Gorky-Gorod mountain resort in Sochi, Russia. Photo credit: Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts.

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts has announced it will add a Russian mountain hotel to its portfolio.

The new hotel will be in Gorky-Gorod mountain resort in Sochi, Russia, home of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The resort is scheduled for completion for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The luxury hotel will be part of the Krasnaya Polyana winter sports area, which is scheduled for completion by the 2014 Winter Olympics.

This winter sports area will have 59 ski lifts and access to approximately 200 kilometres of ski pistes.

“Most of our company’s hotels are primarily city or business hotels in large metropolises, and this will be our first ski resort,” says Meinhard Huck, President Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts.

“It’s an exciting project, especially given that Krasnaya Polyana is going to be comparable in terms of infrastructure and atmosphere to the most famous mountain resorts in the Alps.”

Mountain resort Gorky-Gorod is being built on the territory of Gornaya Karusel mountain resort in Krasnaya Polyana which reaches 540m to 2200m above sea level.

Gorky-Gorod is comprised of two ski villages at 540m and 960m.  During the 2014 Winter Olympics, Gorky-Gorod will host a mountain Olympic media village and media centre for 4,000+ international journalists.

The future Swissôtel will be located in the upper village’s central square along the shopping street and close to skiing facilities.

Travelers will be able to reach Gorky-Gorod via Sochi International Airport, a two-hour flight from Moscow and a three-hour flight from Vienna.

A 30-minute fast train will connect the resort to Sochi International Airport.

For more info, visit Swissôtel online.

Deluxe suite room and view at La Réserve Ramatuelle.

Looking for a boot camp holiday?  If you love France, then think about The Boot Camp at La Réserve Ramatuelle.

Surrounded by Cote d’Azur scenery and Mediterranean Sea views, this très français boot camp is outside of St. Tropez.

Spa reception.

Designed for groups of 4 to 8 people, the boot camp features hiking the Mediterranean countryside, spa treatments and healthy, local dishes by Chef Eric Canino.

A typical day 1 looks like this:

• 6:30am Yoga session (1 hour);
• 7:30am Breakfast;
• 8:30am Morning Walk;
• 1 pm Lunch at the hotel;
• 2:30pm Balneotherapy;
• 3 pm Body Wrap;
• 3:30pm Jet shower;
• 4pm La Réserve Better Aging body treatment;
• 6:30pm Relaxation session and
• 8pm Dinner at the restaurant.

Exterior.

A five-day program, The Boot Camp starts with a medical assessment of guests.

The next day, guest training begins with yoga and healthy breakfast before a guide leads a walk through the hills and along the coast.

Afterwards, guests can relax with a spa program including balneotherapy, body wraps and the La Réserve Better Aging body treatment. They can also add exclusive beauty and body La Mer therapies.

For more info, visit La Réserve Ramatuelle online.

Images courtesy of La Réserve Ramatuelle.

Queen room at Formule 1 Auckland Airport.

Planning a New Zealand budget holiday?  If you’ll be staying in Auckland, new budget hotel Formule 1 Auckland Airport has opened.

The hotel is part of an airport accommodation and hospitality complex which also includes fast food outlets, a bar and mobile phone store.

Family room at Formule 1 Auckland Airport.

Formule 1 is an Accor budget hotel brand already in countries across Europe and South America and in South Africa and Australia.

A global hotel operator, Accor has 4,200 hotels in 90 countries with 500,000+ rooms and brands including: Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, hotelF1 and Motel 6.

This Auckland hotel offers stylish, light queen, double, twin and quadruple share rooms with extra storage space and soundproofing.

Facilities include flat screen TVs with extra channels; Wi-Fi; quality bedding (duvets); ensuite bathroom, air conditioning and a work table.

An inexpensive breakfast buffet is available at the hotel. During the day, guests can eat out at outlets including the Szimpla Gastro Pub, health food café, and coffee shop.

For more info, visit the Formule 1 Auckland Airport site.

Images courtesy of Accor.

A large, open plan living area with Matterhorn views at Ski Boutique Zermatt in Switzerland.

