Hotel Designs

The 245 room BLOC Hotel in Gatwick Airport follows in the footsteps of its Birmingham counterpart, offering what it describes as ‘pared-down chic’. The very best materials are used whilst still making the hotel as cost-effective as possible, meaning guests can enjoy stylish and comfortable rooms, in prime city-centre locations, at very good prices.One of the key factors in BLOC’s ethos is making the best use of space and not wasting unnecessary resources – this is what helps keep the hotel’s room rates low, without scrimping on quality. To achieve this, BLOC has chosen innovative but trusted brands, which includes Roca for all brassware and sanitaryware. BLOC’s rooms are priced on three levels, basic, executive and luxury, and so required a range of products to fit these different themes.

The bathrooms themselves are being constructed in pods by Boxbuild.

With the ultimate small space WC and washbasin combo, W+W, plus brass and sanitaryware ranging from ‘budget to boutique’, Roca’s ethos and product offering work perfectly with the hotel’s ambitions.

Roca’s stylish yet water-saving Element brassware was chosen for the hotel’s ‘Snug and Vista’ rooms, the innovative water-saving W+W, which re-uses water from the basin to fill the cistern, features in the ‘Aspire’ rooms and the prestigious Armani/Roca Collection is a focal point of the ‘VIP and Presidential’ rooms.

“For me, Roca offered the perfect balance of design and quality,” said BLOC owner, Colin Graham. “Throughout the project, my priority has been to choose major brands that are genuinely enthusiastic about what we are trying to do – Roca has been fantastic in that regard.”

“Their range of products is excellent – W+W, my personal favourite, is ground breaking, fitting perfectly with our pared down, luxury take on the hotel market. The inclusion of Armani/Roca has enabled me to lift the level of the special rooms, while enjoying the kudos of being associated with a major luxury brand.”

• Gross revenue for the year up 2.8% to €11.5 billion.
• Solid growth in all key markets during 2013, with Group revenue up 2.7% like-for-like and down 2.0% as reported.
• Revenue from owned and leased hotels up 1.5%.
• Revenue from management and franchise fees up 14.7%.
• Strong increase of the fourth-quarter revenue: up 3.4% like-for-like and down 3.1% as reported due to a highly negative currency effect.
• Full year EBIT target raised to around €530 million, from €510-530 million previously.

InterContinental Hotels Group, (IHG) announces the opening of the newly renovated Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites Bloomington – West located a short distance from Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. With 23 other Holiday Inn Express hotels in Minnesota, the 159-room newly renovated hotel is one of the largest Holiday Inn Express® hotels in Minnesota, by number of rooms. Located at 7770 Johnson Ave. in South Bloomington, the hotel has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation including new carpeting, furnishings and complete bathroom upgrades in all guest rooms, as well as pool and fitness area enhancements. Previously the Le Bourget Aero Suites hotel, part of the Ascend Collection by Choice Hotels, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bloomington – West has a six-story South Tower and a four-story North Tower.

Conveniently accessible to the famous Mall of America via shuttle service, the newly renovated hotel is thus also connected via the Light Rail station at the mall to downtown Minneapolis, the Theater District and the new Vikings stadium scheduled to open in 2016 and home to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Bloomington – West hotel, owned by Bloomington Hotel Acquisition, LLC and managed by Madison Hospitality Group, LLC, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

Sankara Nairobi received accreditation from SafeHotels for its excellence in safety and crisis management. Sankara Nairobi is the first Hotel in Africa to receive the accolade.Speaking during the award ceremony, Hans Kanold, CEO of SafeHotels said, “The hotel is the first ever to attain the 200 point audit and be awarded with the SafeHotels certificate and trust symbol.

Receiving the award, the General Manager of Sankara Nairobi, Mr. Moshi Perera noted that this was a huge milestone for the hotel, as “we are committed to exceeding customers’ expectation in every respect”.

Sankara Nairobi is also Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP (DS – 3027: 2002 (E)) Certified. It was the first hotel in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the certification in 2011.

HACCP is recongised as one of the most rigourous and comprehensive preventative food safety management systems in the world.

In attendance at the award ceremony, SafeHotels Global Operations Director, Andy Williams asserted, “safety is a major concern especially for hotels and should be taken seriously. Our company was created due to the fact that safety is one of the main concerns within the international hotel and meeting industry today.”

Often times, a lack of measures is taken to meet the growing safety and security concerns. Safehotels’ solution is to provide objective third party evaluation of business hotel and conference venues’ security standard world wide – covering all important aspects of hotel and conference security.

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InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has signed a franchise agreement with Hotel Fira S.A.U to open its first Crowne Plaza® in Barcelona – Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center. The hotel will open during the first quarter this year.Revealing 3, 000m2 of meeting space, the hotel will have the largest conference and meeting facilities across the entire portfolio of Crowne Plaza properties in Europe. It will be converted from an existing building to a 276 room hotel complete with a new Wellness Centre, a fitness room and a VIP club lounge.

Occupying a prime location in the city centre, the hotel is less than 100 metres away from the Fira Barcelona Convention Center next to Plaza Espana Square, one of Barcelona’s most renowned public spaces. Its sizeable rooms coupled with excellent train and airport transportation links will cement its appeal to both corporate and leisure travellers.

Hylko Versteeg, IHG’s Development Director for Spain and Portugal said: “Barcelona is a key city for us in Europe and our Crowne Plaza brand is absolutely the right fit for this area. The property’s fantastic facilities and central location will provide the hotel with a competitive advantage and Hotel Fira S.A.U is the perfect partner to help IHG continue to grow in Spain.”

Enrique Escofet, Managing Director of Hotel Fira S.A.U highlights the advantages of working with a global hotel company. “Being part of the Crowne Plaza brand fosters reliability and consistency in the international hotel market, which will not only benefits our hotel guests, but also Barcelona as a destination for business and tourism.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the launch of its rapidly growing Four Points brand in Charleston, the capital of West Virginia. Owned by BBL Hospitality, Four Points by Sheraton Charleston completed a comprehensive $15 million renovation to transform the Charleston House Hotel into the newest addition to the Four Points portfolio. Offering spectacular views of the Kanawha River, the hotel is Starwood’s first property to open in West Virginia. The newly renovated hotel features 176 spacious guest rooms and suites, 12,000 square feet of market-leading meeting facilities, full-service dining and all the other amenities that have made Four Points a favorite with travelers worldwide. “Four Points by Sheraton Charleston offers an unbeatable riverfront location right at the heart of the city’s bustling downtown where guests can enjoy an uncomplicated comfort, genuine service, plus all the amenities they need to stay productive on the road,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood.

Prior to re-opening as a Four Points, the 12-story hotel, built in 1966, fully renovated all guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas, refurbished the exterior and added the Recovery Sports Grill and an indoor pool.

Just a short drive from Yeager Airport (CRW), Four Points by Sheraton Charleston is ideally located in the city’s business district, close to Charleston Civic Center, Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, the State Capitol Complex, the Charleston Area Medical Center and the shops and restaurants at Charleston Town Center. Offering what is best for business, guests will find signature year-round amenities like free bottled water, great coffee, free internet access in all guest rooms and free Wi-Fi in all public areas.

Motel One, the rapidly expanding German budget design hotel chain, has won the bidding for and purchased its first property in Barcelona – with their first Spanish opening set for 2016.The deal is worth over €14 million, with the hotel set to have approximately 300 rooms and be located on Passeig Pujades. Central locations are a key brand trademark, with Motel One Barcelona set to be no exception. Passeig Pujades runs alongside one of the city’s biggest parks; Parc De La Ciutadella and is also within a short walking distance of the famous streets of Las Ramblas not to mention the beach and bustling port.

Motel One will be the investor and operator of the hotel. The opening will be the brand’s first property in Spain, though further expansion plans are steadily gathering pace and are focused on European metropolises including Madrid and Amsterdam. Motel One are interested in taking on long lease building contracts or investing into new properties. The Barcelona hotel will be a complete new build property.

Of the latest edition to the Motel One portfolio the groups Marketing and PR Director Mrs Schelle said “We are thrilled to be adding a hotel in Barcelona to our expanding portfolio of properties. It is an exciting development and a great start to 2014. Location is key to us in every site we take on and this new location in Barcelona fits our city centre concept perfectly.”

This news comes just before Motel One’s second UK hotel will open its doors in Edinburgh this Spring, with London, Glasgow and Manchester set to follow over the next two years. The brand is going from strength to strength with its portfolio currently standing at 46 hotels across Germany, Austria and UK with an offering of approximately 10,290 rooms. Motel One’s objective is to grow the brand portfolio to 72 hotels and 18,000 rooms by 2016.

Further openings in 2014 will include: Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Cologne, Frankfurt, Leipzig, London, Magdeburg and Vienna.

Planning consultancy Turley Associates, acting on behalf of Whitbread, has secured planning permission for a new 61 bedroom Premier Inn and a 180 cover Brewers Fayre restaurant at Llanfoist Farm in Abergavenny, Wales.Permission was granted by Monmouthshire Council’s Planning Committee on 7 January.

The development forms one of the first phases of a wider scheme at Llanfoist, which will also include other commercial and residential developments with associated highway and access improvements.

Richard Pearson, Regional Acquisitions Manager, Whitbread said: “Abergavenny is the ‘gateway to Wales’ and a great base for exploring the eastern reaches of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the recently designated Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site. We are delighted with this decision and intend to start construction later in the year.”

Peter Lawson, Associates Director, Turley Associates said: “The design of the new buildings was a particular challenge on this gateway site, with bespoke high quality buildings appropriate to the area having been approved.”

Worldhotels, a leading group of independent upscale hotels, is taking its partnership with the Ameron Collection, a four-star plus hotel brand under the umbrella of the Althoff Hotels, to the next level: Four additional Ameron Hotels and Resorts in Germany and Switzerland have been added to the Worldhotels portfolio. The successful partnership started in 2010, when Ameron Hotel Regent in Cologne, Germany, joined Worldhotels. Talking about the reasoning behind their decision, Edgar Lichter, Vice President Ameron Hotels, points out the extremely positive experience the group has made with Worldhotels in the past: “Since joining Worldhotels, the Ameron Hotel Regent has experienced substantial growth and has gained a clear and strong position in Germany and Europe. In terms of offering international marketing and distribution support under a global brand, Worldhotels represents the ideal partner.”

Ameron is a young and dynamic hotel brand inspired by the renowned Althoff Hotel Collection, which focuses on hospitality and lifestyle. With hotels in metropolises such as Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne, the Althoff Group has concentrated its Ameron hotels in destinations with a high travel volume in both the business traveller and leisure segment.

“We are delighted to welcome four additional hotels of the Ameron Collection”, adds Paulo Salvador, Executive Vice President Europe, Middle East and Africa. “With their fresh and innovative concept which caters to the needs of modern travellers, they perfectly complement our global portfolio of almost 500 hotels in 250 destinations. We are looking forward to a strong business relationship and are confident that our global sales network and marketing initiatives will increase the hotels’ international exposure to ultimately maximise our mutual results.”

The new additions are:

Ameron Hotel Speicherstadt, Hamburg, Germany
Opening its doors in summer 2014, the hotel will be the first and only hotel in Speicherstadt, Hamburg – the city’s historical warehouse district. It will feature 192 rooms, all boasting cosmopolitan chic with their 50s and 60s style interior, as well as the latest in in-room technology.

Ameron Hotel Königshof, Bonn, Germany
Built in 1872, the Ameron Hotel Königshof with its 129 rooms is located in the heart of Bonn, yet in a quiet area between the banks of the river Rhine and the Hofgarten. The hotel is famous for its Restaurant Oliveto, which prides itself on being the best Italian restaurant in the Bonn area.

Ameron Mountain Resort, Davos, Switzerland
Welcoming guests as of winter 2015/2016, the 148-room resort will be located in the centre of Davos, opposite the Congress Centre Davos – the well-known venue of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF). In addition to a spacious Ameron Vitality Spa, the hotel will feature a children’s club and a restaurant with adjacent winter garden.

Ameron Hotel Flora, Lucerne, Switzerland
Surrounded by a stunning mountain panorama and located near the famous Lucerne Lake and the Old City, the Ameron Hotel Flora occupies a prime location in Lucerne. Each of its 161 rooms offers a unique design, and is complete with complimentary Wi-Fi.

The annual IHG celebration took place in Amsterdam back in December 2013, recognising the best performing hotels across Europe, and the people within the industry for their outstanding performance and contribution to the business and the local community in which they operate. Crowne Plaza London – The City Hotel, Blackfriars, fought off competition from properties across Europe to scoop the Renovation Award. The winning criteria was based on a hotel that has successfully completed a major renovation that includes a significant percentage of guest rooms or a considerable proportion of public areas, carried out between 1 May 2012 and 30 April 2013.

Anthony Worrall, General Manager, of Crowne Plaza London – The City was at the ceremony to accept the award and said: “This award recognises all the hard work and team effort we’ve put in this year. We’re constantly striving to go the extra mile so guests can expect a consistently top notch experience when visiting our hotel and we’ll continue to work together to keep delivering the same experience each year.”

Stephen McCall, COO UK&I and Head of Europe Operations Performance & Support, commented: “We are fully committed to supporting and developing our people; our hotels are only as good as the people working in them. We aim to provide the right environment, support and inspiration they need to fulfil their capability and these awards are a reflection of the fantastic talent we have working in our hotels across Europe.”

November Highlights
• Abu Dhabi reported a surge in performance with occupancies topping 85%
• Kuwait experienced a 67% jump in profits
• Hotel performance in Sharm El Sheikh plummets as demand dries up
• Average rates continue to fall in Doha

The hotel industry in the UK and across Europe is facing a positive 2014 with demand on the up from both leisure and corporate guests, transaction activity set to improve and lending becoming more easily available.Across Europe hotel development remains active with 360 hotel projects ongoing, an additional 60,000 rooms. Many are expected to open in 2014, with the balance in 2015 and 2016. A further 450 hotels (70,000 rooms) are currently at the planning stages, with the majority of projects to be found in the UK followed by Russia, Turkey, Germany and France*.

