Noku Hotels has announced the opening of Noku Phuket. It is the fourth Noku hotel after Noku Kyoto, Noku Osaka and Noku Maldives.
A 45 minutes’ journey from Phuket International Airport takes you to the newly built resort that is a hidden gem nestled on the hilltop away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Surrounded by natural flora, the resort features amazing views of the Chalong Bay.
Noku Phuket has been lauded with the Green Mark Gold award recently from the Building Authority of Singapore for its green design and sustainable efforts.
There are a total of 91 spacious Villas and Lofts furnished in soft earthy tones that marries Thai modern architecture with the hotel’s hillside lush greenery.
Each roomy Loft features a large bathroom and balcony that overlook the surrounding forested hills. The spacious Hill Villas provide wonderful sea views over Chalong Bay, and each stand-alone Tree Villa is a private sanctuary nestled amidst a quiet green landscape. Unwind in your private pool in both the Hill and Tree Villas or have a relaxing soak in the sunken bath.
For dining, EMBRACE Restaurant offers guests the opportunity to enjoy mouth-watering Thai dishes using locally sourced ingredients. After a long day of exploring the sights and sounds of Phuket at near-by attractions, guests can wind down and sip cocktails at The Terrace bar while enjoying the panoramic view of Chalong Bay.
Designed around a reflective swimming pool, the Wellness centre features individual spa pavilions with curated massages, an Infra-red room and steam saunas. Other wellness facilities include a fully equipped gym and a yoga room.
The hotel provides complimentary shuttle services to nearby beaches, the Phuket Old Town and shopping malls.
You may have noticed that we have been a bit quiet lately while we’ve been putting together our latest issue of Travel Dine Relax.
Since we launched the magazine in 2020, we’ve been overwhelmed by the feedback from our readers and we hope that our Spring issue doesn’t disappoint.
Jam packed full of ideas of where to visit, things to do and places to dine along with some inspiring interviews with two talented chefs, there’s something for everyone. So sit back and enjoy the journey.
Jumeirah Group (has announced a new international resort, Jumeirah Maldives.
Guests can now discover Jumeirah Maldives, an all-villa luxury resort tucked away in the crystalline turquoise waters of the North Malé Atoll, easily reachable by speedboat or seaplane from Malé Airport. Its idyllic location offers privacy for romantic getaways, a blissful island retreat for friends and family and experiences to suit the more active traveller.
The resort’s surprising panoramic architecture and calming interiors are the work of sophisticated Singaporean design studio, Miaja, who have created an elegant contemporary ethos in harmony with the natural environment, echoing modern Mediterranean chic – a design that sets it apart from the rest.
The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm offers bespoke service, celebrated rituals and exquisite culinary offerings from its world-famous Dubai address
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, today announced the highly anticipated debut of The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm. Heralding the storied heritage and celebrated traditions of St. Regis, this hotel joins a dynamic global portfolio and brings the brand’s signature hallmarks of bespoke service, innovative design, and exquisite experiences to the world-famous island and cosmopolitan city of Dubai.
“With its spectacular skyline, breathtaking desert landscapes, contemporary architecture, thriving culture and varied entertainment offerings, Dubai is one of the most sought-after destinations for global leisure travellers,” said Sandeep Walia, Area Vice President – United Arab Emirates, Marriott International. “The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm is an exquisite addition to our global portfolio and offers a century-old legacy of uncompromising refinement and bespoke service on Dubai’s iconic Palm Jumeirah.”
“We are delighted to welcome the St. Regis brand to our portfolio of hospitality partners. Palm Jumeirah is firmly established as a world-leading destination for living, leisure and tourism, and the opening of The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm brings yet another world-class hospitality offering to the island’s ever-growing list of attractions, including The View, which opened at the top of The Palm Tower last month. With its enviable location, luxury facilities and signature service, the hotel is sure to be a draw for UAE residents and Dubai’s regional and global luminaries,” said Omar Khoory, Chief Assets and Hospitality Officer at Nakheel.
Image Courtesy of St Regis Hotels & Resorts
Sophisticated Design and Exceptional Accommodations
Designed to feature the brand’s sophisticated aesthetic, The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm balances local influences with the modern glamour and visionary spirit of St. Regis. Elegant décor and contemporary interiors are accentuated with bespoke elements such as the hotel’s grand staircase, which is embellished with gold detailing that encircles an exquisite chandelier. Inspired by the Arabian palm tree, the chandelier is gilded with shimmering crystals that gracefully illuminate the ground floor of the hotel.
