The new and highly anticipated Kempinski Hotel Aqaba, Red Sea Jordan, has finally opened today! Boasting 201 luxury rooms and suites all with sea views, a variety of international cuisine, world class MICE facilities and a stunning spa with a number of innovative signature treatments on the menu, this hotel opening marks the 3rd Kempinski property on the golden shores and azure waters of the Red Sea!

The Kempinski group has been specialist hoteliers for over 100 years and this hotel is yet another example of their expertise in luxury. Aqaba offers year round sunshine and some of the best diving and coral reefs in the world. The contrast in scenery makes this city one of the most beautiful in Jordan with its mountainous backdrop and white sandy beaches fringed with palm trees.

Located on the sandy shores of the Red Sea, it is an ideal location for those who simply want to switch off and relax. There is however, plenty to do for the more energetic; the hotel is only a stones throw away from a variety of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities, not to mention the hotel’s own entertainment, including; trips on private yachts, windsurfing, kayaking, diving, snorkelling and swimming, a private beach, the Kids Club and most important of all guests can enjoy an array of organised tours to popular tourist attractions, such as Petra, Wadi Rum and the Bedouin Camps.

All 201 rooms and suites within the hotel enjoy a sea view, which has been made possible due to clever design work and the curved contemporary building, shaped in the form of a tear-drop. The distinctive prevailing structure and spectacular interior design is complemented throughout with state of the art technology.

Boasting 6 sumptuous restaurants and bars, guests will be spoilt for choice, offering a wide variety of international and regional dining options, including a Club Lounge and a large alfresco terrace area with panoramic views of the Red Sea. Guests will be able to enjoy fine dining, cocktails, the finest coffee and teas from around the world all served in a selection of speciality restaurants.

• The AM/PM – A fine all-day dining restaurant specialising in international and local cuisine offering buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner with a view over the Red Sea that is pure luxury.
• Fish In: Al Fresco Afro Arabian terrace restaurant overlooking the Red Sea offering local cuisine with fish dishes from the Middle East and Africa. The restaurant also features a private dining area.
• The Walk – This restaurant functions as an all-in-one pizza restaurant, ice cream parlour and beach snack bar
• The Black Pearl: This night lounge is the ideal place to relish in your favourite cocktail at sunset, or to dance the night away into the early hours.
• The Aqua Lounge: Offering fine pastries and exquisite cocktails, by day this is the perfect place to relax. In the evening it becomes the perfect meeting point to enjoy an aperitif accompanied by live music.
• Sea Breeze: This is the hotel’s main pool bar
General Manager, Alejandro Bernabe, has said of the launch, “this hotel opening is one of Kempinski’s most exciting. When one thinks of Jordan both the Dead Sea and the Red Sea come to mind as two of Jordan’s top attractions, which is why the Kempinski Hotel Aqaba will complement our Amman and Dead Sea hotels perfectly, allowing guests the chance to enjoy the very best of Jordan in the country’s finest hotels and resorts.”

Please note that this is the property’s soft opening and various facilities such as the spa, night lounge and selected dining areas will not open until October; although the Aqua Lounge, AM/PM and Sea Breeze are all fully-functioning.

Cox & Kings (020 7873 5000 / www.coxandkings.co.uk) has seven nights from £1,225 per person, including six nights at the Kempinski Aqaba, one night at the Kempinski Amman, international flights with Royal Jordanian Airlines, domestic flights, private transfers and breakfast.

The opening of Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta on March 1, 2009 marks the revival of Southeast Asia’s first five-star hotel. This distinctive development comprises a former national landmark, located in the heart of Jakarta, which has been recognized by the Indonesian government as a heritage site.

The luxurious facilities of the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski have opened in stages, starting with the 3,000 sqm Kempinski Grand Ballroom, which has already proved popular for exhibitions, weddings and various corporate activities since March 2008. In September 2008, the beautiful 1,000 sqm Bali Room was added serving the same purpose.

The opening of the hotel’s Ramayana Wing marks the opening of the hotel to its first guests. A total of 159 rooms, categorized in deluxe, grand deluxe and studio suites will house business and leisure travellers alike. During this phase, several dining outlets will cater to all culinary wishes: the all-day dining Signatures Restaurant with an open-kitchen concept, the Lobby Nirwana Lounge and the Sky Pool Bar Café, which offers breathtaking views over Jakarta’s skyline from the hotel’s rooftop, integrated in the pool area. Times Square Restaurant & Bar in a 50’s American diner style and the Designer Café are both managed by Kempinski, and are located in the Grand Indonesia Shopping Town.

