Rocco Forte Group Site

Whether you coincide a weekend break with one of May’s bank holidays or not, it’s a lovely time to go away – winter is long behind us, the days are longer and the sun should be shining. Here’s a selection of breaks to make the most of it from The Rocco Forte Collection:

Rocco Forte’s The Balmoral – Edinburgh’s Ghost Festival, 9th-18th May
The 10-day annual event begins on 9th May and delves deeply into the city’s fascinating past and its haunted locations. Highlights include a scientific experiment from Edinburgh University’s Department of Parapsychology and an exclusive event with Most Haunted star Richard Felix. Stay at the Rocco Forte’s The Balmoral, the city’s most famous hotel and centrally-located on Prince’s Street, from just £215 per room, per night. To book, visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

Rocco Forte’s Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg – Stars of the White Nights Festival, 11th May-13th July
St Petersburg's famous Mariinsky Theatre will be hosting its annual Stars of the White Nights festival from 11th May–13th July. The festival, which stages operas, ballets and symphonies, has become the epitome of Russian culture, but for a true Russian experience stay at Rocco Forte’s Hotel Astoria. Situated on St Isaac’s Square in the heart of the city, the hotel boasts an exquisite selection of chilled vodkas and the best Russian caviar. Prices start from £389 per room per night. To book visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

Rocco Forte’s Hotel Amigo, Brussels – Eurantica art and antiques fair, 16th-19th May
Eurantica is Belgium’s largest art and antiques fair, attracting Europe’s leading dealers and galleries and making it a goldmine for both dedicated and novice collectors. Rocco Forte’s Hotel Amigo is offering entrance to the fair and a brochure, plus two tickets to the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Belgium, as part of a two-night package. The package costs from 498 Euro (approx £394) for two people staying two nights, including breakfast and a martini cocktail each. To book visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel, London – Chelsea Flower Show, 17th-25th May
As London’s oldest hotel, it’s only fitting that Rocco Forte’s Brown’s Hotel is paying homage to the Chelsea Flower Show, a long-standing British institution, with two floral-themed packages. In the spa, you can enjoy a luxurious face, shoulder and head massage with a blend of rose and primrose oil to re-energize the skin’s natural regenerative process, whilst your feet are relaxing in a bowl of warm water with scattered rose petals (£60 pp). In the English Tea Room, you can opt for specially-created Traditional Afternoon Tea complete with scones with rose strawberry jam, violet blueberries macaroons, elderflower jelly with apple compote crumble and fig & lavender tartlet, served with Rosebud or Jasmine Tea (£35 pp). Both packages are available between 17th-25th May. Stay overnight from just £265 per room, per night. To book visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

Rocco Forte’s The Lowry Hotel, Manchester – Contemporary Art Biennial, 24th-26th May Tatton Park Biennial will commission up to 30 new works from artists, performers and writers, to reflect Tatton's internationally renowned gardens of distinction. Rocco Forte's The Lowry Hotel is offering exclusive tours with curators on the 24th-26th May, as well as 7th-8th June, 19th -20th July, 9th and 10th August and 28th September. Prices start from £125 per person per night. To book visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

Rocco Forte’s Le Richemond, Geneva – Open Doors at Genevese Cellars, 24th May
On 24th May, over 100 wine cellars within the city of Geneva and in villages in the surrounding countryside will open to the public. As well as wine tasting and buying, there will be food and music making it a fun and lively way of sampling the local produce and visiting the city. Stay at Rocco Forte’s Le Richemond and you’ll be in the heart of the city, on the edge of the lake. Prices start from 450 CHF (approx £225) per room, per night. To book visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

Rocco Forte’s Hotel Savoy, Florence - China: At the court of The Emperors, throughout May
Florence is hosting a spectacular new exhibition of China’s Golden Age. China: At the court of The Emperors brings together masterpieces from the more traditional Han style to the elegance of the Tang dynasty (25 - 907) and will be on display at the Palazzo Strozzi until 8 June 2008. Rocco Forte’s Hotel Savoy is including entrance to the exhibition and the official catalogue in-room upon arrival as part of a special package. The package ensures access to this exclusive event so guests won’t miss the chance to see the splendid frescoes and stone sculptures, exquisite gold and silver objects, precious ceramics, spectacular terracotta statues and precious jewels and rich lacquers of the Tang Dynasty, many of which have never been seen before in the West. The package costs from 476 Euros (approx £340) per room per night, including breakfast and a room upgrade subject to availability. There is a minimum length of stay of three nights. To book, visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

Rocco Forte’s Hotel de Russie, Rome – Emperor Augustus’s home opens to the public
Four frescoed rooms in the home Emperor Augustus on Rome's Palatine Hill has recently opened to the public, offering a unique insight into ancient Roman life. Said to be the most splendid surviving examples of Roman wall painting, the frescoes have been painstakingly pieced back together during a 1.5 million Euro restoration of the house. Visit this, and Rome’s other incredible relics, with a weekend break at the Hotel de Russie. Situated just off the Spanish steps, the hotel is perfectly located for sightseeing and with its extensive gardens and restful spa, is a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. Prices start from £422 per room, per night. To book, visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Rocco Forte Collection was established in 1996 to create a group of luxury hotels in Europe. The hotels have individual styles, with each hotel reflecting its nationality and location. The properties are linked together under The Rocco Forte Collection, which guarantees attention to detail, quality and service delivery.

The Rocco Forte Collection comprises:
- Hotel de Russie, Rome
- Hotel Savoy, Florence
- The Balmoral, Edinburgh
- The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
- Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg
- Hotel Amigo, Brussels
- Brown’s Hotel, London
- Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt
- Hotel de Rome, Berlin
- Le Richemond, Geneva
- The Charles Hotel, Munich

Future openings: 
The Augustine, Prague - 2008
Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily – 2009
Marrakech – 2010
Abu Dhabi - 2010

For further information and online reservations, please visit The Rocco Forte Collection website: www.roccofortecollection.com.