Hotel Designs

PPHE Hotel Group Limited, owner and operator of primarily full service upscale and lifestyle hotels including Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts in Europe, has announced that it will extend its Park Plaza Histria Pula property bringing the room-count total to 368. The development is a close collaboration between PPHE Hotel Group and Arenaturist, which PPHE Hotel Group operates and part owns, and will be completed for the 2013 summer season.The additional 127 newly renovated rooms and suites will bring the total of rooms in the award-winning Park Plaza Histria Pula, which opened summer 2012, to 368 making it the ideal location for large events, conferences and incentives. WiFi, LCD TVs and air conditioning are all included as standard and in celebration of the new rooms opening; PPHE Hotel Group is promoting an exclusive Croatia offer this summer of up to 10% off for early bookings.

Reli Slonim, PPHE Hotel Group’s Vice President Croatia and Executive Director of Arenaturist commented: “After months of planning, we are delighted to have started the construction work with the extension scheduled to open ahead of the summer season. Park Plaza Histria Pula was recently awarded the Gold medal standard from TUI UK & Ireland which demonstrates a high level of customer feedback and with an increasing number of airlines flying directly into Pula, we are looking forward to welcoming existing and new guests this summer.”

Park Plaza Histria Pula was recognised as a top-rated hotel, receiving the Gold standard, along with sister property Park Plaza Medulin, by TUI UK & Ireland which is awarded directly by customers travelling with holiday brands Thomson and First Choice, part of TUI UK & Ireland. An average of one million Thomson and First Choice customers complete satisfaction surveys each year focusing on overall holiday experience, including hotel-stay. The results are then analysed by an independent market research company.

Park Plaza Histria Pula is a contemporary resort in an unrivalled location, providing panoramic views of the Adriatic. The hotel boasts a brand new reception, lobby, restaurant, bar; cinema and conference centre holding 700 delegates, along with a a spa and fitness area known as the comfort zone.

Park Plaza Medulin is situated in the fishing town of Medulin, alongside the Medulin Riviera. The hotel received a refurbishment of 190 rooms and public areas including the introduction of a new fitness centre.

In addition to these two award-winning hotels, neighbouring Park Plaza Verudela Pula also underwent a complete re-development of its 385 apartments, restaurant, swimming pool areas and kids play zone and boasts a newly developed shopping zone.

Citigate Central Sydney has rebranded to Novotel Sydney Central, marking an exciting time for the hotel as it undertakes a major refurbishment, while the suburb of Haymarket is in the midst of one of the most progressive urban renewal plans the city has ever seen. With Frank Gehry’s landmark University of Technology, Sydney business building taking shape across from the hotel’s Thomas Street address, and Sydney’s answer to New York’s Highline starting development shortly, Novotel Sydney Central is in the heart of all the action and is set to thrive under its new internationally revered banner.

Coined the Goods Line and operated by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, a 500-metre stretch of disused railway track will link Ultimo and Haymarket to Darling Harbour and the public space will be replete with greenery, bicycle tracks and seating areas. Guests of Novotel Sydney Central will be in a prime position to soak up the atmosphere and access to Sydney CBD will be simplified.

General Manager for Novotel Sydney Central, Danesh Bamji, said “The rebrand from Citigate to Novotel comes at a great time for the hotel and the regeneration of Haymarket will help to bring with it even greater opportunities.

“For a long time Haymarket has been seen as a transient suburb and often overshadowed by Darling Harbour and Chinatown, however with the public works that are currently underway, Haymarket is going to become one of the city’s most exciting precincts, surrounded by cutting edge architecture, exciting new restaurant and retail areas. While the precinct is very much focused on the future there is still plenty of history to discover, with Paddy’s Market and Chinatown on the Novotel’s doorstep.

“The Novotel boasts its own heritage listed building, the Field House, which we use as our restaurant, and it gives the hotel genuine character that we will respect during the refurbishment of the hotel’s rooms and public areas.”

The hotel’s Field House Restaurant, named after Thomas and Herbert Field, two brothers who emigrated to Australia in 1885 and set up an Outdoor Relief and Stores Department which gave assistance to needy citizens of Sydney during the Great Depression, has been beautifully restored and with its heritage listed status provides old world charm and traditional style amongst a bustling inner-city high rise hotel.

After being awarded ‘One Glass Rating’ for its wine list in the Australian Wine List of the Year Awards in 2012, Field House has never been busier. The hotel is one of only a handful of hotels to achieve a Glass rating and the only 4-star property to be recognised in Australia.

Boasting 255 spacious guestrooms, the cosmopolitan hotel will renovate all of the guest bathrooms and upgrade room furnishings, while the lobby and part of the historic Field House Restaurant will receive a makeover. In-keeping with Novotel’s family-friendly mantra, a dedicated children’s play area will be set up to the right of the lobby, and three Apple Mac computer stations will be installed.

With 14-purpose built function rooms which can host up to 400 people and an outdoor heated pool and spa which overlooks Sydney’s skyline, the newly rebranded Novotel Sydney Central is set to benefit considerably from the change in landscape and upgrade of its facilities, while guests will be at the forefront of all the action.

Apple Tree Group is targeting April 15 for the soft opening of the highly anticipated tented luxury lodge located in the heart of historic Bagan. Located near the eastern shore of the legendary Irrawaddy River, the property offers 85 air-conditioned rooms in three classes of accommodation, ranging from 261 square meters for the Courtyard Suite, to 72 square meters for the Deluxe Tented Rooms. The hotel’s design aesthetic melds classic Burmese brick design with contemporary flourishes and tented roofs.

Its principal restaurant, the Tiffin Box, delivers a range of culinary fare from authentic Burmese to western cuisine. Afternoon tea is served in the Lobby Lounge, and the Pool Bar offers up snacks and cocktails.

Beyond the restaurant, the Lodge features a spa, a 20-meter pool and travel desk for guests to book local excursions and onward flights.

“Bagan is the hottest travel destination in Southeast Asia,” said Kurt Walter, Group General Manager at the Apple Tree Group. “Myanmar culture is on every traveler’s radar screen, and Bagan is going to emerge as the hottest attraction in the country.”

14 rooms on the third floor of the Alton Towers Hotel are currently being refurbished with a new design. The rooms are expected to be finished in time for the opening of the theme park season in March.In keeping with the ‘Sir Algernon adventures’, the main theme that runs throughout the hotel, the new ‘adventure’ is his voyage into space. It is unclear whether these new rooms are the start of a wide-scale refurbishment of all the rooms and will be part of the ‘standard’ room offerings, or they will be grouped into the ‘themed room’ prices. As we receive more information, we will update readers.

Each Moon Voyage room sleeps up to four or five people and includes magnificent furnishings and a children’s chill-out area with Xbox console and games. Merlin Attractions Operations Limited, which owns Alton Towers as well as LegoLand Windsor, offers a similar set up in its rooms. Read the review of the LegoLand Windsor here.

All rooms have a 26″ television, tea and coffee making facilities and are home to a four foot bear for cuddles.

This magnificent modern building is designed for leisure, business, receptions and events for both local and international customers. Patrick Chmielewski, the hotel’s General Manager, gave us a guided tour.Soon guests will be able to reach their hotel by boat! Before long, the marina being built at the foot of the Pullman Wuxi New Lake hotel, will welcome guests’ boats. “It’s one of the Pullman network’s most fabulous hotels,” confirms General Manager Patrick Chmielewski. The hotel, which opened in October 2012, is very impressive. It is located in one of Wuxi’s twin towers – the city’s highest – right in the heart of the New District’s future city-center, which is currently being built 120km from Shanghai. It is ideally situated, close to the shopping centers, the business district and a garden that will soon feature an artificial river that is currently being created. The hotel also offers an exceptional view of Lake Taihu from the 10th floor up. Two metro lines due to open in 2013 will service the complex which is also just 5kms from the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed train station.

Stylish and vibrant
The hotel’s striking lobby features a vast 9m glittering glass chandelier of typical Chinese inspiration, and a lavish wall painting behind the reception desk. “The lobby meets Feng Shui requirements. There are no right angles in the room,” explains Patrick Chmielewski. The 20m-long wall painting represents a view of nearby Lake Taihu and is inlaid with precious stones. “This is an international hotel with a truly urban atmosphere that is both elegant and relaxed”.

A new emblem
As such, the Pullman Wuxi New Lake hotel exemplifies Pullman’s new identity: that of a brand that has renewed the approach to upscale hospitality and offers its urban clientele a stimulating and cosmopolitan experience. “We are part of a development and activity zone that includes large international companies such as Sony, Osram, Ricoh, Bosch and Rhodia”. This strategic location reflects the brand’s “new upscale style”. The hotel also offers Pullman’s hallmark services with Vinoteca by Pullman, the Chill-out Space, the Co-Meeting offer and the Connectivity Lounge. The establishment’s greatest reward is to have been chosen as the first location for a photo report showcasing Pullman’s new identity in China. At the moment, Pullman has 16 hotels in China and the network continues to expand with an additional 29 hotels due to open by 2015.

The reference for events
Since its inauguration in October 2012, the Pullman Wuxi New Lake hotel has positioned itself as the large events specialist. “Our 1,200m2 ballroom is one of the brand’s biggest in China.” The hotel also has eight other reception rooms bathed in natural light and equipped with the best audio and video facilities. “This wedding reception room is booked very often because that type of ceremony is very popular in China. It’s a sign of social recognition: the more lavish the wedding, the higher the family’s status.” This large 55m-long room serves either as a banquet hall or as a meeting room and can cater for 800 to 1,000 people. The Pullman Wuxi New Lake is the first French international five-star hotel in Wuxi. It hosts corporate events such as seminars and more recently welcomed a celebration marking the New District’s 20th anniversary.

One floor exclusively for female guests
Chinese business customers are particularly fond of hotel chains and often travel in large groups. The establishment has been specially designed to cater for these groups and has 198 twin rooms. “We are one of the only establishments in the region with so many twin rooms. Right from the onset, we established ourselves in the market for large gatherings,” confirms Patrick Chmielewski. The hotel boasts a total of 404 rooms, including 40 suites ranging from 42m2 to 430m2. One of the hotel’s other competitive advantages is its 16th floor which is exclusively reserved from women. Decorated in shades of pink, featuring women’s magazines, an abundance of Roger & Gallet products, bathrobes and reinforced security, the 26 rooms are used mostly by businesswomen traveling alone who want to stay in a feel-good bubble of comfort.

The Pullman hotel: a must-stay establishment
“Our customers meet, sign a contract, but they also relax and play sport,” says the General Manager. The hotel, which has four restaurants and a bar, offers international, Japanese, French and traditional Chinese cuisine, for example at “Le Chinois”, which can seat 280 and has 18 private rooms that are much appreciated by business men. The hotel also has a wide range of leisure facilities including a fully-equipped fitness room, a yoga room, a 27m indoor swimming pool, a spa, a massage room, Ping-Pong tables and a billiard table. Soon, it will also boast 17 karaoke rooms! “A lot of negotiations are rounded off with a business dinner, followed by a karaoke session. It’s part of Chinese culture,” explains Patrick Chmielewski.
In addition to its high-quality finishes and impeccable service, the elegant and modern Pullman New Lake hotel is also noticeable for its efforts in favor of sustainable development. It reached the PLANET 21 Bronze level in January 2013.

The Mere’s George Duncan Suite and its two boardrooms have been refurbished to the highest degree of specification, marking the final stage of the resort’s £15 million redevelopment. The Mere is now able to provide a greater choice of options for customers looking for smaller scale events within a luxurious and highly equipped environment. The George Duncan suite holds up to 200 guests in theatre style and is popular for a host of events, from small weddings, corporate banquets and theatre style meetings. The Suite has its own bar, lounge and connecting syndicate room allowing up to 120 guests to make use of a secluded area. The boardrooms are used regularly for private meetings.The newly designed conferencing suites were designed and refurbished by Mather & Co, based in Wilmslow, also responsible for the rest of the resort’s redevelopment.

Janice Crosby, Events Manager at The Mere, comments: “The George Duncan Suite is hugely popular for a range of corporate hospitality events and we’re delighted with the results of the refurbishment. Our boardrooms are regularly booked up too and we wanted to ensure we were delivering a consistently high quality experience at the resort. It’s exciting too to mark the final stage of our significant development plans.”

The Mere Golf Resort & Spa is an independent luxury resort co-owned by Mark Boler and Gary Corbett. The resort offers an 81 bedroom hotel and two new restaurants including ‘Browns at The Mere’ and the ‘Club Lounge and Bar’ alongside its existing championship golf course, refurbished conference and event facilities for up to 550 people and a state-of the-art health club and spa. Situated in the heart of Cheshire, the resort is close to Manchester, Liverpool and Chester.

The figures are impressive, with 2,500 rooms and 26,000 m2 of public areas refurbished and renovations that will last 30 months, and reflect the sheer scale of the project. Pullman has launched this unprecedented transformation known as “Pullman Paris Live” in the heart of France’s capital. This architectural revolution will allow it to unveil its new look as well as a reinvented approach to upscale hospitality in the first quarter of 2014.

Five hotels: the Pullman Paris Montparnasse, Bercy, Tour Eiffel, La Défense, Charles de Gaulle Airport… will showcase the brand’s new mind-set and daring approach promoting an experience that blends efficiency with pleasure.

“This project represents an unprecedented challenge in the Paris hotel sector with the virtually simultaneous refurbishment of five ‘heavy weight’ establishments. No hotel brand has ever undertaken renovations on this scale in as many hotels in the same city in such a short period of time. It represents a sizeable investment which is entirely funded by the hotel owners. We are giving ourselves the means with which to fulfill our ambitions in the world’s top tourist destination” declares Denys Sappey – Director of Pullman France.

A dedicated website to follow the progress of refurbishment

Several key features in all five establishments will be reinvented over the next few months, for example, services, interior design, contemporary art, connectivity and decompartmentalised spaces. The aim is to create five unique addresses where customers will recognize Pullman’s identity through a series of brand hallmarks and strong characteristics.

Of course design is one of the project’s essential elements. Eight renowned architects and interior designers are responsible for Pullman’s new identity in Paris: Christophe Pillet, Didier Gomez, Marc Hertrich & Nicolas Adnet, JOI Design, Laurent Moreau, Naço and Didier Rey.

“Our brand project offers a new approach to upscale hospitality in which design plays a key role. Whether they are staying for business, leisure, or both, our objective is to offer our guests a cosmopolitan, stimulating and decidedly stylish experience. The designer element in our hotels will be reinforced by the brand’s commitments in the field of contemporary art” explains Xavier Louyot – Senior Vice President, Global Marketing for Pullman.

This unprecedented transformation of the brand’s Parisian hotels also involved a lengthy process to prepare employees and includes a vast internal communication campaign as well as a campaign targeting customers through a dedicated website. The aim is to involve customers as much as possible by revealing what the Pullman hotels of the future will be like and to strengthen customer bonds with a brand that is determined to shake things up in 2013 and the years to come.

The “Pullman Paris Live” project in figures…

– 5 hotels
– 8 designers
– 30 months of refurbishment
– 2,510 rooms renovated
– 26,000 m2 of living areas reinvented
– 1,500 employees concerned
– January 2013: work starts at the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel
– March 2013: Unveiling of the Pullman Paris La Défense and Pullman Paris Montparnasse
– September 2013: Unveiling of the Pullman Paris Bercy
– December 2013: Unveiling of the Pullman Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
– April 2014: Unveiling of the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel

Marriott International has recently announced the signing of seven management agreements with TCC Hotels Group which will see the US hospitality company operating seven TCC hotels across Thailand. These agreements make the TCC Hotels Group the largest owner of Marriott International hotels in Asia Pacific. The seven hotels are:
• The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, Bangkok to be rebranded as Bangkok Marriott Hotel Queen’s Park
• Imperial Adamas Phuket Beach Resort to be rebranded as Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Nai Yang Beach
• HuaHin Marriott Resort & Spa
• Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa, Jomtien Beach
• JW Marriott Pattaya Resort & Spa
• Marriott Hotel and Executive Apartments, Bangkok Surawong
• The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok

This landmark agreement will add 3,000 rooms to Marriott International’s existing 12 hotels of 3,110 rooms across Thailand.