During the second half of 2009 the Ganesha Wing, which comprises 130 rooms, including a 512 sqm presidential suite, and an additional four international restaurants, bars and a deli, will complement the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski’s extensive facilities. Another highlight ahead is the rooftop Kempinski Spa, with a pool and botanical gardens, private treatment rooms, and a modern fitness centre offering meditation and yoga.

The special rate of USD 190, exclusive of taxes and breakfast, for single or double occupancy, is offered during the opening period, from March to May 2009. For bookings, please contact the hotel directly on +6221 2358 0008, reservations.jakarta@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com.

Since its opening the Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski in Dresden has hosted presidents and head of states from all over the world. To experience the unique sensation to be pampered presidential style in royal ambience, this stately grand hotel offers an ‘American Dream Package’ until the end of 2009 with rates starting from EUR 543 per person in a junior suite.

To get in the right mood for this blissful two-night stay, guests are picked up with a limousine either from Dresden Airport or main train station. True to style, a welcoming glass of Champagne awaits at the hotel before being whisked away to the luxurious suite either overlooking the Semper Opera House, the Zwinger or the hotel’s historic courtyard. Every morning, a sumptuous American breakfast will be served in the privacy of the suite. A four-course-presidential dinner at the Restaurant Intermezzo provides the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendour. During a private tour of the city, the fascinating and vibrant past of the town will come alive as many of the historic landmarks such as the Frauenkirche, the Zwinger, Semper Opera House, and the New Synagogue will be visited.  A romantic cruise on the river Elbe to see the famous Castle Albrechtsberg, Lingner Castle und Castle Eckberg is the final highlight of the package.

Built in the early 18th Century by August the Strong for his mistress, Countess Anna Constanze von Cosel, the Taschenbergpalais was destroyed during World War II.  Between 1993 and 1995 the palace was carefully reconstructed and many original features including the stucco work, baroque walls and staircases, cellars were faithfully preserved. The Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski reopened in grand style on March 31, 1995.

Bilila Lodge Kempinski, the most luxurious lodge in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, has unveiled a special opening offer – stay for three nights, pay for just two – to entice visitors to be among the first to stay in this idyllic new hideaway, which melds beautifully into the unspoilt Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The opening offer is valid from 1st June, the date that the hotel launches, till 30th September 2009, and rates start at 500 Euros for two people sharing per night inclusive of full board, 20% VAT and a 5% service charge. 

As an added temptation, Bilila Lodge Kempinski’s sister hotel Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski is offering “seven nights for the price of five” over the same period, so that guests can enjoy the complete Tanzania package: the ultimate safari experience and a luxurious beach holiday on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar. 

These two offers can be booked either on their own or together, but there are certain conditions attached, which are detailed below:
- Neither offer can be combined with other promotions of special offers, other than the ones stated here
- The offer is valid on new reservations only, with arrivals during the inclusive period, namely 1 June to 30 September 2009
- The offer is based on the room rate only and does not include extras, such as transfers from and to the airstrip, games drives etc.
- The offer is only valid on request and subject to availability.

With just 74 rooms (including two private villas), Bilila Lodge Kempinski perfectly combines the intimacy of a lodge and the facilities expected of a much larger hotel, such as several different dining options (indoor restaurant, poolside, moonlit barbecues in a traditional boma), an infinity pool overlooking the grasslands and a watering hole where wild animals come to drink, and an Anantara Spa. 

Other public areas include a lounge, a bar, a wine cellar, a conference room accommodating up to 80 people, a library, a games room with full-size billiard table, a fitness centre, an art gallery and gift shops.  All the guest rooms have luxury ensuite bathrooms, multimedia DVD players, over 50 satellite TV and radio channels, coffee/tea making facilities and a teak deck for relaxing while watching game (personal telescope included); suites have their own private plunge pool. 

Due to strict building controls in the National Park, this will be the largest lodge ever built in the Serengeti, but, as expected of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Lodge has been built in keeping with the landscape.  Not only does the arc-shaped building follow the natural contours of the land, but as far as possible only local materials have been used in its construction to ensure that it blends into its surrounds.  For example, over a million traditional “chelewa” brooms have been used to create the thatched roof and the stone for the walls was sourced from nearby Mugumu.  The interiors also reflect the natural colours of the African landscape, with the work of local artists adding colourful highlights. 