Luxury ski travel company Scott Dunn has launched a new Swiss boutique chalet hotel.

Called Ski Boutique Zermatt, the hotel in the famous Swiss Alps mountaineering and ski resort will be open for the 2011/2012 ski season.

Mountain hospitality.

The company says the hotel is perfect for solo travelers, couples and groups of friends seeking a luxury chalet experience.

Ski Boutique Zermatt is located on a quiet street, a short walk from Zermatt centre.

The boutique hotel features nine bedrooms, a wellness area (a Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna) and a large, open plan living area with south-facing balcony.

Gourmet dining at Ski Boutique Zermatt includes receptions, evening meals, tea and breakfasts.

Scott Dunn chefs will offer guests gourmet dining including :

• nightly Laurent-Perrier champagne and canapés reception;
• four-course evening meals with wine;
• signature ‘tea in bed’ and
• full à la carte breakfasts each morning.

Special seven night packages for UK travelers to Ski Boutique Zermatt include British Airways flights, return transfers, gourmet chalet board, all drinks and the services of a Scott Dunn chef and host.

For more details, visit Ski Boutique Zermatt.

Images courtesy of Scott Dunn.

Split Apple Retreat & Beach on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand.

Split Apple Retreat has become the first New Zealand member of Healing Hotels of the World.

On the edge of Abel Tasman National Park, in Nelson, New Zealand, the retreat offers some of the country’s best bushwalks, secluded beaches, sea-kayaking, fishing and swimming with seals.

Split Apple Retreat is a member of Navigate Oceania, a collection of New Zealand and Pacific boutique hotels, luxury lodges, a private island, villas and destinations.

Hotel guests can enjoy private beach access, saltwater pool on the deck, a spa, sauna, steam room and gym.

The retreat creates personalized wellness programs including massage, acupuncture, physical trainer, Pilates, tai chi, meditation guidance, spa treatments and stress therapies.

Split Apple Retreat serves guests three meals a day based on functional foods, individual preferences and the best regional ingredients.  They can take “thoughtful food cooking lessons” given by culinary artists.

“Not only will you feel totally rejuvenated and de-stressed, but you will be able to take home with you a number of practical ideas to enhance your life,” says Split Apple Retreat.

Healing Hotels of the World is an exclusive, global network of 60 luxury hotels, resorts and retreats offering holistic health, healing and spa programs.

Each property focuses on sharing authentic experiences and educating guests on their well-being, life-long transformation and balanced living.

Here are more scenes from Split Apple Retreat:

Split Apple Suite View.

Split Apple Exterior Pool.

Split Apple Retreat Food Preparation.

Images courtesy of Split Apple Retreat.

Ramada Suites Paihia on New Zealand’s North Island.

New Zealand’s North Island is expanding its accommodations with two new Ramada hotels.

Wyndham Hotel Group will open the beachfront Ramada Suites Paihia and the Ramada Suites Nautilus Orewa, 30 minutes north of Auckland.

“They are a testament to our commitment to growth in the South Pacific and our confidence in New Zealand as a leading tourism destination,” says Barry Robinson, managing director for Wyndham Hotel Group in the South Pacific.

Ramada Suites Paihia is a modern 34-suite hotel which overlooks the beaches of Paihia in the Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand.

The hotels offers guests a choice of spacious one and two-bedroom suites.

Formerly Edgewater Palms Apartments, the complex, built in January 2006, features tropical gardens, pool, spa and waterfront views.

Ramada Suites Nautilus Orewa is a 12-level property with 152 rooms – deluxe studio, one and two-bedroom suites -  and ocean views over Orewa Beach and the surrounding area.

Formerly Nautilus Orewa Beach, the development and its multiple meeting spaces is popular for conferences.

Throughout the South Pacific, Wyndham Hotel Group also has nine hotels in Australia, Guam, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

The global hotel company has 7,190 hotels and 609,600 rooms in 66 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate by Wyndham, Baymont Inn & Suites, Microtel Inns & Suites, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and Knights Inn.

For more info, visit the hotel site.

Image courtesy of Wyndham Hotel Group.