Global hotel consultancy HVS London said that some 45% of the new rooms under construction in Europe are in the upscale sector, rather than only the budget sectors.

“There has been much talk about the growth of the budget end of the market, but operators are still keen to build prestigious hotels in key locations as consumer demand from Russia, China and the Middle East remains strong,” commented HVS chairman Russell Kett.

London boasts around 100 hotel projects currently at the planning stage, while there is still demand for individual properties in the capital, as well as in the provinces.

“Debt financing is becoming easier, but typically this is still only for acquisitions and refinancing where the borrower is already known to the bank, rather than new development. Lending is more easily obtained for hotels in major cities as opposed to provincial or resort locations,” he said.

However, while hotel development and transactions look relatively positive, Russell Kett urged operators across Europe, particularly those in upscale hotels, to adapt to the changing demands of the modern traveller who is now seeking a different sort of hotel experience, with genuinely courteous service, rather than bland, corporate responses.

“How much more refreshing it is when such attitudes come naturally to people, when staff delight in giving great service in a natural, unforced way, and when guests feel so happy about their experience that they do your marketing for you by telling their friends – little wonder that many boutique hoteliers recruit staff on the basis of their character and personality, rather than qualifications,” he said.

London has taken the lead in the development of alternative hotels, such as boutique properties and serviced apartments. These developments are meeting the needs of this more sophisticated demand base and ultimately this might stretch more into the UK regions.

“Boutique hotels have a great future ahead of them, not least in helping to re-educate the mainstream hotel sector in what the hotel business is all about,” concluded Russell Kett.

* figures supplied by STR Global

Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal today opens its doors to business and leisure travellers, taking the total number of Hampton by Hilton properties in the UK to 13. Located 40 yards from Gatwick’s North Terminal check-in desks; the hotel will be one of the UK’s most convenient airport hotels. Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal offers 192 welcoming guestrooms, a complimentary 24-hour gym facility, a boardroom that seats up to 16 delegates and a 24/7 snack area. Open to all fliers, the 24/7 snack area will serve light snacks and hot drinks, which can be enjoyed in the hotel or as a take-away option. Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal also offers 60 parking spaces for travellers who wish to book a park and fly package.

Phil Cordell, global head, focused service and Hampton brand management, said, “The introduction of Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal marks a new milestone for Hampton by Hilton brand in the UK, as this property will be our first London airport hotel. The design and décor reflects the brand’s values of comfort through the introduction of key public and private spaces, which create an overall welcoming guest experience.”

Inspired and designed to reflect the Hampton by Hilton brand, mauve and slate hues will be offset against neutral tones of coffee and taupe for a modern yet calming setting. 192-rooms offer flexible accommodation for those travelling as a family or on business, with complimentary WIFI, a spacious working area, in-room beverage facilities and a Hampton hot breakfast included in the room rate.

Simon Vincent, area president, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, “Gatwick Airport is the most efficient single-runway airport in the world and serves 200 destinations across 90 countries for 34 million passengers a year on short and long haul flights. With direct access to the North Terminal, our latest Hampton by Hilton is ideally positioned to be the first port of call for these international travellers and greet them with the brand’s signature friendly service.”

Simon Fordham, general manager, Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal, said, “Whether we’re travelling for business or leisure, the one thing we all want is convenience. Gatwick is one of the UK’s busiest airports and with the hotel located just seconds away from Gatwick’s North Terminal check-in desks, we’re happy to be able to play a part in taking away the stress associated with travelling.”

A proud member of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal will offer guests the added rewards of the Hilton HHonors® guest loyalty programme.

November Highlights
• Barcelona, Prague and Frankfurt: RevPAR flat, GOPPAR up and down
• Berlin and St Petersburg grow revenues and profits

Meliá Hotels International continues to grow in Brazil, one of the priority emerging markets in the company’s globalisation strategy, and a country in which it already manages 14 hotels and has 9 other hotels pending opening. Simultaneous to this growth, Meliá has also improved its reputation, and has been acknowledged as the 4th most admired hotel Company in Brazil in 2013 by the “Carta Capital” magazine, in its annual issue about the “most admired companies of Brazil”.Meliá Paulista is the fifth hotel signed this year in Brazil, a landmark property located on the Avenida Paulista in São Paulo, one of the most important business districts in Latin America. After its take-over, the hotel will reopen in March 2014 as the Meliá Paulista Business & Convention Hotel and is expected to raise the profile of Meliá even further in Brazil.

The central location of Meliá Paulista makes it ideal for both business and leisure travellers, with 400 stylish suites and apartments plus a contemporary restaurant, bar and gym. The hotel will also offer provide 7 meeting rooms and 3 Events & Conventions rooms, an excellent choice for hosting events in Sao Paulo.

Besides Sao Paulo, where Meliá already has a dozen hotels under the TRYP by Wyndham & Meliá brands, the company is also present in Brasilia and Angra dos Reis, and in 2016 – the year of the Brazil Olympics – expects to have several new hotels open in destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Belo Horizonte or Pernambuco.

Meliá Hotels International has grown strongly in Latin America in 2013, mainly in the urban hotel segment in countries such as Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil. In Brazil, revenues in the MICE (meetings, incentives , conferences and events) segment increased by 16% in 2012 %, a figure which is expected to double this year.

Meliá Hotels International has its own regional team in Brazil to generate growth for the hotel company and develop its sales strategy, using local market knowledge and competitive advantages to become one of the leading hotel management companies in the region.

Within a construction period of approximately three years, a former big farm close to the city of Weimar turned into the luxury Lindner Spa & Golf Hotel Weimarer Land. Besides the 36-hole golf course, the hotel offers 94 rooms and suites, a spa area of 2,500m², a restaurant with show cooking as well as conference and ball rooms.

All furniture and decorative elements have been selected very carefully to create a well-balanced overall picture. Part of this design are the specially-made luminaires supplied by Baulmann Leuchten of Sundern.

All pictures are copyright by “Linder Hotels AG Düsseldorf”.

Many years ago I used to watch in wonderment as British tourists in France carried their pillows as they went to their rooms at their hotel. Often they were also carrying their kettle and makings for tea too. Nowadays there will be a TCMF in the room, along probably with a choice of pillows, and no longer just a bolster. This improvement in the offering from French budget groups such as Campanile, Ibis and Kyriad mirrors the improvements in the budget offering from other groups – the British Premier Inn and Travelodge, Malaysian company Tune and emerging chains such as Motel One. The rise in standards of the basic offering is a continuation of the constant drift upmarket that so many hotels exhibit.
Sometime known as ‘facilities creep’ this forms the inexorable move away from a basic hotel offering. Initially coming in new, probably at a cost point that shakes the market and undermines other hotels , a newcomer exhibits some ingenuity, maybe a design innovation to carve out a new area for itself. Rocco Forte and sister Olga Polizzi did this with the original concept of adding rooms to a chain of roadside eateries. Thus the Travelodge chain was born and grew rapidly as stand alone bedrooms adjacent to a Little Chef café.

Often their hotels were fully booked, offering only a room for the night at a very competitive price. The adjacent café, often a separate building, kept even as a separate business, provided the ancillaries of breakfast, evening meal etc.. Once offering one of the best roadside breakfasts in Britain the Little Chef brand lost its way when bought from Forte by food conglomerate Granada, and as the chain expanded it was inevitable it would have to consider adding its own food operation as the Little Chef/Happy Eater chains disappeared.

Pub chain Whitbread saw the possibilities this offered and began to compete with their Premier Inn chain, building on to their Beefeater/Brewers Fayre pub restaurant operations, and growing rapidly too. Existing budget hotels found these new competitors both undercutting their prices and often offering, through their adjacent restaurant operations , effectively almost a full meal service. Now Ibis is adding bistro food operations to its hotels, Campanile has invested in developing its food offering and so facilities creep becomes part of the development of the budget brands.Premier have even considered adding room service, whilst Intercontinentals Express provies a list of restuarants from which food can be delivered to the guest
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Hilton Worldwide and DoubleTree by Hilton has recently announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Dhahran at the commercial heartland of Al Khobar in Eastern Province, KSA. The 153-room conversion property becomes the first DoubleTree by Hilton branded hotel to open in Saudi Arabia.Dhahran is one of the older Saudi port cities on the coast of the Arabian Gulf and is home to most of Saudi Arabia’s vast oil reserves. Situated in the heart of the business and commercial district close to Al Khobar Corniche, shopping malls and a new hi-tech petrol museum, the hotel is ideally located for business as well as leisure travellers with a wide array of exciting leisure activities, including water sports available nearby at Half Moon Bay.

DoubleTree by Hilton Dhahran features a range of amenities designed for both the business and leisure guest, including a large ballroom, four flexible meeting rooms, a complimentary 24-hour business centre, a complimentary 24-hour fitness centre and, scheduled later this year, a fully-renovated fitness centre, indoor swimming pool and spa area that will include a steam room and sauna. The hotel has a well-appointed selection of rooms and suites to satisfy guests’ needs, including 99 king, queen or twin rooms and a selection of 54 one and two-bedroom suites. Guests can choose to dine in one of the hotel’s three restaurants: Al Waha, an all-day dining restaurant serving a selection of international cuisine, Rasoi, where they can sample an exciting array of Indian specialties in a fine dining atmosphere, and the Al Maha Café, where they can enjoy a coffee break accompanied by tempting pastry treats.

This Spring will see the opening of Villa Stephanie – Europe’s most impressive and innovative new spa in the foothills of the Black Forest in Baden Baden (Germany). The new ultra deluxe extension to Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa will focus on four distinct areas combining beauty, detox, emotional and medical care over an impressive 5000m2 of interior space.Within this and connected to Villa Stephanie is the 1700 m2 Haus Julius – a dedicated centre to medical care offering a complete spectrum of traditional and modern diagnostic techniques and therapies. Overseen by Brenners Park Spa Manager Hans Peter Veit, Villa Stephanie and Haus Julius together will offer a holistic approach to wellbeing and healthcare, which combines long-term expertise with customised programmes to provide the epitome of individually tailored care. The aim is to offer long-term medical care as well as one off treatments and programmes for guests.
The 1700 metre2 Haus Julius will offer a variety of services from some of Germany’s top experts focusing on specialist areas including Aesthetic Dentistry, Orthodontics, Cardiology, Dermatology, GP, Gynaecology, Neurology, Nutritional coaching, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Osteopathy, ENT-Otorhinolaryngology, Paediatrics, Physiotherapy, Preventative health check ups, Psychotherapy, Radiology and Urology.

Experts will include; Dr Harry F. König – a specialist in holistic healthcare such as regenerative and detoxification treatments, organ cell therapy and biological therapy for malignant diseases; Dr Marcus Beschnidt – a specialist in Aesthetic Dentistry including prosthetics, implantology, dental hygiene, prosthetics and periodontics; Professor Frank Faude – a specialist Ophthalmologist covering cataract surgery, age-related macular regeneration and treatment of all glaucoma including surgical intervention and Dr Petra Dehm, a specialist in gynaecology, midwifery and naturopathic treatments for menopausal complaints and fertility treatment and an expert in therapies for hormonal problems, electrochemical therapy and ear acupuncture. There is even an ‘ias PREVENT’ health check-up under Dr Reinhold Busch and Dr Manfred Jaeschke – two of the top specialists in preventative medicine who focus on narrative-based medicine coupled with the latest medical diagnostic practices, complete internal diagnostic techniques and comprehensive laboratory analysis.

As well as the wide variety of treatments on offer, the medical partners will also work closely with top national practices in Europe to assure after care and recuperation as well as health check-ups for those guests who seek to maintain optimal wellbeing.

Crucially for the kind of treatments and services on offer, Villa Stephanie comprises three spectacular suites with their own spa suite for relaxation as well as for in-room therapies as well as 12 deluxe double rooms. In addition to a 500m2 sauna, kneipping bath, private fitness center, hammam, Ladies Sauna, private park and sunken garden, there will also be a plunge pool ideal for rehabilitation measures. There will also be QPNT nutrition coaching, weight loss and detox programmes and performance diagnostics -body analysis, lactate measurement – as well as a unique physiotherapy concept in a 200sqm Physio Practice. These areas will be overseen by qualified specialists, medically-trained masseurs, beauticians, sports scientists and experts in the field of healthy nutrition.

The Haus Julius building itself is seeped in historical tradition as a place of medical care. In the 1920s, a number of medical professionals had their practices in the impressive corner house and even prior to this, from 1863 to 1913, it was the residence of the long-serving head of the town’s hospital, Dr Julius Baumgärtner.

On Saturday 4 January 2014, Vana Retreats reached an important milestone as it opened the doors of its first wellness retreat, Vana, Malsi Estate, which it hopes will become a beacon of global wellbeing.The 21-acre estate is in Dehradun, India, situated in one of the most spiritually rich regions in the world. Set amidst clusters of ancient forest and orchards, the retreat merges into its surroundings, uniquely perched on a small plateau with Sal forest to the west, the hills of Mussoorie to the north and the bustling small town of Dehradun to the east.

Vana, Malsi Estate is a wellness retreat that explores each aspect of wellbeing: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Bringing together Ayurveda, Tibetan healing, yoga, natural healing, spa, fitness and aqua, the retreat provides many paths to reach one’s wellness goals, or at least start a journey towards greater personal wellbeing. Ayurveda, Tibetan healing and yoga are offered in their complete and pure forms. Each wellness offering has its own dedicated space and its own team of specialists.

