Loews Regency Hotel - New York, United States

In one of the most fast-paced and populous cities on Earth, sits an enclave of quiet elegance and luxury, the Loews Regency Hotel. Located in one of the most revered sections of Manhattan, the hotel is situated on a tree-lined avenue and neighbors upscale boutiques, antique shops and museums. Once inside, the lobby exudes warmth and friendliness: an exceptional quality that's just as inherent in the attentive staff. A recent multi-million dollar renovation has turned this hotel into a closely guarded secret getaway. The luxurious fabrics that grace the contemporary accommodations are enhanced with gold and wood accents. Sheets of the 200-thread variety and premier mattresses ensure that you will sleep deeply even if the city doesn't. It's lodging indulgence to the hilt. The polish and flair of the hotel isn't purely cosmetic. An impeccably attentive staff ensures that The Regency lives up to its refined Park Avenue address. Distinctive services range from individually designed workouts with personal trainers to the simple, welcoming gesture of a doorman that remembers and refers to you by name throughout your visit.

Badrutts Palace Hotel -- St, Moritz, Switzerland

Possibly The World's Most Famous Ski Resort, St. Moritz Can Legitimately Claim To Be The Birthplace Of Winter Sports Holidays. Situated Above The Village Of St. Moritz In The Heart Of This Recreational Mecca Is Badrutt's Palace, A 100 Year Old Landmark Occupying Over 6 Acres Of Private Grounds With Views Of The Lake And Mountains. The Famous Badrutt's Palace Hotel Occupies A Central But Quiet Location In 23,000 Sq. Mt. (6 Acres) Of Private Grounds With An Extraordinary View Over The St. Moritz Lake And Its Surrounding Mountains. The Sunny Climate, The Excellent Sport And Health Resort Facilities In Both, Summer And Winter, And The Excellent Cuisine Form The Background Of Its Reputation And For Your Well- Being. The Badrutt's Palace Hotel Offers 170 Comfortable Rooms (in Several Categories According To Size And Location) And 39 Suites And Junior-suites. St. Moritz Has It All And On The Premises You Will Find An Indoor Swimming Pool (outdoor Pool During Summer Season), Swimming Instructor, Sauna, Massage, Health Club, Beauty And Spa Center, Jacuzzi And Steam Bath. During The Summer Season We Have At The Disposal Of Our Clients 3 Tennis Courts, Tennis Instructor And An Outdoor Swimming Pool. St. Moritz Is The Birthplace Of Winter Holidays In The Mountains And Is Very Much Attached To Our Hotel, Offers A Large Range Of Possibilities And We Just Would Like To Mention That On The Premises You Will Find Our Own Ice Skating Rink With Instructor At The Palace Ski School. Our Shuttle Bus Service, Free Of Charge For Our Clients, Assures A Safe Transfer To The Corviglia Lifts And Back To The Hotel.

The Fairmont Singapore - Singapore

The Fairmont Singapore hotel is ideally situated at the crossroads of Singapore's business, cultural, entertainment and shopping districts. It offers 769 luxurious guest rooms and suites, a collection of 16 distinctive restaurants and bars and 70,000 square feet of prime meeting space - all supported by award-winning service teams.
In addition, guests have access to the Willow Stream Spa, one of the largest spa facilities in Asia, offering the best in spa and fitness services.
Luxury and style in the heart of Southeast Asia Singapore is not only the economic and trade hub of Southeast Asia, but also a cosmopolitan, vibrant mix of contrasts where history and modernity coincide comfortably, and East meets West to create an astonishing melting pot of cultures. With glittering displays of world-class shopping, fine cuisine and dazzling entertainment, and a pragmatic center of business and finance, this island-state offers friendly charms like no other destination. There's no better way to enjoy this captivating city than by staying in the heart of it all, in the unrivaled elegance and luxury of the award-winning and contemporary Fairmont Singapore.

Le Sirenuse -- Positano, Italy

The Old Palazzo Of The Marchesi Sersale Was Converted Into The Le Sirenuse Hotel In 1951. A Series Of Renovations Have Turned This Building Into One Of The Finest Hotels Of Southern Italy. The Hotel Has 63 Rooms, 2 Bars, Heated Outdoor Swimming Pool, Fine Dining And Light Lunch Served By The Pool By Multinational Staff. Most Rooms With Seaview, Jacuzzi, All With A/C. The Restaurant Is Closed During The Months Of December, January And February, Therefore The Hotel Will Offer Full American Breakfast Only Via Room Service. The Bar Remains Open When The Restaurant Is Closed.
Location Summary
Located In The Hills Of Beautiful Amalfi Drive, This Luxury Hotel Overlooks The Ocean From A Perfectly Located Perch High Above The Mediterranian Sea In The Town Of Positano. Approximately 60-Miles To Naples And Capodichino Airport. Limo Service Is Available Upon Request And Is Subject To Change.

