…and by the look of the pics, this hotel scores serious points on the style-meter. (Ed. note: We love the English Mastiff shown relaxing in one of the suites.) No wonder the 414-room Loews Atlanta is already sold out for the first three days of operation. Opening on April 1, 2010, Atlanta’s latest luxury property has a slew of upscale perks in the guest rooms: “flat-panel TVs in bathrooms as well as bedrooms, Audi Q7 SUVs to escort visitors around town and a presidential suite with carpeting that cost $400 a square foot” — to quote the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Plus, oversized desks, floor-to-ceiling windows, and 4 fixture baths. What else is on offer? Farm-to-table cuisine at Jasmine’s Restaurant, live local music and microbrews at The Bar, a fitness center and spa, and a state-of-the-art business center. But this exciting hotel debut marks a “last hurrah” in Atlanta- because the Loews is “likely to be the last of the new luxury properties to hit the market for some time to come.”

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If you’re in Switzerland for the cold and dreary month of February, stick around for the Carnival of Basel, the biggest carnival in Switzerland, and a festive one at that. Think crazy, colorful costumes, parades, music and confetti-throwing galore. Starting on the Monday after Ash Wednesday (February 22, 2010) at 4 a.m., the festivities of Basler Fasnacht last three full days and “turn the town upside down.” Talk about a cure for the winter blues. Shack up at Les Trois Rois, the city’s elegant grand hotel, by taking advantage of the Carnival Package. The concierge will give you the scoop on where to go to find the best music concerts, the procession and the “Schnitzelbänken” (satirical entertainment). Here’s what’s included in the package:

* Two nights in a luxurious room or suite
* Lavish breakfast buffet or continental breakfast in your room
* Morgestraich Morgestraich refreshments at the Hotel drey Waggis
* A golden “Blaggedde” (carnival badge)
Priced from CHF 810 in a Junior Room.

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The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa– the “Jewel of the Desert” that’s part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection– has unveiled a new hotel within a hotel. Set in the heart of Phoenix, the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired resort has long charmed visiting celebs with its lush gardens and sparkling pools. Now the resort has opened a smaller, boutique hotel called Ocatilla at the Arizona Biltmore. This private sanctuary has Club & Club Deluxe room types, plus a dedicated concierge in an elegant lounge where continuous culinary goodies are on offer throughout the day. What’s more- guests of Ocatilla get an extensive menu of Signature Services, like the “Ocatilla Personalized Morning Start” where coffee, tea or orange juice are brought to your room upon request, the “Therapeutic Turndown Bath” and Pre-Departure Services, where the Ocatilla Concierge take cares of airport transportation, prints airline boarding passes, tends to any shipping needs and rental car return. Take advantage of a special luxury offer currently available at Ocatilla, where you get a fourth night free, daily breakfast, and a $50 resort credit.

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Talk about guilt-free luxury. The Phuket resort prized for its chic, beachfront rooms and rejuvenating spa is environmentally-friendly, too. The Aleenta Resort and Spa Phuket – Phangnga has created a Marine Turtle Foundation to support the repopulation and rehabilitation of the local turtles that are threatened by over-development and over-fishing. Thailand’s four species of marine turtles include the Leatherback, the world’s largest living reptile, which has been listed as globally endangered since 1970. Aleenta is located just 20 minutes south from gorgeous Khao Lumpee- Haad Thaymuang National Park, where the Turtle Sanctuary is located. Here guests can learn about conservation with staff, including an Aleenta representative, who tend to over 200 turtle hatchlings. Aleenta offers day-trips to the park so that guests can learn about the turtles. The resort also matches donations of THB40/per night which are made to the Sanctuary.

