Recently in Inside Category

Peter Foreman is the Director of Sales & Marketing at Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur and thelobby.com's expert on Asia.

When in Taipei, be sure to ride the world's fastest elevator at the Taipei 101 Observatory. At speeds of 1,010mpm or about 60mph, this pressurized elevator offers the comforts of an airplane cabin and takes just 37 seconds from the 5th floor to the 89th floor observatory where you will enjoy sweeping views of Taipei city and the surrounding areas. The building is designed on the Chinese pagoda and the shape of bamboo flowers. The lucky number eight, which means blooming or success, is represented by the eight clearly delineated exterior sections of the building.

Don't spend all your time looking out the windows, there is just as much to see inside Taipei 101, such as the world's largest damper. With a diameter of 5.5 meters and weighing 660 metric tons, it was made at a cost of NT$132 million, around 4 million US.
I suggest you take the internal stairs to the 91st floor outdoor observatory where it is possible to see the clouds surrounding the building and view at close up the spire at the highest point of 508 meters. Taipei 101 can withstand gale winds of 60 meters per second and the biggest earthquakes experienced in a 2,500 year cycle. The double glazed glass curtain walls can sustain impacts of 8 tons. The Westin Taipei is a short 15 minute drive from Taipei 101, which is also home to five floors of shopping and restaurants.

Jeremy McCarthy is the Director of Spa Operations Development and Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts and thelobby.com's expert on everything spa.

Two new Heavenly Spas have opened their doors in Hawaii. The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas opened their new spa earlier this year. It joins its sister property, The Westin Maui, which lays claim to being not only the first Heavenly Spa in Hawaii, but in the world. Now the Moana Surfrider has just opened a new Heavenly Spa in Waikiki on the Island of Oahu. While Heavenly Spas are starting to open around the world, with India, China and Dubai, all having opened new spas in the past year, it is interesting that three of the 13 now open are located in Hawaii. Could it be that the spirit of "Aloha" is just the perfect fit for the uplifting Heavenly Spa brand?

Niall Twamley is the Branded Experience Analyst at the Starwood Cork CCC office and the lobby.com's expert on Ireland.

There is no better way to discover what makes a destination unique than to attend a local sporting event. It is a great way to meet locals and see what life is like away from the regular tourist haunts. Among the biggest events of Ireland's sporting year are the All Ireland Finals which are held in Croke Park on the Northside of Dublin every September.

The stadium plays host to the finals for all of the games governed by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), but the 2 showpieces which catch the imagination of Ireland and Irish communities around the world are the senior Hurling and Gaelic football finals. These finals bring fans from all around Ireland and the world to Dublin to watch their heroes fight it out for the Liam McCarthy or Sam Maguire cups and bragging rights over their neighbours for the rest of the year!

Even if you do not have a ticket, there is a great atmosphere in the city and in the pubs close to Croke Park running up to the finals. Tickets for the final games are very hard to come by, but a visit to the GAA website can sometimes be rewarded with information on how to get tickets for some of the less high profile games in Croke Park or in one of the other county grounds around Ireland such as Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork which is a short drive away from the Sheraton Fota Island Hotel and Spa on the Eastern side of Cork City.

The Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia has something to please just about every traveler. From great shopping at Chesapeake's Greenbrier Mall to the many waterside attractions of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, visitors to this dynamic part of the country will never run out of places to see and things to do. Now, Hampton Roads has a hotel that meets the needs of today's business and leisure travelers like never before in the brand new aloft Chesapeake. This exciting new destination features a loft-inspired design that keeps the energy flowing when you want it, and provides the ultimate in relaxation when you need it. And with amenities such as the Splash indoor pool, re:charge gym, and hotel-wide internet access, you'll be able to mix work and play and still come out ahead. As an added incentive to explore Starwood's eighth brand, members have the opportunity to earn eight Starpoints for every eligible dollar spent. With a deal like that, you'll earn your way to free rooms and once-in-a-lifetime experiences in no time. To see other special offers and make a reservation, visit aloft Chesapeake's website today.

The upscale Dallas suburb of Plano has much to offer the business and leisure traveler, from the corporate headquarters of multinational companies as varied as Ericsson, Frito-Lay, and Dr Pepper, to an eclectic assortment of shops and restaurants. Now, it's also home to one of Starwood's newest hotels as well. Located near the town's charming downtown area, aloft Plano represents the latest thinking in hospitality, with lofty open spaces designed to facilitate business while providing a relaxing environment to connect with one another, and comfortable, well-appointed rooms that will have you feeling your best in no time. The weather's lovely in Texas this time of year, so why not pay a visit to this exciting new hotel? With several special offers to choose from, you could enjoy a few days in Plano with plenty left over for a shopping spree. Take advantage of the Grand Opening offer and enjoy weekday rates of $149 and weekend rates of $79, as well as a $10 munchie credit that can be used at the w xyz bar, or to re:fuel (pictured). You'll be taken by the charms of this classic Texas town in no time.

Peter Turco is a writer, editor, and lately an aspiring drummer when he's not working on the marketing team at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. This month, he writes about his first trip to Asia, where he recently traveled to Singapore, Phuket and Bangkok.