The intimate lobby features plush lounge areas, and a tucked-away library lit by an artful fireplace. The corridors and gathering spaces are adorned with a thoughtfully curated art collection featuring contemporary artwork and paintings. The 264 lavishly appointed guestrooms and 26 elegant suites offer luxuriant comfort, exceptional amenities and expansive views of Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm features the renowned hallmarks of the St. Regis brand, including St. Regis Butler Service, which allows each guest to customise their stay according to personal tastes and preferences.
Distinctive Culinary Experiences
The hotel is a vibrant lifestyle destination with a diverse selection of restaurants, bars and lounges. Cordelia sets the tone for a sophisticated evening, offering a variety of flavourful cuisine, including premium cuts of meat and seafood sourced from around the world – expertly prepared and grilled to perfection.
Her by Caroline Astoroffers an elegant gathering place to enjoy the brand’s signature Afternoon Tea. The ladies-only venue is an intimate setting and features curated tea pairings and a locally inspired take on this acclaimed St. Regis ritual.
The iconic St. Regis Bar extends the legacy of the King Cole Bar at the brand’s flagship property at 55th and Fifth Ave. in New York City, where the world-renowned Bloody Mary cocktail was born in 1934. Guests can enjoy The Glitzy Mary, a locally inspired take on the brand’s signature beverage, which features traditional Emirati flavours including date syrup, an aromatic bazaar spice blend, sun-dried lime and earthy saffron. The poolside restaurant, DipPool Bar, with scenic views of Dubai’s skyline,is the ideal place to relax and enjoy a light meal.
Honouring a signature tradition at St. Regis properties around the world, The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm marks the transition from day to evening with a celebratory sabering at dusk.
Rejuvenation for the Body and Soul
A luxurious oasis, The St. Regis Spa offers transformative and bespoke signature treatments, including the Signature Gold Journey, which uses 24k gold to nourish and strengthen the skin. Guests can work out in the exclusive Fitness Center, featuring a range of cardio and strength equipment, or enjoy a leisurely swim in a choice of two pools, one for families and one for adults. The hotel is also steps away from soft sandy beaches and the soon-to-open St. Regis Beach Club.
A Sophisticated Destination for Bespoke Events
Marking the brand’s legacy of iconic celebrations, The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm boasts an elegant Astor Ballroom, which is brightly lit with natural daylight and features grand sculpted doors, blended silk rugs and a striking chandelier with abstract fluted glass leaves. From intimate events to lavish celebrations and business gatherings alike, the hotel offers choice and flexibility with its six multi-purpose meeting rooms, all equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
“We are delighted to have opened the doors of The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm and look forward to inviting guests to enjoy our rituals and traditions, alongside exceptional luxury and anticipatory service,” said Marwan Fadel, General Manager, The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm.
The City’s Finest Address
The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm occupies the first 18 floors of The Palm Tower, a stunning new 52-story landmark development connected to the Nakheel Mall, which offers world-class shopping, a variety of culinary venues and entertainment options. Guests can also access the Palm Monorail from the mall for a scenic route to the landmarks of Palm Jumeirah. On the 52nd floor of the tower, The View at The Palm is an exclusive observation deck that rests 240 metres above the iconic island and offers sweeping, 360-degree views of Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf and the city skyline, as well as an interactive experience showcasing the history and creativity behind the island. The hotel is also a three-minute drive to The Pointe, an iconic waterfront destination, with restaurants, shops, and the world’s largest fountain measuring 7,327 square metres.
Viking® has announced that it will restart operations in the Mediterranean with new ocean voyages for vaccinated guests beginning this summer. Offered as part of Viking’s Welcome Back collection, Viking Venus® and Viking Sea® will homeport in the Maltese capital city of Valletta—a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site—and sail two different 11-day roundtrip itineraries in the Mediterranean. As a result of strong demand, Viking also announced today it is adding more sailing dates this summer for its Welcome Backvoyages around Iceland, including sailings available to UK guests, and Bermuda.
