The Art of Luxury Hotels

Luxury hotels and resorts are increasingly collaborating with artists to create original works of art to enhance the look and feel of their public rooms and bedrooms and to differentiate themselves from the competition.

  It’s a subject that I explore in detail in the next issue of Sphere magazine but in the meanwhile three other striking examples of this exciting new trend have recently been unveiled.

It rocks:
Stephen Webster's pendants for the
Eden Rock Hotel, St Barts

  British Rock 'n' Roll jewellery designer, Stephen Webster has collaborated with the glamorous Eden Rock Hotel on the island of St Barts (www.edenrockhotel.com) to create an exclusive Eden Rocks pendant and earrings which have been inspired by the hotel’s setting on a rock promontory overlooking St. Jean Bay. The ‘Eden Rocks collection’ is available in either 18ct White Gold set with Turquoise or 18ct Yellow Gold set with White Mother Of Pearl- see images attached.  The pendant (which is engraved Eden Rocks)is priced at £4,580 and the earrings £3,650.

  This is the first time that Webster has collaborated in this way- the partnership was born through a shared ambience of high luxe glamour with a rock and roll edge in keeping with the hotel. The pieces are available to buy at the flagship Stephen Webster Mount St store in London as well as at the Pop up store at Eden Rock in St Barths.

  Creative Director of Stephen Webster and Garrard (the world’s oldest jewellers), Webster blends his love of traditional craftsmanship with his passion for contemporary music, fashion and art to produce modern, unconventional and beautiful jewellery. Heralded for his exquisite and cutting edge designs, Stephen Webster is the recipient of numerous awards and like Eden Rock-St Barths has built a dedicated global fan base. Webster’s clients include Madonna, Kate Moss and Kate Beckinsale.

Sea food for thought:
Alex Monroe's shrimp
for the Goring Hotel

  Meanwhile, Theo Fennell, known for his fun, witty pieces is creating a Tortoise Alias bracelet for the island of Mustique - launch date to be announced. The bracelet which was inspired by island life on Mustique, will be initially exclusive to guests and villa owners on the island for a limited period and then following this it will be available to purchase in Theo Fennell stores and stockists.

  Back in London, the Goring hotel and celebrated British jewellery designer Alex Monroe - whose famous bumble bee pendent has hung on the necks of the most discerning fashionistas, have collaborated to create an exclusive necklace, the Goring Shrimp, to accompany a special Alex Monroe-inspired afternoon tea at the hotel.

  Exclusive to the Goring initially, the quirky yet charming shrimp priced at £165 is hand made by Alex in Silver and plated with Rose Gold – and even has irresistible little eyes made from two black pearls.

The shrimp's tea party:
Alex Monroe-inspired tea
at the Goring Hotel

   “As a little boy I would run wild in the Suffolk countryside accompanied by my brothers and a dog called Sheba and buy huge bags of shrimp from the fishermen and sail them home for tea which consisted of a huge pot of tea and crusty white bread smothered with cool butter,” says Monroe. “These teas would last all afternoon until the sun sank below the high walls. So the Goring Shrimp will always remind me of spring afternoons lazing in the walled garden at the Old Parsonage, and of drinking tea of course. The Goring shrimp is a very likeable little chap; there is a great sense of fun about him and a tiny touch of nostalgia. I almost feel guilty that my mouth waters when I see him!”

  The Goring Shrimp is set to be one of the most coveted pieces for jewellery lovers this Spring.  It will be available to purchase exclusively at the Goring alongside the Alex Monroe Afternoon Tea, for the month of May 2012.  Thereafter, from June 2012, it can be bought online at www.alexmonroe.com and at Alex Monroe’s new flagship store at London Bridge.

A match made in heaven - Perrier Jouet champagne and Pennyhill Park

A match made in heaven:
Michael Wignall's food goes perfectly with Perrier Jouet

In another interesting example of a collaboration between two luxury brands, Pennyhill Park has teamed up with Perrier Jouët to celebrate the great champagne house’s bicentenary. For an exquisite five-course menu designed by the hotel’s 5AA Rosette and Michelin starred chef, Michael Wignall to be served in its Latymer Restaurant, Maison Perrier Jouët has loaned one of its Brand Ambassadors for the evening who will provide a fascinating education and tasting...including the delightful "Belle Epoque".