There are more than fifty treatment and consultation rooms, spread across the Ayurveda centre, ritual spa, wellness centre and spa. Other wellness spaces include three yoga studios and pavilions, an indoor and outdoor pool, heat and wet areas, a watsu pool, and a state-of-the-art gymnasium.

At Vana, each guest is seen as an individual entity and an opportunity to serve and enhance wellbeing, through wellness. The wellness team at Vana, Malsi Estate includes wellness consultants, ayurvedic doctors, a Tibetan doctor, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, yoga practitioners, senior therapists, specialist practitioners, fitness experts, naturopaths and a nutritionist.

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InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Posadas Cantabria, S.A. de C.V., announce the ground breaking of the Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites Hermosillo, Sonora. Slated to open before the end of 2014, the hotel is expected to generate at least 150 employment opportunities. Once open, this will be the fourth IHG®-branded hotel in Sonora which is currently home to two Holiday Inn® hotels and one Holiday Inn Express® hotel. The 185-room hotel is being developed by Posadas Cantabria, S.A. de C.V., with an investment of more than $12 million and is a testament to IHG’s growing presence in Mexico. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by prominent personalities such as C.P. Eduardo Javier Tapia Camou, Federal Tourism Coordinator, Lic. Alejandro López Caballero, Mayor of Hermosillo and Lic. Lyzeth Salcedo Salinas, Director of the Economic Development Commission for the municipality of Hermosillo were in attendance.

“We are very pleased to welcome this new project to the Holiday Inn Brand Family. The Holiday Inn Express brand offers a fresh, clean and enhanced guest experience through comfortable, convenient locations and is a great addition here,” said Gerardo Murray, vice president of Marketing Strategic Services for IHG in Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean. “Hermosillo is the main economic center for the state of Sonora and this region and is an important investment center for diverse industries such as automotive, agriculture and mining, among others.”

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Hermosillo will be located near Blvd. Luis Donaldo Colosio and Blvd. Cameros, and just five minutes away from the international airport. Additionally, the Cantabria Shopping Mall is next door and the 18-hole Lagos Golf Club is just a short walk away.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Hermosillo, owned and managed by Posadas Cantabria, S.A. de C.V., is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced it opened 74 new hotels in 2013, representing approximately 16,200 rooms in 22 countries, strengthening its global lead and expanding its footprint particularly in developing markets. The company signed 152 new hotel agreements in 2013, marking the fourth consecutive year of increased signings and the highest number of new hotel deals signed since 2007. Starwood expects another strong year of global growth in 2014, with hotel openings and deal signings across all nine brands in more countries than ever before through organic growth. “There is a global travel revolution underway, and the secular trends of rising wealth, rapid urbanization and increasing digital interconnectivity make us as confident as ever about demand for high-end travel,” said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “As the largest high-end hotel company in the world, with a penchant for innovation, an unmatched portfolio of design-led brands, global properties, and a valuable pipeline, Starwood is well positioned to benefit disproportionately from these seemingly unstoppable growth trends.”

Starwood signed more new hotel deals in 2013 since before the global economic crisis

In 2013, Starwood signed a total of 152 new hotel management and franchise agreements, which represents an increase of 16 percent over 2012 signings levels. The company also signed 75 contract renewals, up nearly 34 percent from the previous year.

“Consistent, sustainable high-quality portfolio growth in both mature and emerging markets led to another strong year of openings, incremental hotel agreements and the highest number of contract renewals in our company’s history,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Our highly sought-after brands, backed by the collective strength of our global platform and experienced, local teams continues to give us an advantage and sets us apart from the competition, allowing us to deliver unmatched value to our hotel owners.”

Starwood has the largest high-end hotel portfolio of any of its competitors outside the United States, with nearly twice as many rooms as Marriott or Hilton, and nearly four times as many rooms as Hyatt in emerging markets. In line with macroeconomic trends, nearly 75 percent of the company’s development pipeline and 60% of the 2013 signings were in fast-growing markets, including Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Colombia and Saudi Arabia.

van Paasschen continued: “Globalization continues to spur economic growth, infrastructure development and, for us, footprint expansion. 2014 already looks to be shaping up as a better version of 2013 with a number of key milestones for us, including the opening of our 200th Westin, 200th Four Points by Sheraton, and more Le Méridien hotels in any one year since we acquired the brand in 2005. We have a balanced approach to development, with continued focus on growth in the world’s fastest growing economies, and we are also seeing significant opportunities in established markets where conversion momentum continues and record low supply and growing demand are driving growth.”

Approximately 40% of Starwood’s 2013 signings were in developed markets, with 13 conversions that signed and opened within the year. Conversions will continue to fuel growth in North America with increased momentum in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.

Turner added: “We continue to look for the right partners, creating the right properties, in the right places, and our agile development approach allows us to adapt our growth strategies based on specific geographies and brand needs for both new development and conversions. Last year, we signed the most conversions in any one year since 2006, showing the increased demand for our brands and our flexibility, enabling our partners to maximize the value of their assets quickly and cost-effectively.”

Starwood is also seeing an increased interest in adaptive reuse projects, particularly for its Aloft brand. The company opened three such projects this year: Aloft Orlando Downtown, Aloft Tulsa Downtown and Aloft Miami – Brickell, in addition to signing Aloft New Orleans. Starwood will open another three adaptive reuse Aloft hotels in 2014 with Aloft Liverpool, Aloft Detroit, and Aloft Tampa Downtown, as the company continues to look for opportunities to use this approach across its brands in cities throughout the world.

Starwood Doubles Luxury Footprint in Six Years

As wealth rises around the world, so does the appetite for luxury hotel accommodations in all corners of the world. To meet this new global luxury demand, Starwood has doubled its luxury portfolio over the past six years, lengthening its lead in the luxury space. Today, Starwood has more than 160 luxury hotels operating under its St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W brands, with more than 90 percent of the luxury pipeline in fast-growing markets.

Starwood opened six luxury hotels in 2013 including its first W ski retreat with the W Verbier, and its first W hotel in mainland China – W Guangzhou. Other luxury openings included The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, the brand’s second hotel in the Emirate and third hotel in the Middle East, and three properties under The Luxury Collection brand in Athens, Greece; Koh Samui, Thailand; and Cusco, Peru.

In 2014, the company will open 10 new luxury properties, making debuts in four countries. Key openings will include W Bogota, marking the W brand’s entry into Colombia; W Beijing, furthering the W brand’s footprint in strategic Chinese destinations; The St. Regis Istanbul and Chengdu; and six new hotels under The Luxury Collection brand in destinations including Odessa, Ajman, Dalian and Hangzhou in China, and Broumana in Lebanon.

Starwood’s Upper Upscale Brands Make Strong Gains

Starwood opened 30 hotels and signed 60 new hotel deals in the upper upscale segment in 2013, under its Sheraton, Le Méridien and Westin brands. The iconic Sheraton brand continues to serve as a growth leader for Starwood, paving the way for growth across the company’s other brands. This year, Sheraton will debut in numerous new markets including Samoa, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, and re-enter Iraq with the opening of Sheraton Dohuk Hotel. Building on its first-mover advantage, the Sheraton brand is on track to open its 500th hotel in 2016.

Le Méridien signed more new hotel deals in 2013 and will open more new hotels in 2014 than any other year since Starwood acquired the brand in 2005. While conversion opportunities make up a significant part of the brand’s growth momentum in developed markets, Le Méridien brand is also continuing to expand its presence in less established regions around the world in 2014 with planned openings in markets such as India, Bangladesh, and Thailand.

Propelled by the worldwide success of its distinctive wellness positioning, Westin is poised to open its 200th hotel worldwide this year, as well as its 20th in China. Key Westin openings this year include The Westin Zhujiajian and The Westin Qingdao in China.

Starwood’s Mid-Market Brands Build on Strong Growth Momentum

Building on significant deal signing momentum in 2013, Starwood’s mid-market portfolio, or what the company refers to as its specialty select brands, including Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element, has grown nearly 80 percent since 2008. These brands are gearing up for another strong year of growth, on the heels of 37 openings and 77 new signings in 2013. Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element account for approximately 40 percent of the company’s development pipeline and nearly 45 percent of expected hotel openings worldwide in 2014, reflecting the appetite for affordable and reliable global hotel brands in both major metro and secondary or tertiary markets around the world.

The Four Points by Sheraton brand will reach its 200th hotel milestone in 2014 fueled by increasing demand in markets worldwide with more than 20 new hotels openings. The brand had a record year of signings and boasted the most openings and signings of any Starwood brand in 2013. Aloft Hotels, the design-led, tech-savvy hotel for the next generation of traveler, had the strongest signing year in 2013 since pre-crisis. This year, Aloft will open its fifth hotel in Latin America – Aloft Guadalajara, and make its debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Suwon-city, South Korea; and Liverpool, England. Starwood’s eco-innovation lab, Element Hotels, had its strongest year of signings in 2013 since pre-crisis, and will open four hotels in 2014, including one in Frankfurt, marking the brand’s entry in Europe.

Starwood Preferred Guest Continues to Reinvent Customer Loyalty

Just as the company’s footprint has grown significantly, its most valuable guests have also increased their loyalty to Starwood around the globe. Despite the global economic crisis, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) active membership has grown by 56 percent over the last five years. On any given night, more than half of Starwood’s guests are SPG members. Not only are there more people enrolled in SPG than ever before, the program makeup has shifted. In 2008, nearly two thirds of SPG members were U.S.-based, while today that number is only 47 percent. Membership in emerging markets has grown fivefold in that time. China has catapulted to Starwood’s second largest SPG market and fastest growing, followed by India, UAE and Brazil.

Concluding a year of successful Asset Management activities, The Rezidor Hotel Group has signed four agreements in Q4 2013 to further improve the profitability of the leased portfolio. Combined with results from 2012, when Rezidor exited from nine unprofitable leases, these transactions – all related to assets in Europe – have resulted in significant rent reductions for Rezidor, and have increased the company’s EBITDA margin by ca. 1 pp as from 2013. Two of the restructured lease contracts had an impact on the Q4 2013 results (one of which was signed in October 2013 and announced in Rezidor’s latest interim report). Combined, they led to a €3.6 million 2013 EBITDA increase, and these rent reductions will continue to apply in the coming years.

The other restructured lease will take effect from January 2014. This is forecasted to generate an additional €1.7 million in EBITDA in 2014 and thereafter.

One additional loss-making agreement will be terminated in December 2014. Once effective, it will further increase the EBITDA by approximately €0.5 million annually in addition to significant CapEx savings. This termination was secured through an upfront payment of €1.9 million, which was accounted for in Q4 2013.

“These profit-enhancing deals were achieved through direct negotiations with the respective landlords. This demonstrates our ability to find mutually-beneficial solutions with our partners to reduce our rent levels and increase our margins”, commented Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor.

Accelerated and effective Asset Management – especially in Central Europe, the UK and the Nordics – is an essential part of Rezidor’s turnaround plan Route 2015. It was launched in December 2011, targets an increase of the group’s EBITDA margin of 6-8% by 2015, and includes Revenue Generation activities, fee based growth with a focus on Emerging Markets, cost saving initiatives, and Asset Management projects.

The Chedi Sakala, heralding a brand new, upscale day for a less frequented but entirely compelling Bali peninsula, is steering toward a grand opening at the end of February on two and a half hectares of lushly landscaped oceanfront property at Tanjung Benoa Beach in Nusa Dua.Managed by luxury hotel management group GHM, the 261-room resort promises a hospitality experience long on culinary sophistication, sublime wellness opportunities and a room-by-room spaciousness that is otherwise a rarity on the Island of the Gods.

The hotel’s 247 suites each offer a minimum of 58 square metres and include a kitchenette. The two-bedroom, ocean-view suites deliver up to 150 square metres and feature a separate living room, dining room and walk-in pantry. Infinity pools with built-in whirlpools and full kitchens highlight each of the 14, two-storey pool villas.

Beyond the generous personal space, the hotel is sharpening a reputation as one of Bali’s most rarified dining experiences. A harbinger of its lofty ambitions, Sakala Bali opened on the resort’s grounds two years ago and quickly garnered acclaim for dishes that marry local product with French culinary sensibilities, per the expertise of Quebec-born Executive Chef Frederic Boulay.

As a complement and a fledgling rival to Sakala Bali for in-house guest affection, The Restaurant is positioning itself as the preeminent address for Asian and European staples. Half the menu is dedicated to the interpretation of favourites from Indonesia, India, Thailand, China and Japan, while the other half is based on beloved bites from the Mediterranean and the south of France.

The dining area overlooks the lagoon pool, which is accessible also from the ground-floor Cabana Suites. The hotel also features a sleek, open-air lobby bar with views of the ocean and Sakala Bali’s beachfront infinity pool.

The destination itself is one of Bali’s most enticing new lures. Long the province of fishing boats and downscale accommodation, the charms of this peninsula, from its unrivalled access to water sports activities to its proximity to the island’s oldest Chinese temple, are set to seduce upscale guests of The Chedi Sakala.

“We feel we’re really drawing the curtain on something fresh in Tanjung Benoa,” said Evan Pavlakis, The Chedi Sakala’s general manager. “And together with our highly regarded sister hotels in Seminyak (The Legian) and Ubud (The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah), we’re providing even greater entree to the multi-faceted appeal of Bali and its singular enclaves.”

Among the resort’s more dazzling attributes is the spa facility, which is expected to debut this spring behind The Restaurant. Upon entry, guests will make their way underground, via an 18-metre spiral staircase, to a reception area surrounded by eight treatment rooms filled with the aroma of frangipani petals.

Another distinguished space, The Chedi Ballroom, occupies 630 square metres below The Restaurant. It is connected to a foyer accented by stout, marble pillars and features low-slung ceilings and warm, earth-tone design flourishes. As versatile as it is visually appealing, the space divides into six meeting rooms to accommodate all manner of MICE events.