The TCC Hotels Group will represent a variety of Marriott International’s brands including The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott and the company’s signature Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand. It will see Marriott International take on the management of two existing hotels and five new build properties across the country in the strategic tourist destinations of Bangkok, Phuket, HuaHin and Pattaya.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Bangkok, Simon Cooper, Marriott International’s president and managing director Asia Pacific, said: “We are delighted to announce this landmark deal for Thailand. TCC Hotels Group is very well established as a hotel owner and operator around the world and these seven hotels will add to our already strong portfolio of hotels in the country.”

“I believe this partnership shows our commitment to and faith in Thailand as a strategically important business and leisure destination in South East Asia. Managing this portfolio of TCC hotels in the country will allow us to extend our product offering and brands in Thailand, and enable domestic and international travellers to experience our hotels and world-class service.”

TCC Hotels Group expects to invest approximately US$500 million for the seven hotels including an extensive refurbishment of the existing Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, Bangkok and the Imperial Adamas Phuket Beach Resort before being rebranded and opened under the Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand in 2016.

“TCC Hotels Group believes that Thailand and the group could benefit from the global network and standards of Marriott International. We are very excited to be working together with Marriott International, an experienced global operator to support our growth strategy and our confidence in both Tourism and MICE business sectors of Thailand,” said Wallapa Traisorat, President of TCC Hotels Group.

Ludovica and Roberto Palomba

Picasso once said that the artist represented the élite of the servant classes. A hundred years on and my belief is that the artist has been usurped from this rôle by the designer. In the days of Picasso at the beginning of the Twentieth century the world was relatively simple visually. Photography had been around for maybe 60 years, but remained an arcane art form needing a special camera and alchemical darkroom procedures, television hadn’t been invented and the lithograph was the latest in print production.

Now our would is a visual and aural cacophony. We are bombarded with projected imagery, art is a cheap commodity, music reduced to muzak. Most people cannot distinguish between what has eternal values and what is merely a passing style fad. Designers act as translators of the chaos, standing between the juggernauts of mass production and the individual bespoke producer to enable people to select well designed products to fill their world. The designer has now become the élite of the servant classes in turn. It was with delight I heard Roberto Palomba speak of the work of himself and his partner, and wife of 25 years, Ludovica. Interviewed by Vanessa Brady in the Roca Gallery as part of the launch of new items in the Laufen collection, Roberto referred to himself as a servant of the people. Asked a particularly convoluted question he retreated, saying “I’m not intelligent – I am a designer”, and then went on to prove what an intelligent designer he is.

Designers share with artists their ability to tap into their intuition, to trust intuitive leaps, to think sideways rather than in straight logical lines. Roberto talked about his design process and what sounds like a symbiotic relationship with his client, Laufen. Asked about how technical details of what makes a tap work he said he didn’t need to know that, just how big the mechanism was. The latest collection created by his practice moves away from the seemingly all pervading rectilinear shapes to draw from nature, symbolised by the adoption of Celtic names such as ‘menhir’ (a standing stone) echoing forms in a landscape, fittingly for items associated with water.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces the opening of the Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown, the area’s first new hotel development in over 10 years. Located two blocks away from the Charleston Visitor’s Center at 425 Meeting Street, and within a short walk of famous Market and King Streets, the brand new, five-story hotel blends contemporary luxury with traditional southern hospitality.The Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown has 120 rooms, including three full suites and 23 specialty rooms, all of which offer a private patio. The hotel, owned by Tara of Charleston LLC and managed by Tara Investments, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG. “We are delighted to be joining the Holiday Inn brand family in this great city”, said Jewel Oxner, vice-president of Sales and Marketing for Tara Investments. “Charleston is where history lives and memories are made. We look forward to welcoming both business and leisure guests, and providing them with the best service in Charleston. “

The hotel design creates a familiar atmosphere that is warm, trend forward and comfortable. It features a natural, fresh colour palette punctuated by pops of energetic colours. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” And the bathrooms include a multifunctional showerhead, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod, and Bath & Body Works® amenities. In addition, each room has the 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 design includes business-focused necessities such as an ergonomic workstation, data ports and complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers. Other amenities include free wireless Internet service throughout the hotel and in the area surrounding the heated outdoor pool. The hotel includes 2,109 square feet of meeting space, which can accommodate up to 150 people. In addition, the hotel includes a library and business centre featuring living-room style seating and a fitness centre with floor to ceiling windows.

Guests of the Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown can enjoy The Meeting Room Restaurant and Tapas Bar, which features farm-to-table cuisine, signature cocktails and specially selected wines, all in a relaxing and elegant setting. Executive Chef Ramon Taimanglo offers a twist on tradition with American-inspired tapas prepared with local ingredients, offering something to suit every palette. In addition to serving dinner, The Meeting Room also offers the standard Holiday Inn Best-4-Breakfastâ menu.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and White Lodging Services Corporation have announced plans to open a second Westin hotel in Austin, Texas. The Westin Austin Downtown is scheduled to break ground in 2013 and open in Spring 2015 on the northeast corner of East Fifth Street and San Jacinto Boulevard. The 17-story, 326-room Westin hotel will be a joint venture between White Lodging Services Corporation, the Harry Whittington family and REI Real Estate Services, LLC.Located at the centre of Austin’s lively downtown, The Westin Austin Downtown will be just one and a half blocks from the city’s convention centre and a short walk to many of the city’s restaurants and music venues. The famous Sixth Street entertainment district is just around the corner. Hotel facilities will include a White Lodging-managed, full-service restaurant, fitness centre, and 13,500 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and banquet space.

In addition to helping meet an ever-growing demand for hotel rooms, the Westin will generate significant economic benefits, including more than 130 permanent jobs and approximately $4.5 million in taxes annually.

The sensory-rich environment at Westin offers a respite from the rigors of travel and sets a welcoming tone. The Westin brand’s innovative programs and instinctive service transform every aspect of a guest’s stay into a revitalizing experience. All guestrooms and suites at The Westin Austin Downtown will offer the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed – an oasis of lush sheets, down and a patented pillow-top mattress, which cradles and contours to the body for truly restorative sleep. Guests will revive in the Heavenly® Bath enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and White Tea Aloe bath amenities, in-room and high-speed Internet access. The hotel also will also offer the Westin brand’s signature SuperFoodsRX® menu, which includes nutrient-rich and delicious options to tempt every palate.

SOURCE White Lodging Services Corporation

Great Hotels of the World, the London-based hotel sales and marketing alliance, has acquired five new member properties to its collection.Great Hotels of the World Luxury Collection – for the most luxurious hotels in the world

Royal Garden Villas & Spa, Tenerife, Spain
Situated in the beautiful region of Costa Adeje in Southern Tenerife, Royal Garden Villas & Spa is a luxurious and elegant five-star resort, offering guests privacy and the finest services in gorgeous surroundings. Overlooking the golf course and boasting spectacular views, the hotel comprises 28 one-, two- and three-bedroomed villas, each with their own large terrace and solar heated pool, designed for relaxation and privacy.

Each villa has been decorated in its own unique style, equipped with sumptuous furnishings and beautiful antiques from around the world. Guests can also have their meals in the privacy of their own villa. The property’s Golden Pond Spa is a Thai temple of wellbeing, offering guests a unique environment to unwind. Wood, stone and sculptures adorn the spa to recreate an exotic Asian atmosphere. The spa contains an indoor thermal circuit with jacuzzi, waterfall, waterbeds and Turkish bath, hydromassage showers, ice fountain and a separate lounge for treatments. Guests can also enjoy the property’s gym, Tucán Tucán Pub and Jardín Restaurant, serving traditional Canarian and international cuisine. The restaurant has been recommended by the Michelin Guide.

Great Hotels of the World Premium Collection – for upscale superior hotels offering guests a unique experience

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok, Thailand
Located on the banks of the majestic Chao Phraya River, with the cultural and historical attractions of Bangkok on its doorstep, Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok offers premium accommodation. Its 396 spacious rooms and suites all boast large balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning views of the river and cityscape, along with the renowned friendly Thai hospitality. The property offers a complimentary shuttle boat to and from Sathorn Pier for its guests.

The hotel boasts three restaurants: River Barge, which serves international and regional specialities, Silver Waves, serving dim sum and creative Cantonese cuisine, and Pier 28, offering alfresco dining at its finest. Guests can also enjoy the 35m infinity pool with accompanying jacuzzi, two children’s pools, hair salon, fitness centre with sauna and the hotel’s Nemita Spa, with an array of treatments to choose from. A large ballroom, business centre services and seven private meeting rooms are also onsite as well as a club lounge, lobby lounge, pool bar and convenience store.

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Hilton Worldwide and Bayview Hospitality Group (BHG) have announced that the landmark Metropolitan Hotel Toronto, which BHG recently acquired along with the hotel’s two restaurants, will become downtown Toronto’s first DoubleTree by Hilton. BHG will continue to operate the hotel when it converts to a DoubleTree by Hilton later this year.“Entering the downtown of a gateway city such as Toronto with a well-known destination hotel and proven operators such as BHG is a great way for DoubleTree by Hilton to start the year,” said John Greenleaf global head DoubleTree by Hilton. “We’ve recently signed franchise agreements for hotel conversions in Kamloops, British Columbia; West Edmonton, Alberta; and downtown Regina, Saskatchewan. With all three planned to open this year, we will more than double our portfolio in the country.”

Located amidst the vibrant retail centre at Dundas Square, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Nathan Phillips Square and Osgoode Hall, the hotel is surrounded by Canada’s leading teaching hospitals, three major universities and the provincial legislature. BHG plans to reposition the well-known hotel to become the first DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Toronto. The repositioning strategy includes an extensive refurbishment to the hotel. The new design direction and upgrades will bring a heightened level of comfort and a sophisticated, urban look and feel to the full service hotel.

“We are truly excited to introduce the first DoubleTree by Hilton to the world class city of Toronto,” said Alnoor Gulamani, president of BHG. “BHG has a relationship with Hilton Worldwide that goes back many years over multiple hotel projects in the Greater Toronto Area. The Doubletree by Hilton brand is the perfect fit for this central, cosmopolitan location.”

Europe’s oldest luxury hotel brand, Kempinski, has reinforced its commitment to India by launching its first independently managed hotel in the commercial district of Shadara in East Delhi – Kempinski Ambience Delhi. The Buddhist spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed and inaugurated Kempinski Ambience Delhi by lighting the ceremonial lamp on December 25, 2012. The hotel is set to be an upscale landmark destination for business, entertainment and weddings in the region.

The hotel is contemporarily designed and features 480 rooms and suites in two towers, connected by a sky bridge. Each tower has a dedicated entrance, a lobby and a check-in desk. Kempinski Ambience Delhi features banqueting facilities of over 70,000 sq ft, including India’s largest pillar-less ballroom in a luxury hotel that can accommodate up to 6000 guests. Amongst the dining options are four specialty restaurants including Café Knosh (all-day dining restaurant), Dilli 32 (an Indian specialty restaurant), Mei Kun (an Asian restaurant) and Casaluna (an Italian restaurant).

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Travelodge has exchanged contracts with LPC Living for the construction of its first hotel in the London Borough of Hackney. Located at the former Gibbons furniture store site on Amhurst Road and adjacent to Hackney Central Train Station, the 80-bed hotel is expected to open in the summer of 2014. It will be the first branded hotel accommodation in the heart of the Borough and will create 15 jobs when open.

The Travelodge hotel forms part of a broader £20m redevelopment by LPC Living which also includes 50 serviced apartments and two ground floor retail units. Construction is scheduled to start this spring with Anglo Holt appointed as contractors.

Strettons acted on behalf of Travelodge, with Kingsbury acting on behalf of LPC Living. This will be LPC Living’s second Travelodge development, with the company having previously built Travelodge’s Salford Quays hotel in Greater Manchester.

Neil Short, Development Manager for Travelodge in North London, said: “The new hotel is in a fantastic location on Amhurst Road, next to Hackney Central station and part of an exciting, £20 million mixed-use development by LPC. We will be delighted to open what will be the first branded hotel in the heart of Hackney.

“Whilst the Olympic Games have brought a lot of attention to East London, the long-term business fundamentals for a hotel in Hackney are clear. Considerable recent investment in public transport, a burgeoning business and cultural environment and a lack of good quality, affordable hotel rooms mean Hackney is a great location for a Travelodge.”

Simon Ashdown, Development Director at LPC Living, said: “Our experience in transforming redundant pieces of land into thriving mixed-use developments and creating new employment opportunities for the local community lends itself perfectly to this prime site in Hackney.

“Travelodge are the perfect partner in this equation and I am delighted to be extending our relationship with them following the success of our Radclyffe Park development in Salford.”

Travelodge now has 56 hotels open in the London Boroughs, with 13 further sites under construction or legally secure, making Travelodge the largest hotel brand in the capital. The hotel company now has a site in 27 London boroughs.

The Travelodge development team is actively looking for a further 48 sites across London which, when realised, will ensure the company has a hotel in located in each of the capital’s boroughs.

Tony O’Brien, UK Development Director for Travelodge Hotels, said: “London has an undersupply of good quality, affordable hotel rooms in Zones 1 and 2, and a shortage of any type of hotel in the suburbs.

“Trading has been superb for us in London throughout the recession, with hotels reaching mature occupancy levels within weeks of opening.

“Our London target list has a further 48 locations in the capital and we will be making further announcements soon about some exciting exchanges.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it has completed the sale of Aloft and Element Lexington to Rockwood Capital for $36 million. As part of the agreement, the dual-hotel development in Lexington, Massachusetts will be managed under long-term license agreements by Paramount Hotel Group and continue to fly the Aloft and Element flags. “This sale is consistent with Starwood’s asset-light strategy as we continue to seek opportunities to sell owned real estate at the right time to the right owners,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. “Starwood completed over $500 million of hotel asset sales in 2012, and investor interest in the company’s other owned assets has increased markedly as hotel industry fundamentals and capital markets have continued to improve.”

“We are thrilled to be expanding our relationship with Starwood. We view these properties as an excellent fit with our strategy to acquire strong income-producing properties in one of our key target markets on the east coast,” said Tony Larino, Managing Director and Head of Lodging at Rockwood Capital.

Built by Starwood and opened in 2008, Aloft Lexington and Element Lexington share the same parcel of land at 727 Marrett Road, close to the 128 Mass Turnpike. Home to numerous technology businesses, Lexington offers a charming combination of historical sites, farm stands and greenhouses, as well as convenient access to Boston’s thriving business community and leisure attractions.

Aloft Lexington offers 136 guest rooms, indoor pool, w xyz sm bar, fitness center and meeting space. Element Lexington features 123 guestrooms, fitness facility and meeting space. The two hotels share 297 parking spaces.

Following a meticulous and extensive multi-million dollar renovation, Hotel Bristol, one of Warsaw’s most iconic establishments, joins The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts’ ensemble of the world’s finest hotels. Owned by Starman Poland, Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Warsaw marks the luxury brand’s first hotel in Poland, combining its authentic, artistic spirit and its cultural heritage with contemporary glamour and elegance. Situated in one of the most prestigious locations in Warsaw, next to the Presidential Palace and on the historic and fashionable Royal Route, Hotel Bristol has been at the centre of Varsovian society since it was founded in 1901 by Ignacy Paderewski – a renowned composer, piano virtuoso and former Polish Prime Minister. The hotel continues to provide unrivalled hospitality for discerning global travellers, with 168 guestrooms and 38 suites clothed in understated shades of ivory and blue, creating a soothing backdrop for the contrasting charcoal and ebony furnishings. Subtle Art Deco accents are used alongside classic elements, a gentle reminder of the hotel’s historic roots. Softly polished nickel, rich timbers, generously proportioned bevelled mirrors and high-gloss lacquer combine with indulgent satin, mohair and fine wool to encapsulate the glamour and decadence of the 1920s.

