Orchid Hotel Group

Well, we sure got a surprise today! We were browsing hotels in Eilat and came across the New Orchid Reef Hotel (quite a name, no?). Intrigued by the "Orchid", we switched over to the Orchid Hotel Eilat site to find out if these two hotels are related. It turns out they are. These two hotels are part of the previously-unknown Orchid Hotel Group. The group includes four hotels in Eilat, two in the Dead Sea, one in Tel Aviv, a boutique hotel in the Galil, and Maale Hachamisha near Jerusalem. The hotels range from very upscale to "I wouldn't want to step foot in that place" (Cough, cough Maale Hachamisha).

More interesting, though, is that the group also owns a handful of Miami hotels, including the popular Hotel Victor. But that's not our concern. Here's what makes Orchid Hotel Group really newsworthy: They're building three more hotels in Israel. The first, called the Orchid Country Club Tel Aviv, is located in the vague Tel Aviv/Herzliya area. The hotel aims to cater to businessmen traveling to the two cities, and offers 120 rooms and a rare year round heated outdoor pool. Next is the Orchid Kinneret Hotel, which offers 70 vacation units (some with private pools!) housed in two-story bungalows. This hotel will also offer a lakefront pool, spa, beach, and fitness center. Last, and most exciting, is the Orchid Pasha Tel Aviv-Jaffa Hotel. Located in between the clock tower and the sea, the hotel occupies what is arguably the best location in the area. The hotel encompasses an ancient fortress and two new buildings. Renderings look gorgeous, with an infinity edge pool overlooking the sea and a large space for events. Despite the grand scale of the project, the hotel will be small, with about 140 rooms. The "six- star" property is "currently looking into entering into a franchise agreement with a major international luxury hotel chain, one that has not been active in Israel as yet.” Four Seasons Jaffa, anyone?