The venue is in the same structure as the hotel’s secondary lobby, Kids’ Club and Club Lounge, which provides guests with club benefits the opportunity to check in and out privately.

Construction on The Chedi Ballroom, Kids’ Club and Club Lounge is scheduled to wrap before April.

Though the hotel itself is new to Bali, the management is not. The Chedi Sakala opens its doors on Bali as the third hotel on the island managed by GHM, complementing the renowned Legian in Seminyak and The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah in Ubud.

As such, the new hotel on Tanjung Benoa is GHM’s most expansive property to date, and a brand new opportunity for larger groups bent on the sophistication of a GHM experience.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that it has signed an agreement with Hoteli Dubrovacka Rivijera d.d. to open a new Sheraton hotel in Dubrovnik, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2015, Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel will mark Starwood’s entry into Dubrovnik and the company’s fourth hotel in Croatia. “We are pleased to expand into our third partnership with HUP Zagreb d.d. in Croatia and look forward to introducing the Sheraton brand into the growing European resort market of Dubrovnik,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Our expanding footprint in Croatia reflects the country’s continuing prominence as a travel destination, and the growing demand for strong, globally recognized hotel brands along the Adriatic Coast.”

Dubrovnik is a UNESCO heritage-listed city set on the Adriatic Sea at the southern end of Croatia. Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel will be located along what is commonly referred to as the Dubrovnik Riviera, a 20 kilometre stretch of coastline that runs from the old city of Dubrovnik in the north to Cavtat in the south. The Dubrovnik Riviera is the most popular destination along the entire Croatian Adriatic coast, attracting nearly 800,000 tourists per year.

Andelko Leko, CEO of HUP Zagreb commented: “Our longstanding partnership with Starwood, introducing the Westin and Sheraton brands into Zagreb, and now the Sheraton brand into Dubrovnik, has significantly influenced the development of the hotel industry across the country. The recognition of Starwood’s brands alongside HUP Zagreb’s professional team has contributed to making our hotels the center of economic, political, and sporting events in Croatia. We are confident Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera will be no exception.”

The 250-room hotel will feature signature Sheraton experiences, including the all-white Sheraton Sweet SleeperTM beds, the Link@SheratonSM and the Sheraton Fitness by Core® Performance. Guests will be able to enjoy relaxing treatments at the Sheraton Shine Spa, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, as well as a tennis court. Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel will include one of the largest conference facilities along the Croatian Adriatic Coast with approximately 1,000 square metres of meeting space.

November Highlights
• Scottish hotels post sustained revenue and profit growth
• November fireworks for Leeds’ hoteliers!
• Southampton gets RevPAR increase but profit decline

The historic HOTEL AM STEINPLATZ has celebrated its opening earlier this month following an extensive restoration, representing the first Autograph Collection hotel to open in Germany. Originally designed by August Endell, architect of Berlin’s celebrated Hackesche Höfe complex, HOTEL AM STEINPLATZ has captivated passers-by since its completion. With its striking olive-green facade, arched windows reminiscent of Moorish architecture and extraordinary stucco features, the building is a local landmark in the elegant residential area around Charlottenburg’s Savigny-Platz. 1950 saw the opening of the voguish basement bar, when Steinplatz became a rendezvous and private stage for artists, actors and intellectuals. Literary greats such as Heinrich Böll and Günter Grass, as well as film stars like Brigitte Bardot and Romy Schneider were regular guests.

Throughout its 84 individually designed guestrooms, one Junior Suite and two Spa Suites, the hotel boasts exceptional interior design: a contemporary interpretation of 1920s flair, with a particular focus on natural materials. RESTAURANT AM STEINPLATZ sources the finest regional products to create classic Berlin dishes conceived by Michelin-starred chef, Stefan Hartmann, while offering a fresh interpretation of German cuisine. This philosophy is also reflected in BAR AM STEINPLATZ, which offers classic cocktails, as well as its own unique recipes using spirits produced in Berlin. On the top floor is SPA AM STEINPLATZ, offering spectacular views over the city’s rooftops.

The re-opening of HOTEL AM STEINPLATZ comes as a milestone in West Berlin’s current renaissance. After years of hype over East Berlin districts, the focus is gradually changing direction. A stroll around the neighborhood, for example, will take you past the new home of the C/O Gallery for contemporary photography in Hardenberg-Strasse. You will brush shoulders with lifestyle journalists in Giro Coffee Bar and pass students from the University of the Arts on their way to their ateliers.

Located within a short distance of the Deutsche Oper, Tiergarten park, and KaDeWe, “The Department Store of the West”, HOTEL AM STEINPLATZ is both a living witness to a fascinating past, as well as a modern icon in the metropolis of Berlin.

Introduced in 2010, the vision behind the Autograph Collection is to offer an evolving group of passionately independent hotel experiences ranging from a 15-room boutique hunting lodge in the mountains of Colorado to a 19th century neoclassical palace in the majestic city of Prague. Exactly like nothing else, each hotel is thoughtfully chosen for its quality, originality, bold character and capacity to offer today’s modern traveler a range of unique experiences suited to their individual sense of style and adventure. While still relatively new, the distinct portfolio has proven to be a highly successful venture due to its discerning selection process and unique ability to create memories through enriching travel experiences.

Accor and Huazhu Hotels Group (also known as China Lodging Group) have sealed an extensive and long-term alliance to create the most prominent and diversified hotel company in China, with more than 2,000 hotels and the strongest pipeline in the country.“This ground-breaking collaboration will leverage the strengths of Accor’s global brands with a leading player in Chinese hospitality,” said Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor. “Joining Huazhu’s unparalleled local expertise with our brands will create a hospitality powerhouse which will deliver unprecedented value to both groups and to our customers.”

Huazhu founder, Chairman and CEO, Ji Qi, said the collaboration was an unequivalent alliance in the global hospitality industry. “With an extensive brand portfolio, and strong distribution and loyalty platforms, Accor and Huazhu share a lot of common values. By combining forces we can facilitate growth and attract more customers to the expanded network,” said Ji Qi.

Strategic alliance signals new era in hospitality

This major alliance will rapidly accelerate both groups’ expansion in what is today one of the largest and fastest-growing domestic travel markets and the world’s largest outbound travel market.

The objective of the alliance is to bring together the best of the two respective groups, combining Accor’s internationally recognized brands and powerful global distribution network with the extensive coverage, local reputation and strong development capability of Huazhu Hotels Group in China.

Together the groups have more than 500 hotels in the pipeline in the region and the alliance is expected to further accelerate development to new levels and see faster expansion of Accor’s brands in China.

Similar goals, similar vision

Huazhu is a leading and fast-growing hotel group in China, with a portfolio of over 1,900 hotels. It is the 13th largest hotel group globally in 2013(1). Huazhu’s hotel brands cover the full spectrum of the market from Upscale (Joya, Manxin) to midscale (JI Hotels, Starway) and Economy (Hanting, Elan and Hi Inn), making the group a perfect match with Accor. Huazhu has the strongest pipeline of any hotel group in China to fuel future growth.

Accor currently has 144 hotels in China across eight brands including Luxury/Upscale (Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure); Midscale (Novotel, Mercure) and Economy (ibis, ibis Styles). The group has been present in China for more than three decades and is the leading hotel group in Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle-East, as well as Australasia.

Pursuant to the transaction, Accor’s economy and midscale platform in China will become part of Huazhu. Under the arrangement, Huazhu will become Accor’s exclusive master-franchisee operating and developing in Mainland China, Mongolia and Taiwan for the economy (ibis, ibis Styles,) and midscale segments (Novotel and Mercure), as well as the upscale Grand Mercure brand.

Accor will continue to lead the ownership and development of all its Luxury and other Upscale brands in China, including Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery and The Sebel. Huazhu will become a minority shareholder in Accor’s Luxury and Upscale business in China (10%) and will help support future development in the country, thanks to its in-depth relationships with key Chinese real estate investors.

All Accor’s existing hotels in China will continue to be operated under their current international brand standards, benefitting from current global distribution and loyalty platforms, together with the added support of Huazhu’s networks and domestic reputation. They will maintain their identities, specificities and international standards, while benefitting from Huazhu’s extensive on-the-ground support capabilities and local expertise.

Under the arrangement, Accor will take a 10% stake in Huazhu and will have a seat at Huazhu’s board of directors.

Together: accelerated expansion, unrivalled distribution, powerful loyalty

This strategic alliance aims at accelerating expansion by leveraging Huazhu’s strength in development, real estate investor relations and experience in operating a sizable hotel network in China. Huazhu plans to open 350 to 400 new hotels under the Accor brands in the next five years.

The agreement will offer the customers of both loyalty programs (together 47 million card holders) the opportunity to access a network of over 5,600 hotels globally.

“This major step is key to our digital transformation as the agreement will link the power of both groups’ reservation and loyalty platforms, providing an expanded distribution capability,” said Sebastien Bazin. “This agreement will provide travelers and loyal members more access and more choice of hotels.

[1] Source: annual ranking of the world’s biggest hotel companies by HOTELS in 2014

“China is today the largest outbound tourism market in the world; in that context, creating one of the largest hotel groups in China will lead to growth globally as those travelers come to recognize Accor and Huazhu’s brands and expand their travel internationally,” said Sebastien Bazin.

“This agreement will also help us better anticipate customers’ expectations and strengthen our leadership in the Chinese market over the long term.”

“We are thrilled that our long-time friendship with Accor matures into a long-lasting alliance,” said Ji Qi. “We believe the collaboration will become the largest hotel business in China, and make the Accor-Huazhu alliance an unprecedented success.”

The conditions to the closing of this transaction include the obtaining of requisite governmental approvals and the completion of certain corporate restructuring. Both Accor and Huazhu will use due efforts to achieve the closing conditions in an expedited manner.

Mark your calendar: set amid lush Florida woodlands and pools is a lakeside resort that promises to be unlike any other. Luxurious accommodations, dining par excellence, a sumptuous Spa, extensive light-filled meeting and celebration spaces, and acres upon acres of recreational pursuits from golf and tennis to basketball and waterslides await at the new Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort, set to open in summer 2014.Located just minutes from the Magic Kingdom® Park Epcot®, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios® – and easily accessible to numerous area attractions – Four Seasons Resort Orlando is a place where every experience can be customised and personalised, whether staying as an individual guest or part of a group.

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A correspondent this morning from the Kruger in South Africa told me that 10 rhinos had been killed by poachers in her area since the start of the new year. Last year a thousand rhinos were killed, and the web was vitriolic in its condemnation of smug rich hunters posing with the rifles and dead beasts they were adding to their trophy list. The sick trades in rhino horn, illegal ivory, bush meat and hunting licences threatens to the very basis for the huge market in wildlife tourism in much of Africa.HotelDesigns has covered African tourism in Namibia and South Africa quite extensively in part because tourism generates the jobs and capital investments needed to provide employment in these post colonial states, where the so-called ‘mother countries’ totally failed to invest in education and social development. In Southern Africa tourism growth rates are astonishing with a range of countries demonstrating growth rates of anything up to 20% a year in recent times. Most of this is being developed by local entrepreneurs as the major international hotel chains have seen fit to fail to invest, with the notable exception of investments made by Rezidor, and the recent agreement by Marriott to purchase the South African Protea group hotel collection, the largest on the continent with over 108 hotels.

Key attractions in these countries are the landscape wilderness and the wildlife. A clutch of operators have sprung up that exploit eco-safaris in these areas. One we have covered in detail, the Wilderness group, have some 63 properties across the region, working in partnership with local communities, making a gradual equity share arrangement transferring ownership, and employing and training (in partnership with Europe’s Red Carnation group) local people. They and other organisations rely on the presence of wildlife and invest in time effort and resources into maximising conservation effort. For example in Namibia if a farmer loses a goat to a leopard, the compensation is more than the market value of the goat so that there is an incentive for local communities to support the conservation efforts.
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Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) is delighted to report that 2013 has topped 2012 as its best ever trading year. Between 1 January and 31 December 2013 SLH reports an increase of 8 per cent year on year in terms of room nights and 12 per cent in terms of revenue, delivering 369,152 room nights and generating $134 million in revenue. 2014 has also started strongly for SLH, with a Boxing Day flash sale generating a 37 per cent increase in reservations and a 51 per cent increase in revenue for the week after Christmas compared to the same week last year. Visits to the slh.com website also increased by a staggering 229 per cent that week, with reservations up by 128 per cent by iPad and 300 per cent by mobile. For the whole of 2013, the home website, slh.com saw a 5 per cent increase in visitors from 3.8 million to 4 million, while revenue through SLH’s online booking engines has gone up by 54 per centage points and now makes up 37 per cent of revenue. In 2014, SLH has plans in place to re-launch its website so that it’s even easier and faster to use and book.

Meanwhile revenue through travel agents has also performed strongly and revenue through the GDS booking channels has gone up by 9 per cent making up 52 per cent of revenue.

In 2012 SLH had increased the number of members to its loyalty club by 56,000, whereas in 2013 SLH added an impressive 71 per cent more or an extra 134,977 club members, taking membership numbers up to 324,977. These members spent 21 per cent more than in 2013 – or $29 million with SLH properties.

With 29 new properties in Europe, the Middle East and Africa region, 17 in the Asia Pacific region and 9 in the Americas, SLH grew the portfolio by 55.

Paul Kerr, CEO for SLH said: “This has been another extraordinary growth year for SLH. Certainly, there has been an increase in consumer confidence globally, but Small Luxury Hotels of the World offers a great product that is easily booked whether that is through a travel agent, online – via computer, tablet or mobile – or over the phone. However consumers choose to buy, we’re there, and we are looking forward to 2014, when we revamp our website to make it faster and perform better.”

