The new logo focuses on the ‘THE’ which both pays homage to The Park being a place to see and be seen, as well as a nod to its position as the original “Park Hotel” in India. The new identity’s simple black and white logo helps to bring the colours and richness of The Park’s environments to the fore, and also further differentiates it from its competitors.

The new identity has been brought to life through a range of applications, including digital, collateral, signages and the creation of an impactful brand video. New experiences will also be offered to guests, with a number of exciting collaborations in the pipeline, to be announced later on in the year.

“Warm Arabian hospitality combined with legendary Ritz-Carlton service will create many unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences for visitors from around the world.” Inspired by 15th to early 17th century Renaissance architecture and the urban planning of the city of Venice, The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal is located at the waterfront and consists of ten stately buildings arranged in a crescent formation.

Overlooking the 1,600 square meter pool, the backdrop of the luxury hotel is the majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Features include beautifully manicured lawns, unique water features, and private beaches over an expansive 57-acres. Leisure and business travellers can enjoy 85 one- and two-bedroom villas complete with spacious outdoor terraces, separate arrival palazzo and private butler service.

The 1,550 square meter Roma Ballroom can accommodate up to 900 guests and divisable by three, the ballroom also provides an exclusive elevator directly from the private Bridal Suite into the venue. Two expansive marble foyers with natural daylight, 14 additional meeting rooms, and a traditional majlis (literally meaning “a place of sitting” in Arabic) ensure The Ritz-Carlton is the perfect venue for all special celebrations and events.

The property includes ten hotel restaurants and bars including three signature restaurants created by award-winning Japanese designer Super Potato. Li Jiang, meaning “beautiful river” in Chinese, is a modern Southeast Asian restaurant with an open kitchen specializing in noodles and dimsum; Mijana, a contemporary Arabic restaurant, showcases the very best in traditional Lebanese and regional cooking; while The Forge, a signature steak house, serves specialty cuisine in a stylish setting paired with the world’s finest wines.

The all-day dining restaurant, Giornotte (blending the Italian words for “day” and “night”), has an indoor seating capacity of 358 and serves light Mediterranean fare. Dolce, an Italian gelato and coffee café; Alba, the lobby lounge serving Afternoon Tea; Sorso, a traditional Ritz-Carlton lobby bar; Al Fresco, the pool restaurant; plus two pool bars round out the remaining food and beverage offerings at The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal.

A 1,600 square meter outdoor pool, one of the largest in UAE; a fully-equipped health club; and the Ritz Kids Club are just a few of the other leisure facilities available for guests to enjoy. Made up of 200 small islands, Abu Dhabi’s draws over 2 million international visitors to annually.

The hotel features 52 rooms and 38 suites. Each is stocked with luxury touches like a rain shower, iPod station, terrace with a view of landscaped gardens, and a pillow menu.

Chances are if you’ve dined out this year, you’ve encountered a denizen or two of the farm-to-table movement, those chefs and restaurateurs dedicated to cooking off the land—their land or their neighbor’s land, to be exact. Sourcing hyperlocal ingredients has now made the jump to the spa as hotels around the country are using that same philosophy with what they smear all over your body. In November, we featured hotels like the Montage Laguna Beach in California, which sources herbs and produce from its own Studio Garden (think lavender and lemons) for a variety of scrubs and facial treatments, and the St. Regis Aspen Resort, whose “farm-to-massage table” menu pairs body treatments with tasty treats. Here’s to a delicious, and exfoliating, 2013!

Pop-Up Hotels

Call it glamping (glamorous camping), call it pop-up, but the temporary hotel craze hit its stride this year as Design Hotels unveiled the immensely popular Papaya Playa Project in Tulum, Mexico at the end of 2011. Casual, eco-friendly, short-term lodgings began popping up from Greece (Design Hotels again) to London, whose role as Olympics host made it a natural location for temporary hotels. The good news—with their growing popularity, pop-up hotels have begun to diversify, offering a range of options for those who seek a minimalistic, back-to-nature experience to the luxury traveler looking for upscale design elements. In 2013, look for pop-ups at festivals like Glastonbury and Tour of Wessex in the English countryside.

Luxury Pet Hotels

Earlier this year we wrote about D Pet Hotels, a luxury hotel for pets only, which expanded its original location in Hollywood to Arizona and New York City. With high-end amenities like a spa, personal trainers, and sports car chauffeur service, it was only the best for man’s best friend at D Pet Hotels. And they weren’t the only ones to offer luxe living; across the country hotels and spas for pets have been garnering attention for their four-pawed-only exclusivity and menu of high-end options. The question is, will 2013 bring a rash of penthouses for our houseplants?

Upscale Day-Use Hotels

Day-use hotel rooms have long been associated with extra-marital affairs and general grossness. But recently, luxury boutique hotels worldwide have begun offering discounted day-use rates to their clientele. In November, CNN’s Business Traveller reported on two London hotels in particular—the Beaufort andhotel rooms—who saw increased revenue when they began their day-use policy. And now, guests can book a discounted day-rate at one of over 350 hotels around the world through dayuse-hotels.com, a hotel roomswhich launched two years ago and has since expanded to nine countries. Granted, the site claims its usefulness for tourism, business, and pleasure, which it dubs “second life”

“Ka’anapali Beach is one of Hawaii’s most beautiful areas, and we believe that Hyatt Ka’anapali Beach, a Hyatt Residence Club will be a highly sought after addition to the Hyatt Residence Club system. “Host Hotels and Resorts is a best-in-class owner, and we look forward to building upon our already long term relationship with the company.”

Located along Maui’s western shore on Ka’anapali Beach, Hyatt Ka’anapali Beach, a Hyatt Residence Club will offer 131 units, including 19 one-bedroom units, 100 two-bedroom units, and 12 three-bedroom units. Additional features will include an 8,000 sq. ft. (743 sq. m) open-air lobby, a retail store, a 75-seat casual dining restaurant, a pool with a pool bar and a multi-level pool deck, and a 3,300 sq. ft. (306 sq. m) fitness centre.

Hyatt Ka’anapali Beach, a Hyatt Residence Club will be located near Hyatt Regency Maui, an 806-room destination resort surrounded by 40 acres of beachfront landscape. Hyatt Residence Club provides vacation ownership opportunities in regionally inspired residential-style properties.

With birds’ eye views over the peaceful, clear waters surrounding remote Koh Kood, the treetops is guaranteed to be one of the most memorable meals of a lifetime.

Breakfast in the Treepod is an utterly peaceful, sublime way to start the day; Lunch offers a shady respite from the heat and breathtaking sunsets from such an unlikely, intimate haven and a candlelit dinner is as close to nature as you can get.  The menus follow the jungle themes ‘Canapés in the Canopy’, ‘Forager’s Basket’, ‘Woodland Offerings’, using produce predominantly from the resort’s organic gardens or the island of Koh Kood.

In collaboration with Olav Bruin 24h Architects, Louis Thompson designer of the Treepod commented,  “It has taken two and a half years from design to final realisation; it is great to see it so appreciated by guests.  Even people without a head for heights are thoroughly enjoying it!

The resort was completed in August 2012, and the beach club is the largest in the Riviera Maya, featuring an infinity pool, poolside bar with premium drink menu, and a full-service restaurant. The club also uses an energy-efficient air conditioning system, and includes a natural lagoon that incorporates the local ecosystem into the architecture.

The facility is located directly adjacent to the Royal Elite beachfront suites and is for Royal Elite members only.

The beach club restaurant, Los Lirios, has a full a la carte breakfast and lunch menu and drink service at the bar as well as the beachfront terrace.