Sawadeekaap! If Singapore is for beginners, then Phuket is Asia for the Pampered and Spoiled. Butlers and porters and drink shufflers and coffee fairies take care of every little thing, just like they did in Singapore, but Singapore was still a business trip and it was still a city. And while there were some exciting moments -- like having fish nibble dead skin off my feet -- it wasn't a vacation.

So we took off for Phuket. The hotel sent a car to pick us up and speed us to the silty sands of Laguna Beach where we checked in at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket. We were greeted with a wristband of fresh flowers, a delicious welcome fruit drink, and, thankfully, two small towels to wipe the sweat soaking our collars mere seconds out of the air-conditioned back seat (sissies). If I haven't mentioned the oppressive humidity, I'll note it now... it's seriously humid.

One of Starwood's most exciting new properties recently opened in Ashburn, Virginia, bringing with it a new concept in hospitality to an area ripe with technical innovation and brilliant minds. Located in the Dulles Technology Corridor, aloft Dulles North boasts easy access to the high-tech headquarters of companies like AOL and Verizon, but it's also just minutes from the museums, galleries, and fine restaurants of Washington, D.C. So whether you're traveling on business and meeting with engineers, programmers, and tech gurus, or just enjoying a couple of days of culture and cuisine, aloft Dulles North is designed to make you feel comfortable, relaxed, and ready to handle anything that comes your way. Every room features the incredibly luxurious aloft signature bed, oversized spa shower, and a plug & play connectivity station, which charges all your electronics and links to the 42-inch LCD TV, so you can strike the perfect balance between working hard and kicking back. If you'd like to see this unique new property for yourself, why not take advantage of one of the special offers currently available? For example, SPG members can enjoy quadruple Starpoints for stays. That's eight Starpoints for every eligible dollar spent, which means you'll be earning free reward nights in no time. So drop by to see the latest thinking in hotels, where you can let yourself go while staying plugged in to everything you care about.

Tokyo is one of the world's most captivating cities, with a perfect balance of technology and serenity. Its business districts are legendary for their hustle, bustle, and high-stakes deals, but they belie scores of serene parks and temples, where even the most harried office workers find peace and solace amid the urban beauty. If you've ever wanted to experience the contrasts of Tokyo, here's a great chance. The Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next six weeks. Located in the heart of Tokyo Disney Resort, this hotel is your gateway to fun. With an on-site Disney ticket desk and complimentary transportation to the Disney Resort Line monorail system, you can be enjoying the park within minutes of rolling out of bed. After you've explored all the rides and attractions, central Tokyo is just a short jaunt away. It's worth a visit if only to see the amazing neon of the Ginza, Harajuku, and Shinjuku neighborhoods, alongside the historic Sensō-ji temple in Asakusa. As you toast your adventures with an after-dinner cocktail at the hotel's Belvedere Lounge, you can begin to plan your next great getaway. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list for the latest destinations.

The St. Regis Washington, D.C. has long been the preferred hotel of celebrities, dignitaries, and politicians, while luxury goods retailer Neiman Marcus has been associated with the finer things in life for more than a hundred years, so it only makes sense that the two should get together to make the presidential inauguration in January an event to remember. The two marquee brands will collaborate on an in-lobby boutique, where visitors and guests will be able to browse and buy exquisite products from Yves Saint Laurent Beaute, Loro Piana, Brioni, Zegna, and others. From January 16-21, 2009, Neiman Marcus at the St. Regis, Washington, D.C. will be open in the hotel's stunning lobby from 9:00 a.m. to midnight daily, offering high-end shopping as well as a few unique services that could come in handy for the inauguration festivities. The Manolo Blahnik shoeshine and bowtie-tying service, for example, will make sure that gentlemen are looking positively dashing in their tuxedos. And ladies might wish to enlist the services of Neiman Marcus wardrobe consultants, who can help outfit them with patriotic items and cold weather merchandise such as signature cashmere items, Wolford tights, and Loro Piana wraps. And to ensure that every guest has something to remember this historic inauguration by, guests will receive surprise in-room gifts from Neiman Marcus, including makeup brushes, perfumes, deluxe samples of premiere cosmetics, and complimentary gift cards. Hail to the chief, indeed. Built in 1926, the stunning St. Regis Washington, D.C. is located just two blocks from the White House, so book your stay today and become a part of U.S. political history.

With just one week left before winter officially begins, it's time to start thinking about ways to keep warm. The birds seem to know what they're doing, heading south to sunnier climes to wait out the snow and sleet, so maybe we should head south too. As far as southern destinations go, it's hard to top Houston, with its perfect mix of urban sophistication and southwestern charm. As it happens, the Westin Galleria Houston is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends. If shopping's your thing, the Westin Galleria Houston is your place, as it is connected to the world famous Galleria shopping center, Houston's #1 attraction and the fourth-largest shopping center on the continent. Shop till you drop at stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, MAC Cosmetics, and Neiman Marcus, and then head back to the hotel for a little exercise at the WestinWORKOUT gym, followed by a relaxing dip in the pool. Once you've dried off from your swim, try on one of your new outfits and enjoy dinner at Zucchini Farm-to-Market Cafe, followed by a refreshment at Shucker's Sports Bar. It's a pleasant ending to an eventful day in Houston. Of course, the Westin Galleria is just one of dozens of Starpicks properties this week, so check the list for the destination of your dreams.