We have also been kept very busy with the launch of the fabulous Palace Hotel Tokyo, opening on 17th May.

7th March
Managing Director Maria and CEO/Founder Tanya spent a day at ITB in Berlin, meeting with new and existing hotel clients and attended the Travel & Leisure awards and the Lobster Marketing 360 party. The latter was attended by around 300 hoteliers as well as media and key players in the travel industry.
Click here to watch video of the event.

8th March
Lisa, Director of MICE Sales and Kara, MICE Sales Executive, attended Confex, an exhibition for meetings & events in the UK. The exhibition took place in the ExCeL venue for the first time this year and offered an opportunity for visitors to hear industry news from a line-up of speakers as well as to meet with new and existing contacts.

20th March
PR Account Directors, Isobel and Felicity, attended Country & Town House’s 5th anniversary drinks. The elegant property and lifestyle magazine chose the suitably glamorous Opera Gallery for their celebrations with cocktails and canapés.

2nd April
We are pleased to welcome our new PR Account Executive Katie to Mason Rose. Katie will be helping across all accounts in the PR portfolio

11th April – 18th April
Tanya went to New York where she visited newly opened Nomad Hotel in NYC , designed by Jacques Garcia, and the hotel recently taken over by King and Grove in Brooklyn, Hotel Williamsburg. She also visited Albany in Nassau, a luxury resort community owned by Tavistock Group (Tiger Woods and Ernie Else) made up of 36 privately owned villas. Perfect for families, groups or couples, the villas may be rented on a daily basis from £1850 per night. Tanya also attended the opening of the Ferragamo Store in NYC where Mr & Mrs Smith launched their Italian hotel collection book.

17th April
PR Account Director Felicity, PR Account Executive Katie and PR Intern Jennifer attended the House & Garden, Hotels by Design, party. Guests mingled around fabulous art work in Christie’s, South Kensington.

16th – 21st April
Maria went to Hong Kong to visit various hotels around the city and stayed at the fabulous Upper House hotel

21st April – 27th April
Felicity, PR Account Director, jetted of to Tokyo to visit the beautiful, soon-to-open Palace Hotel Tokyo. During her stay she experienced the wonderful Japanese, French and all day dining restaurants and indulged in a Vitalising Signature Seitai-inspired treatment exclusive to their evian SPA. Felicity was also taken on a fascinating early morning tour of Tsukiji fish market followed by sushi breakfast, and had the chance to practise her Japanese on unsuspecting locals over a couple of days exploring the city!

29th April – 2nd May
PR Account Director, Isobel, arranged a press trip to the stunning VILA VITA Parc in Algarve, Portugal. Highlights included delicious dining at 2 Michelin star restaurant Ocean under Chef Hans Neuner; a dinner in the Cave de Vinhos, an arched wine cellar located 26 feet underground; a visit to The Herdade dos Grous (Country Estate of the Cranes) with wine tasting; a visit to the spa and of course a trip up the coastline in the beautiful VILA VITA 72 foot yacht – a few very special days!

The Dylan in Amsterdam was not yet a luxury boutique hotel but a building owned by the Roman Catholic Church charities and known as ‘the old and poor people’s office’. They had acquired the building which used to be a former Theatre, which in past years hosted the works of Shakespeare, Moliere and Voltaire. It was not until 1998 that the building was completely renovated and reopened as the luxury boutique hotel we know today.

Castel Monastero in 1952 was known as ‘Monastero d’Ombrone’ and was a medieval hilltop village. It was not until 2007 that the thirteen ancient stone buildings that comprised the village were transformed into a rural retreat which continues to retain the medieval feel today.

In 1952 the fairy-tale Gstaad Palace in Switzerland was already in the hands of today’s owners, the Scherz family.  They were renovating the hotel after buying it from a German industrialist who was planning to turn it into a home for sick and retired factory workers. With entertainers performing at the hotel such as Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, the hotel started to attract the rich and famous, many of which then went on to buy apartments and chalets in Gstaad.

Many of the other hotels in our collection were already open, with The Excelsior in Dubrovnik being visited by the Queen and Princess Margaret in their earlier years.

It’s been an eventful 60 years with significant transformations at the above properties which remain amongst the very best places to stay – fit for a queen!

As we race through 2012, more and more people are relentlessly throwing away old computers and phones and opting for the crème de la crème of technology, as are hotels.  More often than not, we see an iPad in our hotel room instead of a room directory or a remote control that powers everything around you.

Tanya talks about living with a husband who prefers the most basic of remote controls and a son who spins through the latest apps with complete nonchalance and natural techy expertise. “I would never describe myself as ‘cutting edge’, but given the fact that I need to have my finger on the pulse of the future of hotels, there’s no avoiding being plugged in. And when I check into a hotel, I need to know that I am connected and fully charged, both socially and electronically.”