YHA (England and Wales) has announced YHA Edale in Derbyshire’s Hope Valley, as one of the recipients of the first round of investment in 2014. The 157-bed Youth Hostel, which is hugely popular with schools and groups looking for adrenaline-fueled adventure breaks in the surrounding Peak District, is to undergo a £250,000 makeover to create a world class outdoor activity centre.

As part of the investment most bedrooms at YHA Edale will be refurbished, all washrooms upgraded, the reception, lounge and self-catering kitchen will be redecorated and refurbished. Additionally the dining room will undergo full refurbishment and be reconfigured to better accommodate customers.

The Youth Hostel, which comprises three separate buildings, will close in early January while the work is completed and will have a phased re-opening commencing on 7th February 2014.

With Kinder Plateau, the highest gritstone peak in the Peak District, just behind the hostel, YHA Edale offers amazing views and great places for walking, climbing, mountain biking and cycling on its doorstep and is hugely popular with outdoor enthusiasts.

Caroline White, Chief Executive of YHA (England and Wales), said: “YHA Edale is one of our most popular locations for groups looking for a great activity break. The refurbishment of the Youth Hostel is part of our continuing investment in our hostels to ensure they offer the great welcome and friendly stay of which we YHA is rightly proud. We have world class hostels in fantastic locations and we want to make sure that as many people as possible know about what a great time they can have when they stay with us.

“YHA Edale is just one of more than 160 Youth Hostels that provide young people, whether coming in education groups, with their families or travelling independently, with excellent affordable accommodation in a wealth of stunning locations.”

In 2013, YHA invested more than £13 million in its network, refurbishing eight Youth Hostels and creating a new one – YHA South Downs – in East Sussex. YHA Edale is the first investment announcement in 2014 and more are set to follow as part of the Youth Hosteling charity’s capital investment plan to create a world-class network of Youth Hostels in England and Wales and change the outdated public perception of its accommodation.

YHA’s continued investment in its network is helping YHA put further distance between the outdated public perception of Youth Hostels and the modern reality, which is proving particularly popular with young people and families looking for great value breaks in amazing locations.

Kew Green Hotels has acquired four Holiday Inn hotels from Stardon Capital Investments for an undisclosed sum. The four hotels, all branded Holiday Inn are located in Brighton, Norwich, Leeds and East Kilbride and will now undergo a comprehensive refurbishment programme by Kew Green’s in-house Capital Projects Team. ‘We are delighted to have acquired these hotels and look forward to seeing them develop as we refurbish them’ commented Paul Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Kew Green Hotels Ltd. ‘This acquisition is part of our strategy to expand our UK portfolio to in excess of 60 hotels through a mix of single asset and portfolio acquisitions.

Kew Green Hotels now operate 31 hotels across the UK under 6 major brands; Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, Days Hotel, Ramada and Courtyard by Marriott. They also operate The Richmond Hill Hotel, a four star property in South West London.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has recently announced the signing of Holiday Inn® Plovdiv International Fair in Bulgaria. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2015. Holiday Inn Plovdiv International Fair will operate under a franchise agreement with new owner Petrov Commerce Ltd. The existing office building will be converted into a 68 room hotel and emerge as the first IHG hotel in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city. The hotel will be situated at the entrance of Plovdiv City Centre close to Plovdiv fair grounds which attracts more than 600, 000 visitors annually.

Angel Kolev Petrov, Owner of Petrov Commerce Ltd. Said: “Our hotel has a winning formula – great facilities combined with a welcoming Open Lobby and friendly efficient service in a city rich in history and culture. We look forward to both international and local travellers coming to stay with us.”

Peter Vermeer, Director of development Eastern and Central Europe said: “We’re excited to be expanding in Bulgaria. The hotel market is starting to gain some momentum as international brands begin to make headway here. The Holiday Inn brand continues to resonate with guests and owners looking for hotels providing simple service, friendly hotel staff and comfortable beds in easily accessible locations.”

Marriott International, Inc. and G Holdings has recently announced the opening of an iconic addition to the New York City skyline, a combined 378-room Courtyard hotel and 261-suite Residence Inn hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The $320 million tallest single-use hotel in North America is located at 1717 Broadway. Built and owned by G Holdings and managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the dual-branded hotel will provide employment for 160 associates in the New York area. The impressive 68-story building is just steps from Central Park and Times Square. The hotels offer guests convenient access to Carnegie Hall, the Broadway Theater District, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. As one of the top travel destinations in the world, New York City welcomed 54.3 million visitors in 2013.

Ideal for visitors to New York City, the hotels offer valet parking and share 6,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center located on the 35th floor with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor sundeck for stretching, relaxing or seasonal sunning. Some guest rooms also feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of Central Park, Times Square and the Hudson River.

About The Courtyard by Marriott
Housed on floors 6-33, the Courtyard hotel guest rooms feature modern design with a contemporary feel. The room design offers hybrid zones for working, sleeping, relaxing and getting ready. Large windows offer natural lighting and the chosen color palette of the walls and bedding offer a soothing and calm environment. An upgraded and spacious layout creates an enhanced bathroom experience.

“The Bistro,” Courtyard’s popular food and beverage offering, serves up casual, flexible seating; easy access to food and higher quality, healthier menu options for breakfast; and light evening fare, including snacks, cocktails, wine and beer, for guests to unwind. Local beer and wine products will be featured to allow travelers a taste of the Big Apple.

Courtyard’s award-winning touch-screen concierge, GoBoard® 4.0, provides local information, maps, weather and headline news on a 55-inch, LCD screen. Guests also can also obtain immediate access to detailed flight information for local airports, popular entertainment and local event information, as well as walking directions.

About The Residence Inn by Marriott
The Residence Inn hotel is situated on floors 37-65 and offers studio suites designed for stays of five nights or more. Each suite has a custom designed fully functional kitchen with a coffeemaker, microwave oven and custom appliances. Residence Inn’s complimentary breakfast has a variety of great options, including specially made featured items. Guests can start their day off right with healthy food choices and, with a convenient to-go offering, can make sure they do not miss the most important meal of the day.

Extending the feeling of comfortable living on the road, the hotel offers guests inviting and functional public spaces to relax or collaborate. Road warriors and families alike enjoy the hotel’s grocery delivery service, dry cleaning services, and onsite guest laundry room. The hotel’s weeknight evening gatherings offer a casual, relaxing environment where guests can be as social as they want, while enjoying light fare.

RIDA Development Corporation in conjunction with the Houston First Corporation will develop a 1,000-room Marriott Marquis in the heart of Houston. The hotel, which will have over 100,000 square feet of meeting space, will be across the street and connected via skyway to the Houston Convention Center. It is scheduled to break ground in 2014 and open in 2016.Situated in downtown Houston, the hotel will have direct access to the Discovery Green, CBD theater district, University of Houston, upscale shopping, dining and underground Houston. In addition, there will be 20,000 square feet of ground floor retail in the hotel.

With sweeping interiors that offer a polished interior design and dynamic touches that reflect the heritage of Texas, the Houston Marriott Marquis will showcase the innovation of the Marriott Hotels brand. This includes Marriott Hotels’ signature Greatroom lobby, which has been designed for the next generation of travelers. The lobbies are stylish, modern and comfortable with flexible seating for small groups or individuals. They have all day menus offering light bites and meals. In addition to the Greatroom, the hotel will have a coffee shop, a sports bar and two restaurants. The Houston Marriott Marquis will also offer a 5,000 square-foot spa with seven treatment rooms and a 5,000 square-foot fitness center as well. The outdoor area will include an infinity edge pool, a Texas shaped lazy river and seven event lawns.

Hilton Worldwide and DoubleTree by Hilton has announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island, located in the UAE’s latest premier destination of Ras al Khaimah. The beautiful resort joins Hilton Worldwide’s portfolio of four hotels in up and coming Ras Al Khaimah, with the latest offering enjoying a prominent location on the trunk of Marjan Island, one of five artificial islands of premium offshore tourism development close to the upscale area of Al Hamra. With striking views of the Arabian Gulf, the 485-room DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island will feature a complementary mix of guest rooms and suites, sea-view rooms and villas, all with access to the resort’s private 650-metre beach.

Guests at DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island will enjoy the convenience of nearby shopping and entertainment plazas, and easy accessibility to a wealth of sporting and leisure options including golf, desert camping and a range of water sports. In addition to the 650-metre private beach, on site facilities include a fitness centre, five temperature controlled pools, with two designed especially for children, and a wide range of dining options suitable for everyone’s tastes, ranging from gourmet delicacies to all-day dining options to a rooftop bar where guests can soak in the view, relax with ambient music and experience an Arabian shisha speciality.

DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island will also feature the UAE’s first eforea: spa, Hilton Worldwide’s exclusive spa concept, including seven relaxing treatment rooms along with rejuvenating Jacuzzi, sauna and steam facilities. Corporate guests will also appreciate the hotel’s three flexible meeting spaces.

Ras Al Khaimah is the most northern Emirate in the UAE and a land of contrast with red sandy desert, lush green plains, interspersed with creeks and lagoons, and beautiful mountains, the highest of which often has snowfall in winter. Only 45 minutes’ drive from Dubai International Airport, the largest airport in the Middle East with more than 260 global routes, the Emirate’s diverse landscape and exceptional amenities attracted 1.2 million visitors* during 2012 and is on course to increase that figure further for 2013.

Marriott International, Inc. has announced it has sold the London EDITION, and signed binding agreements for the sale of two other company-owned EDITION hotels currently under development in Miami Beach and Manhattan. The total purchase price for the three EDITION hotels is approximately $815 million, roughly equal to the aggregate estimated total development costs of all three hotels. The hotels will each be operated by Marriott under long-term management contracts with their new owners, which are companies ultimately owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.The London EDITION opened in September 2013 and was conveyed to its buyer today. The Miami Beach EDITION and the New York EDITION are under construction and expected to open in the second half of 2014, and the first half of 2015, respectively. Marriott expects to convey each hotel individually to the new owner after construction is complete. The Miami Beach and New York purchase prices are fixed; development costs in excess of the agreed purchase price will not be recovered.

“The sale of all three company-owned hotels is a powerful endorsement of our EDITION brand,” said Arne Sorenson, president and chief executive officer of Marriott International. “This transaction is a key component of our strategy to build the EDITION brand by selectively developing spectacular, brand-defining hotels in gateway cities. We look forward to managing these hotels for many years.”

The residential component of the Miami Beach EDITION was not included in this transaction. Marriott will retain ownership of the residential units pending their sale to individual purchasers.

Marriott International’s flagship brand, Marriott Hotels, announced plans to open the174-room Marriott Hotel in Santa Cruz de la Sierra in 2016, making it the first hotel in Bolivia for the company. The hotel will be developed by Empresa Hotelera Icon S.A. and operated by Marriott International.Situated on the 4th Anillo (round about) in the heart of the Equipetrol neighborhood, the Marriott Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel will be located in one of city’s most desirable areas, surrounded by the highest concentration of office buildings with multi-national tenants in the city, as well as a close proximity to a new shopping center currently under construction.

“We are very excited about our new partnership with Marriott and the opportunity to establish the Marriott Hotels brand’s footprint in Bolivia. With the success of the brand across Latin America and around the world, we are confident that this hotel will be highly successful and play a large role in the continued emergence of Bolivia,” Carlos Saavedra, president of the board of Empresa Hotelera Icon S.A.

“This is a very exciting time for Marriott in Latin America – we recently announced our goal to double our portfolio in the Caribbean and Latin America by 2017 and are thrilled to now be expanding into Bolivia with our new partners,” said Craig S. Smith, President of the Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International. “With this project, not only are we bringing more hotel rooms to the Bolivian market, but doing so in a vibrant city like Santa Cruz de la Sierra which is experiencing a large growth in business and leisure tourism.”

“We are confident that this beautiful hotel will be highly successful and open the doors for more development opportunities in Bolivia and the surrounding markets in South America, as well as play a large role in the continued emergence of Bolivia,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International.

In addition to 174 guest rooms and suites, the hotel will feature a three-meal-a-day restaurant, and a lobby bar. The hotel will also include approximately 2,400 square meters of meeting space, and recreational facilities include a swimming pool and a fitness center. Other amenities will include a club lounge, business center, gift shop and parking garage.

Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center, Istanbul’s largest hotel,today welcomes guests for the first time. With 829 guest rooms and suites, as well as 12,000 square meters of event space, the hotel builds on Hilton’s legacy of almost 60 yearsin Turkey,extending its world renowned service to travelers in one of Istanbul’s most thriving neighborhoods.The stylish hotel, designed by award winning GA Design of London, offers significant scale and stretches a magnificent 34 floors high. Hilton Istanbul Bomonti is adjacent to a new shopping and entertainment destination which is being created from the historic Bomonti Beer Factorysite. The hotel provides guests with the perfect location to explore tourist hotspots on the European side of the city, as well as new retail, entertainment and dining optionsset to open on its doorstep.

Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center offers an unparalleled option for major conferences and events with the largest pillar free ballroom in the city and the ability to serve in excess of 6,350 guests at any one time. The hotel features state-of-the-art meetings technology including digital check-in screens andiRoom applications for event planners; as well as outdoor terraces ideal for weddings and social occasions.

Opening as part of the hotel is Turkey’s first eforea: spa at Hilton, offering more than 3,300 square meters of wellbeing space with 14 treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and 500 square meter gym with studio. eforea: spa at Hilton Istanbul Bomonti features globally renowned products such asKerstin Florian, Vitaman and Alessandro. Guests will be able to enjoy signature treatments such as the eforea Signature Correcting Facial andeforea Signature Full Body Repair, as well as VIP treatments suites featuring Sweet Memory and BomontiHammam Dreamrituals for couples.