Bilila Lodge Kempinski is located in the Central North of the Serengeti National Park, in an untouched part of the Park where the hotel will have its own private game drives.  The hotel is a 45-minute drive from the Seronera airstrip, which in turn is a 50-minute flight from Arusha, the nearest international airport, into which KLM currently flies on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.   Airlines such as SWISS, Emirates, British Airways, South African Airways and Qatar fly into either Nairobi or Dar-es-Salaam, from where connecting flights to Arusha can be picked up.

On 7 May 2009, the magnificent Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras, Slovakia’s first five star luxury hotel, will soft open. The grand opening is planned for September 2009. From 7 May to 30 June 2009, guests can take advantage of a special opening rate of EUR 160 for single and EUR 180 for double occupancy per night, including taxes, the sumptuous buffet breakfast and access to the wellness & spa area.

The Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras is beautifully located on the shores of an alpine lake, 1,351 metres above sea level in the spectacular High Tatras Mountains in Strbske Pleso. The High Tatras Mountain is the natural border between Poland and Slovakia, forming the central, highest and most beautiful section of the Carpathian mountain range, where the air is pure and medically beneficial.

The lovingly restored heritage building consists of three interlinking parts. The architecture of the historic building, a former famous Grand hotel built in 1906, is stunningly romantic with its turrets and latticed windows. The 98 spacious rooms and suites in contemporary design all offer breathtaking views either over the idyllic alpine lake, the mountains or the vast valley; some even feature private winter gardens.  The presidential and honeymoon suites are the height of luxury, where newly-weds can enjoy a glass of champagne in their private Jacuzzi on the roof top or in front of the suite’s fireplace.

The hotel provides outstanding international and Mediterranean cuisine in its all-day dining Grand Restaurant, focusing on the finest produce and local specialties, prepared by an experienced team of international chefs. Up to 124 guests can savour the best of seasonal, local and organic products, or sample the finest wines from the High Tatras’ largest wine cellar which offers more than 300 different wines. Guests can enjoy unique white, red and rosé wines that have been carefully selected and produced in cooperation with local vineyards.

For conferences, meetings and festive occasions, the hotel has two ballrooms with daylight and wonderful views, which can cater for up to 150 people. The main emphasis is on incentives and outdoor activities. Apart from exploring the surrounding nature on foot or mountain bike, the area is ideal for cross-country and downhill skiing, horse-back riding, or tours with horse carriages or snow scooters. Bungee jumping and paragliding, bear-watching expeditions and hot-air ballooning complete the offer, and can all be arranged by the hotel’s creative concierge team. For the youngest guests, special amenities and services are available, including a professionally run Kids’ Club with many activities to keep children entertained while their parents relax.  Little details, such as steps at check-in and in the bathroom, a welcome gift, child-sized bathrobes and slippers, complimentary bedtime milk, no-tear shampoo and special children’s toiletries make the kids feel special and welcome.

The 1,300 sqm Wellness & Spa is a further highlight, offering a variety of Thalgo and Terrake facial and body treatments. The luxurious facilities include several saunas, themed showers, a private VIP spa suite, seven treatment rooms, a Vitamin Bar. Indoor pools with stunning views over the lake and mountains bring the tranquil natural environment into the spa. The spa’s interior design is particularly unique, with crystal chandeliers and designer furniture throughout.

The Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras can easily be reached by road, rail or air. The nearest international airport, Poprad-Tatry, is 28 km from the hotel; Kosice Airport 50 km; and Krakow Airport 170 km. Limousine transfers as well as helicopter pick-ups from Bratislava and Vienna are available.

Bears, Baritone, Brandenburg Gate, Brilliant White Nights, Bodrum, Boats and Bruges - Summer Specials with Kempinski Hotels

This summer more than ever, everyone deserves a break and to get away from it all. Kempinski Hotels has put together some truly unique packages to take your mind off things. From the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, bear watching in Slovakia, and diving in the Red Sea to gourmet feasts in Bruges, from blissfully lazy to thrillingly adventurous, what could be better?

Germany
Berlin is always worth a trip, especially in 2009, when the country marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Wall. To visit one of these historical hot spots, there is no better place to stay than at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, right next to the Brandenburg Gate, the icon of Germany’s reunification. The Adlon Experience package includes two nights’ accommodation in a deluxe double room, gourmet breakfast, and a welcome gift of a story book by Hedda Adlon, the wife of the late Lorenz Adlon, who was the founder of the original Hotel Adlon. A four course menu including a glass of Champagne in the Restaurant Quarré overlooking the Brandenburg Gate and free access to the hotel’s spacious pool and gym are also included. Prices start from EUR 550 (approx. £479) per night for double and EUR 425 (approx £ 370) per night for single occupancy, valid until December 28, 2009.

