Hilton Launching Chain Of Luxury Hotels under Waldorf-Astoria Brand
 

More here:

http://www.wlbz2.com/home/article.asp?id=30635

http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztra...ain-usat_x.htm

So which hotels are likely to be placed into this W-A Collection? (Sounds a bit like Starwood's "Luxury Collection" hotels.)

Waldor-Astoria itself and Conrad Brussels are my first guesses. :D

Sounds like we will at least have an opportunity for a reward stay in Maui!!! Its a really great property too! ^ :D

Hopefully they won't build two buildings at each new location, as in one with small rooms and indifferent service, and a palatial one that you can't redeem points and where celebrities live!

I am very excited about the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui being added. I have stayed there before and it is a very nice property. I would choose this property over HHV or HWV anytime.

I wonder if the points redemption will be the same as a Cat 6 or if a new level would be created (ack!).

This is great news. The Biltmore will be a great stay in PHX.

Of course add a Maui hotel after I give up trying to use points for going to Maui, well I guess good to know for next time.

Beat me to it, brother. At a real Waldorf-Astoria copy it could take up to half an hour for one of the four people behind the desk to notice you and check you in. You might get a nice room, but you might also get a broom closet with thick, dusty, filthy velvet drapes and groaning 1890s plumbing, and a thermostat no man can control. And your greasy, lukewarm room service cheeseburger will take an hour and cost $30.

I'll stick to Hilton Garden Inns. :)

Must be time for the introduction of the Cat 7 hotel at 80,000 pts a night.

I have stayed at LaQuinta and really enjoyed my stay. Nice big rooms, virtually private pools/hot tubs, a great spa, and some pretty good food.

Overall, this is great news in my opinion.

I hope not. The 100k to 150k-175k 6-night awards and the GLONP to GLONP2 increase to 175k are still fresh in my mind. I would hate to see another big jump in multi-night awards.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060117/20060117005489.html?.v=1

Press Release Source: Hilton Hotels Corporation

Hilton Hotels Corporation Extends World's Greatest Hotel Name to Create Luxury Brand Line: The Waldorf=Astoria Collection
Tuesday January 17, 9:00 am ET

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2006--Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT - News) has announced that the company is introducing a new luxury hotel line that will extend the cachet of New York's legendary Waldorf=Astoria® hotel.

Unveiled today as "The Waldorf=Astoria Collection®," the new, elite brand designation will build upon the legend that company founder Conrad N. Hilton called "The Greatest of Them All," the Waldorf=Astoria. The Waldorf=Astoria Collection is launching with the Waldorf=Astoria itself and three world-class luxury resorts that will be newly managed by Hilton:

* Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa on the island of Maui in Hawaii
* Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona
* La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, California

All four resplendent hotels will maintain their established, well-known names, while adding The Waldorf=Astoria Collection designation as a mark of their exclusivity. Hotels within The Waldorf=Astoria Collection will benefit from the support of award-winning technology programs, the Hilton HHonors® guest reward program, the industry-leading Hilton Reservations Worldwide system, eBusiness programs, worldwide sales and marketing programs, and operations support.

The Waldorf=Astoria hotel is wholly owned by Hilton Hotels Corporation, and the Grand Wailea, Arizona Biltmore and La Quinta properties are owned by Orlando-based CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a leading hotel real estate investment trust (REIT).

Hilton Hotels Corporation will acquire the three management contracts from La Quinta, Calif.-based KSL Resorts, which currently manages the three luxury hotels.

"The Waldorf=Astoria Collection will build upon a deeply established and highly reputable hospitality name -- the Waldorf=Astoria -- that represents one of the cornerstones of our company's history," said Matthew J. Hart, president and chief operating officer of Hilton Hotels Corporation. "We will take this world-renowned name to new heights as we develop a new line of business that has significant growth potential and that we anticipate will have enormous appeal to current and prospective hotel owners and developers worldwide."

"The extension of the legendary Waldorf=Astoria designation to three of our premier destination resorts is an exciting undertaking that we expect will take these properties to even higher levels of sophistication," said Thomas J. Hutchison III, chief executive officer of CNL Hotels & Resorts. "We are particularly pleased to showcase this exclusive world-class designation within our portfolio of distinctive assets and to further our strong relationship with Hilton."

Criteria for the exclusive designation of The Waldorf=Astoria Collection will include architectural significance, unique decor and original artwork, historic or landmark status and a reputation for product and service excellence.