A Renewed Masterpiece
Offering a mesmerising experience reminiscent of Warsaw’s Belle Époque era from the early 20th century, Hotel Bristol is a unique masterpiece with an enduring artistic spirit coupled with contemporary amenities. Behind the hotel’s majestic neo-renaissance façade, the interiors were created by acclaimed London-based hotel designer, Anita Rosato, to recapture its illustrious history and romantic aura with subtle references to the aesthetics of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. Rosato worked closely with the city’s Architectural Conservator during the renovation of the 110-year-old hotel to ensure that Hotel Bristol’s historical charm is preserved.

The restoration and re-branding of Hotel Bristol as a Luxury Collection hotel reinforces its position at the heart of Warsaw’s cultural and social scenes, as well as one of the city’s beloved landmarks. The place to meet, relax and absorb the grandeur of the historic building, the reception has been returned to its original location next to the main entrance with an enlarged lobby lounge. The decor features deep-buttoned armchairs and marbled walls with antiqued mirrors in brass frames. With the restored chandelier illuminating the grand floral display of palm trees and freshly cut blooms, the lobby is a contemporary re-interpretation of the original winter garden by Otto Wagner the Younger, the hotel’s first interior designer.

Influences from the Art Nouveau and Jugendstil movements can be seen in bespoke design accents throughout the hotel: from the intricate installation of over 600 handmade brass leaves – inspired by the organic forms of a Secessionist brooch, in the reception and an elaborate handcrafted rug that was developed from a remnant fabric with Art Nouveau design, to nickel-glass wall fittings, embellished wool drapes and embossed white leather panels influenced by Wagner’s contemporaries.

Exquisite Culinary Experiences
Hotel Bristol introduces Advinture, a new wine bar offering wines from renowned vineyards and pairing them with delicacies created by Chef de Cuisine Michal Tkaczyk to provide an unforgettable oenological discovery. Intimate yet vibrant, Advinture features cast bronze light fittings that are a modern take on the organic forms of Art Nouveau, alongside black lacquer, bevelled mirror and cracked gesso panels within its monochromatic palette.

Featuring an original plaster frieze by Wagner and elegant columns adorned with restored Art Nouveau light fittings, the majestic Column Bar captures the essence of Hotel Bristol, which is renowned for its annual New Year’s Eve grand ball. Curved leather banquette seating and tall-back wingchairs have been added to evoke the glamour and elegance in the intimate setting complemented by the handcrafted rug running the length of the grand hall and whose design was inspired by the historical frieze. Guests are invited to enjoy signature cocktails like The Nocturne Fizz, a vodka-based concoction inspired by the Mazovia region.

Marconi Restaurant reflects Tkaczyk’s culinary passion with its delectable Polish and Mediterranean cuisine, including the signature roasted duck with caramelised apples, abundant with flavours of rosemary, garlic and clove. The restaurant’s elegant classical interiors with rich dark parquet contrasted against soft white panelled walls, together with a delicate colour palette and exquisite details like crystal chandeliers and fine porcelain, provide a sophisticated and romantic ambiance.

Tradition meets metropolitan lifestyle at the legendary Café Bristol, which has enchanted its guests since 1901 with original Viennese-style interiors, aromas of freshly brewed coffee, delicious traditional dishes and sophisticated patisserie.

Leisure Facilities and The Luxury Collection Concierge
A gold and white light installation hangs above the exquisite reception desk at the wellness area, exuding a calming, ethereal atmosphere when one enters. In this intimate and serene retreat, guests can make use of the indoor pool and gym, enjoy a pampering massage, as well as relax in the wet and dry saunas.

Hotel Bristol also introduces the brand’s signature Luxury Collection Concierge service to all guests, offering the most discerning global travellers an extraordinary experience and impeccable service. The concierge provides guests recommendations to discover and experience the city in an authentic and indigenous way, reinforcing Hotel Bristol’s position as the Varsovian destination authority.

Keypoint Guernsey Limited, advised by Indigo Planning, has been given the go ahead to redevelop the former Park Royal Hotel site in west London to create a 152-bedroom hotel. The London Borough of Ealing unanimously voted to grant planning consent for the hotel, which will also have a ground floor restaurant/bar and valet parking in the basement providing 51 spaces.

The hotel is aimed at both the business and leisure market and the owner is in discussion with a high profile hotel operator but is welcoming enquiries. The development will restore the locally listed building’s façade, the surrounding advertisement hoardings will be removed and its overall appearance greatly improved.

The 0.23 ha (0.6 acre) conservation area site was formerly home to the locally listed Park Royal Hotel public house, more recently known as Magnat, and is located on the A40 Western Avenue between Park Royal and Hanger Lane underground stations.

Mathew Mainwaring, Director at Indigo Planning said: “As well as providing a high quality hotel and around 65 new jobs, these plans will bring a locally listed building back into viable use and enhance the surrounding conservation area. We have undertaken a significant amount of consultation with the local community and this paved the way for the committee’s overwhelming support for the application. Following Ealing Council’s decision, work is set to start later this year.”

Architects for the project are CareyJones ChapmanTolcher.

A new hotel concept which combines quality oversized guestrooms with secure, full-sized, on-property garages for vehicles and tools, has opened in Crystal City, Texas in the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale.The Derrick Lodge houses 50 oversized interior corridor guest rooms, each with ample living space including a bedroom and living room, two workstations, a 129-channel Direct TV package with DVR, refrigerator and microwave oven. Guests also enjoy a complimentary full breakfast daily, an on-site Pantry Store, free high-speed Internet throughout the hotel, housekeeping service and exclusive key entry access to the property.

Besides being one of the few hotels in the Eagle Ford Shale to offer these amenities, The Derrick Lodge is the first hotel in the area to open with full-sized, 437-square-foot garages with key pad access for workers to store their trucks, tools and equipment. Forty enclosed garages are available along with ample surface parking for oversized vehicles.

The property also houses a 24-hour Business Center and a conference room.

The Derrick Lodge is located at 4964 North U.S. Highway 83, just a short drive from Carrizo Springs, Uvalde, Eagle Pass, Big Wells and Cotulla.

The property is owned by a Houston-based group led by David Boothe of Landmark Interests. Boothe is a Lifetime Vice President of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Houston-based American Liberty Hospitality, which operates a collection of full-service and limited service hotels including several Hilton properties throughout southeast Texas, manages The Derrick Lodge.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the signing of Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center. Located in Greater Chicago directly adjacent to Oakbrook Center, one of the most prestigious shopping destinations in the United States, the 10-story building is set to undergo a $20 million transformation prior to its 2014 debut. Owned by RockBridge and managed by Wischermann Partners Inc., Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center will combine timeless, chic design with sophisticated offerings. Located 18 miles west of the Chicago loop, along the Interstate 88 corridor, Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center will serve as a hub for both business and leisure. The hotel is just steps away from large corporate offices, luxury boutiques and highly sought after restaurants, making it a destination of choice for visitors to Oak Brook and other western Chicago suburbs.

Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center will boast a spectacular new outer façade, a new arrival experience and completely reimagined public spaces. The ninth floor will feature a proprietary new bar and restaurant concept with a variety of meeting spaces. In addition, Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center will offer a spacious fitness centre outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment and a roof-top terrace. The hotel’s 172 rooms and suites, including a presidential suite and two spa suites, will be refurbished and feature the signature Le Méridien Bed.

Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center will showcase the newly developed Le Méridien HubTM experience, which re-interprets the traditional lobby into a social gathering place. Le Méridien Hub offers both guests and locals a creative atmosphere where contemporary, curated artwork sets the environment. Le Méridien Hub further builds on the brand’s award-winning arrival experience and coffee culture, curated by Le Méridien brand’s Cultural Curator Jérôme Sans. Le Méridien arrival consists of four elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas to reset the mind and stimulate dialogue and curiosity; the sensory experience, illustrated through Le Méridien signature scent, sound and use of light, creating a unique and distinctive atmosphere; UNLOCK ARTTM programme, featuring LM100 TM artist designed key card collections that not only offer access to the guestroom but also to Le Méridien affiliated contemporary cultural centers in the city; and a 24-hour soundtrack curated by Sans.

Preferred Hotel Group™, a global provider of sales, marketing, and distribution services to independent luxury hotels, has reported its 2012 year-end results, which include a 19 percent increase in revenue produced for its member’s hotels, up to a total of $730 million. In the past 12 months, the company also generated a 14 percent increase in reservations via its diverse distribution channels and booked nearly three million room nights, an increase of 17 percent compared to the same time period in 2011. “Despite the ongoing challenges of the global economy, we successfully fulfilled our goals of increasing revenue opportunities for member hotels and growing our portfolio in strategic destinations,” said Lindsey Ueberroth, President of Preferred Hotel Group. “In 2013, we will continue our growth campaign and establish a footprint in destinations that are desired by our guests and beneficial to our brands. Moreover, we will be focused on rolling out new and innovative consumer marketing initiatives for our member hotels.”

Other year-end highlights include:
• Successful Revenue Management Initiatives. To support the revenue goals of its member hotels, Preferred Hotel Group diversified its online distribution channels by launching new partnerships with RoomKey.com and Trivago.com. In addition, the company introduced a new revenue account manager certification program that ensures that member hotels are benefiting from the most sophisticated rate strategies and channel management practices in the industry. While these innovations proved successful worldwide, properties in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America were the strongest revenue producers, with country-specific growth as high as 31 percent in the United States.

• Strategic Brand Portfolio Growth. Preferred Hotel Group increased its global footprint in 2012 by launching its fifth brand, Summit Serviced Residences, and establishing a presence in previously unrepresented countries such as Georgia, Costa Rica, Iraq, and the Maldives. New hotels to join the company’s portfolio included such marquis properties as The Alpina Gstaad, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, and The Mark.

• Enhanced Sales Presence. To support its growth in new markets and to strengthen its reach in key regions, the company opened its first sales office in Canada and a group desk in Europe. It also launched VIP desks in Brazil and Russia, enhanced the services of its Chicago VIP desk, and added resources in Beijing to complement the sales efforts of its Shanghai office.

• Increased Loyalty Program Membership. More than 100,000 travelers enrolled in the
company’s I Prefer guest benefit program in 2012. To-date, nearly 1.3 million loyal guests receive rewards and special offers from more than 500 member hotels worldwide.

• New Family Website. In June 2012, Preferred Hotel Group showcased its commitment to family travel with the introduction of www.PreferredFamily.com. This comprehensive planning tool features innovative search functionality, discussions on current news and travel trends, and exciting city itineraries to match travelers with the Preferred Family certified hotel or resort that best suits their family’s specific needs.

Rezidor has opened the very first Radisson Blu property in Mozambique – the First Class Radisson Blu Hotel, Maputo. The 154-rooms hotel is a great addition to the contemporary cityscape, enjoying a prominent location overlooking the Indian Ocean, within easy reach of Maputo International Airport and the vibrant downtown. Maputo is the capital city of Mozambique, a flourishing south east African country bordered by the Indian Ocean, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa. It was discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1498 and colonized by Portugal in 1505. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Maputo is located near famous sights like the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Fatima, the Coconuts Entertainment Centre, the Polana Casino, the Natural History Museum and the Associação Núcleo de Arte, home to the studios of more than 100 artists, sculptors and ceramicists.

Elegant and spacious, the hotel’s 154 beautifully designed rooms and suites set a new level of contemporary style and comfort in Maputo. Guests enjoy a range of first-class amenities and Radisson Blu signature services such as free high speed internet access. The sophisticated Filini Bar & Restaurant serves delicious Italian cuisine and wines. With its nice terrace, the airy restaurant is the perfect setting for a business lunch or a romantic dinner. The chic Oceano Bar is a lively place to catch up with friends; and the trendy Palmeira Lounge is an oasis of calm and the ideal spot for taking time out. And, to top it all off, the glamorous Pool Bar is Maputo’s latest hot-spot destination.

Guests can relax in the hotel’s sun tanning area or take a dip in the large outdoor swimming pool. They can also step up their work out routine in the hotel’s fitness room, kitted out with the latest equipment. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Maputo is also ideal for events ranging from large conferences to board meetings: Facilities include three meeting rooms, a conference room spanning 252 square meters that can be divided into three, and a flexible pre-function area of 153 square meters.

And there were three! Adagio Aparthotels are pushing ahead with their European expansion. After Berlin and Munich, an Adagio is opening in Cologne, Germany, this month.The Aparthotels General Manager came up with an original idea to celebrate this event – and put the Adagio Köln City in the spotlight on 16 November last when it welcomed the 60 contenders for the Miss Intercontinental World title. The building work notwithstanding, the radiant pageant Misses attracted a variety of media, including respected national newspaper Bild-Zeitung. And it lit up the city.

A guided tour of an Aparthotel inspired by Cologne culture
The Adagio Köln City’s 115 apartments harness this brand’s main strengths, and include studio flats and apartments for up to four people. They have all the amenities (kitchens, TVs, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi), and are perfect for families as much as business travelers.

The Adagio Köln City’s decoration, however, is all-new and draws on the city’s culture and its iconic Eau de Cologne.

The tour starts in the lobby, where large papier-mâché statues depict the vestiges from the Cologne Carnival, one of the city’s emblematic highlights. The reception then features a variety of noble materials arranged into a patchwork that resembles the typical costumes you see at that Carnival.

The corridors and the apartments they lead to are brimming with bright colors (yellow, violet and blue), and reminiscent of the variety of scents that intertwine in Eau de Cologne (bergamot, lemon, etc). Several of the geometric shapes on the floor, walls and furniture mirror the Eau’s molecular structure and add up to an original, fun tribute!

In downtown Cologne
Cologne is Germany’s fourth-largest city, and its historical and cultural heritage is enviable: it counts 12 Roman basilicas, a world-class 14th-century university and an opera house, and is providing venues for an increasing number of European and worldwide events.

That is why the Adagio Köln City is where it is all happening, between Kölner Dom Cathedral and the main museums, and near the central station.

And why this destination is such a great advantage for the brand!

Hotel Hessischer Hof has been accepted into membership of Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, the ultimate luxury collection featuring more than 250 of the world’s most desirable destinations. The brand conveys the highest standards of hospitality and service as it celebrates the individuality of its members.The Grandhotel Hessischer Hof is a true icon in Frankfurt. Open since 1952, with its 119 luxury rooms and suites as well as its nine unique event rooms, the luxurious 5-star property is the only privately run luxury hotel still owned by the family foundation of the landgraves and princes von Hessen. Located within walking distance of the city center, the property is also situated opposite the trade fair and congress halls of ‘Frankfurt Messe’, appealing to both business and leisure travellers alike. Guests also have the option of indulging in the fine dining and haute cuisine of ‘Restaurant Sèvres’, rated as one of the best restaurants in the city. “As a new member with the Preferred Hotel Group, the only hotel of this brand in Frankfurt, we have more power to promote this unique and award winning hotel on new international markets. We are very much delighted to cooperate with this new quality label for our premium hotel,” comments General Manager Eduard M. Singer.

Susan Devine, Executive Vice President Europe, commented on the new partnership: ‘We are delighted and proud to welcome Hotel Hessischer Hof into our luxury portfolio, further cementing our position as leaders in the key cities throughout Europe’.

All Preferred Hotels & Resorts embrace the brand’s award-winning Standards of Excellence™, an extensive quality assurance program that has been honored with the “Best Practices Champion Award” by Cornell University. For more than 40 years, the brand’s legendary commitment to quality has ensured an unparalleled guest experience, from the very best amenities to superb service.

DoubleTree by Hilton has announced that through Q4 2012, it had added 49 hotels to its portfolio in one year, and that it expects to meet or exceed that pace in 2013 with both new-build and conversion hotels in the development pipeline. Leading the brand’s growth are conversion projects, located predominantly in the Americas and Europe.“2012 was another in what we’re confident will be a number of consecutive milestone years for DoubleTree by Hilton,” said John Greenleaf, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton. “Since 2007, we have grown the brand by more than 70 percent to become the fastest-growing, full service brand in the Hilton Worldwide portfolio and one of the fastest-growing within the upscale, full-service segment. We credit this success to a number of factors, including our brand restructuring with the addition of the ’by Hilton‘ endorsement to our name and the positive performance of Hilton Worldwide around the globe.”