  The menu includes slow braised leek, Portland crab, Scottish langoustine, crab jelly, fennel fern served with 
Grand Brut N.V and poached Anjou pigeon, foie gras, boudin noir and brioche crumble
accompanied by Belle Epoque Brut Rosé 2004. The cost is £99 per person and special accommodation rates are available from £195 (bed and breakfast) for guests attending this event.

  To book call: +44 (0) 845 521 1881

 

It's full speed ahead for Aston Martin and other luxury cars in India

India’s luxury car market is booming with Mercedes and BMW among those enjoying rapid expansion as India’s increasing affluent middle class look to celebrated European car marques.

Joy of the open road:
Aston Martin in India

 India’s $1 billion luxury car market is expanding at 40 per cent annually, say market analysts. Crowds gather along Mumbai’s seafront to catch a glimpse of the expanding supercar parades.

  Aston Martin and Ferrari and Maserati opened showrooms in India last year, along side BMW. Lamborghini introduced its Aventador LP 700-4 last November and has already taken more than 20 orders.

  Lalit Choudary is Managing Director of Infinity Cars Private Limited, which is Aston Martin’s exclusive dealer in India. He too is experiencing growing demand from affluent India customers for his luxury cars.

 “Aston Martins are well known given the association with James Bond,” he says. “Affluent Indians often travel to the UK and have an affinity for British built products. The cars themselves drive beautifully on our roads relative to peer group given ground clearance, smooth drive of suspension and the like.

  He adds: “Indian customers like the fact that the brand is understated, elegant and less ostentatious than some of the peers. The cars are usable and won't just sit in garages for the perfect occasion to bring one out. The cars will always remain superbly styled and exclusive. The Rapide has been best selling give its four-door functionality. Among the two doors, the top of the line DBS has been the favourite.”

A tribute to Her Majesty, from her nephew, David Linley

With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations almost upon us, and the London Olympics just a matter of months away, the luxury sector is making the most of these exciting events.   

Flagging up the Diamond Jubilee:
Patriotic pieces by LINLEY

  LINLEY, manufacturer of beautifully made pieces with a quintessentially British as well as a slightly quirky feel is waving the most distinctive of flags and championing Britain with a striking collection of Union Flag accessories.

  The Union Flag is steeped in historical meaning and represents the union of a family of nations, whose influence extends far beyond the British Isles. The unique flag incorporates the national symbols of three distinct countries - England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and its name emphasises the very nature of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a union of nations.

  LINLEY’s Union Flag Collection epitomises the very best of British craftsmanship with a marquetry representation of the flag, using inlaid burr oak, burr walnut and ripple sycamore hand made by UK craftsmen using locally sourced wood. Marquetry is the technique whereby different veneers are used to create a design or picture, rather like a jigsaw puzzle.   

  Paper thin veneers are cut to a design and pieced together before being applied to a solid base - a labour intensive and meticulous discipline that requires the utmost skills of craftsmanship, a characteristic for which LINLEY is known. The collection includes a Money Box, Pen Pot, Bookends, Trinket Box, Matchbox Sleeve, Humidor, Tea Caddy, Cufflink Box and Photo Frames.

  So toast some crumpets, have a brew, talk about the weather and wave the flag for the Best of British collections at LINLEY.

Breitling's tribute to the Bentley GMT V8

Time to put your foot down:
Bentley and Breitling

Top of the range cars and luxury watches have had a long and successful partnership – think TAG Heuer and McLaren or Ferrari and Panerai among others.

  One of the most celebrated collaborations, though, is between Bentley and Breitling and to celebrate the launch of the Continental GT V8 with its ultra-powerful new 4.0 V8 engine Breitling has created a 250-piece limited series of the Bentley GMT chronograph.

  Its signature feature is the mobile inner city bezel distinguished by a metallic red shade creating a powerful and sporting contrast with the black dial. This vivid touch of colour reflects the red background of the Bentley emblem that sets the Continental GT V8 model apart from other models by the British carmaker. The original and daring design of the steel case with its asymmetrical lugs is teamed with a bracelet or a rubber strap exclusive to this model.

  The Bentley GMT boasts an ingenious multiple timezone display system. It is equipped with a red triangulartipped additional hour hand completing one rotation every 24 hours. The pushpiece housed in the left side of the case serves to move this hand forward in one-hour increments in order to display the second timezone – while distinguishing between day and night hours. Thanks to a rotating inner bezel bearing the names of the 24 cities, the user can also instantly read off the time in all the world's timezones in relation to that shown by the 24-hour hand.

