Years ago, when I first strolled into Miami Beach’s swanky Fontainebleau, I felt a heightened pizzazz, aswirl in the kind of stimulating panache and prestige that trumpets: Pay attention! For travel lovers of glam getaways—especially those renowned as celeb and A-lister favorites—Fontainebleau Miami Beach is a legendary draw. Today, it continues to be a hotspot of cool goings-on, much expanded and revitalized again and again since its 1954 launch. A $1-billion makeover in 2008 wowed. “Every era of American history has its architectural touchstones, buildings that transcend their time and come to define a cultural moment,” says author Stephen Wallis in Fontainebleau, the newly published, silk-wrapped, oversized hardcover coffee table book (3.4-pounds) by luxury publisher Assouline, which celebrates the curvilinear-shaped resort’s illustrious past, present and forward leap. “The Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach is that kind of landmark,” he adds. “An instant sensation when it opened, it remains an enduring icon, repeatedly updated and evolving to this day.” With principal photography by Peter Arnell, who is Fontainebleau Development’s chief brand and design officer, this striking book highlights treasures and pleasures of the famous Florida oceanside symbol. Dive into its thick paper stock pages that are ripe with riveting photos and illustrations. Wallis engagingly writes about Fontainebleau’s history and mystery, deals and diversions, challenges and change-makers, imagination and innovation.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi's respectful refurb
06.03.2024 - 14:03 / travelweekly.com / Graham Greene / Charlie Chaplin
Hanoi's Old Quarter has many constants, from its French Colonial architecture, Opera House and 1,000-year-old Temple of Literature to its vibrant street food and the chaotic two-, three- and four-wheel traffic that swirls all day and much of the night around picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake.
The Vietnamese capital has a further constant: the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, one of Asia's legacy grand hotels. Opened in 1901, it has now daringly and, as I saw for myself, quite spectacularly refurbished its original Heritage Wing, adding six suites.
Never out of the top rankings of the world's most prestigious luxury hotels, it's easy to see why this heirloom property -- the oldest continuously operating hotel in Vietnam and one of only six Sofitel Legends -- is the most awarded of the Accor Group's upscale brand.
The icing on the cake of the 21-month refurbishment was the mid-December opening of the six new Metropole Suites. These take pride of place in the Heritage Wing alongside the hotel's Legendary Suites, named for Charlie Chaplin, Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene, three of the celebrated guests whose names are in the packed visitors' book, alongside Jane Fonda, Bill Clinton and Joan Baez, to mention just three more-recent patrons.
In November, I got a sneak preview of the work and the new suites from Andrew Slewka, the hotel's director of sales and marketing.
On the Heritage Wing's third floor, which was added to the original two floors in the 1960s, we sidestepped squads of hard hats putting the finishing touches on the rooms and the suites. Slewka told us that Chaplin spent his honeymoon here in 1936 with his wife Paulette Goddard, but this third floor, which now has the suite named after him, did not exist at the time.
I used the word daring for this refurbishment because meddling with history is always a gamble.
The lobby sitting area in the refurbished Heritage Wing at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sofitel Legend Metropole HanoiNew touches, old elegance
Just how much of an old master, or in this case a historical building, can you restore without losing its soul?
The architects seemed to hit just the right note, respecting the Metropole's age and spirit by refreshing the rooms with a palette of rich classical shades and adding delicate, white wall moldings. They also played with mood lighting, which, as any art curator will tell you, is the secret to turning even the dullest exhibit into a star attraction.
The ground-floor reception area has been given a new antique mirrored ceiling and new desks, furniture and soft lights, evoking a sense of nostalgia with contemporary flair. And the original wooden staircase, banisters and handrails from the lobby to the
Chicago Blues Festival 2024: A Celebration of Blues Legends and Chicago’s Musical Heritage
The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the full lineup and programming highlights for the 2024 edition of the beloved Chicago Blues Festival, taking place June 6 – 9 as part of Millennium Park’s milestone 20th anniversary season.
Weekend In St Moritz With Two Legends—Badrutt’s Palace And Chef Nobu Matsuhisa
Located high in the mountainous Engadine in Switzerland, St Moritz is the famed Alps ski town in which Badrutt’s Palace is located. A historic ski resort attracting the rich and famous, as well as young European aristocrats, St Moritz continues to amaze.
