to Academy Award winners. The hotel’s newly opened restaurant, Culina, offers some of the best crudo you’ll find in California.
4. Blantyre, Lenox, Mass.: This Relais & Chateaux property quickly became my new favorite New England getaway after I spent one night in hotel’s Corner Room. The resort itself is reminiscent of an old Scottish castle and the intimacy the resort exudes is unlike anything you’ll find in Massachusetts. What makes Blantyre so special is its owner, Anne, who welcomes everyone through the doors as if they’re family. For wine lovers, you won’t find a better wine cellar anywhere. Blantyre houses everything from Oregon Pinot Noirs to a $48,000 bottle of Château Petrus.


View from Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

5. Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong: If you’ve been following my travels you’re well aware of the time I’ve spent in Hong Kong working my way up to the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. I encourage everyone else to get to the top of the tallest hotel in the world, which will open in March 2011. The views from the top are mesmerizing and whether you choose to swim in the infinity pool or sip cocktails on floor 118, you won’t be disappointed in your stay. Business travelers will love the hotel thanks to its proximity to Kowloon’s financial district and ease of access via the Hong Kong public transportation. Leisure travelers will love staying on top of one of Hong Kong’s luxury malls and taking the ferry to Hong Kong island for sightseeing.
6. Culloden House, Scottland: There’s nothing as special as driving down a windy road and coming to an end at a private castle. The Culloden House was founded more  than two centuries  and today, this Inverness luxury hotel welcomes guests to stroll its nearly 40 acres lawns, dine in its divine restaurant or indulge in the onsite spa.
7. Upper House, Hong Kong: At the risk of throwing competition to the wind, The Upper House might be one of Hong Kong’s best kept secrets (until now). It’s elegant decor infuses sophistication with sex appeal. Whether or not you stay in the hotel is irrelevant, actually. Simply spending an evening at the hotel’s bar will provide you with all the best the hotel has to offer, including panoramic views of Hong Kong.
8. The Savoy, London: The iconic hotel reopened its doors in Covent Garden earlier this year and reclaims its title as a British icon, which its held since 1889. After a £100 million restoration, the hotel’s 268 guestrooms and suites are stylish, luxurious and offer the best in technology with great views of London. The Savoy welcomes Gordon Ramsay to the Savoy Grill and legendary bartender Harry Craddock still mixes up the city’s best cocktails.
9. The Carlyle Hotel, New York: There’s no shortage of hotels in Manhattan, which is why it was so hard to pick just one. But after multiple visits to New York City this year I found myself retreating back to an old favorite, not to sleep but for nostalgia. I have to give shout-outs to great hotels including Trump Towers & Exclusive Resorts, The Roosevelt, The Waldorf, The Benjamin, and The Plaza – all with whom I’ve stayed and would recommend to any traveler. But in 2011, I suggest returning to a classic and enjoying an evening at my favorite hotel in the city, The Carlyle. Located on Madison Avenue in Manhattan’s Upper East Side overlooking Central Park, the New York City landmark is a sanctuary of luxury and elegance. Don’t miss a trip to Bemelmans Bar, where they still serve the best Manhattan’s in the city.


Sonora Resort, British Columbia

10. Sonora Resort, Vancouver: There’s luxury travel, and then there’s extreme luxury travel. My choice for those looking for a getaway where absolutely no one can reach you? Head to Sonora Resort in British Columbia and hide out among some of Mother Nature’s best landscapes. The only way to get here is via private helicopter and the resort is only open during the spring and summer. While you’re here, go on a bear trek, fish, raft, hike the beautiful trails or just lounge in bed with the beauty of British Columbia in your view. Sonora Resort truly feels like a private island devoted only to you.