Recommend May 2016 - (Page 30)

Asia Villa accommodations at Amanemu, a hot springs resort in Japan. New Properties Beckon Michelle Marie Arean The hotel scene is hot across the myriad destinations that make up Asia. Properties are popping up like wildflowers, with every country from China to Malaysia welcoming outstanding new properties and brands. Luxury Living Amanemu, a new hot springs resort, has debuted in the idyllic Ise Shima National Park on the shores of Ago Bay, or "Bay of Pearls," in Japan. This Aman property takes on a classic Japanese aesthetic in the ryokan tradition with each of the 24 suites and four 2-bedroom villas featuring their own onsen. The property's design uses a contemporary interpretation of Japanese Minka buildings by incorporating traditional low-slung tiled roofs and dark-stained Japanese cedar exterior walls. Each suite features floor-to-ceiling windows with woven textile and timber sliding shutters stretching from opposite ends of the room, allowing for expansive views of the national park surrounding the resort. The guestrooms' bathrooms mimic the design of traditional Japanese baths, and the private onsens are flanked by a floor-toceiling window with views of the private gardens. The hotel's 21,527-sq.-ft. Aman Spa, influenced by the area's abundance of natural hot springs and the therapeutic powers of water, features a large central onsen 30 may 2016 for communal bathing, plus two private spa pavilions, each with its own indoor and outdoor onsen; a fitness center; Watsu Suites; and a glass-walled yoga studio with an outdoor deck overlooking the garden. Guests also have access to Nemu Golf Club, which overlooks the bay, located just a few minutes from the property. The onsite restaurant's menu changes daily and is influenced by the locale, as well as what fresh produce the chefs have available that day. Guests can also delve into an international wine list, sake, shochu, and vintage Japanese whiskey. In addition, Amanemu can arrange private tours of local shrines, take guests to parts of the Kumano Kodo-a series of UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage routes-and arrange for guests to experience Okagura, a traditional Japanese dance offering prayers to deities. Rates start at $750 per night. This July, Tokyo will welcome the first Luxury Collection property, The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho. It will be located in Tokyo's Kioicho neighborhood near Shimizudani Park and Benkei Canal. The 250-guestroom property, which will be located on the 30th to 36th floors of the Tokyo Garden Terrace tower, will include 11 suites, a bar with 2-story floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the cityscape, an indoor pool, fitness center, spa, and club lounge, plus four restaurants and bars including an all-day dining venue. Over in Indonesia, the doors to Katamama, a Preferred Hotels & Resorts property and part of the brand's Legend collection, have swung open in Bali. The 58-oceanfront suite property, located on Petitenget Beach, features both traditional and contemporary Balinese design with handcrafted artwork and mid-century furnishings. For those clients who like to be wowed, the Katamama Suite features 3,450 sq. ft. of living space, two bedrooms with king-size beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an oversized rooftop terrace with a barbecue, daybeds and jacuzzi. Guests can indulge in savory treats at MoVida, which specializes in tapas-style Spanish dining, and Akademi, a mixology center. The property plans to offer a series promoting Indonesian culture with architects, designers, chefs and musicians. Rates start at $367 per night. Waterfront Oases During the first quarter of 2017, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will debut in Thailand with the Rosewood Phuket-in fact, Rosewood will be opening a string of hotels in Asia throughout 2019, including in Cambodia, China, Indonesia and Laos. The recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2016

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: On the Waterfront
Tour Talk: A Peek at Our Peaks
All-Inclusives: Raising the Bar
Onsite Review: Puerto Vallarta’s Hotel Scene
Onsite Review: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Onsite Review: Iberostar Playa Mita
Onsite Review: Moon Palace Jamaica Grande
Hotel and Experience Pairings
New Properties Beckon
Onsite Review: Cambodia
Southern Africa’s New Enticements
Onsite Review: Rail Europe
New Frontiers in Travel
Innovation on the High Seas
Mountain Resort Vacations
What’s New in Orlando
Onsite Review: Escape to Discovery Cove
Official Florida Travel Industry Education Program–Family Course

Recommend May 2016