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Despite some recession gloom casting shadows over the hospitality sector, I am happy to see that a number of big hotel players are opening exciting new properties this year. Rocco Forte, for example, who already has properties like Rome’s Hotel de Russie, London’s Brown, and the Hotel Amigo in Brussels under his belt, will debut …

And now for some news south of the border. I just found out that fashion designer Diesel has expanded into the hostelry business with the opening of Uxua Casa, a hotel in Trancoso on Brazil’s Bahia coast. The nine one-, two- and three-bedroom cottages are right by the town’s square but also just a five-minute …

It’s hard to think of many architects who have influenced American design as much as Frank Lloyd Wright. To mark its 50th anniversary this May, New York’s Guggenheim Museum will debut a huge retrospective of Wright’s work in one of his most celebrated buildings. “Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward” will showcase 62 of the …

Just back from a quick getaway to Rome and am happy to report that the city, unsurprisingly of course, continues to be one of my favorite European capitals. The weather helped frame it in the very best light–it was one of those March days in the high 60s with sparkling sunshine–and despite being there for …

This high-end hotel seeks to minimise its impact on the environment, says Ondine Cohane MORE…

I just spent two weeks in New York and, as always when in town, I ate up a storm. The city is truly a foodie paradise, and I am happy to report that despite the recession, new eateries are opening their doors at a good clip. I was struck by how crowded the best spots …

As I wrote back in December, Colombia was high on my travel wish list for 2009. After a recent two-week visit, I am happy to report that I liked the place as much as I had hoped. In fact, it has quickly jumped on to my favorite destinations list and I am hoping to get …

One of my favorite offshoots of the boutique hotel trend is something I like to term the “cheap chic” generation, properties that have grown up in the last few years and are aimed at people traveling on a budget but who don’t want to compromise on style. Hip hotelier André Balazs struck gold in this …

After my stop in Los Angeles, it was back on the plane to Puerto Vallarta to check out the new St. Regis Punta Mita and the towns farther north. I was last in PV for my Condé Nast Traveler piece on surfing and driving Highway 200 along the West Coast of Mexico; I love this …

Heading to Los Angeles? I was just there last week and have some new discoveries. First stop: I checked into the Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica, which is undergoing a huge $30 million renovation. Not to be confused with the brand of the same name, this is a family-owned boutique hotel, right on Ocean Avenue. …