ampr november newsletter

November 1st, 2018

What’s New?


Following a top-to-bottom refurbishment, The Christoper’s Christo restaurant reopens November 1, 2018 with a new concept focusing on organic meats and vegetables. Timed with the Saint Barth Gourmet Food Festival, Christo’s chef Nicolas Tissier is partnering with Michelin-starred chef Virginie Basselot to create a limited-edition menu.

In South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve, the completely new andBeyond Tengile River Lodge will open on December 1, 2018 and will share unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park. Raised above ground level, the spacious suites will offer sunken lounges, elegant bedrooms and bathrooms that open out onto the forest, creating private spaces in the open air.

Guinot’s new Anti-Dark Spot Serum, launching in January 2019, brightens dark spots caused by sun exposure and aging with a two-week regimen featuring pure vitamin C.

Holiday season in New York City kicks off with the Park Avenue Christmas Tree Lighting on December 2nd. After the lights go on, carolers can pop into Jaques of The Lowell for a warming cocktail.

The Chatwal, New York has launched an exclusive holiday offering for its guests with Bloomingdale’s, including a personal shopping consultation at Bloomingdale’s At Your Service, complimentary chauffer service in the Mercedes-Benz house car, a complimentary ‘Luxury Blow Dry’ courtesy of Fernando Valencia, and a surprise holiday gift.

PONANT will launch a brand new 11-day/10-night itinerary crossing four of the five Great Lakes of North Americas, departing September 12, 2019 from Quebec. With stops in cosmopolitan Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Flowerpot island, famous for its beachfront “flowerpot” stone pillars.

The Villa at Hotel Villagio at The Estate in Napa Valley is in its final stages of renovation. The five-bedroom villa, furnished with Hastens beds, has 20-foot ceilings with expansive walls of windows overlooking the pool, hot tub, and outdoor lounge space.

Specialty Concierges

Guests who book the Garden Suite at The Chatwal reserve exclusive access to a Flowelier: a specialized butler who teaches the suite residents how to make the most gorgeous flower arrangements.

The Bath Butler Royal Mansour’s Grand Riad helps guests relax after a day out in the souks.

33 of The Lowell’s 74 rooms have wood-burning fireplaces. The dedicated Fireplace Butler can prep the fire so guests return to a toasty room with a crackling fire and a selection of charcuterie and cheese or marshmallows and s’mores supplies.

Upon arrival, guests can expect a visit from the Soap Concierge at Viceroy Riviera Maya to present a selection of hand-made soaps, crafted with seasonal ingredients. Once guests have made their selection, the Concierge will slice personalized bars for travelers to use during their stay.

Holiday Traditions Around the World

Christmas Eve dinner in Provence is not complete without 13 desserts. The tradition is a reference to Christ and his twelve apostles at the Last Supper. Custom dictates that each guest must have at least a small bite of each of the 13 sweets. The components vary by region but always include pompe à l’huile (olive oil and citrus-infused bread), fruit, and black and white nougat. Domaine de Manville guests can expect carriage rides and holiday movies in the private screening room in addition to the sweet treats.

Ring in the New Year the traditional Japanese way at Park Hyatt Tokyo with a customary bowl of Toshikoshi Soba on New Year’s Eve, symbolizing good luck for the year ahead. Guests can join the staff and slurp down a bowl of these auspicious noodles just before midnight.

Nantucket celebrates the holidays with its annual ‘Christmas Stroll.’ Now in its 45th year, hundreds of Christmas trees line the streets for the three days of merriment with carolers, festive treats, and a visit from Santa.
Calistoga’s 23rd annual Lighted Tractor Parade on December 1 is the ultimate small-town holiday event in celebration of the region’s agricultural heritage. Vintage and modern tractors and antique trucks decked out with dazzling lights and holiday décor will parade down Calistoga’s charming Main Street.

In the English countryside, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons’ guests can join the on-property cookery school created by Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc OBE for a half-day lesson on crafting the traditional Christmas lunch. Some highlights from previous years’ classes include salmon in champagne cream sauce, duck breast, and chocolate fondants.

Keeping with French traditions, La Reserve Paris’ two Michelin-starred Executive Chef Jérôme Banctel and Head Pastry Chef Adrien Salavert have crafted a limited edition buche de noel for this festive season. With a gold-accented outer layer surrounding a filling of Michel Reybier champagne and fruits including mango, passion fruit, pineapple, and coconut.

Use It Or Lose It: How to Spend Those Lingering Vacation Days

Theater-lovers who opt to sojourn at The Chatwal, New York will enjoy two premium tickets to Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song as it makes its Broadway debut. The two-night minimum stay package will also enjoy a pre-theater dinner at the Lambs Club and a Harvey Fierstein-signed playbill. Travelers can take advantage of this package through February 2019.

In The Holy City, Belmond Charleston Place’s Third Night’s a Charm deal offers a 25% savings on a three-night stay. While the offer is valid for all travel from November 11 through the New Year, the hotel delights during the holiday season with a fully-operational train display – a replica of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – under the hotel’s Georgian open-arm staircase.

Whether it be Marylebone, Kensington, or the up-and-coming Bloomsbury, travelers can live like locals for a quick long weekend with a curated itinerary of insider experiences with The Doyle Collections ‘Slice of the City’ itineraries.
Travel to Napa Valley on easy, direct, domestic flights to experience Cabernet Season starting in November. During this season, the crowds have dwindled, the prices are lowered, and the pace slows down. As its moniker suggests, the region’s famed Cabernet Sauvignons are released during this period for travelers to get first access to the season’s selection.

New Yorkers don’t always have time to plan a big trip – but still need that escape from reality. With a staycation at The Lowell just off Madison Avenue, guests can cozy up next to their own wood-burning fireplace under an alpaca throw with a glass of vino, while their fireplace butler creates a homey atmosphere with fresh logs and aromatic scents.

With direct flights from six major US cities to St. Lucia, Sugar Beach, A  Viceroy Resort is a quick and easy destination for a long weekend. Far enough South to be out of the main hurricane belt, St. Lucia has beautiful weather year-round – offering a sunny escape from reality. Especially tempting in November and early December before prices go up around the holidays.

With Delta’s new daily nonstop flight from New York to Kingston launching this December, travelers can escape to Strawberry Hill in the blue mountains to experience an unexpected side to the Caribbean island with lush greenery replacing sandy beaches and cool, misty air replacing the heat of the blazing sun.

Calendar

December

December 2018: Jamaica’s GoldenEye will unveil the new FieldSpa

December 1, 2018: andBeyond Tengile River Lodge opens on South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve, sharing an unfenced border with Kruger National Park

December 10, 2018: Belmond La Samanna reopens in St. Martin following a renovation and redesign in collaboration with Muza Lab

December 15, 2018: Belmond Cap Juluca opens after a complete renovation and redesign on Maundays Bay in Anguilla

December 31, 2018: Close out 2018 with a New Year’s Eve Dinner on Belmond British Pullman

December 28-January 4, 2019: Celebrate the new year with PONANT’s eight-day New Year in the Caribbean sailing aboard the newly launched Le Champlain

January

January 2018: Guinot launches a new Anti-Dark Spot Serum – a two-week regimen for brighter skin

January 20-27, 2018: Napa Valley Restaurant Week offers multi-course prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner at restaurants throughout the Napa region

February

February 1, 2019: Take part in a full-day course at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons’ cookery school to learn Raymond Blanc OBE’s mother’s favorite recipes.

February 14, 2019: Board the Belmond British Pullman to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a five-course brunch

February 28 – March 5, 2019: Stay with Almanac Barcelona while celebrating Barcelona Carnival

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