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HOTELS
Readers’ Choice Platinum List
themedwinedinners, nightbicyclerides,
photo tours, andguidedwalks through
the12-million-year-oldnamesake rocks.
Foodandbeverageprogramsdelve
deepest into local culture.At the
JW
MARRIOTT CAMELBACK INN RESORT&
SPA
inScottsdale, guests can takeanew
tourof the culinarygardenandpick
herbs to shakeup ina farm-to-glass
cocktail. Tequiladinnershighlight the
minglingofTexanandMexicancultures
atCiboloMoon in the
JWMARRIOTT SAN
ANTONIOHILL COUNTRY RESORT&SPA
,
helping the restaurant earnunique-to-
Texas certificationby theTequila
RegulatoryCouncil ofMexico. The
ROSEWOODMANSIONON TURTLE CREEK
inDallas just releaseda cookbook, and
AUBERGE DU SOLEIL
inCalifornia’sNapa
Valley isnewly retailing its chef’sac-
claimedpastriesand candy.
Sensitive to the time-crunchmost
travelersexperience, the
FOUR SEASONS
HOTEL BOSTON
pioneereda 15-minute
room-servicemenu that has recently
beenadoptedbrand-wide. Lastwinter,
THE RITZ-CARLTON, BACHELOR GULCH
in
Colorado launchedabeer tent next to
the lifts forbratsandhouse-madepret-
zelsbetween runs.
Exclusivityemergedasanother front-
running trend, epitomizedbyprivate
cookingclasseswithchef JacobAnaya
ofAzul, thesignature restaurantat
MANDARINORIENTAL,MIAMI
.
Wellness, too, remains important
toguests, a focusof
THE PHOENICIAN
inScottsdale,which recently renovated
itsfitness centerandexpanded it
to 24hoursdaily.NewYork’s
THE
WALDORF=ASTORIA
introduceda “Well-
nessLounge”at itsGuerlainSpa, fea-
turing light, locally sourced ingredients
plusa signature seasonal cocktail, all
available toorderon iPads, blending
localism, tech-savvy, andhealth.
“Thenew luxurycustomer,”said
JohnVanderslice, globalheadof luxury
and lifestylebrands includingWaldorf for
HiltonWorldwide, “wantsanup-to-date
serviceexperienceandauthenticity.”
InHawaii, toppick
THERITZ-CARLTON,
KAPALUA
nurtures islandauthenticity
withenvironmental summercamps for
kids, “walk ’n’ talk”history tours, and
outriggercanoeing trips.But the resort
alsoupdatedamenities to includeanew
adultpool, “dive-in”outdoormovies, and
freediningat tworestaurants forkidsun-
der theageof 12witheverypayingadult.
Downshore, the
FOURSEASONS
RESORTMAUI ATWAILEA
checks instyl-
ishlywithnewpool cabanasdesignedby
MissoniHomeandaseriesof exclusive
events includingaNovembergolfweek-
endwithPhiladelphiaPhilliesAll-Star
(andMaui native)ShaneVictorino. Its
neighbor
GRANDWAILEA
openedAmasia
fromchefAlanWong inMay,andrecently
beganbottling thehoney itharvests
fromhiveson theballroom roof.
According toMattBailey, the
resort’smanagingdirector, the resort
continuallyupdates themajorityof its
offerings togeneratebuzz,whether
that’schanging theartgallerywindows
weeklyorusing locallysourcedsalts in
thespabaths. “Peopleare looking fora
moreorganicexperience,”hesaid.
OnKauai, theymaybe looking for
GeorgeClooney.
TheDescendants
Oscar
nomineestayed throughout thefilmingat
THEST. REGISPRINCEVILLE
,whichalso
servedasaset forseveral scenes.The
Top10Hawaii
1. TheRitz-Carlton, Kapalua,Maui
(800) 241-3333, ritzcarlton.com/kapalua
2. Four SeasonsResortMaui atWailea
(800) 819-5053,
fourseasons.com/maui
3. GrandWailea,Maui
(800) 888-6100, grandwailea.com
4. JWMarriott Ihilani Resort &Spa
at KoOlina, Oahu
(800) 626-4446, ihilani.com
5. TheSt. RegisPrincevilleResort, Kauai
(877) 787-3447, stregisprinceville.com
6. Four SeasonsResort Hualalai
at HistoricKa’upulehu
888) 340-5662,
fourseasons.com/hualalai
7. GrandHyatt Kauai Resort andSpa
(800) 554-9288, kauai.hyatt.com
8. KauaiMarriott Resort onKalapaki Beach
(800) 220-2925, kauaimarriott.com
9. Halekulani, Oahu
(800) 367-2343, halekulani.com
10. Hyatt RegencyMaui Resort &Spa
(800) 233-1234,maui.hyatt.com
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
SUMMER 2012
celebratedliving.com
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