Greenleaf added, “Ultimately, what drives our growth is the confidence our owners have in DoubleTree by Hilton, as that confidence leads them to successfully convert more hotels and sign more franchise deals.”

The brand has achieved the following milestones in 2012:
• Opened 49 new hotels, including:
o 31 hotels in the Americas, 11 in Europe and seven in Asia Pacific;
o 85 percent of these projects were conversions from another brand or independent hotel;
• Opened its first hotels in Japan, Croatia, Thailand and Spain:
• Includes opening of its 300th hotel in Naha, Okinawa, Japan;
• Brought its total portfolio of U.K. hotels to 18 (from zero in 2008):
o Doubled capacity in London;
• Signed more than 75 deals for hotels to open through 2020, at least 25 of which are planned in the Americas;
• Received top honours from Business Travel News in their 2012 Hotel Chain Survey in 6 out of 12 categories including: “Arrange Group Travel/Meeting,” “Meetings Facilities,” “Corporate Rate Programmes,” “Helpful Staff,” “Physical Appearance of Hotels,” “In-room amenities” and tied for “In-room Business Amenities;”
• The brand’s Cookie CAREavan Campaign was named one of the top four consumer campaigns of the year and one of the top 15 overall creative campaigns of 2012 by Holmes Report Creativity Index;
• Won Hotels Magazine’s inaugural Social Hotel Awards “Best Integrated Digital Campaign by Brand” Category for its 2011 Cookie CAREavan project.
“While growing the brand is important, developing the product is even more important to our existing and future owners,” Greenleaf said. “Our repositioning and marketing efforts have yielded impressive returns. For example, our converted hotels have proven they can quickly outpace competitors with respect to share growth.”
With an eye towards the future, Greenleaf said he anticipates achieving the following global growth goals in 2013:
• Expand the brand’s presence in secondary and tertiary markets within the United States;
• Double Canadian supply with three hotels opening, including the brand’s first hotel in downtown Toronto;
• Enter at least two additional countries in Europe, with two hotels each in Ireland and Poland;
• Grow the UK collection to 25 hotels with key openings in London and Edinburgh;
• Continue growth in Asia Pacific:
o Launch of the brand in Indonesia;
o Double supply in India in terms of hotels (from three to six);
• Nearly double the brand’s portfolio size in the Middle East and Africa region with launches in South Africa (Cape Town) and Seychelles, plus the addition of a third hotel in Tanzania (Stone Town, Zanzibar).

“As we look ahead, I foresee that our new Made Market restaurant concept in the United States (now open in Tulsa with more in the pipeline) will enhance DoubleTree by Hilton’s reputation for genuine warmth and local relevance in the face of increasingly uniform hotel offerings,” Greenleaf added. “We’ve spent the past two years on the road, first with our Cookie CAREavan and then with last year’s Little Things project, interacting with our guests to learn what we can do at our hotels to make their stay that much better. The Made Market concept, with three design options to make adoption easier for our owners, is an example of an insight gained, and we’ll be introducing additional changes, both subtle and substantial, that will continue to help us differentiate ourselves from the pack in cost-effective ways.”

The Astrum luxury hotel will open in Shelkovo near Moscow at the end of 2013. Owner of the property is Shelkowskij Holding, while management of the hotel will be in the hands of Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG (VI). Already one year before its grand opening, the 5-star luxury hotel has been accepted for membership in The Leading Hotels of the World as one of the world’s best hotels on the Russian luxury hotel market. With a 3,400 m² spa and a 1,900 m² conference area, the hotel’s focus is clearly on Vienna International’s two greatest strengths: wellness holidays and conference tourism.The newest high-end hotel in the greater Moscow region is currently being builton 27 floors in Shelkovo, around 20 km from the Russian capital, in an urban agglomeration with a population of 1 million. Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG has been involved from the beginning, assisting the 5-star hotel inproduct development, the conception process and the pre-opening phase, and will assume management of the new Leading Hotel of the World after it opens. “I am pleased that we are making good progress with our expansion on the Russian market. For the greater Moscow area, the Astrum Hotel represents something new in the sense of a city resort,” says Dr. Andreas Karsten, CEO of Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG. “We expect that the hotel will become a new landmark with corresponding appeal in the greater Moscow region.”

Already one year before its opening, the Astrum luxury hotel has been accepted for membership in the hotel alliance of The Leading Hotels of the World. “This is an indication that we have done our job well and that the hotel amenities and the planned services are of a high enough quality to merit this renowned seal of approval,”says Martin Lachout, the Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG board member in charge of project development. “With our many years of experience in the luxury hotel segment, we know what our 5-star guests want. For 10 years, we have worked very well together with The Leading Hotels of the World, for example, in our 5-star Le Palais Hotel in Prague. We are now continuing this successful cooperationin Russia in order to offer more of our guests a seal of approval for the quality that we offer.”

For Shelkowskij Holding, the company behind this lavish project, the exceptional theme hotelis a way to actively promote the Shelkovo region: “In addition to our other activities within the holding company, we see ourselves with this hotel project as a developer who assumes responsibility for the region,” says Dmitry Barchenkov, CEO of Shelkowo Holding: “The hotel is an important prestige object for the region around Moscow, helping to boost the internationalprofile as well as improving the infrastructure and employment situation in the Shelkovo region.” The hotel is clearly positioned in line with the demands on Russia’s luxury market, where special services are required if one wants to stand out. This includes a rooftop heliport as well as a private butler service.

Luxury wellness and medical spa
The Astrum Hotel, the first and only internationallymanaged luxury hotel outside of Moscow, will be run as a conference and relaxation oasis far from the stress of the big city. No expenses are being spared in this regard. The necessary privacy will be guaranteed by private spa suites and saunas, the repertoire of beauty treatments will be constantly complemented by products from big-name cosmetics producers, and the medical spa will offer a whole series of minor medical treatments such as minimal-invasive aestheticmedicine, alternative treatment methods andnutritional science as well as burnout prevention and treatment. The offer will also include post-operative care of cosmetic treatments performed at national beauty clinics plus comprehensive two-and-three-day preventive check-ups.An Ayurveda centre is also planned, with a team of physicians and specialists from India to offer guests a range of Ayurveda treatments.

Realising individual event concepts
As an operator of highly successful conference and eventhotels, Vienna International Hotels & Resorts understands what guests need, and the unusually large conference area of the new Russian hotel will be designed accordingly. The 1,900 m² event area of the Astrum Hotels Shelkovo will occupy seven separate event rooms on three floors. A 335 m² conference hall with amphitheatre seating, a 600 m² event room, and five large meeting rooms will make it possible to hold events for up to 1,000 attendees. The result is an open platform for the realisation of a variety of creative concepts. A separate entrance to the conference area will minimise the impact of external events on hotel operations.

Culinary and internationaldiversity
In addition to the main hotel restaurant, the Astrum Hotel Shelkovo will also feature a Japanese restaurant with a show kitchen as well as an intimate French à-la-carte restaurant on the 23rd floor offeringpanorama views and a seating capacity for 44 guests. A sky bar will also be housed on the same floor. Further facilities will include a fitness lounge, a lobby bar and an exclusive VIP club.

The composition of the hand-selected team has already begun: General Manager Frank Bauer will start choosing his international team in January, focusing especially on Japanese culinary masters as well as a French chef de cuisine.

Luxury design at every turn
Vienna International Hotels & Resorts has made a name for itself as a design-oriented company, and the Astrum Hotel Shelkovo will also feature a conceptual style.

Not far from Star City, Russia’s Cosmonaut training centre, the theme of“space and time” will define the entire hotel in the form of design solutions and works of art in expressions ranging from antiquity all the way to the age of relativity.

The interiors were created by internationally renowned Italian arts craftsman and designer Francesco Molon. A modern skyscraper from the outside, the interiors will be more like those of a Venetian palazzo. Decorated in tasteful colours, the rooms will seem like a 19th century salon withheavy curtains, lavish carved ornaments, upholstered footstools and framed paintings unobtrusively adorning the scene.

December’s Highlights:

• Growing from Strength to Strength – Dubai Hotels put their mark on 2012;
• Egypt Hotel Performance continues to improve, but rates remain under pressure.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that its Westin brand expects to open its 200th hotel in 2013, driven by robust international demand and the phenomenal success of the brand’s distinct well-being positioning. Westin will open 11 new hotels this year, the vast majority outside the United States in fast-growing markets including China, India, Singapore and Panama. Westin Continues Strong Growth Trajectory Across Asia Pacific
In line with global growth trends, The Westin brand is experiencing a surge in new hotel openings across Asia Pacific. Seven new Westin hotels will open in Asia Pacific in 2013, increasing the brand’s portfolio to nearly 50 hotels in the region by year’s end. Fueling the brand’s growth in the region is the rapid economic growth in China’s second and third-tier cities. New Westin hotel openings in China this year include The Westin Haikou, The Westin Sanya Haitang Bay Resort, The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square and The Westin Qingdao.

Westin will also make its return to Singapore with the opening of The Westin Singapore Marina Bay in late 2013. In India, The Westin brand will add one hotel to its portfolio this year – The Westin Chennai Velachery.

Westin Nearly Doubles Portfolio in Latin America
Demand for new Westin hotels in Latin America is also heating up. In just the past 18 months, Westin has grown its footprint in Latin America by nearly 50% as part of the brand’s strategic expansion in the region’s fastest growing markets. This year’s opening of The Westin Panama will increase the Westin portfolio in Latin America to 11 hotels, spanning five countries including Panama, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

“A long-time developer favorite in the U.S., Westin has emerged as a global market leader as witnessed by our surge of new hotel development in Asia Pacific, as well as continued momentum in Latin America,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. “We see continued opportunities for global growth through both world-class new build projects and conversions where developers benefit from the strength of the brand and Starwood’s powerful systems.”

Steady Growth in North America
In North America, The Westin brand will add four new hotels to its portfolio this year, including The Westin Birmingham – a new-build property located within the city’s sleek, new mixed-use development. Westin is also attracting a growing share of conversion opportunities in cities across the United States with The Westin Houston Downtown, The Westin Sacramento and The Westin San Jose all opening in 2013, following renovations.

Our customers’ demands mean that our in-house design department is constantly introducing new and innovative furniture solutions for the restaurant and hotel market, from single attention-grabbing feature pieces to beautifully upholstered sofas and even full seating collections.The Eastwood collection was specially designed by Stylematters for an exciting boutique hotel conversion in a Highland Castle, an amazing transformation that needed contemporary styling, but in keeping with the heritage of its surroundings. The solution was the sleek lines of the Eastwood collection; complemented with exciting modern tweeds, offset against antiqued real leather detailing – the perfect concept for this setting.

The range comprises both a high and low back lounge chair and two and three seater sofas. The design combines comfort and style with intricate detailing for a truly custom chair. All our furniture is available in any contract fabric or leather and can be customised to match your venue.

You don’t need to compromise with a staid, standard product – share your ideas with Stylematters, and we’ll bring a bespoke solution at far less cost than you imagine.

Stylematters manufacture all of our bespoke furniture here in our UK factory, so we have the ability to offer a truly bespoke in-house solution. If you would like more details on our products or have a product you would like to develop give us a call on 0844 880 6620.

December’s Highlights:

• Hotels in Dublin and Warsaw register greatest profit growth in 2012;
• Spotlight on Athens: Profit plummets as hotels suffer declines in price and volume in 2012.

The restaurant at Kensington Close, an elegant four star hotel and spa in one of London’s most sought after areas, has recently undergone a refurbishment by interior design practice RSD Interiors. The designers chose reputable contract furnishers Hillswood to undertake the refurbishment who supplied over 300 dining chairs, banquet seating and tables.

Real wood laminate table tops complement the polished chrome bases and the striking red upholstery on the back-to-back banquet seating creates focal pieces in the area against the zesty green dining chairs and carpet detail.

Hillswood’s seating is made in house using solid beech frames and sprung seats. The size and shape of all bespoke seating units were made to designs by RSD.

The Nemzeti Hotel in Budapest is the latest addition to the MGallery Collection’s 60 classy addresses. This handsome 19th century building is one of the mainstays in local cultural life and stands in an enviable downtown spot near the business district and tourist attractions. Period architecture
The 80 up-to-the-minute rooms in this hotel refurbished in 2012 counterbalance the bold interior design. The stately wrought-iron balustrade and magnificent staircase welcome guests as soon as they arrive.

The walls intertwine Art Nouveau, that eclectic movement that was also called Rococo Baroque, and outright modern décor.

The Nemzeti Hotel was already one of Budapest’s cultural hotspots in the early 20th century, as it was only a short walk from the National Theatre.

Eventful history
The Nemzeti was originally the Hotel Rémi, once owned by the Rémi family. It opened in 1896 which was the year that Hungary celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of the year the Magyars took over the country.

The Rémi was an up market hotel that Hungary’s high society enjoyed. It was sold and renamed Nemzeti in 1929, and its roots in Budapest’s cultural life deepened further.

Budapest in a nutshell
Budapest is Hungary’s historical capital. This cosmopolitan city is home to some 13 nationalities, ethnic groups and religious groups.

The Nemzeti, like Budapest, is brimming with cultural wealth. This city is packed with museums, art galleries, opera houses, movie theatres and concert halls. Széchényi National Library is nestled in Buda Castle, and its 7 million works, including 700 medieval manuscripts, encapsulate this country’s literary history.

Hungarians love the outdoors, explaining the countless brasseries, bars and open-air markets there.

Thermal baths – a vestige from Roman days – are also part of daily life in that country. Széchényi Spa is one of Europe’s largest bathing complexes in Europe. This city is overflowing with surprises, and culture and history weave together every step of the way.

Design studio the Gallery has transformed the Royal Suite at the InterContinental London Park Lane to have a timeless and elegant style inspired by Queen Elizabeth II. Given the suite’s debut in 2012, Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee year, the designers were captivated by the location’s noble pedigree. For the first decade of her childhood, The Queen lived in a building once located on this site, after which the Royal Family moved to Buckingham Palace when her father King George VI succeeded to the throne. The Gallery has created a suite modelled in part after Her Majesty’s acclaimed fashion sense – as seen especially in Cecil Beaton’s photographs of her as a young woman. The new design also honours The Queen as both a tender family person and an archetypical figurehead respected around the world. Her ability to balance compassion with strength and power has been expressed in the décor through the juxtaposition of opposites: the soft with the hard; the flowing with the structured; and the feminine with the masculine. In the living room, for example, silk-effect wallcovering is bordered by round brass nailheads, and a chandelier in a sinuous floral shape is formed from rigid glass rods.

VIPs from around the globe will be residing in the 135 sqm Royal Suite and The Gallery’s intention has been to create a temporary home which will be comfortable for them all. So while the designer’s inspiration has been specific, the suite’s references to royalty are subtle and are woven into a classic design that encapsulate the styles of the decades from The Queen’s birth in 1926 to the present moment.

The result blends Art Deco touches with a contemporary interpretation of the opulent finishes found in royal palaces. Reflective surfaces creatively woven into the interiors increase its sense of spaciousness and luminosity. In the living room, antiqued mirrors border the coved ceiling to create an illusion of height, the coffee and side tables have glazed finishes, and a tufted leather bench is supported by a mirrored base.

Continued on page two…

Thailand is a like a cunning cheer leader, a good looker, an easy date who cheats at her exams and gossips about her friends, but is perpetually popular despite her shortcomings. Thai tourism authorities are “marketing geniuses but management dunces.”

These were just a few of the claims made by outspoken but respected journalists, both Thai. They were the keynote speakers in the PATA Thailand Chapter debate January 30 in Bangkok entitled, “Is Thai Culture Good or Bad for the Development of Thailand’s Tourism Industry?”