The Peninsula Hong Kong - Kowloon, Hong Kong

The Peninsula Hong Kong has long been hailed as one of the finest hotels in the world. Created 75 years ago in the glamorous 1920s, the legendary "Grande Dame of the Far East" continues to set hotel standards worldwide, offering a blend of the best of Eastern and Western hospitality in an atmosphere of unmatched classical grandeur and timeless elegance. The Peninsula Hong Kong offers the ultimate in luxury accommodations with the most spacious hotel rooms and suites in Hong Kong. Each one of the hotel's opulent guest rooms is comfortable and stylish and equipped with advanced technology for the convenience of hotel guests - underlined, of course, by the world-famous Peninsula service.

The hotel's celebrated fleet of Rolls-Royce limousines, together with The Peninsula's helicopter shuttle service from the hotel's rooftop helipad, offer hotel guests luxurious transportation to and from Hong Kong International Airport and around Hong Kong.

The restaurants and bars at The Peninsula Hong Kong are among the most exclusive and most elegant in Hong Kong. Renowned as one of the best French restaurants in Asia, Gaddi's is Hong Kong's most elegant dining experience while Felix offers a sleek and stylish city rendezvous with stunning views across the harbor. High tea at The Peninsula's The Lobby is a Hong Kong institution, and the best authentic Cantonese food in town is served at Spring Moon.

The Peninsula Spa is one of Hong Kong's most luxurious hotel spa facilities, complete with a state-of-the-art Health Club, huge Roman-style swimming pool, and beauty and hairdressing salon. The pool opens onto the hotel's sun terrace, providing an incredible view of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island.

Hayman Island Resort - Great Barrier Reef - Australia

In Australia's Whitsunday Islands, Nestled Between The North East Coast Of Queensland And The Great Barrier Reef, Lies Hayman. Surrounded by idyllic coral fringed beaches and lapping the waters of the Coral Sea, on the south-western side of the island, Hayman offers 244 guest rooms, suites, penthouses and a beach villa. A Feeling Of Modern Tropical Elegance Prevails In The Guest Room Furnishings And Overall Decor Which Fully Complements The Surrounding And Provides Comfort And Privacy. The accommodation, restaurants, guest service areas, marine facilities and operational plant, have been designed to blend in with the natural beauty of the surroundings. No part of the resort is higher than four stories and throughout, shady ponds and gentle waterfalls thread their way among beautiful gardens, spacious walkways and open air lanais. This Superb Location Is The Ultimate In Island Living Where The Climate And Surroundings Encourage Relaxation And Create A Holiday Atmosphere. Hayman Has A Style As Special As Its Setting. It Is Warm And Friendly And It Is Also Australia's Most Prestigious Resort. Whether Guests Choose To Simply Relax Or Enjoy A More Active Holiday They Can Be Assured Their Time Spent On Hayman Will Be Unforgettable.

Raffles Dubai -- Dubai -- United Arab Emirates

Inspired by the great pyramids of Egypt, Raffles Dubai radiates an opulent blend of Middle Eastern and Asian decor. Under the apex of the pyramid, 11 distinctive restaurants and bars feature culinary delights from all over the world. For successful meetings and events Raffles Dubai offers a choice of 11 private rooms with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment and the latest wireless technology. The one-hectare masterpiece Raffles Sky Garden is Dubai's most luxurious venue for outdoor celebrations and events. From the extravagance of a SPA Pool to the pampering of the body and soul, the Raffles Amrita SPA with its 6 treatment rooms and gym is a unique and exquisite haven perfect for relaxation, rejuvenation and indulgence.

Four Seasons Whistler -- Whistler, BC, Canada

One of the most popular mountain destinations in North America, whistler nestles in British Columbia's coastal mountains, just ninety minutes from Vancouver. Its awe-inspiring setting invigorates both body and spirit, with best-rated skiing, championship golf and natural wilderness adventures for all ages. The resort, rests at the base of Blackcomb mountain, with cozy wood interior, fireplaces and terraces or balconies in every room, is one of the finest luxury mountain resort hotels in the area.

InterContinental Abu Soma --- Hurghada--- Egypt

InterContinental Abu Soma is one of Egypts most beautiful Red Sea resorts; boasting pristine golden sandy beach, turquoise waters and stunning desert scenery. Palm trees tracing the curve of Abu Soma's twin bays reveal a major landscaped oasis, which is creating an island of lush greenery. The InterContinental Abu Soma Resort Red Sea rests on prime water front location with magnificent views of the sea, sky and the distant desert islands of the Red Sea. The Luxurious 445 guest rooms suites with unique modern open design provide guests with magnificent uninterrupted views of the Red Sea. All rooms and suites have direct international dialing, personal safes, mini bar, satellite television channels, air-conditioning as well as complimentary Tea Coffee making facilities. The wide range of International restaurants include a Greek Restaurant, an Italian Restaurant, an Oriental Restaurant and a Seafood Restaurant as well as a variety of bars and the Discotheque.