Guests on the new Malta & Adriatic Jewels itinerary will overnight in Valletta and then sail to Montenegro and Croatia, calling in Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar and Šibenik, before returning to the Maltese archipelago, with a stop in Gozo and finally back to Valletta. Guests on the new Malta & Greek Isles Discovery itinerary will also overnight in Valletta and then sail to Greece, calling in Kalamata, Athens, Santorini, Rhodes and Souda Bay, before returning to Valletta. Viking Venus and Viking Seawill sail the itineraries between July and early October 2021. Delivered in April 2021, Viking Venus is Viking’s newest ocean ship and will be named in England on 17 May 2021 by ceremonial godmother and iconic British broadcaster Anne Diamond.
“We thank the government of Malta for its support and enthusiasm as we continue restarting operations,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Malta is a fantastic destination, with ancient history, rich culture and a central location in the Mediterranean. We began calling in Malta in 2016 and look forward to welcoming guests back to some of the most historically significant and naturally beautiful areas of the Med—in both the Maltese archipelago, as well as along the Croatian coast, and around Greek islands this summer.”
The news follows Viking’s recent announcements of Welcome Back ocean voyages in England, Iceland and Bermuda, beginning in May 2021. The company is actively working on developing additional Welcome Back itineraries in a variety of other destinations, with the goal of announcing further 2021 sailings as soon as government approvals are given.
Those who sail these new voyages will also experience Viking’s industry-leading health and safety programme. Grounded in scientific research, the Viking Health & Safety Programme was developed in partnership with an international team of medical advisors, including Raquel C. Bono, M.D., Viking’s Chief Health Officer. Dr. Bono is a board-certified trauma surgeon and retired Vice Admiral of the United States Navy Medical Corps—and most recently led Washington State’s medical and healthcare systems response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilising a full-scale laboratory installed on every Viking ocean ship, all guests and crew will receive daily quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests. New air purification technology has also been installed on all Viking ships, which have always featured independent air handling units for all guest staterooms. And additional health checks, sanitisation and physical distancing measures will provide further protection for Viking guests and crew at all points of the journey. A complete overview of the Viking Health & Safety Programme can be found at: www.viking.com/health-safety
The Spanish hotel group is scheduled to open Palladium Hotel Menorca on 28 May.
Palladium Hotel Group continues its expansion across the Mediterranean, with its new property on the island of Menorca planned to open on 28 May.
Palladium Hotel Menorca’s opening will coincide with a new tourism campaign to promote the island and aid the island’s recovery.
Images courtesy of Palladium Hotel Group
Menorcan inspiration in the Mediterranean
Inspired by the true essence of Menorca and the Mediterranean Sea, Palladium Hotel Menorca is the second hotel outside Ibiza for the Palladium Hotels brand, following the opening of Palladium Hotel Costa del Sol in 2019.
It is a four-star hotel offering all-inclusive and half-board options. Overlooking Arenal d’en Castell Bay, it is about 20 minutes from Menorca’s capital Mahón and the airport. With 264 rooms, Palladium Hotel Menorca’s spaces are equipped with the latest technology.
Perfectly situated for exploring every corner and cove of the island, Palladium Hotel Menorca also offers guests the opportunity to try traditional dishes from the Balearic Islands as well as international cuisine at its Sa Barca restaurant, specialising in show-cooking. It also has three bars: Gregal Bar, Shake it! Pool Bar and a comedy theatre bar. Furthermore, through People of Palladium Entertainment, Palladium Hotel Menorca guests can enjoy live performances and a wide range of activities and entertainment for all ages.
Advantages for Palladium Rewards members
Palladium Hotel Group is offering up to 30% off and a free stay for one child for the first bookings to the hotel. Members of Palladium Rewards, Palladium Hotel Group’s loyalty programme, which launched last year, will be able to earn other benefits and offers during their stay, such as an additional discount and bonus points on their account. In addition, the company offers a flexible cancellation policy.
Palladium Rewards loyalty programme is another initiative from Palladium Hotel Group to improve the experience in its hotels and restaurants, rewarding its best customers with points, discounts and exclusive benefits. It is 100% digital, without physical cards, and is based on innovation and digitisation – characteristics of the group.
A unique and safe holiday
Finally, it is important to remember that in order to continue to ensure the safety of guests in all its hotels and take care of them during their stay, Palladium Hotel Group has strict health and safety protocols certified by SGS, the world’s leading company in inspection, verification, testing and certification, recognised as a reference for quality and integrity.
