Welcome to our newest new feature, Design Thursdays! Thursdays are now our day to focus on hotel design through photo tours, video walkthroughs and interviews with hotel designers. Got a cool hotel design story we should know about? Let us know!
When you look at the above photo, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn't "Best Western". And yet that's exactly what the Artmore Hotel's owners faced when they bought the building in 2009. Since then, the place has been a little spruced up: a central courtyard now features a fountain of fire and water, and the building's facade has been restored to its original brightly-colored Spanish Colonial design (the structure itself has been around since 1929).
Now, after having transformed an average roadside motel into a popular city destination, the folks at Artmore—understandably—are eager to be recognized for their efforts. The hotel's GM writes us:
"We want you guys to know about us- we are confident that we deserve a little HotelChatter love ourselves. Artmore Hotel is currently ranked #13 out of 197 hotels in Atlanta, and we are up against mostly branded hotels, so we are doing something right."For photos of the inside spaces, see below!
Rates at the Artmore start at $99 per night for an Executive King (above) which offers WiFi and an iPod docking station, and go up to $189 for a 2 Bedroom Suite.
As far as deals go, the "Art In Motion" package includes tickets to the High Museum of Art—literally two blocks away—plus breakfast for two at the hotel's Gallery Cafe, for a starting rate of $219.
Meanwhile, in the rear courtyard, a monthly jazz night has become an attraction for local crowds, making good use of the circular outdoor space. A band sets up against the north wall while tables and chairs all centered around the "fire fountain" offer guests the opportunity to soak in the sights as well as the sounds.
The next jazz night falls on Friday November 18. Will you be in town?
[Photo: Artmore Hotel]
For The Biggest Best Western, Head East
The "world's biggest hotel family" just got a little bigger. The Phoenix, Arizona-based mega franchise recently opened Best Western Vega Hotel & Convention Centre in Russia—the largest Best Western so far, out of 4,000 hotels worldwide in 95 countries.
Comprised of 970 rooms, the hotel was actually built for the 1980 summer olympics, but got remodeled in 2007. Certainly this will provide a welcome low-budget alternative to the extravagances of certain other Moscow hotels. But if we remember correctly, Holiday Inn was also planning to open their largest hotel in Moscow too. Oh, the indecision.
Visitors to the hotel will enjoy three restaurants, a coffee shop, lobby bar, fifteen meeting spaces, and a fitness center with Turkish baths and a Finnish sauna. Jeez, last time, all we got for our stay in Carmel was a free breakfast.
We wonder if Best Western knows about their competition over in Volgograd, Best Eastern hotels? Surely there can't be two bests!
[Photo: Hotels Mag]
Best Western Will Match Other Loyalty Program's Elite Status
What has your hotel loyalty program done for you lately? The folks at Best Western noticed that some of the elite status programs at other chains were being devalued but rather than leave you to shake your fist at the recession, they decided to step in and help you out. The Status Match, No Catch deal will let members of Best Western Rewards who have elite status with another hotel loyalty program to upgrade to elite status with them, too. Free of charge.
Existing Best Western Rewards members can upgrade by calling (800) 444-7646 or emailing BWRelite@bestwestern.com and providing proof of elite status with another hotel’s program.
Once you’re in, you can enjoy perks such as room upgrades, early check-ins, late check-outs, and the ability to earn bonus Rewards points with each qualifying stay at a Best Western.
Harry Potter Theme Park Opens Early to The Brits but They're Staying in 2-Star Hotels
The Portrait Gallery at Hogwarts. Your Orlando hotel lobby will not look like this
Are you excited for the June 18th opening of Universal Studios' newest theme park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Well too bad, because the British are invading it first.
Virgin Holidays out the UK have today announced that they're the official vacation package company for the Harry Potter amusement park (at least as far as the UK is concerned), and people who book their packages that leave on Virgin Atlantic flights from London-Gatwick get first dibs on the park as early as May 28, among other early-bird perks. It sounds awesome if you're in Britain now and can go, but there is a major downside: you've got some seriously crappy hotel choices.
C'mon! These are solid 2-star level hotels. Where's the variety? At least the official Universal Studios vacation packages for US folk are higher class with the Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock and Loews Royal Pacific. But then for those, you'll have to wait until June 18. It's just not fair!
[Image: Universal Orlando]
Vote on Best Western's New App Feature to Win a Million Reward Points
You probably know what you'd do if you won a million bucks, but what about if you won a million hotel reward points? Best Western will shell out 1 million of its loyalty program points if you help the budget hotel chain choose the next upgrade for its iPhone app Best Western to Go.