Voranai Vanijaka, a political columnist at the Bangkok Post and lecturer in journalism and mass media at Thammasat University, and Imtiaz Muqbil, the Executive Editor of Travel Impact Newswire, debated the delicate subject in front of 50 travel industry professionals at the Chapter’s annual general meeting at a leading Bangkok hotel.

Voranai warned listeners at the start that he would be saying things that some people would find offensive.

Bangkok is run by short-sighted leaders and is the victim poor planning, said Voranai. The streets are festooned with vendors, prostitutes, robbers (often the police), stray dogs and their faeces. “But still the tourists come,” he said.

Tourists are mugged, robbed, raped, scammed and charged double pricing, “but still they come,” he smiled wistfully.

He likened tourists to abused wives. They are beaten, but still they come back. Why? For the most part, he said, because Thailand makes tourists feel safe, at ease, at home. Thais are generous. They will always smile and help you. They take your money and gossip about you afterwards, but at least they are friendly and helpful when you meet.

“There are few places that even give you that,” said Voranai, citing his own experiences in France and Germany.

“Thai culture is good for tourism,” he said. “Thais are a beautiful people, with a lot of skeletons in the closet — we can be had at an affordable price.”

Imtiaz Muqbil, a native of India and now a Thai national, said: “You could shut down all the travel associations, and still tourists would come because the travel industry in Thailand is very good at sweeping things under the carpet.”

Noting that Thai tourism authorities were “marketing geniuses, but management dunces,” he called for truth in tourism and for everyone to ponder five questions: Are Thais as happy as they used to be? What happened to the Songkran water festival? Is Thai cuisine losing its quality as it goes global? What is an ‘authentic’ experience? [And in a majority Buddhist country] Do visitors get confused by Thailand’s nightlife and alcohol?

Imtiaz lamented the “clonal-isation” of Thailand typified by massive new retail outlets in the city centre. However, there is still real and residual politeness, respect for guests and elders in Thailand that is unmatched, “with the possible sole exception of Bhutan,” he said.

The veteran travel journalist said that Thais should be prouder of their own brands. For example they produce great coffee, but instead imported coffee brands and coffee outlets are everywhere.

In the conflicted cultural space where tourism meets Thai culture, Voranai told the audience that there were two types of tourists that Thais don’t like: big groups of Chinese (“They are loud and annoying, but they are still welcome because we can take their money.”) and sex tourists — “but we’ll still take their money”. For good measure he noted that while the sex tourism taints the country’s image it is “still a small industry compared to the domestic sex business [industry].”

He said the Thailand’s position was: “We want to take your money, but we don’t want a negative image.”

At the vote, the majority of the audience raised their hands to signify that yes, Thai culture is good for Thai tourism. But perhaps it was a moot point.

More pointedly, both speakers identified paths ahead that they preferred.

Imtiaz said that there should be more attention paid to the idea of the “Sufficiency Economy” as advocated by the His Majesty the King. “It should be the driver of everything that we do.”

As comments and questions from the floor were aired, a Thai female travel industry professional, a mother to two daughters, stood and complained: “I hate to be a cheap date! Tell me, what is the way forward for Thailand to stop being a cheap date?” She meant it. She was both vexed and proud.

Voranai told her: “Thailand needs more people like you, people who will say ‘no’. But to say it takes national effort — and for the government to step in.”

He said he was only a journalist, but PATA and others should “harangue and pressurize” the authorities.

“We should be priceless — nothing can buy us. But it’s up to us make it a reality.”

He added: “What we can become, is more important.”

Report by Ken Scott

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has partnered with GJP Hotéis & Resorts to expand the presence of its global powerhouse brand Sheraton Hotels & Resorts in Brazil. Sheraton da Bahia Hotel will be located in Salvador, one of the most important tourist destinations in the country. The 284-room historic Hotel da Bahia is currently undergoing an extensive renovation and will re-open to its full splendour by Q1 2013. It will be operated by local hotelier GJP Hotéis & Resorts under a franchise agreement. Starwood currently operates seven properties in Brazil under the Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton brands. Sheraton da Bahia Hotel will be the 6th Sheraton in Brazil marking another important step in the brand’s global expansion plan to reach a milestone of 500 Sheraton properties by 2015. A 7th Sheraton, Starwood’s 9th property in the country, is scheduled to open by Q1 2014, the Sheraton Reserva do Paiva Hotel and Conference Center in Recife.

When it reopens as Sheraton da Bahia Hotel in Q1 2013, it will feature 284 guest rooms, including 16 suites, all featuring the brand’s signature all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed and an exclusive Sheraton Club Lounge. The heart of the lobby will feature the brand’s Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft® – Sheraton’s signature social hub where connections, whether face-to-face or via webcam, can take place. The hotel will also offer two restaurants, the brand’s signature Sheraton Fitness programmed by Core Performance® with a spacious work out space, a 1,938 square feet spa with a salon and sauna, swimming pool, business center, and a large meetings and event facility comprising more than 27,000 square feet of flexible space with capacity for over 400 people.

The hotel is strategically located in the city centre and has direct access to Sete de Setembro Avenue, a major roadway that connects the city.

The hotel is currently undergoing a meticulous renovation that will preserve the charms and jewels of the historic building, such as the façade with its beautiful tiles and prominent works of art, including the grand murals by Genaro de Carvalho picturing local festivities from Bahia, protected by the IPAC – Institute of Arts and Cultural Heritage of Bahia State since 1981, as well as three other large murals by renowned Argentine artist Carybé, especially commissioned for the hotel picturing scenes from the Brazilian lifestyle located in the hotel’s lobby area.

Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Bronze is a composition of copper, tin and sometimes zinc and was adored by the elite of antiquity who made sculptures and pendants out of it. The colour of the alloy is a work of art that changes over time as a light turquoise blue residue forms on the surface, which is caused by the copper element oxidising.

Focus SB recreates the bronze colour captured in time, the chocolate and satin bronze coatings over solid brass or stainless steel ensure the finish does not deteriorate.

View our extensive range of stunning finishes.

Sale represents largest transaction in the European market since 2011

On behalf of Groupe du Louvre, an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group is delighted to announce the successful sale of the Concorde luxury hotels portfolio to Constellation Hotels France, a Middle East based investor with global hotel holdings. This portfolio consists of 1,724 rooms in France and includes the Hôtel du Louvre and the Concorde Lafayette in Paris, the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, and the Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice. Going forward, Hyatt is expected to operate the hotels under management agreements.

According to Mark Wynne Smith, Global CEO Hotels & Hospitality, Jones Lang LaSalle: “This sale is great news for the market and bodes well for continued portfolio transaction activity in 2013. It represents the largest transaction in the European hotel market since 2011 and reinforces the international appeal of European gateway cities for real estate investors.”

Commenting on the sale, Sue-Lin Heng, Senior Vice President Hotels & Hospitality, Jones Lang LaSalle said “This transaction brings to fruition the long term relationship Jones Lang LaSalle has with Groupe du Louvre and this iconic portfolio, having advised Starwood Capital in their original acquisition of Societe Du Louvre in 2005 and subsequently advising them in the gradual disposition of the hotels in the portfolio. We are privileged to have had the opportunity to work on this portfolio and delighted to have helped create additional value to the assets.”

Jones Lang LaSalle and UBS advised on the sale.

Short sea crossings can be tough. A number of routes can be taken where a few hours in a lounge, reading the paper or drinking coffee can be a respite from driving, but some routes are long enough to demand a cabin. One of these is the route from Esbjerg in Denmark to Harwich in Essex, across a North Sea with some of the worst weather in the world, a route lit by the flares from oil rigs and characterised as across one of the busiest sea lanes anywhere. An alternative route to Scandinavia, Newcastle to Bergen, was closed by the company in 2008 due to rising fuel costs and lack of demand, although it is much missed by many.For many Brits driving to northern Europe (Scandinavia or North Germany and beyond) the route to Denmark avoids the need to be unwelcomed by the French as well as saving many hours on motorways. The route to Esbjerg from Harwich runs on complementary demand for freight and passengers, but drops in winter from 3 sailings a week to two. The ship was full on my voyage as the trip coincided with Danish school holidays

The Sirena entered service on this route in 2003, with passenger numbers upgraded from 200 or so to 605. Passenger accommodation was added to additional decks, at some expense to accommodation for freight drivers, although a large chunk of the ships space is still freight oriented.

Cabins were redesigned on a slightly smaller footprint and three standards introduced , Standard, Sirena and Commodore

Debuting in 1939, the National Hotel resonates an Art Deco form and style with an illustrious history that has made a lasting impression in Miami Beach. This December, the luxury hotel unveiled new guest rooms in the historic tower.Accommodations incorporate a contemporary glamour that pays respect and admiration to the era, with an eye to accentuating original Art Deco details that distinguish the lobby and public spaces. Making an indelible mark in the South Beach skyline with the 14-story historic tower and signature cupola, the hotel’s footprint includes a signature infinity pool that spans 205-ft, the longest in Miami Beach. In addition, Signature Pool Terrace rooms and suites are surrounded with lush tropical vegetation while the courtyard extends to a second lounging pool and steps onto beachside bliss.

National Hotel Miami Beach has been known throughout history to draw in the sun-seeking crowd, celebrities, and brightest stars from the 50’s through the South Beach revival of 70’s. Today, Miami Beach is a mecca for fun and entertainment with restaurants, cafes and nightlife steps away from the hotel’s front door.

The hotel remains a refuge for everyone who wishes to enjoy the excitement of South Beach in one of the city’s most iconic Art Deco properties.

Located on Collins Avenue at 16th Street, the National Hotel is ideally located, providing immediate access to the most noted sites on Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road, while sitting in close proximity to the arts and culture centers that include the Bass Museum, Miami City Ballet, the Wolfsonian Museum and the Miami Beach Convention Center.

After 18 months of construction, the 4-star angelo Munich Westpark opened under management by Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG. The festive grand opening gave some 500 invited guests a chance to take a look at the harmonious concept for themselves. The angelo Westpark is the second angelo brand hotel in Munich. Like the angelo Hotel at Leuchtenbergring, which opened in 2008, the angelo Munich Westpark was developed by Austrian company UBM Realitätenentwicklung AG and its subsidiary Münchner Grund Immobilien Bauträger AG. Just three weeks after the first guest was checked in, some 500 invited guests, including investors, friends and acquaintances of the angelo hotels in Munich, celebrated the grand opening of the new 4-star accommodation. The festive grand opening reflected the infectious joie de vivre of the angelo Munich Westpark, with a fashion show by renowned Munich designer Kay Rainer and an automotive presentation by Wiesmann, the leading manufacturer of puristic sports cars. The chef de cuisine wowed the guests with exquisite finger food and a cryo-cooking station, offering amazing sorbets prepared with liquid nitrogen and plenty of know-how. The evening’s musical entertainment was provided courtesy of the musicians from Austrian jazz band “Die Frequenz”.

The angelo Hotel Munich Westpark
The new 207-room 4-star angelo Hotel Munich Westpark opened in the district of Sendling on 9 January 2013. The colourful, linear design concept is a remarkable blend of light-flooded architecture and bright yellow, luminous coral red and intense anthracite tones that never fails to hit the mark with business guests, conference attendees and city tourist. The spacious conference area, with a capacity for up to 350 people, offers a convincing, pillar-free design on the ground floor, with natural daylight in all rooms and a directly adjoining terrace. An integral part of all angelo hotels is the restaurant Sunlight and the popular lobby bar Jazz with its black-and-white photographs of big-name jazz greats. A private dining area is available for special occasions with up to 35 guests.

The new angelo Hotel Munich Westpark is conveniently located, with excellent access to the ring road Mittlerer Ring and the A95 and A96 motorways, and has 70 underground parking spaces. Marienplatz square, Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest) and the central railway station are reached quickly and easily with the S7 train and U6 underground line from Harras station, just a 5-minute walk from the hotel.

The angelo Hotel concept: Seven times in Europe
The angelo hotels stand out for their sophisticated, colourful design and are already attracting a steady stream of fans of modern architecture in Prague, Pilsen, Katowice, Bucharest, Ekaterinburg and Munich. The seventh angelo in Munich at Westpark will continue the success of the predecessor projects.

LIVE-WORK-STAY
The hotel was developed as part of the LIVE-WORK-STAY complex that also comprises apartments, offices and commercial space. The investment costs of the entire complex amount to around € 50 million. “This mixture of hotel, office and residential space highlights the long-term use of the approx. 9,500 m² property as well as its ideal relationship to the location,” says UBM board member Martin Löcker, explaining the investment strategy. “Although LIVE-WORK-STAY won’t be completed until this summer, the business success of the project can already be seen.” Tenants have already been found for more than half of the office space on Albert-Roßhaupter-Straße; the interior of the remaining vacancies can be designed according to individual wishes and needs. The 26 owner-occupied flats in the quiet and secluded inner courtyard have already all been sold and the first residents will move into their new flats in March. The multifunctional use even helps to improve the recreational quality: hotel guests, as well as office tenants and residents, will benefit from the 2,700 m² city garden adjoining the angelo Hotel in the back and the flats in the south.

With forecasters predicting another record year of snowfall for the 2013 skiing season, guests at the luxurious El Lodge Resort in Sierra Nevada, Spain, can also enjoy the benefits of its newly installed virtual concierge solution from Cardola.The ski and spa resort, part of the MC hotels group, has installed Cardola’s VirtualHotel solution on its in-room iPads. An iPad, including the VirtualHotel app will be available for guests to access and use in each of its 20 bedrooms. Cardola’s application allows guests at the Spanish ski resort to easily access information about hotel services and the local area, helping them plan their days and spend more time enjoying the slopes.

From the comfort of their luxury suite guests can access the app to view menus and reserve a table at the resort’s bars and restaurants; MC Grill, Suite Nevada, The Bar and The Lounge. They can also book treatments at the hotel’s spa, reserve their skiing gear or even book skiing lessons for themselves or their children.

Tim Butterworth, managing director at Cardola comments, “Our VirtualHotel solution opens El Lodge’s doors to clientele from all over the globe, breaking down any language barriers by offering multi-lingual services, 24 hours a day. Skiing holidays can be very hectic and our VirtualHotel solution gives guests an easy way to interact with the hotel, allowing them to make the most of their time away.”

The application is available to download direct to all guests’ own devices via the app store – providing guests with additional access to services before, during and after their stay.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) recently announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia NE – Bensalem following extensive renovations.”Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travellers,” said Jim Anhut, senior vice president, Brand Management, The Americas, IHG. “With more than 2,100 properties worldwide and 440 more in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express brand continues to provide our guests with an enhanced-stay experience at a great value. We are proud to welcome the Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia NE – Bensalem into the Holiday Inn family with its brand-new sign and everything it represents.”

“We’re pleased to be joining the Holiday Inn brand family and to be able to offer visitors to the “City of Brotherly Love” outstanding service and a great value in a convenient location,” said General Manager Joanne Johnston. “Holiday Inn Express is a fresh brand that we believe fits well with the needs of visitors to the Philadelphia area.”

The hotel is situated near the office of Kraft Foods, Holy Family University and the Franklin Mills® Mall. Those visiting the Philadelphia area for leisure will discover that many of the area’s historic attractions such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, are just a short drive away. Nearby Bucks County features historic buildings and sites, museums and outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania’s beautiful countryside.

The 141-room, three-story hotel provides a variety of amenities – including an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness centre, a meeting room and a 24-hour business centre as well as the usual Holiday Inn Express offering.

Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia NE – Bensalem is owned by 1329 Bristol Pike Associates and managed by Growth Properties under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

In 2003, ISO 7010 was introduced – a new international standard for safety signs using pictograms that could be easily understood by everyone, regardless of their language, culture or ability. The rationale being that every country had a growing proportion of non-native speaking workers and text-based safety instructions were therefore considered inappropriate and potentially dangerous. Until now ISO 7010 has been regarded as a ‘best practice recommendation’ with the UK continuing to adhere to its own BS 5499 standard. From January 2013 this looks set to change as ISO 7010 is very likely to become a European Normative – EN 7010; in other words it will be written into European Law that the UK and other member states will have to adopt. This will have major implications for public buildings and UK businesses.Commenting on the imminent arrival of EN 7101, Mark Bartlett, Managing Director of Signbox, said, “The new European Normative 7010 standard, which is likely to be introduced shortly, will make the current ISO 7010 standard part of health and safety law in every EU member state. It means any premises required to display fire signs to convey safety information will be affected.”

“Best practice Health and Safety guidance recommends that the two different types of signage, BS 5499 and EN 7010, should not be mixed in the workplace, so clients may need to change all their current safety signage to comply, and certainly when looking to purchase new signage they should ensure it complies with the new EN 7010 standards.

“For some time now Signbox has been manufacturing signage that meets the ISO 7010 standard, in readiness for the European Normative 7010 standard. We recognise that for our clients keeping pace with changes in legislation of this nature can be onerous, but they can be confident that we’ll take away any such regulatory headaches and ensure that all the safety signs we install in their premises conform to current and forthcoming regulations, including the impending new EN 7010”.

In addition to its ‘corporate’ website, Signbox has now re-launched its e-commerce shop for workplace signs. The new-look online store at www.signboxshop.co.uk features a comprehensive range of readymade workplace signs including fire escape signs that comply with EN 7010.

Travelodge has announced it is benefitting from a £223 million investment this year to help further grow its business. This cash investment will help fuel growth, strengthen the Company’s brand offering and ensure consumers obtain the best value in the marketplace. In 2013, Travelodge will open 14 hotels (1,742 rooms) at an investment of £141.5m. Twelve of these openings will be in the UK and two in Spain.

The UK locations include four properties in London (Bethnal Green, Hounslow, Vauxhall and Walthamstow), Liverpool, Cambridge, Aylesbury, Southport, Kings Lynn, Sittingbourne, Manchester and Chertsey.

The two Spanish hotel openings will double Travelodge’s room stock to 700 and boost the number of hotels to six which includes three properties in Madrid, two in Barcelona and one in Valencia. The first hotel is scheduled to open in spring and is located in the fashionable beach area Poblenoul in Barcelona. The new Madrid hotel is scheduled to open in the summer and is located in the famous Julian Camarilo commercial district.

Grant Hearn, Travelodge CEO said: “In today’s world, Britons are looking for great value when making a hotel booking. The UK at less than 20% remains a growing market for branded budget accommodation, as it is still well behind matured markets such as the USA and France. In response to this growing opportunity, our growth strategy remains in the forefront of our new business plan.”

During 2013, Travelodge will also create 420 new jobs with 371 of the new positions being generated via the 14 new hotel openings. The remaining new opportunities will be created via the Company’s successful management apprenticeship programme (JuMP) which will create 30 new apprenticeship placements and the remaining 19 roles are head office based.
As part of today’s announcement, the hotel chain is also unveiling its new room design which has been created by Travelodge customers. The new room concept has taken 12 months to complete from initial research to implementation and has been overseen by Travelodge’s dedicated in-house Interior Designer – Frances Whitley.

Feedback from Travelodge customers stated they wanted an inviting, functional, warm, relaxing environment, with the main focus of the room being an extremely comfortable bed. To ensure Travelodge met this brief, they worked in cooperation with their customers so that they were involved in every decision and that the new room design met with their expectation and delivered on quality and service.

The new Travelodge room includes the following new features:
An upgraded new luxury king size bed which is deemed in the industry as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of beds and used predominately by luxury hotels worldwide. The bed is produced by royal warrant holders Sleepeeze Ltd who are renowned internationally for their experience and craftsmanship in producing the most luxurious beds that money can buy. The company established 80 years ago uses cutting edge technology to create state-of-the-art pocket spring mattresses that help attain a good quality night’s sleep.

The new Travelodge bed boasts an 800 pocket sprung mattress and each individual spring is designed to follow the natural contour of an individual’s body in order to provide the correct amount of support and comfort to ensure they receive a good quality night’s sleep. The pocket sprung mattress is also very beneficial for couples sharing a bed as it ensures that each individual is much less affected by the movement of their partner.

For further comfort, the bed is dressed with a quilted mattress topper and bounce back duvet & pillows. A new addition to the bedding is a stylish swoosh stripes runner to help create a gift wrap feel to the bed.

The bed also features a unique benefit of housing two space saving comfy truckle beds within its base. When the beds are in use the base can be used for storing luggage, providing extra space in the room. The truckle beds have been designed to replace the traditional sofa bed and provide an enhanced service for families staying in the room.
To help create a warm and cosy ambiance in the new room so that its customers obtain a good quality night’s sleep, Travelodge worked with a chromotherapy expert and has introduced a sleep inducing colour palette to the room’s décor.

The new Travelodge room feature wall has been painted a tranquil blue, as research shows our body clock is programmed to relate the colour blue to the hours of darkness. So when we look at the colour blue, our metabolism slows down, making us feel relaxed and sleepy.
The colour also has the effect of making a room look larger and more light and airy. The remaining walls have been painted a calming cream colour as this shade embodies the quality of gentle morning sunlight that helps you to wake up feeling refreshed and alert.

To complement the colour scheme swoosh stripes in the colours of red, grey and blue have been incorporated into the room décor via the curtains and bed runner. Vertical stripes have been chosen due to their illusion of making a room look taller and to create a more restful and contemporary atmosphere.

Other additions to the new room include a stylish white contemporary en-suite bathroom with a power shower, stain & water resistant carpet in a dark shade of blue, a larger desk area, new reading lights and a phone charging socket built into the bed frame. The room also includes artwork above the bed. This is an abstract design featuring relaxing sparkles and shades of blue, which customers found very pleasing to the eye and restful.

All new hotels being opened this year will incorporate this new room design. In addition phase one of the £57 million refurbishment programme which starts in spring this year will include a refit project to transform Travelodge’s flagship and most popular city centre hotel rooms with the new design. By autumn 2014, over eighty per cent of Travelodge’s estate will incorporate the new room design.

To help attract new customers, Travelodge is also investing over £12 million in digital and online marketing this year. As well as over a million pounds in a website refresh later this year.

Frances Whitley, Travelodge In-house Interior Designer said: “It has been great working with our customers to design a purpose built room for them. Interestingly key learning we learnt were customers now want a high level of coordination between colours, shades, patterns and features. They are no longer happy with everything being the same colour. Tastes are also moving away from dark shades, today hotel users want a clean, fresh and bright colour scheme which they find uplifting and energising upon walking up from a good night’s sleep. The number one requirement from our customers was a good quality luxurious bed. Interestingly customer fed back that the addition of a coordinated runner on the bed lent a sense of freshness and suggested that the bed had been carefully prepared and wrapped for them.”

Travelodge is also currently working with its customers to redesign its restaurants and public areas.

The Rezidor Hotel Group has opened the Park Inn by Radisson, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The 150-rooms flagship brings the dynamic mid-market brand Park Inn by Radisson to the Netherlands; and strengthens Rezidor’s position as one of Europe’s leading airport hotel operators. The group is present is at some of the busiest airports in Europe: London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Istanbul, Copenhagen, Moscow, Nice, Oslo, Stockholm and Amsterdam – a dense network generating significant brand awareness and profitable growth.The brand new Park Inn by Radisson, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is located in a converted office building in the Schiphol-Rijk office park – home to many local and international headquarters and just 5 kilometers away from the terminals. A dedicated airport shuttle brings travelers to and from the airport in 10 minutes; and the hotel has 150 parking spaces for attractive “park & fly” packages. Amsterdam city centre is only 15 kilometers away, and also cities like Utrecht and The Hague are within easy reach.

The 150 contemporary standard or superior rooms in fresh, colourful design offer all desirable modern amenities including free high-speed, wireless internet access, individual climate control, flat-screen TV with a wide selection of international channels, a large window and a spacious work desk.

The Livingroom is the hotel’s core area for socializing: The Livingroom Restaurant serves delicious international dishes with a Dutch flair – plus a hot and cold breakfast buffet, featuring over 100 international start-the-day-well items. A special kiosk provides a selection of sandwiches, salads, snacks and drinks around the clock. Throughout the day, guests can relax and enjoy a freshly brewed coffee or snack in The Livingroom Lounge featuring comfortable armchairs. In the evening, a range of drinks, wines and beers are available in the chic surroundings of The Livingroom Bar. The Livingroom also offers free high-speed, wireless internet access.

With its excellent location and private Meeting Wing, the Park Inn by Radisson is the ideal choice for business gatherings and events. The state-of-the-art wing comprises 4 versatile meeting rooms, a special pre-function lobby and a small outdoor area.

Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort, a new beachfront resort that recently opened end of last year, is pleased to unveil the details of its contemporary and Balinese inspired design. The new resort, which has already transformed the Kuta experience, sits on a total area of 5.2 hectares of development and is located directly in the heart of Kuta beach, one of world’s most renowned surfing destinations. The resort offers an exclusive retreat, featuring spacious open-air terraces, lush gardens of local flowers, and an outdoor rooftop pool with unrivalled panoramic views of the ocean. Showcasing architecture by the distinguished firm of Enviro Tec, Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort is destined to become an architectural landmark while setting new standards for approachable luxury and extraordinary service in Bali.Constructed by the renowned architecture firm Enviro Tec, Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort is inspired by the design of Bali’s beautiful rice paddy fields. The resort’s open-air concept and elevated position on the island provide amazing ocean and beach views, presenting guests with breathtaking sights of Kuta. Enviro Tec has designed many signature projects over the past two decades, which have brought forth fresh and evocative ideas that test the canons of architectural representation. Additionally, the firm explores responsible design and construction for the creation of an optimal built environment, which is showcased at Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort with the use of recycled wood and water.

The resort’s breathtaking interiors were primarily designed by FBEye, an interior design firm based in Singapore. Interior Design firm A2j also contributed to Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort’s design.

When guests step into the hotel’s drop-off lobby, they are surrounded with the opulence of Balinese touches amidst the premium quality materials used to create a welcoming and warm environment. This beautiful space was designed by Hadiprana, a renowned firm out of Jakarta specializing in hospitality design. In the lobby, two sandstone columns and monochromatic bronze colors are elegantly featured and provide a relaxed ambiance among the timber decorative beam at the lobby’s drop-off ceiling. An exquisite bronze waterfall, which was designed by a local artist, provides an extraordinary backdrop with illuminated silver pieces.

The inviting furniture in the resort’s lobby is custom designed by A2j and features warm tones and high-quality materials. Balinese artwork and detailed rustic timber panels are found throughout the lobby area, providing a picturesque backdrop of the island’s unique culture. The decorative wall-sconces are made from laser cut stainless steel with the traditional Balinese Geringsing pattern. Mounted on the ceiling is a beautifully decorated replica of a Jukung boat, a customary fishing boat used in Bali, highlighting the resort’s ideal proximity to the ocean. Decorative lattice timber with a unique Balinese pattern and dramatic low lighting is showcased along the wall partition in the lobby, while a large sphere lamp creates an inviting ambiance. The décor of the rooms reflects a modern yet classic design aesthetic.

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Kempinski is a worldwide synonym for “grand hotels”: a European company with German roots, predominantly owned by the Thai Crown Property Bureau, currently develops 42 new large hotels with approximately 10,000 rooms around the world. These findings have been derived by TOPHOTELPROJECTS. In Vienna the Palais Hansen is scheduled to welcome its first guests in March. A new luxury resort with 309 rooms arises in Oman. And the announcement for a 150 room luxury hotel in North Korean’s capital Pyongyang causes a sensation.The Kempinski Hotel Palais Hansen is located in a heritage-protected ancient building, which is currently being transformed. All three open space patios will be roofed by glass-sky-windows. The lobby lounge, which is located in the middle of one the patios, will be the hotel’s centre point. The rooms will be sized between 40 and 45 square meters, suites will measure up to 300 square meters (presidential suite). This hotel will be Kempinski’s first property in Vienna.

Kempinski will also build a high-class resort In Oman’s capital Muscat. The hotel with 309 rooms, located at the beach, is part of the large construction project “The Wave” and could be finish during the second half of 2015. This hotel project further includes 77 serviced private luxury apartments, 10 F&B outlets, swimming pools, a spa, a beach club and all the comforts and amenities that can be expected in a premium high-end hotel. Construction, executed by the project developer Omani Hospitality, could already start this spring. But first of all, according to the press, the construction still needs to be bought. It is planned that “The Wave” will offer four top hotels, among them a Fairmont Resort.

The intention to build a Kempinski hotel in Pyongyang created lots of excitement. North Korean, not really known for its prosperous economy, favours an internationally known hotel operator such as Kempinski for the 337 meter high hotel pyramid. The construction started 20 years ago and will be North Korea’s highest hotel. Negotiations with the Egyptian tourism project developer Orascom (developer also of the hotel project “Andermatt Swiss Alps”) are currently on-going. As per today it is not possible mention any expected opening date for this 150 rooms hotel project.

After two months of construction, this season’s #23 ICEHOTEL in Swedish Lapland is now complete. Since November 2012, selected artists from around the world have gathered in the picturesque village of Jukkasjärvi to create this exclusive ice art exhibition. The artists this year came from fifteen countries including Greece, Lithuania, Argentina, Mongolia and Japan, with one designer from the UK. The 65 rooms include one Art Suite Deluxe, 16 Art Suites, 28 Ice Rooms, nine Snow Rooms and two group rooms. And, to celebrate the Aurora Borealis reaching its peak in the eleven-year cycle, ICEHOTEL has created ten Northern Lights Suites, themed to capture the magic of the aurora borealis. The rooms feature a ‘swipe’ of ice with spectacular LED lighting, so guests can enjoy a northern lights show from the comfort of their illuminated ice bed.

What’s more, for the first time in ICEHOTEL history, there is now a northern lights balcony above the ICEBAR so guests can enjoy these atmospheric displays whilst sipping on a specially created northern lights cocktail. Served in a chunky ice glass, this showcase cocktail is made with sparkling wine, Absolut Mango, cucumber syrup and Blue Curacao.

Blue Marine, designed by UK yacht designers from Andrew Winch Designs. Expect a suite in the form of a Whale, inspired by the Blue Marine Foundation, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness to create marine protected reserves.

Beam Me Up, designed by Swedish artists Karl-Johan Ekeroth and Christian Strömqvist. Ever since the 1940s, visitors around the Torne River have reported mystical lights across the Arctic night sky. In Beam Me Up, stand face-to-face with three UFOS hovering above the treetops with the Northern Lights as a backdrop.

The Flower, designed by Japanese designers Natsuki Saito and Shingo Saito. As the name suggests this suite illustrates the intricate design of flora.

Kempinski Hotels has recently opened the doors (or rather tent flaps) to its all-inclusive Olare Mara Kempinski, Masai Mara Tented Camp. As the company’s first property in Kenya, the Camp is located in the Olare Orok Conservancy Masai Mara, a one hour flight from Nairobi or 90 minutes from Mombasa. The Masai Mara is a large game reserve that stretches 1,510 sq km (580 sq miles) and rises 1,500-2,170 metres above sea level. The terrain is primarily grassland and forest with clumps of distinctive acacia trees. Famous for the abundance of lions, the great wildebeest migration and the homeland of the Masai people, the Camp will allow guests to experience Africa at its finest.Accessible via twice daily air transfer on Air Kenya or Safarilink from Nairobi and one daily flight from Mombasa, Olare Mara Kempinski is hidden in a grove of woodland on the banks of the Ntiakitiak River and accommodates a total of maximum 24 guests at any one time. Each tent is furnished in the classic style of the grand African safaris with four poster or twin beds, outdoor and indoor showers with oversized old fashioned claw foot bathtub and a teak deck spread over 80 sq metres. One of the tents features its own plunge pool.