More than 55 years after Conrad Hilton's purchase of the Waldorf=Astoria, demand for luxury hotel accommodations and service continues to thrive. As such, the company anticipates that its new Waldorf=Astoria Collection will grow through:

* Co-branding of existing luxury landmark or boutique hotels that will add The Waldorf=Astoria Collection to their name;
* Designation of existing high-end Hilton or Conrad hotels as part of The Waldorf=Astoria Collection; and
* Opening new-build hotels or hotel/residential developments in gateway cities using the Waldorf=Astoria brand name itself to provide prestige and elegance, globally. The company will seek management contracts for truly special hotels in select markets, using the Waldorf=Astoria brand name.

The company's Conrad brand, with 19 world-class luxury hotels and resorts operating in the United States, England, Ireland, Belgium, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and Uruguay, will continue to grow through management contracts. Plans for new Conrad Hotels, both in major U.S. cities and resort destinations around the world, are in various stages of development and the brand continues to remain strong.

Waldorf=Astoria Collection Portfolio

The debut of The Waldorf=Astoria Collection at the three CNL Hotels & Resorts properties will take place on January 31, 2006; at that time, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection will include the following:

The Waldorf=Astoria

The Waldorf=Astoria offers 1,245 rooms, including 197 suites. The Waldorf Towers, a hotel within a hotel, offers a total of 180 rooms, including 101 suites.

Representing one of the first "grand hotels," the Waldorf=Astoria has been world renowned for more than a century. The hotel was the first of its kind to give prominence to the Art Deco style in America. Today, the exterior and interior design are acknowledged as masterpieces of this art genre. The New York City Landmark recently unveiled numerous original Art Deco treasures as part of its renovation.

The jewel of the Waldorf=Astoria's lobby, Peacock Alley®, just concluded an extensive, Deco-inspired renovation and redesign. The new venue includes a restaurant, a bar and two private dining rooms, and combines the Waldorf=Astoria's classic surroundings with a fresh, contemporary look.

Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa:

The Waldorf=Astoria Collection

An award-winning and world-famous property, the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui, Hawaii, includes 780 guest rooms and 100,000 square feet of meeting space. Situated on 40 meticulously landscaped acres, the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa opens onto Maui's beautiful Wailea Beach, voted one of the best beaches in Hawaii and America.

Averaging 640 square feet of luxuriously appointed accommodations, each guest room features a private lanai (balcony), Italian marble bathroom with oversized bathtub and separate glass enclosed shower, sitting area and writing desk.

The acclaimed Wailea Canyon's four activity pools include tile slides, a white water rapids slide, a Tarzan pool with rope swing, the world's only water elevator, a sand beach, six waterfalls, caves, three Jacuzzis, a sauna and an infant pool. Additionally, its renowned Hibiscus Pool is an architectural achievement.

The resort's Spa Grande is noted among the Top 10 Spas in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazines.

An extensive art collection complements the resort, consisting of more than 80 works including original paintings, sculpture, graphics, murals and artifacts.

Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa

The Waldorf=Astoria Collection

Known throughout the world as the "Jewel of the Desert," the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa provides a restful oasis nestled on 39 acres at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve and covered with lush gardens, glistening swimming pools, and Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced architecture.

Considered one of the most spectacular resorts in the world, the Arizona Biltmore features 738 guest accommodations, including 78 one- and two-bedroom villas, eight swimming pools, seven tennis courts, an 18-hole putting course, and a full-service European spa, offering more than 22,000 square feet of outdoor retreat areas and cascading whirlpools, salon and state-of-the-art fitness center.

The adjacent Arizona Biltmore Country Club offers two 18-hole PGA golf courses, The Links and The Adobe.

La Quinta Resort & Club

The Waldorf=Astoria Collection

The only hotel to have an incorporated city named after it, the legendary La Quinta Resort & Club has preserved the charm and serene ambiance of its glorious past while offering guests the finest in resort amenities and services, including five resort golf courses, one of the nation's top tennis clubs, a full-service spa and fitness center, exclusive dining and resort shopping.

La Quinta Resort & Club features 90 holes of some of the country's best golf, including the famous TPC® Stadium Golf ® Course at PGA WEST® and the picturesque Mountain(TM) Course at La Quinta Resort.

The resort features 23 tennis courts, 42 pools, 52 hot tubs, five restaurants and 800 guest rooms tucked away in 640 charming Spanish-style casitas.

La Quinta Resort & Club's luxurious suites feature a limited-use kitchen, fully loaded iPod and Bose Docking Station, and spacious accommodations.

Hot diggity dog! I've wanted to stay at this property for a long time.

HHonors rewards categories will change, apparently
 

Have you read the thread HHonors Reward Category Changes Coming Soon ? It seems to fit this one, hand in glove.