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Vip Tours | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
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| Moscow,
Russia |
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Society
June - 2009 |
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6 Stars
& 6 Stripes
Overall - 'Hotel & Service' |
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The
Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and
Stripes® |
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| I have traveled to many great cities of the world, but
always get anxious when I know that I get to visit Moscow and see the Kremlin,
the heart of Moscow and probably the city's most famous and eye-catching
monument. We hopped cities, as we often do. It is just about an hour from St.
Petersburg to Moscow, by plane, and so I had enough time to answer most of my
important e-mails, - while my travel partner was able to take a nap. The
Russian Business class was worth every ‘Ruble’; we had an excellent
onboard experience. If you are city hopping, please note that there is a
one-hour time difference between St. Petersburg and Moscow |
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| In minutes we were through the
gate and welcomed by the gracious Ms. Olga Kabanova (Guest Relations Agent),
accompanied by two drivers of two BMW 740 LI autos. Under the observing eyes of
other travelers and some spectators, a nicely chilled bottle of
Perrier-Jouët Brut Cuvée Belle Époque popped, while our
luggage was stowed in one of the BMWs. How appropriate, this summer greeting.
There is not much that Moscow hasn’t seen; after all it is not only a
major economic hub but also home to a great number of billionaires, eccentric
or not. |
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| Business
Class Flight St. Petersburg -> Moscow |
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| We arrived within a half hour of a pleasant ride
through the high traffic of Moscow at the Swissotel Krasnye Holmy. Looking up
the shiny, squeaky-clean hotel tower, it was easy to imagine a smashing
360-degree view over the city, especially exciting by night.
“Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts is a distinctive group of deluxe
hotels for today's discerning modern business and leisure travelers, combining
the renowned Swiss touch with a fresh, modern and contemporary design.”
This thirty-four story building is sleek, young and is the first of
Moscow’s newest and tallest buildings and they sure hit the spot with this
location and the style of this inspiring building. Located between the Moscow
River and Obvodny Channel and in short distance from the Kremlin and all the
other links to Russia’s fascinating presence and past. |
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| Swissotel opened this impressive luxury tower, located
right in the heart of Moscow’s new business district, in September of
’05 and it has been the meeting place and base for business travelers and
tourists from all over the world since. The arrival hall was inviting and
modern, but check-in conveyed traditional Swiss hospitality. “Each
Swissôtel offers personalized service with charm and
efficiency…” we can vouch for that. Arrangements of freshly cut
flowers were placed carefully, enveloping us with the scent of summer.
Conveniently the hotel offers a money-exchange facility that handles Euros,
U.S. Dollars, Swiss Francs and British Pounds, but far more important is the
Amrita Spa & Wellness facility, I believe. |
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| My
stylish
accommodations - (CLICK HERE for a closer look) were well appointed
with spectacular views over the precious city and one of the famous ‘Seven
Sister’ compounds. The suite was dressed with fine, modern fabrics and
furniture, - supported by the latest in in-room technology. The wooden cabinets
feature built-in ventilation systems that conveniently eliminate odors from
ones clothing. Quickly I was instructed how to use the all-in-one ‘master
button’, that basically allows the guest to ‘run’ the functions
of the entire room from the remote control in the palm of the hand. |
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| Swissotel
Moscow Welcome |
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The welcome plate was a
creative ‘stack’ of blinnies, smoked salmon and caviars, meant to
resemble the 34 stories of the ‘tower’. Delicious! I took advantage
of the trained hands of the ‘unpacking and packing lady butler’, and
highly recommend this optional service; especially for the packing part, if
shopping is on your agenda. It doesn’t happen too often that hotel
accommodations in large cities have the space for their bathtubs to be placed
in the middle of the bathroom. |
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| I witnessed amazing views from the bathtub as well as
the glass-enclosed shower. The bath had the drain smartly situated in the
middle, allowing two people to soak pleasantly. For ultimate relaxation, the
Amrita spa and salon are within easy access to reach on the 3rd floor. The
‘for house guest only’ Wellness Center offers private treatment
rooms, a nicely arranged pool, Jacuzzi, solarium, sauna and important cardio
fitness facilities. We highly recommend this wellness center and their
experienced and dedicated therapists and staff for their ‘arrival stress
management’ or a highly skilled Tai massage that I experienced
later. |
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| It turned out that our
welcome
reception on Terrace 19 (CLICK HERE for a closer look) would have
been the perfect place for any reception, business or soiree, with a view
to-die-for, or at night under the stars when Moscow puts on her magical lights.