Designed for active adult travellers, the Camp presents a wide variety of on-site and off-site activities including game drives in 4X4 Land cruisers with knowledgeable safari guides, night safaris, escorted bird, game and nature walks, Masai village visits, bush breakfast at the hippo pool or early morning balloon safaris over the Masai Mara National Reserve. All trackers, rangers and guides have a minimum of Bronze Level KSPGA qualification.

Guests can also relax in the Camp’s pool after a long day of activities or enjoy a sundowner (cocktail) on the deck at the main lodge or around the campfire. Keeping with the traditions of rural Africa, Olare Mara Kempinski offers guests a daily set menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner at communal or individual tables in the restaurant. Dinners can also be scheduled under the stars in the bush amid wildlife under the protection of Masai warriors.

Olare Mara Kempinski prides itself on being an eco-friendly resort that believes in taking care of the environment. From growing its own fresh produce in the largest organic garden in the conservancy to sourcing solar power for 70% of its energy needs, the camp ensures that it does not harm the fragile ecosystem of the grasslands.

Building on a year of great momentum, Choice Hotels International has recently announced two highly notable development agreements for its upscale Cambria Suites brand, as well as major milestones scheduled for the second quarter of 2013. From the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles, the lodging giant demonstrated how the stylish, all new-construction hotel brand continues to expand into highly desirable primary markets. Through agreements with prominent developer O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC, travelers can now look forward to checking into Cambria Suites hotels in Phoenix, Arizona and Plano, Texas. “Having an industry leader like O’Reilly Hospitality Management sign on for two Cambria Suites hotels right out of the gate this year truly reinforces what we at Choice Hotels already know about the brand: it has a buzz-worthy reputation and boundless potential behind which Choice Hotels and the Cambria Suites team have thrown their full support,” said Steve Joyce, president and chief executive officer of Choice Hotels International. “O’Reilly is a first-rate operator and will help us bring the Cambria Suites experience to guests in even more great markets.”

Cambria Suites Phoenix-Desert Ridge will be a four story, 121-room hotel featuring the brand’s award-winning design. Guests will enjoy a refreshing outdoor pool and the property’s convenient location minutes from businesses such as the Mayo Clinic, 1.2 million square feet of retail at Desert Ridge and the Choice Hotels International Western Corporate Headquarters.

Cambria Suites Plano will be a four story, 129-room hotel. Features unique to this property include 2,400 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor bar and cabanas by the pool. It will be located in the heart of the Legacy office and retail district just north of Dallas, within two miles of 11 Fortune 1000 company offices and corporate headquarters including: Alliance Data, Cinemark Theatres, Dell Services, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Ericsson, Frito-Lay, HP Enterprise Services, Huawei, J. C. Penney, Pizza Hut, Rent-A-Center, Traxxas, and Siemens PLM Software.

“We studied a lot of brands and we believe Cambria Suites is well-positioned to make a great impact on the hotel market because of how it has differentiated itself within the upscale lodging segment in everything from design and layout to the F&B concept,” says Tim O’Reilly, managing member/chief executive officer of O’Reilly Hospitality Management. “But equally as important, we know the Choice Hotels team is committed to the success of the brand. They have demonstrated that to us by driving substantial RevPAR gains in existing properties, achieving significant growth through new franchises in high visibility markets, investing in sales, marketing and franchisee support, and providing unique financing assistance helpful in today’s challenging lending market.”

The two new properties will offer the same stylish and contemporary accommodations guests and hotel developers have come to count on with the Cambria Suites brand, including larger-than average guest suites with separate work and sleep areas.

SECOND QUARTER 2013 MILESTONES
The second quarter of 2013 will mark the opening of the highly anticipated Cambria Suites Miami. This seven-story, 85,500-square foot, 122-room hotel located by Miami International Airport will have 1,800 square feet of conference room space, as well as an outdoor pool and terrace. Hotel guestrooms will feature stunning views of nearby Lake Mahar. Sunflower Hospitality, LLC is the developer of this hotel property.

Also during Q2, the brand anticipates the “sky-break” for construction of Cambria Suites Washington, D.C. which is part of the CityMarket at O mixed-use development project. As opposed to a traditional “ground break” event, builders at this property will commence hotel construction skyward above a newly constructed base consisting of retail/restaurant and a pedestrian lobby. As part of CityMarket at O, a one million-square foot urban mixed-use development project, the 9 story, 182-room Cambria Suites hotel will be located almost adjacent to the Washington, D.C. Convention Center in downtown Washington, D.C. near Gallery Place, the hub of the city’s entertainment district. Renowned lodging developers, Concord Hospitality, which is also involved in two of the brand’s three recently begun and much celebrated properties in New York, are the developers of this property.

Ground breaking events are scheduled for Cambria Suites Rockville, Maryland during the second quarter. Duball, LLC is developing this Cambria Suites hotel mere steps from the new Choice Hotels International global headquarters. The 140-room property will take up eight floors of the 15-story west tower of Rockville Town Center, one of two mixed-use high-rise towers that will include private residences, 40,000 square feet of street level retail and approximately 1,000 parking spaces.

“Cambria Suites is generating a great deal of excitement within the hotel development community and with consumers,” says Michael Murphy, senior vice president of Cambria Suites. “Guests consistently give our hotels top marks on Trip Advisor for guest satisfaction in our respective markets across the country. So we are extremely pleased three more properties in top-tier markets are that much closer to opening their doors.”

All Cambria Suites feature Reflect, a casual dining and gathering area serving a dinner menu, liquor, wine, beer, freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches, a barista bar featuring Wolfgang Puck® coffee and a hot breakfast buffet; Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center with an elegant pool and hot tub/spa area; and Refill, a 24-7 convenience store that offers energy drinks, snacks and sundries.

In addition, each suite offers the latest technology, including two flat-screen LCD televisions and MediaHub™ plug-and-play technology, allowing guests to connect their laptop, MP3 player, game console, digital camera or CD/DVD player hassle-free. Free high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel so that guests can stay connected.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.

The luxury brand of Hilton, the Waldorf Astoria, has arrived in Berlin. The first new build hotel of this premium brand in Europe is located in the Hardenbergstrasse, Berlin City-West.The Waldorf Astoria Berlin offers 242 rooms and suites with outstanding luxury interiors. One of the highlights of the “Deluxe”-rooms is the terrific view over the skyline of Berlin.

Having supplied the luminaires for this legendary hotel, Baulmann Leuchten takes pride in being part of this project.

All pictures are copyright by “Waldorf Astoria Berlin”.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Hotelera Queretana, S.A. de C.V., announces the opening of the Holiday Inn Express Querétaro. The new-build hotel opens following a $9 million investment by Hotelera Queretana to introduce the fast-growing Holiday Inn Express brand to the city of Querétaro. This is the first Holiday Inn Express hotel and the fifth IHG-branded hotel opened, as IHG continues to solidify its presence in a city known for its modern infrastructure and connectivity, quality of life, and diverse tourist attractions.The Holiday Inn Express Querétaro hotel is suitably located in the heart of the city – a historic center and designated as a World Heritage Site – within walking distance to downtown, and close to important industrial parks and corporate offices.

“This new hotel exemplifies the confidence that our franchisees have in Mexico, as well as in IHG,” said Gerardo Murray, vice president of Sales and Marketing for IHG Mexico. “IHG is focused on finding the right opportunities to introduce the Holiday Inn Express brand in destinations with a strong demand for high-quality lodging options at a great value. The brand is designed to offer business and leisure travellers a comfortable, simple, fresh, and modern experience.”

The Holiday Inn Express Querétaro hotel is designed in a contemporary style, featuring the work of architect Hidalgo, and has 101 rooms, all with complimentary wireless internet access. In addition, there are 15 suites fully equipped with a full-size refrigerator, microwave and kitchen utensils. The hotel’s facilities include a well-equipped gym and two whirlpool baths – both with spectacular views of the city, and valet parking.

The Holiday Inn Express Querétaro is owned and managed by Hotelera Queretana, S.A. de C.V under a license agreement with IHG.

It’s tartan and tweeds month at the online interior design store Fabricsandpapers.com which offers one of the best selection of tartan wallpaper and fabrics on the web. The latest additions to their tartan emporium reflect the increasing demand for variation and choice for this versatile fabric and come from their well-regarded suppliers including Casamance and Moon.Interior designers have been using tartans for years. It’s a great British classic, wonderfully unisex as well as cosy and traditional. Today’s modern interpretation now sees it come in many different colourways, including vibrant bolds such as bright purple and red, pinks and yellows as well as the classic blues and green.

French design house Casamance has a glorious range of tartans, showing the international appeal of the Scottish classic with a contemporary twist. Its Mendibel range combines the warmth of wool with beautiful textures while its Mont Dolent styles with an appliqued stags head makes a striking statement for curtains and soft furnishings.

Camengo part of the Casmance brand has revamped the classics and has given this traditional weave a new lease of life with a stunningrange of tartans now on offer.

Moon’s heritage collection comprises dobby and jacquard woven traditional tartan and estate tweeds. By using their muted melange palette the designs and soft colours conjure up the feeling of the Scottish lowlands and highlands.

Olicana is another boutique supplier for Fabricsandpapers.com. The company has one of the largest tartan collections of any design house and manufactures traditional designs for commercial and private applications.

Fabricsandpapers.com also offers a range of wallpapers from suppliers such as Cole & Son, Osborne & Little, Lewis and Wood, Mullbrey and Sandberg.

By exploring www.fabricsandpapers.com the leading online retailer for curtain fabrics, upholstery fabrics, and designer wallpaper customers can create their own schemes and request wallpaper samples from over 6,000 carefully selected wallpapers and fabrics. A dedicated design team is on hand at the end of a telephone line (01273 495500) to discuss customers’ individual requirements and offer help and advice.

Meliá Hotels International has announced its third Innside by Meliá hotel in Madrid: the Innside Madrid Suecia, scheduled to open in 2014. The hotel will join the other two properties announced just a month ago: the Innside Madrid Genova and the Innside Madrid Luchana.It will be located in the same building as the classic Madrid hotel “Suecia”, very close to the Gran Via area and monument to Cibeles. After a full restoration, and within the classical structure, the building will house a modern cutting-edge designer hotel with 127 rooms, a lounge bar and a spectacular penthouse patio, in addition to a restaurant, meeting rooms and a gym.

The new hotel will become the third one in the Spanish capital for the innovative Innside by Meliá brand, one of the top rated hotel brands in Germany, and part of the Meliá Hotels International brand portfolio since 2007. With 11 hotels in Germany, the brand also has great potential for international growth, and is currently preparing openings in countries such as Denmark (Innside Copenhagen), the UK (Innside Manchester), and Spain, with the future Innside Madrid Genova and Innside Madrid Luchana, scheduled to open in 2013.

The brand offers guests a lifestyle business experience, efficient and smart service, the latest technology and a unique design, both in classical buildings – as in the case in Madrid, Berlin or Essen- and contemporary, such as the hotels in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Munich. Innside by Meliá has become an excellent choice for both business and leisure travelers, which has already captivated customers all along Germany.

As explained by Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International: “At Meliá we are prioritizing growth through management agreements based on exclusive products that meet all the standards of our brands. This is exactly the case for the new Innside hotels in Madrid, which will help open the way for a brand which has great potential to be widely accepted all over the world.”

Hilton Hotels & Resorts has recently announced the opening of Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa, its first leisure property in India. Operated by Hilton Worldwide and owned by Writer Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd., the retreat is nestled in the serene and unspoiled landscape of the Sahyadri mountain range in the Western Ghats. Located approximately a 2.5-hour drive (100km) and 30-minute helicopter ride from Mumbai and 1.5-hour drive (80km) from Pune, the property is spread across 320 acres within the 3,500-acre private Shillim Estate. Offering a sanctuary for the body, mind and spirit, the retreat features ecologically designed all-villa accommodation with butler service, extensive dining options, one of the largest wine cellars in India and among the largest and most comprehensive spa facilities in Asia that encompasses 70 acres and offers more than 150 treatments. The retreat is designed, built and operated with sustainability as its core commitment. With the opening of Hilton Shilim Estate Retreat & Spa, Hilton Worldwide extends its Hilton Resorts portfolio to 80 resorts across 29 countries.All-Villa Accommodation
The 99 villas at the retreat, set amidst rice fields, bamboo plantations and virgin forests, feature private decks or balconies, dedicated treatment areas and valley or forest views. The interior of the villas combines simple, contemporary elegance with up-to-date technology to offer private relaxation havens. The Spa Pool Villas and Presidential Pool Villas additionally include private gardens and swimming pools.

Extensive Dining Options
The retreat offers extensive dining options that include the best of spa cuisine in addition to Mediterranean, Asian and local delicacies. The six exciting on-site restaurant, bar and lounge venues primarily utilise organic and locally sourced ingredients providing guests the opportunity to enjoy fine dining whilst maintaining a regime of good nutrition. Special dining experiences include the Chef’s Table, a private dinner with the chef at a unique location on the banks of a seasonal waterfall overlooking the valley; Dining by Design, whereby guests can dine at a venue of their choice on the retreat’s extensive grounds, and Dining Prive that allows guests to enjoy a set dinner menu specially crafted by the chef in an intimate setting. Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat and Spa also offers a unique culinary experience, wherein celebrity chefs from across the world are invited to present their culinary magic. A detailed culinary calendar is displayed on the website of the retreat.

Shillim Spa
While Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa’s mission “to conserve, to preserve, to heal, to celebrate” permeates every experience at the property, it is at the Shillim Spa that it is reinforced. This unique spa integrates the ancient philosophic, spiritual and artistic wisdom of South Asia with contemporary international practices and therapies to offer complete rest and rejuvenation. The extensive facilities include dedicated spa villas, treatment suites, consultation rooms, relaxation terraces, a Yoga Pavilion, Meditation Cave, a spa restaurant, an outdoor heated spa pool, conventional and infrared saunas, steam, outdoor hot tubs and hydrotherapy tubs. The services range from Acupressure, Naturopathy and Acupuncture to Ayurveda, Reiki, Shamanism Therapy, Fire Healing, Tai Chi, Watsu, Meditation and Yoga.

Exciting Recreational Facilities & Services
Recreational opportunities include yoga, meditation, and cooking, dance, music and pottery classes as well as treks, picnics, mountain-biking, horse-riding, fishing and excursions to the nearby Maratha forts of Tungi, Tikona, Lohgad and Visapur and ancient Buddhist rock caves of Karla and Bhaja.

Shillim Institute
Guests can also participate in discourses, workshops and courses at the Shillim Institute. The primary focus of the Institute is to conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Western Ghats and engage the region in global discussions on sustainability; involve the local inhabitants in mutually beneficial initiatives with the objective of enhancing their lives and offer guests the opportunity of gaining insight into indigenous art, music, dance, poetry, healing, botany, hydrology and much more. The Institute also offers week-long exchange programmes, conducted by visiting masters or Institute facilitators, in an endeavour to facilitate the coming together of the arts, culture, policy and practices from across the world.

Intimate Business & Social Events
The retreat also presents an exclusive location for intimate corporate meetings, business events, social gatherings and private receptions, with a provision to accommodate up to 100 people in a range of settings. Up-to-date technology and the full range of business services are available including high speed internet access, video conferencing, audiovisual equipment rental and secretarial support.

The new Mercure Milton Keynes Abbey Hill – previously Abbey Hill Hotel – has announced its launch following a £1.5 million transformation, and rebranding as a Mercure property. With its new state-of-the-art facilities, stunning décor and fresh concept, the property is set to become one of Milton’s Keynes’ premier destinations for business, leisure and weddings.Located close to the city centre adjacent to Abbey Hill Golf Course, the hotel features a nature- inspired colour palette and artwork throughout its newly designed and furnished public spaces. The design theme continues through its 60-seater restaurant, spacious 50-person capacity bar and lobby area, and throughout its 88 stunningly refurbished bedrooms. Other facilities include five state-of-the-art meeting rooms ideal for conferences, private events and weddings, and a newly-built outdoor decking area with contemporary furniture.