A must visit for visitors and residents of Istanbul will be Cloud 34, a social hub serving a range of small plates, international drinks and cocktails throughout the day and evening.Offering a contemporary and sophisticated interior on the 34th floor, guests will be able to relax and socialize whilst enjoying the breathtaking views across Istanbul and the Bosphorus.

All-day dining concept The Globe serves an array of local and international cuisines and features four live cooking stations with chefs creating Turkish, Western Grill, Sushi and Thai cuisine. Executive Chef,YannisManikis, has recruited a brigade of talented chefs originating from locations such as France, Greece, India and the USA.

Hilton Istanbul Bomonti will also offer the opulent surrounding of the Grand Lobby, serving Turkish coffee, hot and cold drinks to refresh and relax as well as lighter bites throughout the day. Eligible hotel guests will also be able to enjoy an Executive Lounge with views across the city.

The latest Hotel Investor Sentiment Survey from Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality team indicates high trading expectations for London and Paris, with highest investor interest directed towards key trophy assets in the UK capital. The survey highlights that investors are feeling more confident across the EMEA region than they did earlier this year, and investor sentiment is highest for German cities such as Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg, followed by London.

Short term trading expectations are strong as the post-Olympic boom and a rise in consumer confidence continues to have a positive effect on hotel performance. High net worth individuals and Sovereign Wealth Funds are targeting acquisition of trophy assets in London. Cap rate expectations are at their lowest across the UK in the capital, standing at 6.0%. Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham remains above the regional average at 7.3%, 7.4% and 8.0% respectively.

Nearly half of investors (45.5%) will be focusing on acquisitions in the coming year, with Manchester ranking as the top acquisition market in EMEA next to Barcelona.
Adam Wilson, Vice President in Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality team, commented: “As key gateway cities continue to attract the bulk of investor interest, yields remain low for prime hotel assets in London. Secondary regional cities throughout the UK are witnessing an increase in investment activity as investors seek more attractive yields elsewhere in the country. The survey indicates that Manchester appears to be one of the main beneficiaries of this increased appetite, with seven buyers to every seller.

“Operational trading sentiment remains positive in London in the post-Olympic year despite a forecast 8% increase in new supply in the next two years, highlighting strong levels of confidence in the London hotel market.”

Enjoy a luxurious and contemporary escape at Naumi Hotel in her daringly different Coco Chanel and Andy Warhol inspired rooms.Camelia and Gabrielle – inspired by Coco Chanel

“A girl should always be two things: Classy and fabulous” – Coco Chanel

Indulge in elegance with a stay in Gabrielle or Camellia, the Coco Chanel themed rooms at Naumi Hotel. With chic monochrome and pale green hues, both rooms are decked with designer furnishings, featuring origami pendant lamp “Andromeda”, by Calligaris and sculptural “Quarry” accent table in warm silver leaf from Baker, Barbara Barry Collection. Artistic interpretations of Coco Chanel’s iconic flower the Camellia grace the walls, alongside lush floor-to-ceiling silk curtains. The rooms feature large bathrooms with a powerful rain-shower, and a smokescreen bathroom glass panel which switches from clear to frosted at the touch of a button. Rejuvenate with a soak in the sumptuous freestanding bath tub; twirl in the walk-in wardrobe and relax in a sanctuary of chic tranquillity. Stylish, comfortable and luxurious, the Chanel inspired rooms make every stay at Naumi feel more indulgent.

Eden and Nirwana – inspired by Andy Warhol

“Art is what you can get away with.” Andy Warhol

Artistic license reigns in the Andy Warhol inspired rooms, Eden and Nirwana. Decadently and stylishly designed, with standout furniture featuring the iconic arm chair, “La Mamma” by B&B Italia paired with floor lamp, “Fork” by Diesel Foscarini. The Andy Warhol themed rooms feature interesting shapes and dramatic pops of colour. Specially commissioned artwork by award winning photographer Olivier Henry of the Singapore skyline and Thai artist Pariwat. Decked out to resemble a swanky New York penthouse apartment, the oversized bed takes centre stage, with a fabulous circular bathtub hidden behind a revolving screen.

Both the Coco Chanel and Andy Warhol themed rooms also feature excellence at every touch point. From designer furnishings, Apple TVs, seven layer bedding in 400 thread-count Egyptian Cotton, luxurious bath amenities by Malin + Goetz to high-speed WiFi connection, and Apple’s AirPlay Mirroring.

Big on style, comfort and luxury, Naumi’s Coco Chanel and Andy Warhol inspired rooms are the perfect getaway for guests looking for an extra special experience in the heart of Singapore.

Hilton Worldwide has reached an agreement which will see it rebrand the historic Concorde Opéra hotel under its Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in late 2014.The iconic hotel, in Paris’ fashionable 8th arrondissement, was recently acquired by Blackstone Real Estate Partners Europe IV (“Blackstone”). The Concorde Opéra will undergo a significant investment programme to restore and reinvigorate the 124 year old landmark prior to rebranding as the Hilton Paris Opéra next year.

Marking Hilton Worldwide’s expansion in the popular Paris market, the agreement is underpinned by the city’s enduring tourist appeal and high levels of guest demand for quality hotel accommodation. Located minutes from a number of famous attractions such as the Opéra, The Louvre, the Sacré Cœur and the Arc de Triomphe, the surrounding area is subject to a considerable public and private investment programme and is currently undergoing large scale redevelopment. Guests will benefit from access to Europe’s second largest rail station, the Gare Saint Lazare, which is opposite the hotel and is used by 100 million passengers each year.

This Paris agreement follows news that Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement to brand a new hotel as Hilton Chantilly Hotel & Conference Centre, 30 kilometers from central Paris. The hotel, which will include a range of sophisticated room offerings and a substantial meeting and conference facilities, in addition to a signature state of the art spa, is expected to open to guests in early 2015.

Business and leisure facilities at the 266 bedroom Hilton Paris Opéra hotel will include an executive floor and lounge and outstanding meetings and food and beverage facilities. Hilton Worldwide will operate the hotel under a management agreement on behalf of Blackstone.

InterContinental Hotels Group has recently announced the 290-room Crowne Plaza® Phoenix Airport hotel as the newest addition to the portfolio of Phoenix hotels in the IHG family of brands. The 10-story property, a conversion from an independent hotel, has undergone a significant multi-million dollar renovation and is the third hotel for the Crowne Plaza brand in Phoenix.Guests can take advantage of a variety of amenities that support business travelers and help them be on top of their work, like a 24-hour business center, 24-hour airport shuttle service and 18,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 13 meeting rooms and a ballroom. The hotel also offers complimentary covered parking for hotel guests and a well-equipped fitness center. Presidential and junior suites come with king beds, upgraded amenities, in-room safes, marble bathrooms and flat screen TVs. Guests can enjoy full-service dining and bar services at “The Post” – featuring contemporary American cuisine – and “Perch” – serving signature cocktails and regional beers and wines with light eating options.

Funded by CHPH, LLC, all guest rooms, meeting space, public areas and dining spaces have been renovated in a contemporary style with soothing muted tones. Additionally, a 2,500-square-foot deck has been added to the outdoor heated pool where guests can relax, recharge and enjoy the Arizona sunshine.

The Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport hotel, owned by CHPH, LLC, and managed by Heavlin Management, LLC, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has recently announced the expansion of its Holiday Inn Express® brand in Germany with the signing of two more hotels: Holiday Inn Express Hamburg – City Hauptbahnhof and Holiday Inn Express Freiburg – City. These franchised hotels are part of a multiple development agreement (MDA) with IHG’s long standing lessee partner Foremost Hospitality HIEX GmbH.Holiday Inn Express Hamburg – City Hauptbahnhof will join its sister properties Holiday Inn Express Hamburg – City Centre and Holiday Inn Express Hamburg – St. Pauli Messe in one of Germany’s most iconic cities. The 117- room, newly constructed property will be the first of the two to open next year. The hotel will be located close to Hamburg Central Station which links the city centre to the airport, neighbouring museums, the central square and new residential and office development HafenCity. The hotel is set to attract both leisure and business clientele.

Meanwhile the 120-room Holiday Inn Express Freiburg – City, due to open in 2015, will be the first Holiday Inn Express hotel in Freiburg. The city’s accessible location close to the borders with France and Switzerland, coupled with its close proximity to Germany’s Black Forest region, is expected to provide the hotel with a steady influx of leisure travellers.

IHG currently has 61 hotels open in Germany and 14 in its development pipeline which are anticipated to open in the coming years.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the signing of Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons. Owned by Kranjska Investicijska Družba d.o.o., the hotel will mark the entry of Starwood into Slovenia when it opens in 2014. Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons will be located just 10 minutes from the centre of Slovenia’s capital city Ljubljana and 15 minutes from the international airport. This deal underscores Starwood’s strategic expansion plans to open more than 50 hotels across Europe over the next five years. Starwood’s Four Points by Sheraton provides travellers with timeless design, uncomplicated comfort and genuine hospitality and service plus other extras like fast and free WiFi and free bottled water to help stay productive on the road.

Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons will feature 114 guest rooms including three junior suites, a restaurant and bar, nearly 850 square metres of meeting and event space, including a large ballroom, two meeting rooms and three boardrooms, as well as a fitness centre and parking facilities. Reflecting the brand’s promise and insight into the needs of today’s traveller, the hotel will also offer all of the brand’s defining elements, including the signature Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort bed and free bottled water in the room, complimentary WiFi in all public areas, a delicious breakfast with great coffee and refreshing local beer with Best Brews™, helping guests to start and end the day right.

The Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons is a conversion of an existing hotel. It will be added to the Four Points by Sheraton portfolio following a renovation and re-branding process and is part of Starwood’s strategic development plan to convert hotels throughout key locations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Below is a link to HotelDesigns Miniview of the Mons Ljubljana from our visit in 2005

Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Worldwide has recently announced the opening of Hilton Wuhan Optics Valley. The opening marks the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Hubei Province. The six-story hotel features 520 contemporary guest rooms and suites with scenic views from private balconies, five diverse restaurants and bars, and over 5,000 square meters of flexible meeting space. The Hilton Wuhan Optics Valley is operated by Hilton Worldwide and owned by Wuhan Eco City Biguiyuan Investment Co., Ltd.Located in Wuhan East Lake High Tech Development Zone, Hilton Wuhan Optics Valley is only 10 kilometers from the Wuhan Railway Station and 50 kilometers from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. The hotel enjoys close proximity to the dynamic commercial and recreational districts in the Optics Valley and the city’s most popular destinations and attractions, including the nearby scenic East Lake and Happy Valley Amusement Park, making it an ideal destination for business and leisure travelers alike.

Hilton Wuhan Optics Valley features a broad range of modern amenities, including generous work surfaces, luxurious Hilton Serenity BedsTM, Peter Thomas Roth bathroom amenities and Wi-Fi access, as well as stunning Yanxi Lake views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests who stay in one of the hotel’s magnificent suites or executive rooms can enjoy exclusive access to the 3rd floor Executive Lounge, offering complimentary breakfast, refreshments and a cocktail hour.

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Artisan Real Estate Investors, the international development consortium behind the transformation of Edinburgh’s former Caltongate area, has agreed a major hotel deal with Whitbread PLC.Artisan has submitted detailed plans for much of the commercial and leisure provision for the proposed £150 million development, which seamlessly links the capital’s New Street/East Market Street area and Waverley Station with the historic Royal Mile.

A deal has now been agreed to bring two Whitbread hotels to the five-acre site. This includes a 127-room Premier Inn and a 130-room Hub by Premier Inn, Whitbread’s innovative new ‘compact’ hotel format which will be the first of its kind outside of London.

Both hotels will sit next to each other with frontages on to East Market Street and Cranston Street. They are set to form an integral part of the overall development which includes a pedestrian-friendly urban centre mixing open public spaces with independent retailers, restaurants, and leisure offerings – as well as new homes and offices.

Welcoming the deal, Lukas Nakos, Artisan’s managing director said: “There has been huge interest in the site from hotel operators around the world, and I am pleased that an operator of Whitbread’s stature and pedigree has chosen to significantly invest in the city.

“High quality hotel provision will be the cornerstone of our development, and it’s great to see how innovative leisure concepts such as the Hub will add vibrancy, excitement and colour to our plans. We will be placing strong emphasis on the quality of design and materials to ensure both hotels reflect their historic Royal Mile setting – as well as ensuring that the wider area benefits from the increased visitor spend.”

Centred around a new £6.5 million civic square, Artisan’s new development will create around 16,500 sq. metres of high quality grade A office space and 28 new retail businesses, as well as the hotel and leisure space. There are also plans for a new community facility, together with 145 residential units and 40 affordable homes.

Latest research shows that the completed development will generate an approximate annual turnover for the area of £84 million, contributing some £43 million of Gross Value Added (GVA) to the local economy each year.*

John Bates, Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants’ Head of Acquisitions for UK & Ireland added: “This is another outstanding deal for Premier Inn. It gives us more than 257 new bedrooms in central Edinburgh and also our first new Hub by Premier Inn outside London.

“We are now set to have two great Premier Inn products side-by-side in a superb new development in the heart of the Old Town – and close to Waverley Station. It is more exciting growth for us in Scotland and another big result for our customers.”

Following the submission of detailed planning application by Artisan to the City of Edinburgh Council in August 2013, it is anticipated that, following a January 2014 committee hearing, work on the development could start as soon as mid-2014.

Colliers International acted on behalf of Artisan Real Estate Investors for the hotel deal.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Operadora ALRO, announced the opening of the 143-room Holiday Inn® Mexico Buenavista hotel in Mexico City to expand IHG’s family hotels in Mexico.The scale and diversity of the IHG family of brands means that our hotels can meet our guests’ needs whatever the occasion. The modern and avant-garde design was created by architects Enrique Belmont and Luis Enrique Becerra, also responsible for construction. The hotel is located in Mariano Azuela 12, just a short distance from The Chopo Museum and the Palace of Fine Arts in downtown Mexico City and opens following $9 million in renovations by the ownership. Further renovation plans include the addition of a new building adjacent to the hotel featuring two meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 300 people each. The new building is slated to open before mid-2014.