Stable suites at The Robertson Small Hotel in Robertson, South Africa.

South Africa’s Garden Route is tucked between the Langeberg and Riviersonderend mountain ranges.

This stunning wine route and Robertson Wine Valley is known for its landscape, flowers, trees, vineyards and the Breede River.

In the heart of the valley, The Robertson Small Hotel is 90 minutes from Cape Town in the town of Robertson en route to the Garden Route.

Manor House Reception, The Robertson Small Hotel.

The Robertson Wine Valley has emerged as a South African gastronomic destination for gourmet and wine travelers.

Valley events include wine-tastings at vineyards, farmer’s markets selling handmade products from local kitchens and olive farms and food festivals.

A 5-star boutique hotel, The Robertson Small Hotel is a former Victorian mansion which was renovated two years ago.

Exterior, The Robertson Small Hotel.

Already, the hotel says it’s become popular with South Africa’s celebrities and honeymooners.

The romantic hotel offers guests 10 light and airy suites, beautiful gardens and two swimming pools.

Renowned South African “Chef of the Year” Reuben Riffel, a top celebrity TV chef, has created the hotel’s restaurant “Reuben’s at The Robertson Small Hotel”.

The restaurant features Riffel’s award-winning cuisine.

For more info, visit the hotel site.

Images courtesy of The Robertson Small Hotel.

The Yash Chopra Suite at Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.

Swiss design is known for its minimalism and clean lines. In Interlaken, Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa has brought Bollywood style to its guests with its new ‘Yash Chopra’ Suite in Room 250.

Honoring famous Indian film director Yash Chopra, also Interlaken Ambassador, the 915 square foot suite has been converted into a Bollywood wonderland.

The Yash Chopra Suite honoring the famous Indian director Yash Chopra.

Says Hans-Rudolf Rütti, general manager, Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa:

“It’s like a dream home out of a Bollywood film…The new Yash Chopra Suite is an exciting contrast to our existing room portfolio and is certain to prove extremely popular with our many guests from India.”

The Yash Chopra Suite features a living room, bedroom with en suite bathroom, guest bathroom and balcony with views of the Jungfrau Massif.

This suite’s walls are adorned with posters of Chopra’s award-winning film Veer-Zaara (2004), silk fabrics and gold motifs.

Chopra and a team of interior designers from Thun-based design firm Raumforum worked together on the living room space.

They selected Indian touches including a lacquered white Ganesha sculpture and velour leopard-print pillow cushions.

Other Indian accessories in the suite are traditional Indian carpets and silk bedspread; Oriental lamps; candles and an Indian tea service.

Images courtesy of Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.

Mount Haven Hotel in Cornwall.

Road trips can be expensive.  That’s why one English hotel is offering to pay the cost of their guests’ fuel for the journey to the hotel.

Mount Haven Hotel is located across Mount’s Bay and St Michael’s Mount in the market town of Marazion, in West Cornwall.

Thirteen miles from Land’s End, the hotel’s owners are conscious of the rising costs of fuel.

Says Mike Trevillion, hotel owner:

”The cost of petrol is now a major consideration when making travel plans and after such a grim winter we want to encourage people to travel to beautiful West Cornwall to catch the first promise of spring.”

The hotel’s special offer will be available for the whole month of February, 2011 to anyone booking two or more nights until the end of February.

For more info, visit the hotel site.

Image courtesy of Mount Haven Hotel.

Clubhouse suite, Aurelio Lech.

Fancy Easter eggs, chocolate massages and champagne?

Then you’ll likely love the new Easter Package at Austria’s boutique hotel Aurelio Lech.

Spa at Aurelio Lech.

A popular winter destination, the ski area in Lech offers 85 mountain railways and lifts; 277 km of ski runs and 180 km of cross-country slopes.

The hotel’s luxury Easter package includes:

• Two nights in a double room;
• Champagne on arrival;
• Five-course gourmet menu and
• Complimentary luxury spa treatment.

Spa treatments range from facial and body treatments; scrubs and wraps and stone massages to hot chocolate body ceremony.

For more info, visit the hotel site.

Image courtesy of Hotel Aurelio Lech.