Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. announced the debut of its Luxury Collection brand in the United Arab Emirates with the addition of Grosvenor House, Dubai. Located on the Dubai Marina, the 45-story Grosvenor House hotel first opened its doors in 2005.
The 422-room hotel blends Arabian decor with contemporary sophistication and has butlers on call around the clock. Grosvenor House, Dubai has 12 restaurants and bars, a fitness center and spa.
The number of rooms will almost double next year, when a second, identical tower opens. The second tower will add a total of 323 rooms, suites and apartment suites to the hotel's inventory.
• The Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux, in Bordeaux, France, will host a special wine-tasting weekend June 4 to 6.
The two-night package is called Weekend des Grands Amateurs and is geared to clients who are not necessarily wine aficionados.
The plan, which costs about $870, double, begins with a gourmet dinner in Bordeaux's city center with a wine expert who will give an introduction to Bordeaux, its wines and the art of tasting.
On Saturday, it's a full day of chateaux tastings, including the opportunity to meet wine producers. A Saturday evening gala dinner will be held at Medoc Grand Cru Classe wine estate, during which several chateaux owners will present their wines and estates. And on Sunday, clients attend a private reception at three wine estates, all members of Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, and have the opportunity to visit Saint-Emilion's medieval city center, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Additional nights at the Regent can be added for about $215 per person. Get details online at www.theregentbordeaux.com.
• The all-inclusive Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort Riviera Maya has been awarded Virtuoso status for 2010. To become a Virtuoso-affiliated property, hotels are evaluated by the presence of extraordinary services and top-drawer amenities. Properties are re-evaluated each year.
As a Virtuoso-affiliated property, Grand Velas Riviera Maya offers special amenities to guests who book through their Virtuoso travel agent, including private, roundtrip transportation; upgrade to the next suite category (subject to availability); a 20% discount on spa treatments; and a welcome bottle of tequila.
The resort, which has 491 suites, each more than 1,000 square feet, a spa and convention center, is 40 miles from Cancun Airport.
Retailers can check it out at www.grandvelas.com.