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Back in December, we reported on Virgin Galactic’s tourist spaceship, a pet project of Sir Richard Branson’s. Come 2011, travelers will be able to zoom through outer space for $200K. Next up for the business mogul? “A first-of-its-kind underwater plane.” Virgin Limited Edition made the announcement about Branson’s big purchase this week. An engineering marvel, the vessel can undertake underseas flights, moving through the water as if it were air. Here’s the word from ABC News:

The “aero submarine” — Branson’s is named the Necker Nymph — can dive to a depth of about 130 feet below the water’s surface, carrying two passengers and a pilot. The three-person submersible will be delivered later this month to Branson’s private Caribbean resort, Necker Island, and will be anchored to the deck of Branson’s luxury catamaran, the Necker Belle. For guests who spend $88,000 to rent the high-end yacht for one week, the Necker Nymph can be hired out for an equally princely sum — $25,000 per week.

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It’s only natural that the art-filled Chambers Hotel– described as the “Luxury Art Hotel in Minneapolis”– is turning into a Le Meridien property. After all, Starwood’s Le Meridien brand is all about culture and refinement, sponsoring various art programs at properties worldwide. Since it’s opening in 2006, Chambers has gotten rave reviews for its design aesthetic and art collection featuring 250 original works. Now called “Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis,” the property is owned by art collector Ralph Burnet, who also owns W Minneapolis- The Foshay, a city landmark of cutting-edge cool.

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Luxury hotel fans, brace yourselves for a new brand. Omni Hotels and Resorts is launching a new line of boutique hotels called “Mokara.” The first in the new portfolio? The Watermark Hotel & Spa, the nationally-recognized hotel in San Antonio, which will be rebranded Mokara. (Situated on the San Antonio Riverwalk, the Watermark is pictured at right.) Meaning an “orchid with healing properties,” Mokara is the current existing name for Omni’s luxury spas. The new hotels will thus focus on wellness. The official launch date is April 1, 2010.

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Foodies, rejoice. For the month of February, you can indulge in a sumptuous three-course menu at Adour– Alain Ducasse’s superb eatery at The St. Regis Washington D.C.– for just $49 per person. What a steal! The whole idea is to experience the essence of Adour cuisine designed with wine in mind. Created by Executive Chef Julien Jouhannaud, the menu looks sensational– from amuse bouche to decadent dessert. There are plenty of options per course. Here’s a sampling of items: polenta soup with ricotta gnocchi to start; followed by seared Loch Duart Scottish salmon, duck breast and lavender honey, or hanger steak (USDA Prime 5 oz); and to finish- the roasted mango; contrast of chocolate & raspberry, or classic winter vacherin with chestnut ice cream. This promotion is not available for love-birds dining at Adour on February 12, 13, and 14, 2010.

Related Articles:
Talk of the Town: Macarons-to-Go at Ducasse’s Adour Restaurant, Washington D.C.

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Continuing our quest to bring you deets on the newest (and often weirdest) hotel accommodation options out there… CNN is reporting that “floating hotels” may be the way of the future. We’re not talking floating hotels like the pyramid bobbing in the currents off Cancun, or permanently anchored luxury cruise ships… No, this floating hotel is an airship powered by natural energy:

The Aircruise is a radical new design that promises to accommodate guests in a 265-meter tall hotel that could float above city skylines or over dramatic landscapes according to its designers at Seymourpowell.

The experience is described as like taking a cruise, but high above the earth, so that the 100 lucky passengers can take in vistas of the Serengeti, or the tallest skyscraper in the world, in a serene environment. The beauty of this luxury airship? The head of transportation at Seymourpowell says it best: “The Aircruise concept questions whether the future of luxury travel should be based around space-constrained, resource hungry, and all too often stressful airline travel.”

Via Gridskipper

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Take a well-deserved city break and get treated right by Taj Hotels. After all, the brand founded on the tradition of hospitality knows that luxury is a way of life… Even at Taj’s U.S. properties, you’ll get spoiled like a maharaja. Book two consecutive nights at Taj Boston (located at the corner of fashionable Arlington and Newbury streets), Campton Place (a sophisticated landmark on Union Square in San Francisco), or The Pierre in New York (fresh from a $100 million renovation), and you’ll get a complimentary night to hit the town: savor a new restaurant, shop til you drop, explore the urban jungle. Valid til March 31, 2010.

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