Precious wood tables and floors, good champagne, flowers, delicious hors
d’œuvres and the company of Mr. Jan Chovanec and Miss Tamara Afonina,
left another warm impression with us. |
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| The Krasnye Holmy appears as a
calm, modern, comfortable haven within walking distance to Moscow’s
International Business Centre. The goal of this futuristic project was to
create a new business district within the city and close to the river. The
management company for the project is CITY JSC, a company founded as
collaboration between the Russian government and private investors. The project
was first launched in the early 90s but had been stalled for most of the last
decade, due to lack of investment. In ‘03 the project began to attract
once again investors and has been gaining momentum ever since. |
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| Considering that Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts
are placed in main gateway destinations and city centers with convenient access
to business, shopping and local attractions, they got the optimal spot.
Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts corporate offices are located in
Zürich, Switzerland. The company (Swissôtel, originally founded in
1980 by Swissair and Nestlé) is headed by hospitality veterans
President, Meinhard Huck, and VP for Marketing & Sales, Petra Goetting.
General Manager Jan Chovanec is planning to offer river cruises in the future,
“Our location is asking for it”, he says. |
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“The Krasnye Holmy has a business executive club level that
offers top notch,
modern, sassy state-of-the art banquet and meeting
facilities
‘that will leave you breathless’ with their panoramic
views.” ~ TB |
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| We experienced the pool at the spa as a good place for
relaxing with a book or laptop; Internet access is flawless there too. We swam
a few lanes and took a dip in the turquoise pool with built-in hydro massage
and a good-sized Jacuzzi. The service at the pool was as ‘above and
beyond’ as was every thing else in the hotel; this is how work can
actually turn into relaxation. The unique approach of Amrita Spa & Wellness
is combining the best of Eastern and Western spa philosophies, carefully
researched and selected, with the global traveler’s taste in mind.
Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy has the only one of this kind in
Moscow. |
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| We also got to experience the
unusual, but inspiring fitness area, with a wide choice of Cybex cardio and
workout equipment, overlooking the natural light infused pool. From a
traditional Asian welcome, to the cup of fine tea to the sound of embracing spa
music, we found it a perfect little retreat with five massage rooms. The Tai
massage was exquisitely skillful, and expertly executed. The spa opens at six
am during the week to accommodate the businessperson and early riser, already
and closes at eleven pm. Though intimate in size, the Amrita Spa at
Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy was presented with a well deserved Seven Stars
and Stripes Spa Award, 2009. |
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| Talk about stress management, how about a couple of
hours of opera. At the historic Bolshoi Theatre, we were able to experience an
unforgettable afternoon performance of Tosca. Prince Peter Urusov and Michael
Maddox founded the company in 1776. Initially, it held performances in a
private home, but in 1780, it acquired the Petrovka Theatre and began producing
plays and operas thereafter. |
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| The
Bolshoi (CLICK HERE for a closer look) has been associated from its
beginnings with ballet. Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake premiered at the
theatre on Saturday, March 4, 1877. Other staples of the Bolshoi repertoire
include Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty and then some. The only thing
that could match that experience, were the views from the top of the “City
Space Bar” and a dinner at the eloquent
Kai restaurant… may we invite you. |
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| The City Space (Mission) Bar & Lounge, with
Moscow’s skyline as a backdrop is a hip place, a contemporary alternative
to traditional clubs and bars. There seems to be little alternative when it
comes to the talents of mixologist Mr. Bek Narzi. Tangy martinis with sugar
powdered glass rims, designer space cocktails, you name it and playing off the
color palette by accenting with sunset hues are his forte. The color theme of
City Space intensifies as the colors of the city changes by night, inversely
changing ones mood. In short, you don’t get bored. We found that the bar
cuisine served here is alone worth a review. Bek Narzi won recently the
‘Liquid Oscar’ award and bartenders Andrey Zastavnyuk and Maxim
Rokhman participated in the national Mix Masters competition organized by
Cointreau. Maxim, the head bartender of City Space won in the categories Best
Cocktail and Best Cocktail Presentation. Andrey Z. won the title of “The
Best Bartender of Russia 2009” – World Class Bartender Of The Year.
Nastrovje! |
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| After a good nights sleep, and a pot of fabulous Swiss
coffee while wrapped in my customized, white embroidered bathrobe (customized
for frequent guests), I meet with Edmund for breakfast in Café Swiss.