The historical Taschenbergpalais Hotel Kempinski Dresden has a cultural highlight on offer for opera enthusiasts; José Carreras, one of the world’s most famous tenors will perform in front of the palace courtyard at the picturesque chateau Pillnitz in Dresden. This cultural package includes two nights in an elegant superior room, the delicious buffet breakfast, a welcome cocktail at the bar, a romantic ‘surprise’ dinner and the tickets for the José Carreras concert in Pillnitz. Rates start from EUR 525 (approx. £ 457) per person in a double room or EUR 706 (approx. £ 615) for single occupancy. The package is only valid subject to availability and confirmation by the hotel from August 21 to 23, 2009. 

Turkey
Turkey is traditionally one of the most welcoming countries for families, especially those with young children. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay in Bodrum on the Aegean coast is ideal. Sea and sun lovers will definitely enjoy the beach, immense infinity swimming pool as well as various water sports activities.
The seven-night package includes accommodation in a sea view superior room, airport transfers, daily breakfast, baby-sitting service for up to four hours on one day, one holistic full body massage per adult in the award-winning Six Senses Spa and a three-course candle lit dinner. Furthermore, children under the age of 12 stay for free in the same room with their parents. Prices vary regarding seasons. In mid season, 01.05.2009 – 30.06.2009; 01.09.2009 – 31.10.2009, prices for the seven-night package start from EUR 1,813 (approx. £ 1,579) for single and EUR 2,422 (approx. £ 2,109) for double occupancy. During high season (01.07.2009 – 31.08.2009) prices start from EUR 3,099 (approx. £ 2,699) for single and EUR 3,818 (approx. £ 3,325) for double occupancy.  

Russia
The White Nights in St Petersburg are world famous and have been celebrated by many Russian writers and artists. St Petersburg is truly a city that never sleeps during summer, and there are so many things to see and experience that visitors to this magnificent city could easily feel that they have become nocturnal. The Kempinski Hotel Moika 22, situated right in the heart of St. Petersburg, opposite the Hermitage Museum, offers a Luxury Summer package. This includes two nights in a grand deluxe room, Champagne and fruits in the room upon arrival, sumptuous buffet breakfast and a boat trip for two to explore the city’s numerous little rivers and canals. The package starts from EUR 950 (approx. £ 827) for two and is valid from May 1 till August 31, 2009. 

Belgium
If you are a gourmet you live to eat, not eat to live! Your wishes definitely come true in Bruges. The latest luxury gem in Bruges is the Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace, right in the centre of the historic city centre of this Belgium town. The Culinary delights package includes two nights in a superior room for two, a Kempinski Royal Sekt Buffet Breakfast, a mouth-watering three-course dinner for two, excluding beverages, as well as complimentary access to the spa with sauna, hammam and indoor swimming pool. The package starts from EUR 490 (approx. £ 427) and is valid until the end of the year. 

Slovakia
Not recommended for the faint-hearted – bear watching in the High Tatras Mountains. The brand new Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras (opening in April 2009) offers this unique opportunity to study and observe these wonderful animals. The bear watching package includes two nights’ accommodation in a deluxe room, one buffet breakfast at the hotel and one take-away breakfast for the trip, bear watching with an expert guide, access fee to Tatra National Park, transportation and lunch during the trip. The trip starts before sunrise with a briefing from the bear watch team. Before and after the lunch, bear movements and behaviour will be monitored, and central to the trip is a walking tour.
 
A panoramic flight over the Tatras Mountains is offered as an option, but not included in the package. The price of this unusual package is EUR 800 (approx. £ 696,50) for two people. The best time to see bears is from late May until the beginning of June, and September.  

Egypt
As the Red Sea is renowned as one of the most stunning dive locations in the world, the new Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay (opening in May 2009) has put together a package to fulfil every diver’s dream. Valid from May 1 to September 30, 2009, the package includes seven nights in a superior room with an upgrade to a deluxe room upon availability. Buffet breakfast at the ‘View’ restaurant, airport transfers to Hurghada International Airport and five days of boat diving are also part of the offer. The costs are EUR 1,260 (approx. £ 1,097) for single occupancy, EUR 1,260 (approx. £ 1,097) for double occupancy and one diver only and EUR 1,510 (approx. £ 1,315) for double occupancy and two divers.