Hampshire-based Wildflower Turf Ltd continue to partner with luxury lodge holiday specialists Darwin Escapes and have created a stunning wildflower haven at the newly opened Rivendale Lodge Retreat.
Set in the heart of the Peak District with views overlooking the Alsop Dale, the luxurious new lodge resort is situated within acres of Derbyshire countryside.
With conservation a key component of the resort’s development strategy, Wildflower Turf Ltd was commissioned by Landscape Architects and Environmental Consultants RPS Planning & Development to lend their extensive wildflower expertise to the redevelopment project.
Consideration of the natural setting was of utmost importance, and the addition of extensive wildflower meadows around the site has significantly enhanced both the aesthetics and biodiversity credentials of the holiday park.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, during spring and summer of this year, Wildflower Turf Ltd provided the project with 8,800m2 of a modified mix of their Landscape Wildflower Turf alongside a further 3,500m2 of a bespoke Wildflower Turf blend. The bespoke mix turf was carefully designed by the Landscape Architects in discussion with the Peak District National Park Authority ecology and landscape teams. The bespoke calcareous grassland will serve to enhance the botanical interest of Rivendale by adding locally common, UK-native colour and diversity to the landscape, as well as providing a habitat for bees and other local wildlife.
As well as considerable wildflower plantings, the location also includes a number of new wildlife ponds, hundreds of native trees and a new “bat barn” to further conservation and protection of the local wildlife.
Since opening in mid-September, Rivendale has already proven extremely popular with holidaymakers and is a welcome new addition to the Peak District. The self-contained luxury lodges are particularly well-suited to meet the increased appetite for UK ‘staycationing’ whilst reducing COVID-19 risks.
Leading luxury hotel group, The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts today announces the signing of The Pavilions Anana Krabi (formerly Anana Krabi Ecological Resort), an eco-sustainable resort located on the southern west coast of Thailand’s famous Phang-Nga bay. The Pavilions Anana Krabi becomes the second new resort to join the rapidly expanding boutique hotel group in 2020, welcoming guests from February 2021.
The 59 key eco-resort is surrounded by Krabi’s famous limestone cliffs and peaceful greenery and truly focuses on wellness, sustainability and eco life. ‘The Farm’ uses the regenerative principles of composting and water conservation to supply produce for the ‘farm to table’ restaurant, a farm café and vegan cooking school; unique excursion experiences include a solar-powered long tail boat to discover local mangrove rivers; while a dedicated yoga and wellness centre incorporates a fitness centre, yoga pavilions, sauna and steam rooms, with five spa treatment rooms including a Himalayan salt room.
The resort’s 35m main pool water is sourced from the neighbouring volcanic mountains, offering not only a silken swimming experience but unique minerals for the skin and body. Four unique room types start at 32 sqm, all offering private balconies, 43″ LCD TV, complimentary mini-bar and espresso coffee machines. Spa and family suite types are also on offer, with up to 55 sqm of spacious living.
The Pavilions Anana Krabi will incorporate iconic experiences from The Pavilions brand, including 360° Bar for unbeatable sunset vistas and localised culinary fare, and The Pavilions Spa, an award-winning wellness experience that delivers locally inspired treatments with locally sourced products to ensure authenticity to the hotel’s eco-sustainable title.
An exciting ‘farm to table’ restaurant will feature produce sourced from the resort’s farm and local artisans, which takes a leaf from The Pavilions Himalayas, the group’s flagship eco-sustainable resort.
“We are thrilled to welcome Anana Krabi to The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts family and to expand further the eco-side of our brand, joining Himalayas and Mongolia. The Pavilions Anana Krabi is in line with our mission and philosophy, and will add to our global offering of unbound experiences for the discerning traveller,” said Gordon Oldham, Founder & Owner of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts.
“We envision guests will be seeking a sustainable and wellness orientated experience for their holiday in 2021 and beyond, and we are delighted to add another location for guests to experience the unexpected.” he continued.
The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts now has a total of nine hotels and resorts across Asia and Europe under ownership or management, with another five in the pipeline; two in Europe and three in Asia. The group recently successfully launched its franchise model for hotel owners and operators.
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