She talks about keeping up with rapid technological development and warns that hotels that are not coping with these changes will be left behind. “Successful international business travellers are IT-savvy and very short on time; a hotel that does not have the bandwidth to keep up is going to be left behind. It is simply not acceptable to be crawling around your room trying to find a plug socket to charge your business tools.”

One of the hotels that has adapted to the new technology successfully is the fabulous, Royal Mansour in Marrakesh. “I find myself checking into the Royal Mansour in Marrakech. Not only do I have an ultra-comfortable bed with soft linen and goose-down pillows, but I have a touch panel too.”  From this command centre I can select a lighting scheme, adjust my underflow bathroom heating, conference-call friends in Sydney and Buenos Aires at the same time and use express checkout for a speedy departure.”

In the future, Tanya predicts that hotels will be controlled through body gestures and voice recognition, and as a leading expert within the industry, we think she may well be right.

Mason Rose interviews Simon Chen, General Manager

Describe your ideal holiday?
Anywhere I can take my dog “Bear” with me.

What is the best hotel you have stayed in?
Working in the industry I have had the opportunity to stay in some great hotels but my all time favourite hotels are Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for the amazing service and spectacular views of the Sea of Cortez and Madinat Jumeirah in  Dubai where I proposed to my wife.

What do you always take with you?
My Bose noise cancelling headphones and my iPad. I never leave home without them.

What is your top travel tip?
Splurge on a great hotel like Rancho Valencia. Airline travel is not what it used to be and a great hotel can make or break a vacation.

Where do you want to go next?
My next trip is going to be skiing in the Swiss Alps followed by a week in Paris or maybe Rome.

What is the biggest packing mistake you’ve made?
After many years of over packing, I made a conscious decision to stop doing this, now I have a tendency to under pack…… if I only could find the balance.

What do you take care to avoid on holiday?
Restaurants near tourist attractions and organized tours. I love to explore off the beaten track where the locals go.

What is your favourite thing about Rancho Valencia?
Entering the gates of the resort and driving up the driveway every morning with the windows down and the sunroof open, smelling the amazing scents from the flowers and plants and leaving the hustle and bustle of San Diego behind me.

What has been the most exciting part of the refurbishment?
I would say that the most exciting part of the renovation has been not having to adhere to a brand standard. It has allowed for some amazing creativity in our product which will be second to none.

How would you describe a typical day at work?
Hectic, but very exciting. Yesterday the team and I blind tested over 150 different bath products to choose our new bathroom amenity line.

What makes Rancho Valencia stand out from the rest?
Our location and our staff. The resort sits on 40 acres just minutes from all that San Diego has to offer, but is far enough removed that you don’t have a care in the world. Our staff to guest ratio is 5:1 and I personally interview each one prior to hiring to ensure that they have a passion for what they do.

What are the other California ‘must see’ or ‘must dos’ for a visitor from the UK?
A must see is the world famous San Diego Zoo and Balboa park. Try paddle boarding on one of San Diego’s pristine beaches, wine tasting in Napa Valley, driving the coast of  Big Sur and skiing in Lake Tahoe.

Heading up the design is Todd-Avery Lenahan of ABA Design Studio, an interior architecture and design firm specializing in landmark luxury hotels and resorts. Avery will collaborate with one of Rancho Valencia’s original architects, Doug Mansfield, to preserve the Southern California landmark’s unique charm and sense of style that reflects the beautiful landscape surrounding the property.

www.ranchovalencia.com

Group Rates 2012

• October – rates from €169
• November – rates from €155

All rates are per room per night inclusive of breakfast based on single occupancy + VAT  @ 8%

Added value for the group includes:

• Guaranteed free upgrade to 55 sq. m. Junior Suite
• 1 Complimentary room/night per every 40 rooms/ night confirmed
• Complimentary WI-FI Internet access in all Hotel areas
• Special meeting room rental fees
• Beach front venue in exclusivity
• Special golf green fee at Marbella Club Golf Resort (€65 )
• Special further discounts for big volume groups

Added value for the meeting planner:

• Complimentary stay during group dates on bed and breakfast basis
• Special 20 minute relaxing massage at Beauty Centre “Milk & Roses”

The above offer is subject to availability during 2012 and valid for new enquiries received and for groups booking a minimum of 50 room nights. Rates are based on single occupancy in a double room and are inclusive of service but exclusive of 8% VAT.

For further information, please contact Mason Rose on +44 (0)20 7201 8050

Luckily for me, last week was my third visit to Dubrovnik in the last 2 years.  One of the things I love about the town is that it really is very small – you imagine it to be quite a big city, but this is not the case. With a population of just over 40,000, it is half the size of my home town of Chester.  With its diverse history, a tour of the old town with a guide is an absolute “must”. You simply won’t “feel” the city if you walk unaccompanied. My guide, arranged by Adriatic Luxury Hotels, was excellent – extremely knowledgeable and as she had lived through the war in the 90’s, she made it quite a personal experience too. Dubrovnik is a United Nations UNESCO Heritage Site with good reason; highlights include visiting the museum, which was not only fascinating but quite enlightening, and the Cathedral of the Assumption, which is truly stunning. It is built on the remains of cathedrals from as far back as the 6^th Century and the foundations are currently being excavated to reveal the ancient ruins. The city itself has quite a young vibe as it is host to a university, so there are plenty of concerts, a theatre, opera, shops and markets to enjoy.

