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Vip Tours | 1 | 2 | 3
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| Lviv,
Ukraine |
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Extraordinary - Society |
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| October -
2010 |
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5 Stars
& 6 Stripes
Overall - 'Hotel & Service' |
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The
Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and
Stripes® |
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| End of October, and we were on the way to discover the
second largest city of the Ukraine, Lviv, formerly called ‘Lemberg’.
We flew Lufthansa
(PHOTO
TOUR - CLICK HERE) nonstop from Munich to Lviv and left the terminal of
this
small
airport just two hours later. The air was unusually mild for the
progressing fall season and the sky as blue as on any nice summer day. Though
young in years by European standards, Lviv celebrated its 750th anniversary
in’ 06; this place belongs on our ‘must discover’ list. A
uniformed driver expected us at the terminal and chauffeured us safely within
fifteen minutes with his black town car to our hotel, in the center of the
historic city. The historic city center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Lviv is a dynamic and predominantly young city, with several institutions for
higher education such as the Lviv Polytechnic and the Ivan Franko National
University founded in 1661, one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. |
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| Arrival at the
Leopolis Hotel: Udo Heine & Thorsten Buehrmann |
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| Just steps from the Rynok Square, the Lviv Opera
House, the Roman Catholic Church of Jesuits, the Latin Cathedral, the Armenian
Church, the Town Hall and so many other architectural gems, the location of
this small boutique hotel is priceless. The streets in the heart of the city
are cobblestone flanked by old buildings that have survived World War II and
the Soviet occupation largely unharmed. Check-in was amiable in the comfort of
a casual elegant boutique style setting. Here we were invited to attend the
daily complimentary Happy Hour for hotel guests at the house library, before
dinner. Soon after, we were in the elevator to our accommodations on the second
floor. |
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| Leopolis Hotel:
Library |
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I quickly slipped into a bathrobe, checked the
well stocked mini bar and decided to take a shower while my laptop was charging
its batteries. The bathroom was well equipped and nicely decorated, and
featured bath amenities that were delightfully different. First thing to catch
my eye was DAMANA, a body line by Aslotel that “has been created adopting
ancient knowledge of herbal enrichments and draws its inspiration from the sun,
earth and Mediterranean climate”. My stylish but comfortable and carefully
designed accommodations appeared spacious. The base colors were shades of
brown, eggplant and beige, merging effortlessly with the views of the historic
city beyond. I felt perfectly at home, yet utterly indulged at the same time.
The wireless connection was complementary, which is not necessarily the case in
all of Europe. |
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| Leopolis Hotel:
Suite |
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| We were looking forward to discovering the heart of
the historic city and were delighted to find just steps from the hotel the
‘Opera Passage’ an upscale shopping mall which includes LVMH
Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton S.A. and many others. Owned by the same
investors that created Lviv’s new celebrated boutique hotel
‘Leopolis’, the close-by luxury mall seems like a great match and an
open invitation for its guests. During our stay, it was Lviv’s Fashion
Week, Kenzo Takada, a world-renowned Japanese fashion designer and founder of
Kenzo, resided at the Leopolis as well. We had the great honor of meeting
Lviv’s high society and
Mr.
Kenzo at the Fashion Week’s Gala Dinner at the ‘Opera
Passage’.
(PHOTO
TOUR - CLICK HERE) |
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| Loepolis’
Executive
Chef Emanuel Wernbacher had catered here at Leopolis Hall, on the upper
floor of the Opera Passage, an excellent three-course sit-down dinner with all
the dressings. This venue makes an interesting spot for weddings, banquets and
meetings of all kinds. This international gala dinner was spectacular, from the
amazing decorations, the warm lighting to the fashionably dressed company.
Ukraine’s National TV station covered Lviv International Fashion Week and
gala dinner, which was sponsored by Mercedes Benz and Austrian Airlines. After
the gala dinner we attended the Fashion Night at La Piazza in the Opera Passage
briefly. But since it was late we decided to walk back to the hotel for a
nightcap at the cozy bar and call it a night. Breakfast at the Leopolis is
amazing and as international as its guests, many visiting on business.
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| It feels almost like a place
where time has stopped
(PHOTO
TOUR - CLICK HERE). Well cared-for buildings, monuments and life-sized
statues that are patiently waiting to be photographed are plenty. The
tempestuous and exceptionally interesting history of Lviv emerged back in the
mid 13th century. Due to its unique geographical location, on the crossroads of
East and West, Lviv became a hub for Eastern Europe’s trading throughout
the 15th to 17th centuries. During the 18th to 20th centuries Lviv was a part
of the Austrian and Hungarian Empire and became known as the city of and for
technical innovations.
Kerosene
and the kerosene lamp were invented, fact proudly captured through a
monument. |
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| The city had been and is today renowned, as center for
literature, music, theater, art, architecture and some interesting characters
like Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. The term masochism is derived from his name.
Leopold
von Sacher–Masoch, whose lifelike statue is found just short walk from
the hotel, was an Austrian journalist who gained significant recognition as
author as well. Though most of his works were not translated into English, his
novel ‘Venus in Furs’ is renowned world wide and available in
English. Von Sacher-Masoch was born in the city then known as Lemberg (1836
–1895), the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, at the time a
province of the Austrian Empire (now Lviv, Ukraine). He studied law, history
and mathematics at Graz University, and after graduating moved back to Lemberg
where he became a professor. In 1869 he signed a contract with his mistress
that made him her slave for six months, with the stipulation that she wear fur
as often as possible.
Please
peak into the hole of the statue’s chest (CLICK HERE), where one would
assume is his heart. |
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| We are congratulating Mr. Udo Heine, Director of the
Leopolis Hotel, Lviv to the formation of a well-rehearsed team that is able to
showcase the vision of its investors. The level of service we experienced
during our stay was excellent and is a result of a hands-on management who has
an emphasis on continuous training. Mr. Heine’s formula for his success in
making the Leopolis one of the most prestigious hotels in the country is
constant supervision of quality, maintaining the highest level of service and
making their guests feel at home. Mr. Heine and his teams are in the second
phase of the hotel’ s development that will double the amount of
accommodations and includes a new spa center, a conference hall, bars and
restaurants. |
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| 2010 Leopolis
Hotel - Award-Hand-Out - Seven Stars And Stripes |
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by
Edmund & Thorsten Buehrmann
Editor: Ingrid
Lemme
Editor-in-Chief: John Lomitola |
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| © 2010 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes, Inc. |
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