Ritz Carlton, Dubai International Financial CentreDubai’s latest hotel offering is the 341-room Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre, which opened its doors last month. As the only hotel directly linked to the DIFC, the Ritz-Carlton (Dubai’s second) has been designed to cater for just about any meeting or event. The 2,574m sq of function space includes the 1,400m sq Samaya Ballroom, which can be divided into four smaller spaces, and has eight break-out rooms that can be hired individually. Glamorous touches include a 30m-tall, 3,000-bottle wine wall in the bar, No. 5, and a 10-storey outside waterfall cascading into the courtyard.
Hi-ho, Toronto! Ritz-Carlton arrives in CanadaHot on the heels of its new Dubai hotel, the Ritz-Carlton group has opened a new property in Toronto – its first in Canada. Each of its 267 rooms and suites has floor-to-ceiling windows (to take advantage of unimpeded views of the city or lake) and have been decorated with African Anigre wood and Portuguese Estremoz marble. There are a variety of events spaces, including the city’s largest ballroom (for up to 600 guests), a pre-function area overlooking Metro Hall Park, and several meeting rooms, all with natural light.
James & the Big Apple The latest addition to New York’s hotel scene is the James, on the corner of Thompson & Grand in ever-fashionable SoHo. Anyone who’s stayed at the original James in Chicago will know what to expect: supremely stylish décor, first-rate food & cocktails & achingly cool works by local artists. As well as a rooftop pool deck & bar, there are a few good options for meetings & events, including the Garden Terrace (up to 60 standing), the Studio (20 sitting down) & the 16th-floor Penthouse Loft, designed by Piet Boon, with views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges (up to 20 for cocktails).
Delve inside earlier archives for October 2010 or browse through newer archives for March 2011.