The hotel’s new restaurant, Moltens, will this February launch interactive dining enabling guests to cook their preferred meats or fish on lava rock – a rare concept that uses volcanic slates heated to 440oC. Moltens restaurant, whose menu will also cater to vegetarians, plans to introduce exotic specialty meats such as venison, ostrich and crocodile by this summer.

The hotel conducted research into the changing needs of today’s business traveller to determine practical features for the design of its 76 standard rooms and 12 Privilege rooms. These include luxuriously-high 74cm king size beds, demisting bathroom mirrors, under-floor tile heating in the bathrooms, flat screen Freeview TV, a laptop safe, and comfortable light settings including reading lights.

With tranquil views over the golf course, the hotel’s 28 square metre Privilege rooms are considerably larger and offer additional features such as super-king size beds, a complimentary mini-bar, Nespresso coffee maker, bathrobe and slippers, additional toiletries, a Jacuzzi bathtub and a sofa seating area.

Mercure Milton Keynes Abbey Hill, the 75th UK property for Mercure, is located just off the A5 and is five minutes’ drive from Milton Keynes train station and the centre of Milton Keynes.

DoubleTree by Hilton and Tropicana Las Vegas has recently announced the opening of Tropicana Las Vegas – a DoubleTree by Hilton, following a two-month conversion period since the announcement of a strategic partnership between the two entities in late October 2012. Under a franchise agreement, Tropicana Las Vegas will continue to own and operate all 1,500 guest rooms in the 35-acre resort under the DoubleTree by Hilton brand.“We are thrilled that the Tropicana Las Vegas has joined our growing portfolio of global properties and has brought DoubleTree by Hilton to the Las Vegas Strip,” said John Greenleaf, global head of DoubleTree by Hilton. “The opening marks a significant opportunity for Hilton HHonors members to earn and redeem points at this exciting Las Vegas resort.”

Guests will be able to enjoy the recently completed $200 million transformation featuring 1,500 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, four restaurants, a spa, an entertainment complex, a state-of-the-art conference centre and exhibition hall, and the recently-opened Bagatelle Supper Club and Beach Club. Bagatelle features lavish pools and cabanas and a beautiful setting for indoor and outdoor bistro dining.

Pera Palace Hotel, Jumeirah announces it has retained renowned hotelier and interior designer, Anouska Hempel, to design new concepts for the public areas and two Presidential suites of the luxury museum hotel.Scheduled for completion by mid-2013, the project will aim to enhance the Belle Époque feel of the hotel and take guests on a journey back in time.

Anouska aims to display the feminine side of Patisserie de Pera’s Art Nouveau décor while complementing the more masculine characteristics of the hotel’s interior. She plans to add pink taffeta, moiré silks, lace curtains, velvet cushions and tiny tables, in silver and cranberry tones to the design of the patisserie.

As the project does not involve major construction work, hotel guests will not be impacted by the redesign. Each area of the plan will be refurbished over a one-week period.

Initially launched in 1892, Pera Palace Hotel, Jumeirah re-opened in 2010 after a meticulous refurbishment of the building. The redesign aims to enhance the hotel’s status among the luxurious grand hotels of the world, where guests can experience the glamour of a bygone era.

Located in the heart of the revitalised former British concession and central business district, The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin will form an iconic landmark when it opens mid-2013 and pays homage to the city’s historical heritage and vibrant modern development.Tianjin, which literally means Emperor’s Port in North East China, has long been recognized as a key trading port and as a route to Beijing which is only 30 minutes away by high speed train. Designated by the Chinese government as one of five ‘national central cities’, Tianjin is at the forefront of leading and developing political, cultural and economic standards for the nation.

The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin, is located by the Haihe River, surrounded by the 19th and 20th century architecture of European nations that sought to trade with China, reflecting the city’s strategic importance that continues today. Tianjin enjoys one of the fastest growth rates in China and is a key hub of the economy. Major industries include petrochemical, car production, metal works and aircraft manufacturing. It is also the world’s fifth largest container port and China’s largest artificial deep-water port.

The soon-to-open Ritz-Carlton hotel with a grand neo-classical style façade was designed by the Tianjin Academy of Urban Planning and Design, with interiors created by luxury hospitality designer, Pierre-Yves Rochon. It houses 277 rooms, including 53 suites and reflects the cultural European heritage in the district.

The property will showcase four restaurants and bars, the signature of which will be an elegant Cantonese restaurant with 10 private dining rooms, each featuring its own private wine cellar.

The popularity of the trendy lifestyle venue, Flair Bar and Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong influenced a sister venue at The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin which will offer Asian tapas, a dedicated whisky bar and a cigar cellar adjacent to the private room on the Mezzanine level. Flair in Tianjin will also feature nightly lounge music.

The Lobby Lounge, located at the heart of the hotel’s majestic lobby will of course embrace the tradition of classical English Afternoon Tea service and a gourmet selection of fine Chinese and British teas, and an all-day dining restaurant with a theatre of live cooking stations will serve cuisine from Japan, China and Italy.

The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge for club and suite guests will have a warm designer urban apartment atmosphere with elements to include a grand fire place room, a library, separate game and entertainment areas as well as a boutique bar and residential kitchen styling.
Conference spaces will include one of the city’s largest ballrooms, and three additional function rooms, totaling 1,625 square meters of space. The hotel will be fully equipped with an indoor swimming pool, luxury fitness and spa facilities.

Whilst hotels in the regions continue to struggle under fragile demand, London hotels have posted robust operating results for 2012 according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s latest UK Hotel Intelligence report.
London trophy hotels continue to attract foreign capital as London remains the main focus of UK investment activity with market stability being reflected in the low yields for hotels acquisitions, typically ranging between 4 and 5 per cent. Investment volumes in London at year end 2012 totalled £1 billion reflecting 56% of total UK investment volumes of £1.8 billion.Jon Hubbard, CEO Northern Europe for the Hotels & Hospitality Group at Jones Lang LaSalle said: “Despite the economic challenges it faces, the UK remains Europe’s most active hotel investment market and interest remains in key assets in prominent locations. Notable sales in 2012, such as the 4-star Cavendish Hotel which sold for £159 million, have shown that for the right assets in the right location, investors continue to pay high prices.”

Due to London’s international appeal, ownership is very diversified and only 53% of the 4 and 5 star hotel bed stock is owned by UK residents. Asian owners are the second largest group and constitute a market share of 18%, having significantly increased their presence in recent years, with European ownership accounting for 12% of the total. The share of Middle Eastern ownership in the upscale segment is 7%, increasing significantly following a number of notable transactions in 2011.

Jon Hubbard, CEO Northern Europe at Jones Lang LaSalle concluded: “The fundamental strengths of London as a leading business city globally, together with continued growth in leisure tourism, have created stable operating conditions which have made London a magnet for foreign capital and we have witnessed a growing interest from Asian and Middle Eastern investors. These equity rich investors, often HNWI’s or sovereign wealth funds, have focussed predominantly on 4 and 5 star hotels and, supported by growing profitability, have driven prices in the market segment back to pre-crisis levels”

The latest hotel to join Worldhotels, Sir Albert in Amsterdam, with 90 rooms, exclusive suites and residences is opening its doors in January. The boutique hotel mixes luxury with a casual attitude and first class service with high tech conveniences – and rounds out Worldhotels’ offering in Amsterdam. The hotel is located in the De Pijp area, home to many of Amsterdam’s artists, writers and designers. Guests can easily walk to the Museumplein and the nightlife and shopping district Leidseplein. The actual building began life as a diamond factory in the 19th century – its heritage shines through in its high ceilings and large windows. All rooms and suites were designed by the international award-winning BK architects and boast vivid colours, exclusive design, Illy coffee machines, iPod docking stations, Sir Albert’s signature bedding collection, complimentary Wi-Fi, views of downtown Amsterdam and for those who pursue a healthy lifestyle – Sir Albert’s next door gym. The attentive and friendly service makes guests feel right at home.

Sir Albert’s guests can unwind at The Study, a comfortable lounge where they can enjoy morning coffee, relax in the leather armchairs to read the newspaper or a book from the well-stocked library, make use of the hotel’s computers and iPads, or sample a traditional English afternoon tea. Fine dining for lunch and dinner is offered at IZAKAYA Asian, Kitchen & Bar, which features a traditional Japanese Robata grill and Asian-inspired grazing menu. The restaurant’s terrace also provides great views of the De Pijp area.

“Sir Albert brings a new dynamic to Amsterdam’s hotel scene and we are delighted to welcome it to Worldhotels,” says Rob van der Beek, Senior Director of Hotel Development. “We have big plans to grow the Worldhotels’ brand in The Netherlands and securing Amsterdam’s hottest new boutique hotel is another big step for us.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced plans to introduce its two largest brands – Westin and Sheraton – to two new multi-billion dollar integrated entertainment complexes in Manila, the bustling capital of the Philippines. Starwood will manage The Westin Manila Bayshore, scheduled to open in mid-2016 as part of the Resorts World Bayshore in the Entertainment City development in Parañaque,; and Sheraton Manila Hotel in the Resorts World Manila development located in Newport City, Pasay. The Sheraton Manila Hotel is slated for opening in early 2017. The Westin Manila Bayshore and Sheraton Manila Hotel are integral components of Resorts World Bayshore and Resorts World Manila, respectively. These new mixed-use development hubs feature entertainment venues, luxury retail establishments and gaming facilities, leveraging favorable economic conditions. The planned development of The Westin Manila Bayshore also represents the Westin brand’s re-entry into the Philippine market.

The Westin Manila Bayshore and Sheraton Manila Hotel are owned by Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc.

Comfort, Convenience and Connectivity
Sheraton Manila Hotel, as part of the Resorts World Manila complex, is to be situated in Metro Manila, the Philippines’ seat of government. It will be located directly across Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, adjacent to the Villamor Golf Course, and a 10-minute drive to Makati City, Manila’s central business district. Resorts World Manila, comprised of hotels, restaurants, gaming facilities, entertainment options and a luxury mall, is set to join the ranks of highly successful integrated entertainment hubs such as Resorts World Genting in Malaysia, and Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.

Offering 350 stylish, contemporary guest rooms and suites, Sheraton Manila Hotel will be a part of the third phase of the project to be completed by 2017, binding its guests with an exceptionally warm and welcoming hospitality experience underpinned by the sentiment “The World’s Gathering place”. Rooms will be equipped with an oversized work desk, custom-designed ergonomic chair, high speed Internet, flat panel television and the renowned Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed.

The hotel will boast three dining venues, including an all-day restaurant, specialty restaurant, and Lobby Lounge; 420 square meters of meeting space; the Sheraton Club and Club Lounge; and a full service Shine Spa for Sheraton®. Other signature offerings include the Link@Sheraton® experienced with Microsoft®, a social hub where connections seamlessly take place; swimming pool, and fully equipped fitness facilities featuring the brand’s revolutionary health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness programmed by Core PerformanceTM.

Wellness at Work and Play
The Westin Manila Bayshore is to be located in the Resorts World Bayshore mixed-use complex at Entertainment City, a massive master planned development on reclaimed land in scenic Manila Bay. In addition to the 600-room Westin hotel, highlights of Resorts World Bayshore include a grand opera house, a luxury shopping mall along with other entertainment complexes and extensive gaming areas. The integrated complex, which is projected to open in mid-2016, is expected to become a premier travel destination.

Developed under phase one of the project, Westin Manila Bayshore will bring the brand’s sensory-rich environment, including innovative programs and instinctive service, to Resorts World Bayshore, offering guests a welcoming respite from the rigors of travel and helping them leave feeling better than when they arrived. All guestrooms and suites will be outfitted with the restorative Westin Heavenly® Bed; Heavenly® Bath enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and White Tea Aloe bath amenities; and high-speed Internet access. Other offerings will include Westin’s signature SuperFoodsRX® menu of nutrient-rich and delicious options, five diverse food and beverage venues, state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT® fitness facilities and swimming pool, Heavenly® Spa and 2,300 square meters of meeting and function space.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced the newest addition to its private residence club offering with the launch of Fairmont Heritage Place, The Palm, Dubai.

Fairmont Heritage Place, The Palm features 10 residences sold in 1/13th fractions. Located within the penthouse levels of the newly opened Fairmont The Palm hotel, the residences range from one-bedroom units averaging 1,550 square feet to two-bedroom units averaging 2,400 square feet. The residences boast expansive windows with wonderful views, adding to the sense of space and relaxation. All bedrooms have large en-suite bathrooms, open concept dining and living areas, and large private terraces running the length of the residences.Ownership at Fairmont Heritage Place, The Palm means enjoying an exclusive residential enclave within the most prestigious levels of the hotel, the attentive service of its staff and use of the hotel’s exceptional amenities. Guests and residents on the Palm Jumeirah can choose from seven restaurants and lounges in the ‘neighbourhood’ from all-day dining with a dedicated juice bar and chef’s table to pan-Chinese to one of the city’s only authentic Brazilian restaurants, incorporating the Churrasco method of grilling. A large outdoor dining area by the beach also offers à la minute wok tableside cooking for additional authenticity. A cigar and malt lounge provides a respite in the comfort of elegantly chic surroundings, highlighted by a walk-in humidor. Outdoor leisure facilities include a private beach club, an outdoor pool complex and Children’s Activity Centre, as well as a Willow Stream Spa.

Fairmont Heritage Place, The Palm offers owner amenities which include access to airport transfers, valet parking, concierge services, daily housekeeping, 24-hour room service, preferred rates at Willow Stream Spa and priority restaurant reservations, as well as use of an exclusive, well-appointed lobby level Owners’ Lounge.

Flanked by two residential towers and adjacent to a soon-to-be debuted walkway filled with restaurants, upscale boutiques and luxury shops (the Golden Mile), Fairmont The Palm, Dubai is ideally located on the Palm Jumeirah for guests seeking short distance leisure activities, dining and exploration in and around the neighborhood. The hotel is also minutes away from the Dubai Marina, lauded for its café style restaurants and al fresco dining alongside the Jumeirah Walk and public beach, and is in close proximity to key business districts, including Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Knowledge Village. A short distance away is some of the city’s best shopping with the Dubai Mall, featuring over 1,000 shops, an aquarium and underwater zoo, ice rink, and an indoor theme park.

Hotel Indigo® will pass the 50th property milestone with the opening of two hotels in London and New Orleans, two cities renowned for their rich history and culture, making them important markets for boutique hotels. The Hotel Indigo brand continues to be a strong growth vehicle for IHG with its strategy focused on growing top-tier priority markets and gateway cities. With a quality global pipeline of 51 hotels, the Hotel Indigo estate is set to double in size to 100 properties within the next three to five years. Hotel Indigo properties are planned in key cities including Hong Kong, which will open in early 2013, Tel Aviv, St. Petersburg, Bangkok, Riyadh, Madrid, Jakarta, Lisbon, Barcelona, Philadelphia, Chicago and New York City.

Hotel Indigo London Kensington – Earl’s Court
Hotel Indigo Kensington-Earl’s Court is located in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The hotel design reflects the quaint locale and reanimates the stately Victorian manor that the building once was. Many of the 100 guest rooms overlook classic English gardens and the artwork captures the building’s original staircases and stained glass windows.

The hotel’s location affords easy access to some of London’s most famous tourist attractions including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Royal Albert Hall, the Natural History and Science Museums and royal residence Kensington Palace and is just a stone’s throw away from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, two of London’s most idyllic and historic parks.

Hotel Indigo New Orleans Garden District
Sheltered by a canopy of live oaks that line the nearby streets, Hotel Indigo New Orleans Garden District is painted with the vibrancy and history of one of New Orleans’s most historical neighbourhoods. The hotel’s design features murals displaying decorative ironwork, louvred shutters and the roots of an old live oak, with vibrant accents of purple, tangerine, teal and lime.

Situated along the St. Charles Street Car line, the hotel is close to the renowned French Quarter, as well as the campuses of Tulane and Loyola Universities. Steeped in the history of mid-19th Century Victorian homes and the manicured English-style gardens, the 132-room hotel embraces an elegant mix of modish and classic French-style furniture.