A cool mil in points equals 62 nights at one of Best Western’s 4,000 hotels across the globe. You also could cash it in for shopping, dining, and entertainment gift cards, as well as rental car and airline benefits.
The Best Western to Go app, which launched in December 2009, researches and books Best Western hotel rooms, personalizes trips with stored travel activities and keeps your peeps updated on your travels via social media-sharing capabilities. The contest asks you which feature you'd like to see added: travel tools like a flashlight or to-do list, special offers nearby, things to do or a receipt tracker. You have through June 19 to cast your vote.
What Would You Rather--a Free Night's Stay or a Disney Dance Party?
To celebrate summer, Best Western will give you a free night's stay if you check into the hotel two times this season and the chance for your Jonas Brothers-loving tweener the chance to win a dance party with a star of Disney's Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam.
Best Western Rewards members who make two separate trips to Best Western hotels through August 15 can earn a free night voucher toward their next stay, which can be used at any of the chain's outposts in the United States or Canada.
Best Western is also giving tweeners the opportunity to have a private Disney dance party. Teeny boppers can register online to win a bash for 40 of their BFFs at a nearby Best Western. Camp Rock actress Alyson Stoner will visit to teach some choreography. Maybe she'll give the lowdown on co-stars Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers, and if you're lucky, maybe she'll squeal on the details of Demi and Joe's breakup.
Another Paris Hotel Is Open, And It's Priced Tres Bien
Last week we were mulling over the new Hotel Athenée in Paris, this week our attentions are focused on another new property in la cité of light.
hLike the Athenée, the Marais Bastille is a new hotel opening in an old property of the same name (it used to be a Best Western). It’s been decorated by Michel Jouannet, who also did the cute Villa Madame in Saint Germain, and from the website, it’s looking lovely – bright primary colors mixed with white walls and outré art on the walls.
The hotel opened 12 August and you can currently get a double room for an exceedingly decent price of EUR122 ($155). That rate requires a minimum stay of three nights, though – rack rates start at EUR185 ($235) although we found rooms in September for EUR165 ($210).
All in all, that’s a pretty good price for Paris and the rooms look good. Chouette! We’ll be interested to see how it turns out.
Carey Mulligan Snubs LA's Luxury Hotel Scene, Stays in a Best Western Instead
Now, this is refreshing--a young Hollywood starlet with actual talent is staying sensibly in LA while shooting her next movie. Carey Mulligan, last seen in "Wall Street 2", has chosen to spend her nights at the Best Western Hollywood Hills Hotel instead of one of the town's luxury hotels.
The Daily Mail reports that Carey opted for the B-Dubs after breaking up with boyfriend, Shia LaBeouf, while she was still required to be in LA for a movie shoot.
A staff member confirmed yesterday that the London-born actress booked into the standard room with a queen-sized bed two weeks ago. ‘This is more a place for back-packers, students and those on a budget,’ said the source.
'I was stunned when I saw Carey walking across the lobby. You would expect her to stay at the Four Seasons, not here.
‘She is very easy-going. She hasn’t made any special requests and doesn’t ask to be treated any differently. She keeps herself to herself and seems quite happy here.’
True, the place does have free WiFi and the famous 101 Coffee shop on site but she could do just as well at the Andaz West Hollywoodor the London West Hollywood, two hotels where we think your money goes a lot further than other spots (both have free WiFi for one.)
Or she could even go back to The Orlando which is where the Mail reports she stayed before moving into LaBeouf's Valley mansion. Then again with rooms starting at $109 a night including a refrigerator and a microwave, maybe the B-Dubs is simply too hard to resist.
[Photo of Best Western: Daily Mail; photo of Carey Mulligan: ExtraTV]
Give a Best Western Gift Card and Get Yourself Some Swag
You'll want to buy everyone Best Western Travel Cards on your holiday list this year, not just because it's easier than scouring stores looking for the perfect present. It's because you will selfishly benefit, too.
Your giftee can use the card to pay for rooms and incidentals at Best Western's more than 4,000 hotels, while you earn your own gift card or reward points.
· 2,500 Best Western Rewards points
· $10 Best Western Travel Card
· $10 Amazon gift card
· $10 Home Depot gift card
· $10 Walmart gift card
· $10 Carrabba's, Fleming's or Outback Steakhouse gift card
The Amazon gift card would come in handy in loading up the Kindle with a new book, but the 2,500 rewards points is a nice perk. You can use them toward accumulating 8,000 to snag a free-night voucher.
To get your selfish side gift, you have to be a member of Best Western Rewards. Membership is free; you can enroll online. You can buy the travel cards here.
[Photo: Best Western]
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