Holiday Inn hotels feature a residential atmosphere that is warm, trend forward and comfortable. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” The residential design includes business-focused necessities such as an ergonomic workstation and data ports with the bathrooms including a multifunctional showerhead, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod, and Bath and Body Works White Citrus bath products. Additionally, each room has standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations – comfortable double, queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, hairdryer, micro fridge, coffee maker, iron and ironing board. The hotel is equipped with complimentary wireless internet access, 32” flat screen television and a radio-alarm clock with support for audio. Other amenities include a restaurant with a terrace featuring international and Mexican specialty cuisine and a lobby bar. Room Service Right … On Time™, at all Holiday Inn hotels, ensures that guests’ room service orders are accurate and delivered on time, every time. The fifth floor is exclusively reserved for IHG® Rewards Club members and will offer direct access to the swimming pool and fitness center.

The Holiday Inn Mexico Buenavista hotel has been designed with the Holiday Inn brand family’s $1 billion global brand relaunch in mind, the largest of its kind in hospitality history. The relaunch continues to drive increased quality and consistency across the global portfolio. The new hotel will feature a contemporary image with emphasis on arrival and welcome services, guestroom and guest bath comfort and a redesigned logo and signage.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites Denver East – Peoria Street. The five-story 81-room hotel is located at 12140 E. 45th Ave. Denver is often considered the gateway to a number of world-class ski resorts and the Rocky Mountain National Park, offering various outdoor activities ranging from biking to rock climbing to numerous hiking trails. The “Mile High City” boasts a variety of historical sites, museums and entertainment options such as the Red Rocks Amphitheatre as well as a diverse night life. In addition to the Sports Authority Field at Mile High – home to the Denver Broncos, the area has an array of golf courses, softball fields and the Colorado National Speedway, part of the NASCAR circuit. The hotel is also conveniently located near Coors Field, home to Denver’s baseball team, the Colorado Rockies.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Denver East – Peoria Street, owned and managed by 4470 Peoria HIX LLC is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

IHG Opens Holiday Inn Express® Hotel in Mountain View Close To South Palo Alto

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the Holiday Inn Express® Hotel Mountain View – S Palo Alto. The three-story 46-room hotel adds to the IHG portfolio in the Mountain View and Palo Alto areas and is opening after significant investments of over $1 million in renovations by the ownership.

The hotel is located just a mile and a half from numerous prominent technology companies. Nearby attractions also include the Levi’s Stadium – the new home of the San Francisco 49ers – and the aptly-named Computer History Museum, in the heart of Silicon Valley.

The Holiday Inn Express Mountain View – S Palo Alto, owned and managed by RPK Investment is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

The Alexandra Barcelona, a DoubleTree by Hilton, began welcoming guests with all the hallmarks of the award winning upscale hotel brand on the 18th December 2013. Opening in the exclusive Paseo de Gracia area, the hotel offers the perfect base for romantic getaways, family holidays or business trips with convenient connections to all parts of the city.The full-service hotel’s opening marks the Barcelona debut for the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand, and the property’s location on Calle Mallorca places it within walking distance of the celebrated Rambla de Catalunya, as well as famous icons such as Gaudi’s Casa Batlló and Casa Milá. The 116 guestroom hotel will continue to be managed by Diagonal Hotels, which operates a number of hotels in Barcelona, as part of an agreement with Hilton Worldwide.

Following a substantial renovation prior to opening, Alexandra Barcelona, a DoubleTree by Hilton, now includes the Da Luca, serving Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh, high quality ingredients. Dishes include authentic specialties from the Liguria region in North Western Italy. Guests wishing to unwind at the hotel can relax in the designated ‘wellbeing area’, which features a dry Finnish Sauna and a soothing massage room.

Hilton Worldwide has recently announced the official opening of the 30-room DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles-Allamanda Resort & Spa, its third resort in the Republic of The Seychelles Islands. From its prime beach-facing location on the South East coast of Mahe, Seychelles largest and best known island, DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles-Allamanda Resort & Spa is a true paradise escape. Surrounded by 2.5 hectares of picturesque, indigenous landscaped gardens and boasting breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean, the hotel is an enchanting island resort of barefoot indulgence.

Nestled against a spectacular backdrop of mountains and ocean, DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort & Spa features a tempting array of amenities and facilities. Guests will appreciate the complimentary Wi-Fi access from the internet lounge, the newly installed Technogym together with the refined simplicity and quality of the ocean-facing resort restaurant and separate bar.

The 30 spacious rooms and suites all enjoy superb ocean views and, for total relaxation, guests can luxuriate in the hotel’s signature spa, uniquely perched on a large granite boulder and surrounded by tropical foliage. The more energetic can enjoy snorkelling and scuba diving while nature lovers can discover Seychelles’ mountain treasure by exploring the many nearby nature walks. The charm and intimacy of DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles-Allamanda Resort & Spa has also proven the property’s romantic credentials with many couples already seeking the hotel’s exclusive paradise setting as the idyllic wedding destination.

The Seychelles archipelago of 115 islands is known for their unspoiled tranquility, textbook pristine beaches, extraordinary national parks and authentic and unique eco-tourism. Lying around 1000km from the East Africa coastline, the country’s economy is dominated by tourism which accounts for *25% of GDP, 70% of foreign exchange earnings and up to 30% local employment.

*Source: World Bank 2013

Mebe Development has recently announced that architectural practice, John McAslan + Partners (UK), and Kitzig Interior Design Architecture Group (Germany) have been appointed to design the 4-star 232 room elegant Mercure hotel in Khimki, near Sheremetyevo International Airport.Located on Leningradskoye Shosse, the new $50 million hotel will offer excellent transport links to Moscow city centre. Construction is slated to start in early 2014 and due to open in the first quarter of 2016.

The 14,000 sqm hotel will include a fitness area with swimming pool, restaurants, conference and function halls, as well as parking. Kitzig Interior Design Architecture Group will design contemporary interiors specifically tailored to the requirements of the 21st-century traveller. Managed by international hotel operator Accor, the world ‘s leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, the Khimki hotel will be the third Mercure hotel in the Moscow region.

Alexis Delaroff, Accor Chief Operating Officer for Russia, CIS and Georgia, said: “Accor would like to thank Mebe Development and its President Mustafa Bilek for the confidence given. We are sure that under our management the Mercure hotel will take a leading position in the Moscow hotel market. We will use our long experience, the strong professionalism and experience of our teams, and the good location of the Mercure hotel to create a successful project.”

Mebe Development, the developer of the project. is part of Mebe Group, which has been operating in the Russian real estate market since 1995 and has delivered over 1 million sqm of residential and commercial real estate properties in many Russian regions over this time. The hotel will become the Group’s second development project in the commercial real estate segment, along with the A-class LEED ‘Gold’ certified sustainable office building Mebe One Khimki Plaza located nearby, also designed by John McAslan +Partners. The new hotel will achieve the same sustainability standards as Mebe One Khimki Plaza which is designed to international specifications and has established new standards for energy-efficient design in Russia.

Mustafa Bilek, President of Mebe Group, said, “This project, along with Mebe One Khimki Plaza, will raise the quality of commercial building construction in Russia to a new level. No less than six international hotel chains expressed an interest in the development and particularly in Mebe’s sustainable aspiration for the project. It is our intention that the hotel’s recreational and business facilities will be of significant benefit not only to guests, but also the tenants of Mebe One Khimki Plaza, as well as local residents.

Aidan Potter, Project Director for both the Mercure Hotel and Mebe One Khimki Plaza, added: “We are delighted to have the opportunity of designing this new hotel, which it is intended will complement the restrained elegance of its neighbour: these two structures will create a distinctive civic presence on Leningradskoye Shosse.”

Located adjacent to the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre athletic complex, the Hotel Kapok, designed by Goettsch Partners (GP), is a 19-story boutique hotel with 242 rooms. The hotel opened in July 2012 but has not yet been featured on HotelDesigns; we hope you enjoy the photography.The design attempts to provide the guest with a unique spatial quality that eliminates the cloistered and disorienting nature of typical hotel corridors. In response, a pin-wheel plan was developed, allowing for corridors that end in vision glass with a punctuation of light and views.

Additionally, four three-story atriums rhythmically ascend up and around the hotel core to drive light deeper into the floor plans while strategically organizing amenity areas vertically throughout the building. Each atrium is located to celebrate views that are best by direction and height: south and low, to the adjacent pedestrian plaza; east and high, to distant Hong Kong Bay; and north and west in the middle, for views of the surrounding athletic venues.

The hotel’s exterior expression is unique, clad entirely in high-performance glazing that is overlaid with a perforated metal scrim that provides shading and references the similar diamond-shaped pattern on the enclosure of the adjacent sports centre. The four atrium façades are highly transparent, all-glass structures that reveal themselves on the outside as large voids in the scrim.

A rooftop garden and restaurant offer expansive views of the city, bay and Hong Kong beyond, while the recessed entry court provides an intimate setting distinctly scaled for privacy from the neighbouring sports arena.

Photos: © 1st Image
Drawings: © Goettsch Partners

After two years of extensive refurbishment, the InterContinental Hotel Marseille opened its doors again in the summer of 2013 and is now the most exclusive hotels in town. Located close to one of the oldest districts of Marseille, Le Panier, the property is part of the national heritage. Just around the corner the guests can explore the harbour of the city and the famous cathedral Notre Dame de la Garde Basilika.

Hidden behind the historical facade of the listed building from the 18th century, the hotel offers 172 luxury rooms and 22 exclusive suites in a rather contemporary style, including bespoke luminaires supplied by Baulmann Leuchten of Sundern.

All pictures are copyright by Hotel Intercontinental Marseille/photos: Eric Cuvillier.

Accor is delighted to announce the signing of the Novotel London Wembley. The hotel will be operated under a management contract and is due to open by April 2014.The 235-room Novotel London Wembley is strategically positioned close to Wembley Stadium, the sporting and concert venue, which hosts a variety of world-class events year round. The hotel is also located just minutes from Wembley Park Underground, allowing guests easy access to central London and its attractions via the Jubilee and Metropolitan tube lines. In addition, the hotel will offer 12 long-stay apartments, two meeting rooms and an In Balance Fitness facility to ensure that every guest has the perfect stay.

Thomas Dubaere, Managing Director, Accor UK & Ireland said: ‘I am pleased to welcome the Novotel London Wembley to our midscale portfolio in the UK. Like all of our hotels, the Novotel London Wembley will open in a strategic location and has been specially developed to cater to the needs of every guest, whether they are staying for business or leisure. The signing of this hotel particularly strengthens our presence across the capital, and the hotel is ideally located for our guests to take advantage of all that Wembley Stadium and the Greater London area have to offer.’

Novotel hotels are positioned in key locations in the heart of major cities, business districts and tourist destinations, offering efficiency and comfort to business customers while also satisfying leisure travellers through contemporary design, up-to-date technology and a flexible approach. The brand’s UK flagship opened in Blackfriars in 2012, and since then Accor has also announced the signing of a new-build Novotel at Canary Wharf as well as the signing of the Novotel Brentford, which are due to open in 2015 and 2014 respectively.

Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG (VI) once again reports an increased full-year profit for the current 2013 financial year. A decisive contribution to this result came, among other things, from the Arcadia hotel purchases and the associated growth on the German market.Thanks to the successful management and the implementation of the announced growth, in particular through the acquisition of owner-operated hotels, the expected earnings of Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG for 2013 will once again surpass that of the previous year. The hotels currently under management by VI generated expected annualised revenue of € 174 million from 2.3 million bed nights in 2013. The number of hotels rose from 29 to 35 managed operations.

Investment in property
The Austrian hotel group acquired six Arcadia Hotels in Germany in 2013. These hotel purchases, made in a favourable interest environment, were one factor contributing positively to the year-end result. CEO Dr. Andreas Karsten expects to see earnings before taxes of € 3.7 million, which would correspond to an increase of about 26 % versus the previous year.

“It was our goal to strategically expand our strong economic basis in Germany in the field of owner-operated hotels and to continue to grow on this market. And we succeeded. Within the last year, we have increased our presence from two operations in Munich and Berlin to 9 hotels at this point. The total number of managed hotels rose to 35 operations,” says Dr. Karsten. Also in Germany, Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG in January 2013 opened the angelo Hotel Munich Westpark in cooperation with UBM Realitätenentwicklung AG. Due to the good business development of the two angelo hotels in Munich, an expansion of the first angelo Hotel Munich Leuchtenbergring is currently being planned. “The growth in Germany has allowed us to increase our presence on this market four-fold within one year. Still, we continue to see untapped potential in the area of city and conference hotels,” Dr. Karsten is convinced.

Projects for 2014
The group intends to add even more hotels to its portfolio in the year to come. Dr. Karsten is driving forward the growth and is remaining faithful to his past announcements: “An IPO in the medium to long term remains an integral part of the growth strategy of Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG.” In Shelkovo near Moscow, the 5-star Astrum Spa & Conference luxury hotel will open in cooperation with Shelkowskij Holding in the summer of next year.

Motel One is set to hit the ground running in the new year with an array of impressive expansion plans and new openings across Germany, Austria, and the much anticipated UK arrivals, lined up for 2014 and beyond. Their ever expanding, eye catching portfolio and innovative budget design brand message are both a potential investor and guest’s dream.Following the opening of new properties in Dresden (288 rooms) and Dusseldorf (244 rooms), impressive 2nd quarter results saw occupancy rates jump to 79%. In addition, having added five new hotels to the portfolio in the last year, the Motel One offering now stands at 45 hotels, bringing the chain’s total room capacity to a significant 9,935. But Motel One have no plans to stop there, with new contracts signed in Manchester and Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, showing that the chain looks set to grow and grow.