  The selfwinding chronograph movement, chronometer-certified by the COSC, offers another technical asset exclusive to the Breitling for Bentley collection: a “30-second chronograph” with a sweep seconds hand making one full turn of the dial in half a minute and thus enabling readings accurate to the nearest 1/8th of a second. With the Bentley GMT “V8”, it’s definitely time for performance.

Experience the real Vietnam - in luxurious style, of course.

As luxury hotels increasingly look to anchor themselves in their locality to create a more authentic experience for clients, the Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa offers luxurious beachside living which allows guests to feel that they really are part of the stunning location. 

  Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa is located 198 kilometres northeast of Ho Chi Minh City and only 11 kilometres from Phan Thiet train station.  Guest are invited to “Discover a place where the sea meets the sand dunes in a paradise of relaxation.  Unwind to a symphony of swaying coconut palms, famously long golden beaches and stunning mountains, all blessed by Vietnam’s most ideal beach climate.”

   The average temperature of 29 degrees Celsius, accompanied by a pleasant breeze, creates prime conditions for kite surfing, windsurfing and sailing, to name just a few of the many water sports available.

Room with a view:
the interior of the Anantara Mui Ne

   To get a sense of where they’re staying and in order to explore the region visitors can set out on an exhilarating jeep tour or race down towering sand dunes on mats.  They can experience the rhythm of coastal life at Mui Ne village, watching boats set off for their daily fishing voyage and return to unload their haul or hire a boat and glide across the famous fresh water White Lake “Bau Trang”, spanning 70 hectares and home to numerous fish, including 30 kilogramme carp - or simply take in the forest and mountain scenery with a picnic on the banks.

   Visitors can also take a short speedboat ride to a small island and climb the 184 steps of Ke Ga Light House.  Built in 1899, this historic relic of original Binh Thuan architecture is now a major tourist attraction and offers wonderful views.  A more ambitious ascent can be found at Ta Cu Mountain, whose peak reaches 649 metres above sea level.  25,000 hectares of national primeval forest and an average temperature of 18 to 20 degrees Celsius create an inviting environment for scenic hikes.  Small paths wind upward for 2.4 kilometres and pass historic pagodas en route to the top, accompanied by a cable car for the less energetic, with the ultimate reward of a lofty panorama.

  Afterwards they can retreat to one of 89 rooms, suites and villas, designed to reflect traditional Vietnamese style and set amongst tropical landscaping with views of luscious gardens, the pool, fresh water lagoon or sea.  Deluxe Anantara room features include a spacious bathroom with a large stone tub and separate rain shower, and elite entertainment is catered for by a 32 inch plasma television with satellite channels, wireless high speed internet, as well as an iPod docking station in all villas.

   Guests seeking the ultimate in location, space and imaginative luxury enjoy an impressive choice of six villa types, the pinnacle of which is an Anantara Two Bedroom Beach Front Pool Villa and boasts 128 square metres of living space spread over two storeys, with a master bedroom on each floor providing a wonderful sanctuary for families, or couples and friends travelling together.

  Again, to add to the authenticity of the resort, tive restaurants and bars present authentic Vietnamese flavours and pay tribute to some of the world’s most celebrated cuisines. Highlights include fresh seafood grilled specialties with ocean views, a signature cocktail served in a local Cham pottery mug in a homely lounge, and cool refreshments at the swim-up bar, evolving into a poolside torch lit terrace with live entertainment by night.  Bespoke opportunities abound in the form of a degustation menu in The Wine Cellar, and Dining by Design romance in idyllic resort settings, as well as off-site in the midst of natural and cultural wonders.

The rooms at night

Banqueting, event and meeting facilities comprise four conference rooms for up to 250 participants, as well as exceptional al fresco reception locations.

   If its adventure or just lazing on the beach make the most of your holiday in Vietnam at Anantara Mui Ne Resort and Spa.

   One Free Night, 10% accommodation discount and  Vietnam Airlines Seat Sale

Stay 7 nights from £1,079 per person based on two adults sharing a Deluxe Room on Bed & Breakfast basis, including international flights and resort transfers. Book by 29 February 2012 for travel between 3 May 2012 and 12 June 2012. Save up to £430 per couple

   To book this offer with Western & Oriental please call 020 7666 1234

WandOtravel.com.