France

In a career that spans almost 60 years, Japanese-Brazilian architect Ruy Ohtake has played a pivotal role in shaping the cityscape of his native Sao Paulo, counting more than 300 projects in the city alone. When Ohtake was handed the brief for Hotel Unique he faced one of his career’s greatest challenges: craft a design that will become a landmark.

Each year, staff at the Oxford Dictionary sift through the cultural morass to deliver their shortlist for Word of the Year. 2016’s lineup reflected a tumultuous period globally, with nomenclature like Alt-Right, Brexiteer, and Woke front and center. Somewhat cheerier, the word Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) was also present on the shortlist, and it’s a term that came roaring into fashion in 2016. If you’re unfamiliar with the word, it’s becoming increasingly ubiquitous with the concept of coziness and togetherness. Unfortunately, it has no literal translation in English making it difficult to pin down exactly what it means. Hygge was developed as a way of living by the Danish in the 18th century, and is often credited with helping Scandinavian people maintain their cheery disposition despite their long winters. Just like the concept of Feng Shui, hygge has begun to inform interior design choices everywhere from IKEA, to hotels we feature in Kiwi Collection. This week on the blog, we take a closer look at hotels where hygge is central to the guest experience.

Over the next four weeks, the world’s elite fashion houses occupy New York, London, Paris, and Milan to exhibit their designs for the coming year. For attendees, looking the part is a must, and Bo Derek had the right idea when she remarked, “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness, simply didn’t know where to go shopping.” In this week’s blog, we take her words to heart as we look at where the locals shop in each of the Fashion Week destinations, alongside some hotel inspiration.

No matter how low the bar is set, having zero expectations for New Year’s Eve is a near-impossible feat. But, good news, science (more like personal trial-and-error) has concluded that the greatest equation for NYE happiness is to get out of town, because going somewhere new is innately exciting. Now, where to go? Easy, herein, seven atypical experiences to celebrate another calendar year.

Selling seasonal baubles and providing a festive atmosphere, Christmas Markets have been around for nearly a millennium. The tradition originated in German-speaking Europe, and as German immigrants spread throughout the world, so did the Christmas Market. Nowadays, most major cities will host one, and herein we highlight eight around the globe, with a corresponding dash of hotel inspiration.

’Tis the season to be jolly, and some hotels don’t just deck the halls, they go all out. In honor of Santa Claus, we’ve made a list (and checked it twice) of 9 Kiwi Collection hotels making this an extra special holiday season. So whether you’ve been naughty or nice, the festive travel inspiration herein applies to everyone.

As the annual Fourth of July celebrations recede in a haze of firework smoke and backyard BBQs, it left us feeling a little patriotic. The revelry may have become something of an art form in America, but nations around the globe celebrate their independence in a variety of fascinating and often quirky ways. Read on as we take a closer look at some of the larger celebrations, providing a little hotel inspiration along the way.

When the legendary Rat Pack took to the stage at The Sands Las Vegas in 1963, they didn’t just perform what would become one of music’s most notable live records; they also changed the face of hotel entertainment forever. To distinguish from the herd, hotels began putting an emphasis on performances, a trend that continues to this day. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite hotels for live music.

Fashion Month is primed to turn Paris, Milan, New York and London into a giant catwalk over the coming weeks, providing the perfect excuse for a city break to these style capitals. While in town it’s a must to stay in suitably trendy digs, so we’ve brought together eight hotels that are at home in the world of high fashion.