Isrotel Luxury Collection

Isrotel has now introduced a new brand of hotels, Isrotel Luxury Collection. The collection includes all of Isrotel's top properties: The Isrotel Royal Beach, Beresheet, Carmel Forest Spa Resort, and the all new Sea One Hotel. We predict that the chain will not grow very much and will be limited to about 7 exclusive hotels, perhaps some acquired from other chains. Last week in Eilat, we noticed that the Isrotel Royal Beach has received an ugly new logo, under which is written " The Royal Beach". No more Isrotel. All the hotels in the collection feature a simple nature related logo, and are not branded as Isrotels. While we like the idea of bringing more luxury hotels and essentially starting a new chain of hotels, we feel like the Luxury Collection is just an excuse to charge higher rates.
All we can say is that we hope the Isrotel Royal Beach, excuse us, The Royal Beach, will get some renovations to keep it in line with the others.
Oh, and how about a new hotel in Jerusalem, instead of yet another one in Tel Aviv?

The Second Ritz Carlton

It's our lucky day. Not long ago, we were brooding over the lack of good hotels, more specifically American chains, and now we received word that not one, but two Ritz's will be opening. The first, as we mentioned a few months ago, will be in upscale Herzliya. The second, in the heart of Tel Aviv:
"The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company plans to open a hotel on Tel Aviv's Rothschild Boulevard, becoming the latest in a number of hotel chains to show interest in the famous city-center street.
Ritz-Carlton signed a $50 million deal with Tidhar, and Migdal Insurance and Financial Holdings to buy a block of buildings at 10 Rothschild Boulevard.
The buildings stand on five lots at the southern end of the boulevard, and are currently occupied by buildings slated for preservation. Ritz-Carlton will renovate these buildings and also build a 28-storey high rise for residential and hotel use." (Globes Israeli Online)
Just two little questions: 1) Is the Ritz Carlton going to be horribly confused with the Carlton Tel Aviv? 2) Why hasn't there been an official press release yet?
Anyway, Tel Aviv is certainly covered, with the Ritz and the Kempinski, but what about poor, neglected Jerusalem?

Zichron Yaakov

One of Israel's most beautiful towns, a hilltop location with cobblestone streets, gardens, historic buildings, a winery, and luxury homes overlooking the sea below. The only thing missing is some luxury hotels. One of the best options is Beit Maimon, a small boutique hotel with views of the sea, renovated rooms, and good food. But there are no new hotels. Recently, while driving past Zichron, we noticed a large hotel- like shell right on the hillside, quite close to the Havat Habaron hotel. There are two options: This could be an extension of the Havat hotel, which is now under new management and supposedly being renovated. The second option is that this is Leopard Hospitality's (the designers of Brown TLV) boutique hotel and spa, which is under construction. (http://www.leopard.co.il/). Hopefully, we'll find out soon.