Rocco Forte Group Site

Whether it’s your turn to cover the office this Christmas and New Year, or you just fancy some rest and relaxation before the festive season, why not treat yourself to a pre-Christmas mini-break with The Rocco Forte Collection? Here are just some suggestions of how to make the most of your time away:

Enjoy a pre-Christmas cultural treat with Hotel Savoy, Florence

Visit the spectacular “Caterina and Maria de’ Medici” exhibition and give your eyes something to truly feast on before the onslaught of Christmas television specials. Taking place at the Palazzo Strozzi from 24th October 2008 to the 8th February 2009, the exhibition will feature 15 monumental tapestries commissioned by Caterina de’ Medici in the mid 16th century and completed by Maria de’ Medici. Portraits and works of art loaned from various Florentine Museums will further illustrate the extraordinary lives of the two Medici Queens. Rocco Forte’s Hotel Savoy is including entrance to the exhibition and an exhibition catalogue upon arrival as part of a package, costing from €365 (approx £290) per room, per night. The price is based on two sharing and includes complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability) and breakfast. The package will be available throughout the exhibition and is subject to a two-night minimum stay. To book visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

Spend a White Day at Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg

St Petersburg is truly magical in wintertime, when the palaces and cathedrals are covered in snow and the canals glint in the White Days’ winter sun. To keep warm, snuggle under furs on a traditional trokia ride, explore the fascinating Hermitage museum or take in a heart-warming opera or ballet at the famous Mariinsky Theatre. Stay in the heart of the city at Hotel Astoria, a romantic hotel which blends the elegance and grandeur of Russia with the utmost luxury. The hotel’s White Days package costs 45,700 RUB (approx £980) and includes:

• Three nights’ accommodation in a Classic Room
• Breakfast in Davidov Restaurant
• Entrance ticket to the Hermitage
• 3 hour city tour in English language
• 30 minute Russian Classical massage
• Russian buffet

To book visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

Hibernate in Style at The Balmoral, Edinburgh

Spend a couple of days in hibernation in the lap of luxury at The Balmoral, making the most of its spa and Michelin-starred restaurant. If you do fancy venturing out to go shopping or sightseeing, you won’t have far to go – the hotel is situated on Prince’s Street in the very heart of the city. The Balmoral’s Luxury Winter Escape package costs £550 per room per night, based on two people and includes:

• Overnight accommodation in an executive room, complete with a chilled bottle of Bollinger Champagne on arrival
• Hearty Scottish breakfast
• Chef’s tasting menu dinner with wines in Michelin-starred number one
• Whisky turndown
• One ESPA Ultimate Body Wrap each

To book, visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040.

WINTER WARMING SPA TREATMENTS

Before you wrap yourself up in woolly jumpers and thick scarves for the winter, treat yourself to one last body blitz with these spa treatments:

Get Ready for Winter at Brown’s Hotel, London

Brown’s Hotel, in the heart of London’s Mayfair, is offering two autumnal treatments to see you through until Spring:

• BAMBOO AND HOT STONE RITUAL (90 minutes; £130)
  The Bamboo and Hot Stone Ritual offers the ultimate in relaxation, which will leave guests feeling restored, rebalanced and rejuvenated. The body is gently exfoliated with a bamboo body scrub before heated basalt stones are placed on key energy points improving energy flow and balance. Whilst the stones are working their magic, guests will receive a hands-on body massage, concentrating on muscular aches and tension.
• On arrival guests will be greeted with a glass of Baileys or a Lemon and Honey Herbal Tea which they can sip whilst reclining on a heated treatment bed.  The Honey and Oatmeal Pedicure starts with a soothing honey foot massage which is followed by an invigorating exfoliation, using a delicious blend of oatmeal and brown sugar.  Their feet are then soaked warm water infused with honey and lemon, before enjoying a pressure point foot massage using a vanilla softening cream.  This seasonal pedicure ends with a honey and lemon paraffin wrap, making the feet feel super soft, before the nails are shaped and painted.   

For further information, please visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040

Have a Chestnut Treat at Hotel de Russie, Rome

Forget roasting chestnuts over an open fire this winter and use them for your skin instead! Chestnut extract has been proven to have anti-inflamatory and soothing properties and is great for nourishing the skin after the summer.  The Wellness Zone at Rocco Forte’s Hotel de Russie, just moments from Rome’s famous Spanish Steps, is offering several treatments over the winter, including:

• SATINY BODY SCRUB (50 min; €70)
  A mixture of warm honey, oil and chestnut extracts is rubbed into the skin to deeply nourish and gently smooth. A warm shower afterwards will leave the skin silky and hydrated.
• MASSAGE WITH ALMOND OIL & CHESTNUT EXTRACTS (50 min; €95)
  A deep pressure massage, which is relaxing and perfect for muscle tension in the back, shoulders and neck. At the end of the treatment your skin will be soft and deeply nourished.
• CARITA NOURISHING FACIAL TREATMENT (50 min;€90)
  Deep exfoliation followed by a relaxing face massage with balm containing chestnut and rice extracts will leave nourished and supple.

Combine all three treatments for just €230. To book visit www.roccofortecollection.com or call 0800 988 4040. Overnight stays cost from £305.

-Ends-

For more information and/or images, please contact:

Rebecca Holloway	Romina Kennedy
Media Relations Manager	Communications Executive
Direct line: 020 7766 3116	Direct line: 020 7766 3121
Email: rholloway@roccofortecollection.com	Email: rkennedy@roccofortecollection.com

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
Jeddah - 2010

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