HOTELS & RESORTS 29
Design Capital
Heralding a new design icon in the Chinese capital, the Hotel Éclat Beijing has opened its doors in the heart of the city. Nestled in an airy glass-and-steel tower capsule within
Parkview Green, a luxury shopping and commercial complex 30 minutes from the international airport, the boutique 100- room urban haven features a highly-stylised lobby that boasts original works by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Zeng Fanzhi and Chen Wenling, part of hotel’ s extensive art collection. Butler-serviced guest rooms feature Philippe Stark-designed desk chairs, Panasonic massage chairs, 3D-enabled 46-inch televisions, Bang & Olufsen sound systems with iPod docks,
Illy coffee machines and Miller Harris of London bathroom amenities, while unique Deluxe Suites include private indoor plunge pools. Executive travellers will love the Éclat Lounge, which offers a private space located on the building’ s glass bridge. The Lounge serves a luxurious complimentary buffet breakfast, evening canapés and an à la carte selection of late-night treats. www. eclathotels. com
Room for Two Perfectly suited for couples looking for romance and seclusion, the Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi Resort & Spa has created a series of new Deluxe Beach Villas with private pools. Nestled within the island’ s natural vegetation, offering unsurpassed privacy, villas are still close to the island’ s stunning beaches and turquoise lagoon. Each ample space boasts a large private swimming pool, hewn from black lava stone and wreathed by tropical gardens. A sand path leads to a duo of sun lounges located on the beach, perfect for sundowner cocktails, while a large garden gazebo is ideally suited for star-lit villa dining. The villa also features an informal terrace with day beds, that leads into an open plan bedroom with a vaulted ceiling and a spacious open air bathroom with two rain showers and a spa bath. The walls of the new villas are adorned with the works of local artists and capture the contrasting hues of this idyllic locale. www. hilton. com
Stealing the Limelight Next time you’ re in the Norwegian capital, regarded as the new home of Scandinavian Cool, check out The Thief, Oslo’ s newest boutique beauty. Located at the heart of the Tjuvholmen waterfront precinct, home to some of the city’ s best restaurants as well as the stunning new Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, The Design Hotels member takes its name from the urban island’ s notorious past as a criminal commune where executions once took place. Enjoy spectacular views down the captivating Oslo Fjord from most of the 119 guest rooms, each of which features furniture chosen by Anemone Wille-Våge and art curated by Sune Nordgren. To help get your bearings, the hotel has teamed up with DogA, the Norwegian Centre for Design & Architecture, and Vulkan, a new, dynamic neighborhood defined by innovative and sustainable architecture, to present four selected walks that showcase the city. Finish off with a glass of champagne on The Thief’ s coveted rooftop terrace. www. thethief. com www. jetsetter. hk