Into the future
Motel One are due to launch several new hotels within the UK including one in Manchester Piccadilly and one in London, Tower Hill.

In a recent interview with Mrs Ursula Schelle-Mueller, Marketing & PR Director of Motel One, the question of where they see the brand resting within the industry was raised. As they market the brand as a budget hotel with style, I asked if there was a particular hotel group they wanted to rival and of course, it was Premier Inn and Travelodge. Whilst Travelodge and Premier Inn are budget brands, they don’t offer the style with it. Motel One takes a step closer to offering affordable style and raising the bar for budget hotels.

Hotels rooms for the London property are set to be around £89 a night as a standard rate. Unless there’s a major event going on in the city the prices will not alter. No discounts, no inflation, just one price so you know where you stand.

We’re keeping our eye on Motel One as it looks like the budget hotel market is in for a bit of a shake up.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced the addition of The Equus to its upscale Ascend Hotel Collection, a network of more than 116 unique, boutique or historic independent hotels that offer guests a distinctive, one-of-a-kind local experience.Located in the fashionable upperwest side of Waikiki in Honolulu at 1696 Ala Moana Boulevard, The Equus is just steps from Ala Moana Shopping Center, Oahu’s largest shopping mall, as well as a wide range of restaurants and lounges. This attractive hotel is also within easy access to Hawai’i attractions such as Waikiki Beach and the Honolulu Zoo.

The ten-story Equus has a total of 67 guestrooms, all finely appointed with personal touches and indulgent amenities such as cozy pillow-top beds, flat screen TVs, mini fridges, Keurig coffee makers with complimentary organic coffee and tea and complimentary high-speed internet access. Rooms with city views and lanai (balconies) are available in addition to upgraded, higher floor rooms. Room rates start at $129.00 for a standard Deluxe Double, up to $289.00 for a One Bedroom Suite.

As is customary with each exclusive hotel within Ascend Hotel Collection, The Equus provides a unique reflection of the distinct character of its host city, while providing guests with the highest standards of hospitality and comfort.

Owned and operated by a family deeply rooted in the sport of polo, The Equus is the only hotel in Waikiki that offers guests a direct connection to the North Shore, home of the Hawaii Polo Club. Rooms stay true to its Hawaiian horseback and sporting theme with equestrian inspired touches evident throughout.

You can fly into Upington and hire a car there. Upington airstrip is long – so long it was an emergency landing ground for the Space Shuttle. You would still be 200 miles from the Transnational Frontier Park there, which as its name suggests straddles 3 countries (South Africa, Namibia and Botswana)and is basically the Kgalagadi(Kalahari). You could hire a tent and trailer there if you fancy camping on the National Park Camps sites – and definitely not outside them as it is verboten unless you want an over close encounter of the terminal kind with lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena or any one of the other potentially killer beasts that are the adrenalin attractions of the Park. We drove of course, the whole 750 miles from Hout Bay the length of South Africa and stayed in the Park hotel units. We left early, with the morning sun painting Chapmans Peak pink. Once through the urban sprawl of the Western Cape the roads stretch out – we would joke of roads straight like this in Europe that ‘the Romans were here’. As we get into the Northern Cape the telegraph poles and power lines start to be decorated with the huge nests of social weaver birds. Stopping overnight on the Orange River we arrived the next day at the entrance to the Transnational Frontier Park. Two entrances side by side share the same reception, one for Botswana passport and Customs the other for South Africa.

The entrance building itself is a striking example of South African vernacular in a contemporary interpretation, cool and functional. Inside the gate is almost the only petrol station in the National Park, so filling up is required. To the camp from inside the gate is still some distance, but as with the weavers on the poles outside the camp, it pays to travel slowly and watch where other drivers stop to see the wild life. Here visitors are self drive so by definition are without guides. The guiding system is great because not only do guides understand the patterns of movement (and dangers) of wildlife in the parks, they also tell each other via radio where they are seeing beasts so that they can guide people to them. When self driving sharp eyes, going slowly and seeing where other vehicles are concentrated is the best way to spot the game. Binoculars are essential.

Mott MacDonald has been appointed by Star Estates as building services and cost consultant on the development of a 5 star Hilton hotel in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.The 280 room hotel covers approximately 26,000 sq m over 12 levels. Facilities will include a pool, spa, sauna, health centre and ballroom below ground, along with retail, bars, restaurants and meeting rooms above ground. A skybar and executive lounge at roof level are also included in the design.

Mott MacDonald will provide mechanical, electrical and public health engineering and cost consultancy services. The consultancy will also assist with procurement, cost management and quantity surveying throughout the project’s lifespan.

Paul Jenkins, Mott MacDonald’s project director, said: “This is a very challenging project due to the climate of Ulaanbaatar, which suffers extremely harsh winters and temperatures as low as -40°C at night. Many systems, such as cooling plants, require special heating and protection to avoid freezing of the system. For this project, two heating systems are included in the design to ensure service during the winter months.”

The project is due to be completed by the middle of 2015.

New research from Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality team highlights the surge of development activity in the serviced apartment sector since the Olympic Games, and the growth in appetite for the sector in central London from the investor and development markets. Many apartments are either part of residential, hotel or mixed use developments, and while London is the most mature market in Europe, it is one of the smallest internationally.

There has been a surge of new openings due to high demand for short and long term accommodation and scarcity of serviced apartment accommodation stock, with five confirmed projects in 2013 and 377 units in the development pipeline. The conversion of secondary offices to serviced apartments could provide attractive opportunities for developers given that occupancy levels for serviced apartments stands at 85 per cent, higher than the hotel market level at around 81 per cent.

The research shows that trading performance is forecast to improve as better economic conditions drive corporate demand. Serviced apartments also tend to be more profitable from a management perspective due to less intensive levels of service and staffing which leads to lower payroll costs.

The sector is still at an early stage so development has been the primary way for investors and operators to gain a foothold in the market. However, a couple of recent acquisitions have shown attractive yields compared to other classes. Recent notable transactions include the sale of the Grand Plaza Serviced Apartments in Bayswater for £98 million in September for an yield of approximately 5.5%, and the Staybridge Suites Stratford which (including the Holiday Inn Stratford) sold for an estimated £64 million to Singapore based M&L Offshore Investments. The Circus Apartments, Canary Wharf, located adjacent to the Four Seasons are currently on the market, with offers invited in excess of £30 million.

Global hotel operators are focusing on growing their serviced apartment sector brands with examples such as Staybridge Suites by InterContinental Hotels Group and Residence Inn by Marriott.

Adam Wilson, Vice President in Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality team commented: “The outlook for the sector is positive because of limited supply, good profitability and high yields. Institutional and traditional residential investors have historically been the primary buyers of serviced apartments, but we are now witnessing specialist serviced apartment operators move into acquisition mode such as Ascott, Frazers and Cheval, which is driving pricing further.”

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the most dynamic and largest hotel groups worldwide, announces two new hotels in Saudi Arabia: The Park Inn by Radisson Riyadh Olaya (168 rooms) will open in Q1 2014; the Radisson Blu Resort Jizan (160 rooms) will welcome the first guests in Q1 2015. Both properties are joint projects between Carlson Rezidor as the operator and the Saudi Arabian Al Hokair Group as the owner. The existing hotel in Riyadh will undergo a renovation programme.The mid-market Park Inn by Radisson Riyadh Olaya is located in the heart of the Kingdom’s capital, between the main King Fahed and Olaya Roads; 35km south of King Khaled International Airport, Saudi Arabia’s largest air facility. The hotel is within close proximity to major offices, ministries and landmarks, as well as the high-end retail and commercial district of Olaya. As well as 164 comfortable rooms (including 50 suites), the property offers 340m² of bar and restaurant facilities, 700m² of meeting space, as well as a 300m² wellness and gym area.

The upper upscale Radisson Blu Resort Jizan is Carlson Rezidor’s first project in Jizan, one of Saudi Arabia’s major shipping ports on the Red Sea. The full service hotel will be located on the Jizan Waterfront, off the Makkah and Corniche Roads Roundabout. It will be only 3km away from the city centre and 5km from Jizan’s regional airport. The area surrounding the hotel and the entire city are witnessing major developments, including an oil refinery development spear-headed by Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s national oil and gas company. The Radisson Blu Resort Jizan will include 150 contemporary rooms with signature services such as free high speed internet access, a 250m² all-day dining restaurant, a 100m² lobby cafe, almost 3,000m² of meeting and event facilities including two ballrooms, as well as wellness facilities with an outdoor pool.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced its continued expansion in South Florida with the management of The Angler’s boutique hotel in Miami, Florida, effective from 21 November 2013.Originally constructed in 1931 and later restored in 2007, The Angler’s hotel now features 48 rooms split amongst four separate buildings. The distinctively relaxed, yet sophisticated hotel also includes a restaurant, board room, pool and seven spa suites. From 2014 the property will begin development on a new tower that will add 83 rooms, bringing the total number of suites and rooms to 131, as well a new living room style lobby and new rooftop pool.

With an urban yet tropical feel, The Angler’s – located just steps away from some of the greatest beaches in South Beach – celebrates Miami Beach’s historic architecture whilst also bringing a fresh approach that is reminiscent of old Florida.

The new South Beach hotel strengthens Kimpton’s presence in South Florida with a total of four hotels, joining the EPIC, in downtown Miami; Surfcomber, Miami, South Beach; and Vero Beach Hotel and Spa. The new project also emphasises Kimpton’s continued expansion with nine new projects announced this year, including new hotels in Austin, Grand Cayman, Milwaukee, Palm Springs, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Savannah, Sedona, and Seattle.

“South Florida has been an especially integral part of Kimpton’s growth story over the last five years as a market with high demand among our most loyal guests. We look forward to continuing our success here,” said Kimpton CEO and President Mike Depatie. “This is also an exciting addition for us as it further strengthens our portfolio in popular leisure markets, joining hotels we already have in Scottsdale, Aspen, Vero Beach and Santa Barbara.”

New entry-level five-star resort Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives offers a holiday haven for families, with spacious villas and a daily programme of entertainment and activities for all ages packaged up in its affordable and luxurious all-inclusive Platinum Plus plan. Opening on 15 December 2013, the 90m wide resort’s 2km stretch of uninterrupted, white sandy beaches, lush green vegetation and expansive turquoise lagoon provide a picturesque backdrop as well as a safe base for kids to explore. What’s more, with the resort’s Platinum Plus plan, food, beverages, excursions and activities are paid for before arrival, so parents can look forward to a fun and stress-free holiday without the worry of children incurring extra costs at the resort.

Each of the 150 detached sunset view villas are ideally suited for families, from the entry-level 100m2 Sunset Beach villas which easily accommodate two adults and one child, to the spacious 200m2 Sunset Family Villa which has plenty of space for six people. Stocked with handy amenities such as sun cream, insect repellent and minibars which are replenished twice daily, the villas’ complimentary Wi-Fi access, DVD player, satellite TV and iPod docks can entertain the kids if they tire of the outdoors.

The first resort in the Maldives to focus completely on the entertainment and activity segment, Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives’ daily programme of activities caters to every member of the family, offering guided nature trails, fitness and dance classes, local arts and crafts making, talks about the history and culture of the Maldives, live musical performances, Dhivehi lessons, off island excursions and sunset fishing.

For children aged 4 to 11, the Kid’s Club offers a range of exciting and diverse activities from 9am to 9pm, including mask making, fish feeding, water balloon fights, juggling lessons, face painting and quizzes. For young adults aged 12 to 16, the resort also offers a weekly variety of activities specially catered to the age group, including pool tournaments, beach soccer, special island excursions, sushi making classes, fitness classes, learning to spin with the in house DJ and special disco nights. In addition to daily activities, family friendly facilities also include the first full-sized 50m swimming pool in the Maldives, a sports complex and a selection of non-motorised water sports.

Jumeirah Group, the global hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, has signed a management agreement with Saraya Bandar Jissah SAOH to operate a luxury resort in Muscat, Oman. The resort is currently under development and is expected to open in 2017.When complete the resort will consist of two hotel components, one consisting of 206 rooms and the other of 106 rooms, located in the picturesque cove of Bandar Jissah, near Qantab, nestled between the Hajjar Mountains and the Gulf of Oman. The resort lies 15 minutes south of the city centre and 40 minutes from Seeb International Airport.

The overall development will include a 1,200 m2 Talise spa, a dive centre, a wide range of sports and leisure facilities, a selection of restaurants, bars and cafes and a kids club. The resort will also include conference and banquet facilities to cater for Oman’s growing attraction as a destination for conferences, meetings and large scale events. The resort forms part of a larger development that includes high-end residential townhouses and villas, taking advantage of some of the most beautiful, unspoilt coastline in the Middle East.

Hamood Sultan Alhosni, Chief Executive Officer of Saraya Bandar Jissah SAOH, said: “This luxury resort will be a major contribution to the high-end hotel market. Given the reputation that Jumeirah has in the region, we are confident that, when complete, the property will attract discerning travellers who are familiar with the level of luxury that Jumeirah offers throughout its current portfolio of hotels.”

Gerald Lawless, President and CEO of Jumeirah Group, said: “We are delighted to have been selected by Saraya Bandar Jissah to operate this resort in one of the most beautiful parts of Oman. As we continue to expand the JUMEIRAH™ brand across the Middle East, we bring our exceptional quality of service to loyal guests in new markets, helping them to discover the very best in luxury hospitality and the beauty of emerging destinations like the Omani coastline.”

Jumeirah Group currently operates 22 luxury hotels and serviced apartments, including 11 in the Gulf region, six in Europe and five in Asia. A further 15 hotels are now under development.