My visit this time took me to the recently refurbished Villa Orsula, a real gem in the Adriatic Luxury Hotels family.  It is very small with only 13 rooms and suites, but very stylish with contemporary furnishings, beautiful gardens and a gorgeous restaurant and bar terrace overlooking Lokrum Island. I cannot wait to go back and stay there – it is the place to be!  Whether you stay at Villa Orsula, Hotel Excelsior, Hotel Bellevue or Hotel Dubrovnik Palace, just make sure you visit this vibrant city soon!

By Caragh Ashley, Director – Leisure Sales

Group accommodation rates
(available for a minimum of 10 people)

Superior double room from €480 per night including:

• A surprise gift from Le Bristol
• American breakfast for one or two
• Exclusive access to swimming pool & fitness centre
• Free internet &Wifi access
• Service and taxes included (except the city tax of 1,50 euro per person and per day)

Daily delegate package
(available for a minimum of 20 people)

At €205 per person per day including:

• Daily room rental
• Screen, LCD projector, lectern and flipchart
• Notepad, pens, newspapers and mineral water
• A 3-course lunch with mineral water, half bottle of wine or assorted soft drinks
• Two coffee breaks & Floral decoration

Rates are valid for any new request until 30 April 2012, excluding 2 to 9 and 20 March – subject to availability.

GROUP RATES 2013

Group accommodation rates
(available for a minimum of 10 rooms)

Superior double room from €500 per night including:

• A surprise gift from Le Bristol
• American breakfast for one or two
• Exclusive access to swimming pool & fitness centre
• Free internet & Wifi access
• Service and taxes included (except the city tax of 1,50 euro per person and per day)

Daily delegate package
(available for a minimum of 20 participants)

At €205 per person per day including:

• Daily room rental
• Screen, LCD projector, lectern and flipchart
• Notepad, pens, newspapers and mineral water
• A 3-course lunch with mineral water, half bottle of wine or assorted soft drinks
• Two coffee breaks & Floral decoration

Rates are valid for any new request from 2nd January, 2013 to 30th April, 2013, excluding 22nd to 29th January and 1st to 12th  March – subject to availability. Services and taxes included (except for city tax of 1,50 euro per person, per day).

Pera Palace is offering the below group accommodation rates:

Deluxe Pera view room: from  €210 single occupancy /€ 230 double occupancy

Accommodation rates are per room per night, inclusive of breakfast. Rates exclude 8% VAT and valid for bookings of 15 – 45 rooms and a minimum stay of 3 nights; subject to availability.

Daily Delegate Offer

The day delegate rate is from €60 per person and includes the following:

• Daily room hire
• Screen, LCD projector, flipchart
• Notepads, pens and mineral water
• 3-course lunch including one soft drink
• Two coffee breaks

Daily delegate rates exclude 8% VAT and apply to a minimum of 10 rooms; subject to availability.

The above rates are valid from 5th July to 31st August 2012 and 1st January  to 31st March  2013, subject to availability.

For further information, please contact the Mason Rose office on +44(0)20 7201 8050

Hotel Helvatia & Bristol are offering the below group accommodation and day delegate rates:

Group Accommodation Rates

November to December 2012 and January to March 2013:

• Single room -  from €180
• Classic Double Single/ Double use -  from €220 single/€250 double

September to October 2012 and April to June 2012/2013 :

• Single room – from €250
• Classic Double Single/ Double use – from €280 single/€300 double

Special Amenities:

• 1 Classic room complimentary every 20 paying rooms on a daily basis
• Up to 3 free upgrades guaranteed in Deluxe Rooms
• Newspaper of your choice

Accommodation rates are per room per night, inclusive of breakfast and valid for a minimum booking of 15 rooms for a minimum stay of 2 nights, subject to availability. A further 5% discount for a minimum of 3 nights from Saturday to Monday (inclusive). 10% VAT and city tax excluded.

Day delegate rates:

From €55.00 per half day and €75.00 per full day, per person.

Rates include the following:

• Meeting room
• 1 or 2 coffee breaks (depending if a half day rate or full day meeting)
• 1 business lunch (three courses, mineral water, 1 soft drink, coffee and petit fours included)
• Wireless internet free of charge
• Video0-projector (discounted from € 150,00 + 20% VAT)

Daily delegate rates are per person, subject to availability, valid for a minimum of 10 participants, 10% VAT not included.

Cancellations

Possibility to cancel entire group without any penalty 30 days prior to the day of arrival, within noon during low season.

For further information, please contact the Mason Rose office on +44(0)20 7201 8050