HotelsMag May 2012 | Page 12

GLOBAL UPDATE what ’ s hot

A live green wall at Tántalo Hotel / Kitchen / Roofbar in Panama City features 983 examples of native Panamanian flora .

Getting Even

CREATIVE

SHADES

OF GREEN

Tántalo Hotel / Kitchen / Roofbar , the new hotel from New York Citybased Blesso Properties in the historic Casco Viejo neighborhood of Panama City , is finding creative ways to go green .
In a literal sense , the 13-room hotel boasts a live green wall , a twostories-high celebration of 983 types of native
Panamanian flora nourished by rainwater from the rooftop . Interior designer Andrea Steele of ANDarchitects also added touches like coffee tables in the hotel ’ s lounge made of repurposed suitcases , while a skylight is coated with a UV filter to keep the space cooler and block harmful UV rays .
“ We strongly believed that if we brought concepts familiar to vibrant metropolises around the world and coupled them with art and the desire to foster creativity , we could create a successful project unlike anything the city has seen ,” says Blesso Properties Vice President Adam Rosenberg .
IHG has some robust goals for its new health-conscious midscale hotel brand , Even . The Denham , U . K . -based company is committing US $ 150 million for capital expenditures for the U . S . launch of the brand and wants to sign 100 Even properties within five years .
Even Hotels will feature guestrooms designed for workouts , best-in-class gyms and nutritionally focused menus . The guest profile spans a large age range with a household income of US $ 75,000 , and IHG expects the hotels to appeal to business and leisure travelers .
IHG plans to open the first Even early next year , with an initial focus on markets including New York and San Francisco . “ We ’ ve seen the industry recover with strong RevPAR gains ,” says Christian Hempell , IHG ’ s vice president of new business development and delivery . “ We want to be ready to catch the next wave of development growth .”
The Sommelier ’ s Table in the Gleneagles Cellars can accommodate up to 12 guests for a formal dinner .
What ’ s old is new
The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire , Scotland , is offering guests a chance to get up close and personal with its impressive collection of wines and spirits thanks to a new Sommelier ’ s Table in the hotel ’ s wine cellars .
The table can accommodate up to 12 guests for a formal dinner . The cellars house around 350 single malt whiskies and drams from every region in Scotland , including a rare 70-year-old Mortlach , the world ’ s oldest whisky . Other treasures include an 1806 Johnnie Walker Blue . “ In the cellars , we saw an opportunity to make the most of the treasure trove of wines and spirits — particularly whiskies — that we have collected ,” explains F & B Director Alan Hill . “ With the addition of the Sommelier ’ s Table , we ’ ve created a very unusual , intimate private dining experience . With our knowledgeable sommeliers on hand , guests can explore our extensive wine lists and discover some of the hidden gems we have on offer .”
8 HOTELS May 2012 www . hotelsmag . com