Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Bat Yam Updates

It's been a busy month for hotels in Israel. First, we finally took a trip down to Bat Yam to take a look at the construction. We were pleasantly surprised by the Sun Hotel (and not the Sea Hotel), which is actually progressing along quickly and promises to open its doors within three years. Much of the concrete structure is already in place, and we can tell that this will shape up to be a fantastic addition to the Israeli hotel scene. Meanwhile, the developers have supposedly signed a management contract with a US hotel chain "on par with Waldorf Astoria and Four Seasons". We've also been told that it is a world-renowned chain with 5,000 rooms around the world. Any guesses? The big reveal should be on February 1st, so it's not too long to wait. The best news out of all of this is that the property will probably not retain the moniker Sun Hotel for very long.

Other news: Lately, our internet searches have been peppered with advertisements for Hotel Rothschild 22, from Fattal Hotels. It looks like Fattal is trying to compete with the independent,boutique hotels in Tel Aviv with this offering, which is not branded under the flagship Leonardo name. It's located on the super-hot Rothschild Street, in the heart of Tel Aviv- but housed in a modern, glassy tower unlike the restored International style buildings which are home to most of the luxury boutique hotels in the area. With 156 rooms and suites, it's also considerably larger than its competition. Not to be undone, the hotel boasts that it "has gone that extra mile compared with other Tel Aviv hotels when it comes to facilities." Going the extra mile, according to the website, includes Nespresso machines, luxurious silk sheets, soft, fluffy towels, and L'occitane amenities. 

The hotel features a restaurant on the gallery floor with a trendy open kitchen, a business lounge, and a "fitness suite" (code for an extra-tiny gym, perhaps?). Oh, and rest assured that when it comes to meetings, "Hotel Rothschild 22 easily outshines other hotels in Tel Aviv when it comes to meetings and events facilities." Nothing like a little arrogance to get the competition upping its game, huh. We found rates for $175 this week, which isn't too bad.

Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, large banners have been placed on the Bank Hapoalim Building near Zion Square heralding the arrival of the Herbert Samuel Hotel. (Not sure if there's any relation to the uber- elegant Herbert Samuel restaurants in Tel Aviv and Herzliya). They don't seem to have a website, either, but here's what we've gleaned. The hotel's primary selling point, aside from its location, seems to be its indoor swimming pool (is that a gold-leaf ceiling we spy?) and 24 hour fitness center. The design is very elegant and classy, not modern at all which is a bit of a surprise considering the building's modern exterior. Think wood paneling, gold detailing, polished marble floors, and sparkling chandeliers. The 137 rooms remind us strongly of those at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem down the road. We wouldn't be surprised if the designers looked there for inspiration. The hotel also boasts a rooftop restaurant with sweeping views of Jerusalem. We found rates for $320 in September, which seems awfully pricey. But maybe that's just us.