A variety of recreational facilities for all age groups includes one kilometer private beach, one large outdoor swimming pool, 2,375 sqm, with integrated children pool, one 300 sqm temperature controlled indoor swimming pool in the health club complex, 2 tennis courts, diving center, windsurfing station,horse stables with Arabian horses as well as a state of art health club

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is set in lush tropical gardens, with 17 kms of natural beachfront. Fifteen minutes north of the airport, the resort comprises 265 spacious rooms, including 13 suites, all facing towards the Andaman Sea. Facilities include eleven restaurants and bars, Thai cooking school, three magnificent pools, a Mandara Spa, shopping arcade and an activities-packed kids club. The fitness center includes two tennis courts, yoga sala. Golf available nearby.

Luxury Hotels

Luxury Hotels are known for their lavish decor and extraordinary service. With superior amenities, accommodations at luxury hotels are designed to thoroughly pamper and impress guests. According to a Business Week Online article, those in the luxury market are getting harder to please stating that luxury goods and service providers can't afford to blunder with the level of service and customer experience they provide. For this reason, many luxury hotels go far beyond the norm by providing a lifestyle experience equal to or better than what guests have become accustomed to at home. Luxury hotels frequently offer full-service day spas, five-star restaurants staffed by world-class chefs, ballrooms, lavish pools, golf packages and guest services that are unsurpassed by any other class of hotel. In addition, luxury rooms generally include those amenities found in business class hotels plus in-room safes, goose down comforters and pillows, marble showers and tubs, larger rooms, separate sitting or living area and fog-free bathroom mirrors. Rates can range from $129US per night to $2,000US per night.

Business Hotels

Business hotels offer a high standard by providing rooms equipped with what business travelers would consider necessities. Usually found in business-class hotel rooms are high speed Internet connections, alarm clocks, comfortable beds, irons and ironing boards, coffee makers, complimentary newspaper delivery and hairdryers. Rates can range from $80US per night to $250US per night. The facility of a business hotel would also offer an in-house restaurant, bar, exercise room and shuttle service to nearby airports. Limit concierge assistance is often included as well as room service, laundry and dry cleaning and wake-up calls.

Budget Hotels

Budget hotels offer clean albeit simple rooms that provide the basics of places to sleep and shower. Usually budget hotels are designed for travelers looking to maximize their funds and minimize expenses. Some of the Budget hotels offer breakfast as well and very popular for early morning check out travelers. Prices can range from $20US per night to $70US per night.

Choosing a Hotel

Because of the diversity of hotels a rating system, based on stars, was created. However, rating systems don't all carry the same definitions. For instance, the American Automobile Association (AAA) in the United States regularly reviews and rates facilities with a scale based on one star to five stars. The ratings reflect specific written standards set forth by AAA. Travelers who are familiar with this system will know what to expect when booking a reservation at a hotel rated on this scale.

But in Europe or Latin America, ratings systems (if they exist) are widely scattered and unorganized. The same applied to most online travel booking sites that apply their own "star" system, which is not related to AAA.

If the facility is unfamiliar, rather than rely on a ratings system that could be unfounded, look to online review sites for help or ask friends or business associates for recommendations.

From their humble beginnings in spare rooms of private homes to the most plush, opulent and service-oriented facilities available, hotels have evolve into temporary housing for people of all classes who travel. With such a diverse selection, finding a hotel that caters to your needs, on your level can be the defining point in a holiday or business trip.

History of hotels

Evidence of hotels and the hospitality industry have been recorded as far back as biblical times when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem during the census. As the Bible depicts, Mary and Joseph were refused accommodations because there "was no room at the inn." Since the beginning of time, people have traveled for commerce, religion, family, health, immigration, education and recreation.

The word "hospitality" comes from the Latin root meaning "host" or "hospice." The first hotels were nothing more than private homes opened to the public. Most, unfortunately, had poor reputations. Under the influence of the Roman Empire, inns and hotels began catering to the pleasure traveler in an effort to encourage visitors.

The first inn located in America was recorded in the year 1607 and lead the way with many other firsts in the hospitality industry. The first publicly held hotel (the City Hotel) opened in New York in 1792. The first modern hotel (the Tremont) opened in Boston in 1809 and the first business hotel (the Buffalo Statler) opened in 1908.

From there a surge of hotels flooded American and the rest of the world with prominent names such as Radisson, Marriot and Hilton.