Guests can enjoy breakfast either à la carte or self-serve buffet style
every morning in the hotel's breakfast room in a casual atmosphere, which
features expansive street views. There were many Swiss style specialties,
including Roestis, the traditional Swiss Bircher Müesli, delicious smoked
bacon and cured ham, as well as all the international basics such as eggs to
order, pancakes, fresh fruit and all kinds of wonderful fresh pastries, crisp
breads and rolls with delicious homemade tasting jams, yogurts and then
some. |
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General Manager
Jan Chovanec, with almost two decades of experience in upper management in the
luxury hospitality industry, holds an MBA from the University of Economics,
Bratislava, Slovakia where he majored in tourism and hotel management. Mr.
Chovanec rejoined Raffles-Swissôtel following a two-year assignment as GM
of the Conrad Indianapolis. Prior to that, he successfully managed the
Swissôtel The Bosporus, Istanbul. Of American nationality, Mr. Chovanec
started his career in Europe and returned to the US to take on challenging
senior management roles. |
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| His resume features the successful launch of the
Conrad Indianapolis, the Swissôtel The Bosporus (where was also
responsible for Turkey and the Middle East), The Watergate Washington D.C.
Swissôtel, Chicago Swissôtel, The Ritz Carlton, Boston, - just to
mention a few. He also founded a hotel consulting company in the early 90s, The
Dunhill Management and Consulting Group, where he advised hotel owners and
investors for several years. We had the great pleasure of witnessing on several
occasions the easiness with which Jan Chovanec directs. Swissôtel is
known to promote within the ranks and Mr. Jan Chovanec lives
Swissôtel’s corporate philosophy: "Treat everyone as they wish to be
treated and remain true to our Swiss heritage". |
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| “Everything about the site strikes a fine balance between
Russian and Swiss sophistication at the same time.” ~ TB |
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| We spent a couple of leisure hours as the
first
guests ever on the rooftop - (CLICK HERE for a closer look) of the
Swissotel Krasnye Holmy and experienced here genuine Swiss hospitality. In
unity this top-notch team, orchestrated by Executive Chef Jean Michael
Hardouin-Atlan and Food & Beverage Director Michel Colonna, presented one
of the most flawlessly executed inaugural events one could wish to attend. From
the fabulous international cuisines to the finest desserts, this team came
intuitively through on even the smallest details. Not that the blankets that
were offered for chilly moments, were small, by any means, neither were the
pretty centerpieces or opulent food displays. The fine bone china and sparkling
stemware competed with the colors of the sky in the polished domes of the
serving dishes, well crafted and aesthetically pleasing the breathtaking aura
lend itself to a buffet station. All of the elements of this ‘in the
clouds’ setting are perfect to celebrate special occasions, small wedding
receptions, business gatherings or a ‘meant to impress’ romantic
evening. |
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| In every town there's always
some restaurant that has that unusually awesome traditional food and is passed
on to a good friend as a secret. We were there, in
Moscow’s
oldest restaurant - (CLICK HERE for a closer look), with just a
couple of tables, almost like in grandma’s dining room and we shall not
disclose its name. Ask the concierge and they will try to get you reservations,
since it is booked long in advance; Babushka is cooking. The secret
restaurant’s interior was a clear reminder of the Old Russian style,
including tablecloth, ceramics featuring Peter the Great and table china with
old-fashioned motifs. |
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| We were treated to delightful
live
piano music -(CLICK HERE for a closer look), including the famous
Podmoskovnye Vechera (Moscow Nights) – the owner is a big supporter of the
students of the arts. We were pleasantly surprised by Babushka’s unusually
refined taste of homemade cooking and enjoyed our company as well. Mr.
Chovanec, who was complemented by his charming wife, had also invited his
entire upper management team to join us for this fun and interesting evening
(Michael Colonna Director F&B, Katerina Mouravieva Director of Sales, Mr.
Gianluca Tozzo Director of the Rooms Division, Tamara Afonina PR &
Communications Manager and others). |
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| General Manager Jan Chovanec and his team have to be
commended for both, their dedication and organizational work. Personalized
guest and group experience comes first. We congratulate Jan Chovanec and the
entire team for their outstanding example of Swiss hospitality performance in a
foreign country. Mr. Chovanec‘s style seems to work flawless through the
empowerment of his professional team. |
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by
Thorsten & Edmund Buehrmann
Editor: Ingrid
Lemme
Editor-in-Chief: John Lomitola |
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| © 2009 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes, Inc. |
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