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From satori to soles: New hotel openings

Finding chisoku in Kamakura: Japan-based Kishi-ke Co. Ltd. began taking reservations in April for what it says is the first modern ryokan in Kamakura – it’s certainly one of the smallest. Kishi-ke takes groups of up to five people in a private retreat with an ocean view, based on the Zen concept of chisoku, fulfillment and sufficiency. Guests can enjoy shojin cuisine at breakfast, cultural workshops and other experiences such as tea ceremonies and zazen meditation that Nobuyuki Kishi, CEO of Kishi-ke, says are geared to help achieve inner harmony through mindfulness. Along with luxury hotel amenities and services, Kishi-ke mixes traditional materials, nature and technology in a design by architect Ryohei Tanaka and landscape architect Akihiko Ono. July rates are around US$1,200, according to Booking.com.

A guest room at Kishi-ke
A guest room at Kishi-ke

Shuffle off to the Last Hotel: Who knew that St. Louis was once the “greatest shoe distributing center of the world”? The Last Hotel is now open in St. Louis, Missouri’s downtown Garment District. Owned and developed by Fe Equus and managed by Trust Hospitality, the 142-room hotel is housed in a building that formerly held the International Shoe Company, and it pays tribute to its roots (soles?) with a shoe shine station and antique shoe lace machine. There is also a rooftop bar and lounge, the lobby-level Last Kitchen + Bar, and eponymous, locally distilled rye whiskey and gin. The façade has the Peters Shoe Company name in metal above an architectural detail of shoe a cobbler. The hotel is named for a last, the wooden form used in shoemaking. Designed by ESG, interior features include original marble and terrazzo flooring, column capitals and bronze light fixtures, and even references to the Vienna Secession art movement, which inspired the original architecture. Summer rates range from US$100 to US$200.

Ritz-Carlton in historic Xian: Marriott International’s Ritz-Carlton brand opened its first property in the Chinese city of Xian with a contemporary take on local culture and cuisine. It’s in the business area of the Gao Xin District of the historic city, home of the 2,000-year-old terracotta warriors and the eastern end of the Silk Road. The 283-room property is owned by Zhongda Zhongfangxin Proprietary Company Ltd and includes 31 suites, a 23rd floor club lounge and five F&B outlets. ADR was not noted.

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