The Most Convenient Airbnbs Near Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Around 1,600 towering karst pillars and forested islets spring from the emerald bays off Vietnam’s northeastern coast. Traditional sailing junks, cabin cruises, and yachts drift through the Ha Long, Lan Han, Bai Tu Long bays, and the Cat Ba Archipelago. Most travelers spend at least one night aboard with kayaking, climbing, and short yet steep hikes immersing you further in this spectacular landscape.
Barbados Announces Plans to Host Inaugural Event During Legends Tour
Barbados is poised to welcome a thrilling addition to its golfing calendar with the inaugural ‘Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam’ this year. Scheduled to unfold from May 3rd to 5th, this prestigious tournament promises to draw esteemed golfers and their families to the picturesque Apes Hill Barbados, under the stewardship of golf legend, Ian Woosnam, the 1991 Masters Champion. During Tuesday’s launch event, which took place at Apes Hill Barbados, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) announced that they were principal sponsors for the event.
The Legendary Pitti Palace In Florence Offers A New Take On Fashion
Add a new must-see to Florence’s staggeringly rich cultural offerings—the refurbished Fashion and Costume Museum in the Pitti Palace, part of the Uffizi Galleries complex. Closed for three years for restoration and from the effects of the pandemic, the Museo della Moda e del Costumemakes news by highlighting the recent past, debuting 12 rooms focused on 20th-century fashion, while remaining an important repository for historic pieces dating from the time when the Medicis ruled the town.
Insider’s Guide To Scotland: How To Experience Legendary Golf, Whisky And Castles
Scotland is one of the most stunning destinations, filled with enormous castles, rolling green hills, and magical lochs. Considering my ancestors were from Scotland, I took a road trip from Glasgow to St. Andrews for a customized experience of iconic golf, whisky tasting, and castle hopping, all with a private dedicated chauffeur.
Meet the Accor executive breathing new life into these 3 brands — including 60-year-old Sofitel
Accor isn't always top of mind for U.S. travelers considering where to book a hotel stay.
Here Are The Best Hotels in Hanoi For An Authentic Experience
Hanoi is the bustling capital of Vietnam. This storied city is known for showcasing a stunning array of centuries-old buildings with impressive architecture, and a rich culture blending Southeast Asian, Chinese, and French influences.
Legends of Kuching: in conversation with the craftspeople of Sarawak
Malaysia’s island region of Sarawak is a treasure trove of relics and rarities. Take a stroll down Carpenter Street in Sarawak’s capital city of Kuching and you’ll see stalls selling wood carvings, colourful beadwork, blankets and the woven mats that line the floor of traditional tribal longhouses. Nearby, at the waterfront, a bazaar of handicraft booths in the historic Steamship Building sells jewellery, paintings and scarves created by some of the country’s leading artisans. They’re guardians of Sarawak’s heritage, preserving skills that date back thousands of years and that might otherwise be lost in the rush to embrace 21st-century technology.
Drinking Ole Smoky Moonshine With NHL Legend Henrik Lundqvist
He wore a goalie mask on the ice but outside the rink you were just as likely to find Henrik Lundqvist on the pages of GQ as Sports Illustrated. Born in Sweden, he moved to New York in 2005 and spent his entire 15-year NHL career as a goaltender for the New York Rangers. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2012 and was just inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Now retired, the well-dressed Lundqvist is still a proud New Yorker and involved in numerous projects, including being a part owner of the restaurant Tiny's & The Bar Upstairs in Tribeca, launching a new fragrance ‘Next Chapter’ and hosting the ‘ Club 30 ’ podcast. Over Moscow Mules at Tiny’s, made with his favorite Ole Smoky Moonshine , I spoke with Lundqvist about his first drink, his love of New York and his talk with Paul McCartney about the difference between hockey and music fans.
Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City: which Vietnamese metropolis has the edge?
Who doesn’t want to visit Vietnam? This Southeast Asian powerhouse has it all: beautiful beaches, unparalleled history, diverse cultures...and did we mention the food?