Recommend October 2015 - (Page 36)

northamerica Chic Stays Lobby of the new Playa Largo in Key Largo. paloma villaverde de rico florida: swanky stay new york: for the high-brow set THIS IS WHAT I CALL LIVING: Opening its doors in March 2016, Playa Largo Resort & Spa is Key Largo's first new hotel build in 20+ years. The resort, the newest addition to Marriott's Autograph Collection, sits on 14 secluded beachfront acres with views of the Florida Bay. Amenities include a private marina with boat launch; a pool; and watersports facilities-this is the Florida Keys, after all. With 144 rooms and suites, guests have a treasure trove of accommodation options, but the 10 bi-level bungalows set amidst thick tropical foliage with an upstairs master bedroom and a downstairs living room, plus full kitchen are the ones calling your clients' names. Then again, the 3-bedroom Beach House with its own pool sounds divine- it's fully decked out with wraparound balconies, a great room, and lawn and beach areas. PAMPER ME: When it opens, the 6-treatment room Ocean Spa will be Key Largo's only full-service resort spa, and it will offer such treatments as Mojito Scrubs, Coffee/Rum Scrubs and Bamboo Massages. BOOK IT: Rates in March start at $499 per night. SNEAK PEEK: playalargoresort.com; autograph-hotels.marriott.com or travelagents.marriott.com/travelagents THIS IS WHAT I CALL LIVING: It's a brand new look at Langham Place, New York on Fifth Avenue-the hotel is undergoing a major facelift that is set to be completed by the end of this year. It will transform the lobby; the corresponding bar and lobby lounge, Measure; and the guestrooms and corridors. To complement this refresh is the addition of a $2 million art collection by New York contemporary master Alex Katz, featuring 11 original works in the lobby and third floor event space, as well as 229 reprints of 15 additional original works added to the guestrooms, suites and corridors. PAMPER ME: The renovations are also spilling into the spa, with The Spa at Langham Place becoming Chuan Body & Soul, the proprietary spa concept created by Langham Hospitality Group. It's the only spa brand in the world based on the tenets of traditional Chinese medicine, and when it debuts in New York will offer a menu of new treatments. BOOK IT: As an homage to the hotel's new art collection, you can recommend the hotel's Little Collectors package to your high-brow families. It includes deluxe accommodations in either an Executive Place, One Bedroom Suite or Two Bedroom Residence Suite-all of which sleep at least a family of four; an 8x10 David Levinthal limited edition framed print; a signed copy of David Levinthal's book, "Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty?"; Tattly watch temporary tattoos; an Empire State Building by Lego; and a private 1-hour family tour (for ages 4 and up) of the top Chelsea art galleries including Lehmann Maupin, Gagosian and Pace, led by a children's art educational specialist (optional add on). The starting rate for the Little Collectors package, available through December, is $725. SNEAK PEEK: langhamhotels.com/en/langham-place/new-york or hellolove.langhamhospitalitygroup.com 36 october 2015 Lobby of the newly refurbished Langham Place, New York. recommend.com http://www.langhamhotels.com/en/langham-place/new-york http://hellolove.langhamhospitalitygroup.com http://www.playalargoresort.com http://autograph-hotels.marriott.com http://travelagents.marriott.com/travelagents http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2015

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: Starwood’s The Luxury Collection
Tour Talk: Defining Luxury
The Butler Did It
The BodyHoliday, Saint Lucia
Spa Wars
Raising the Bar in Mexico
Spa Treats
Chic Stays
Official Florida Travel Industry Education Program—Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Course
Stay Well at MGM Grand
Southbound, by Design
Speaking “Bespoke” in Europe
Indulgent Experiences
New Asian Beauties

Recommend October 2015