Hotel Designs

The 2013 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards are now open for entries, inviting submissions from the world’s leading architects, interior and lighting designers and hospitality operators.An independent annual awards programme, the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards is the only international concept of its kind, dedicated exclusively to celebrating the best food and beverage spaces from around the globe, in all types of environments including hotels, transport, business, culture, leisure and retail.

Now in its fifth year, the awards have become a prominent event in both the design and hospitality industry calendars. Upon the launch of the 2013 awards programme, Marco Rebora, Founder of the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, said:

“It is with great pleasure that we launch the fifth Restaurant & Bar Design Awards to recognise innovation and design excellence in the world’s most interesting restaurants and bars. In 2012 we received double the entry numbers of the previous year, from more than 60 countries, showing that competition is becoming ever stronger. With another fantastic judging panel, we look forward to what is set to be our most exciting awards programme yet.”

The 2013 awards are open to design projects completed between 1st January and 31st December 2012. A project entry must be a collaborative submission from both the design studio and hospitality operator.

Entries across 21 categories will be judged by a panel of highly influential design, food, lifestyle and hospitality personalities, including: The Times (UK) Restaurant Critic, Giles Coren; Chef Restaurateur, Tom Aitkens; JIA Boutique Hotels owner, Yenn Wong; and Moooi Founder and CEO, Casper Vissers.

Also judging the awards, Tamara Lohan, Founder of Mr & Mrs Smith, said:

“The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards plays an important role in commending the best of the best spaces to eat and drink, demonstrating that design excellence is vital in creating alluring environments which strike the perfect balance between style, substance and quality. I am delighted to be a judge for the 2013 awards and having seen so many hotly anticipated new openings around the world in the last year, I very much look forward to a challenging judging process.”

All awards entries must be submitted online by 14th April 2013, with shortlisted projects to be announced on 24th June 2013. For full entry guidelines and further information please visit www.restaurantandbardesignawards.com.

Award winners will be announced at a ceremony and party in central London in late September 2013.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has announced the expansion of its luxury hotel portfolio in the CIS with the development of the first hotel in Kazakhstan. The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty is owned by a subsidiary of Capital Partners L.L.C. The 145 room hotel is located in the 37 storey Esentai Tower within the mixed use Esentai Park development project in Almaty which includes an extensive shopping mall, Fitness Club and residential complexes. The hotel, located in the centre of the city, will offer Club and Suite accommodation together with over 10,000 square feet of meeting facilities.

“We are honoured to partner with Capital Partners to manage this exciting property.” said Herve Humler , President and Chief Operating Officer “Almaty is an important business centre in the region and we are delighted to now be able to offer The Ritz-Carlton experience to our global business travellers visiting this city.”

Burak Oymen, co-founder of Capital Partners: “We are delighted to be working again with Ritz-Carlton. We believe that the partnership between Capital Partners and Ritz-Carlton, which has already worked so well in Moscow, will help create another exceptional hotel in an exceptional city.”

Almaty, formerly the capital city of Kazakhstan, is the Republic’s largest city and an important cultural and commercial centre. Located between the Bolshaya and Malaya rivers, Almaty was formerly one of the transit stations on the Silk Road and is now a vibrant business destination. The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty will be opening late 2013.

Hilton Worldwide has announced that it has signed a franchise agreement with Martinez Hotels & Resorts to bring its upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand to Ireland. Since opening its first European hotel in 2008, DoubleTree by Hilton now has almost 60 properties trading or under development across the region.The deal will see Dublin’s renowned Morrison Hotel reopen as The Morrison Dublin, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in early February, following an extensive €7m refurbishment featuring a new interior design from Dublin based Nikki O’Donnell Architects (NODA). Centrally located on the banks of the River Liffey, the 138 room hotel is surrounded by the shops, bars and restaurants which have seen Dublin establish itself as one of the most effervescent tourist destinations in Europe.

The hotel is ideally located for guests seeking to access Dublin’s International Financial Services Centre, top tourist attractions plus iconic sporting and concert venues such as the Aviva Stadium and O2 Arena, the Bord Gais Energy Theatre and enduringly popular Guinness Storehouse. The trendy Temple Bar area, whose atmospheric cobbled streets are home to the cultural and entertainment heartbeat of the city, is a short walk across the river from the hotel.

The Morrison Dublin, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel will feature two restaurants and a bar, details of which are to be revealed shortly. Guests will also enjoy access to a 24-hour business zone and split level fitness centre. Events space totalling 410 square metres will be available with a range of capacities capable of hosting from 2 to 240 guests.

Recently appointed general manager Patrick Joyce will oversee the running of the hotel, having joined from his previous position as general manager of the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Co Kilkenny. Patrick’s hospitality career spans more than 15 years with experience in the UK, Thailand and the Maldives.

Berlin is in the midst of a shift. The city is stepping away from the ultra-cool post-East hipness it has become so famous for and toward an effortless modern grandeur in the new, old west. Now there’s a new boutique hotel that reflects this movement: Das Stue. Das Stue is the answer to an unspoken yearning for substance; a place for the established, and not just the emerging, to meet in an intimate setting. The hotel’s name is Danish for “living room”. The owners see it not as a living room in the literal sense, but rather more a drawing room; the space in any well-appointed house where people relax, socialize, entertain, and discuss. “The name refers to two important aspects – what the drawing room really is, which is a place to withdraw in an intimate circle; and the idea of ‘drawing room plays’, a genre of theatrical productions and films whose plots are filled with elegance, wit and entertainment,” says General Manager Jean-Paul Dantil. “Think of Cary Grant, bar culture, real gentleman and ladies, cultivated conversations. It’s a celebration of socializing.” Das Stue indeed captures a modern ease and confidence as it hearkens back to an old-fashioned elegance.

Consisting of an historical portion and a new addition by Potsdam-based Axthelm Architects, the 80-room hotel is located in a traditional diplomatic district in the little-known district of Tiergarten, just off of Tiergarten Park and tucked into a section of the vast Berlin Zoo. The area’s past is laden with historical importance, influence, and power. The many grand embassy buildings surrounding the hotel are a testament to the district’s longstanding international orientation.

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Travelodge CEO Grant Hearn has today written to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills, Vince Cable, to share a ten-point plan to how DBIS can accelerate the UK’s economy by unlocking the potential of one of the UK’s fastest growing industries (tourism).The letter follows on the back of a report commissioned by Travelodge which investigated how the UK tourism industry has performed during the longest recession since the Second World War.

Findings revealed UK tourism is a resilient industry that has outperformed the general economy over the last five years, led the way in terms of employment numbers and increased visitor numbers.

Despite being the fifth largest sector in the UK, tourism is one of the few industries that has continued to grow despite the economic crisis. Whilst GDP grew by 8% from 2007 to 2011, during the same period the tourism industry increased its revenues by 12.6% to more than £40 billion – representing 10% of GDP.

In the letter Mr Hearn makes a case that it is high time policy makers woke up and unlocked the true potential of one of the UK’s fastest growing industries.

The ten point plan calls for the Government to move tourism higher up its agenda, and for the sector to be given the status it deserves – by moving it from the Department of Culture Media & Sports to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. As tourism is crucial to economic growth the plan also includes a recommendation for a dedicated taskforce to be created, which is headed up by a tourism minister. This group will be tasked with delivering growth and creating a cross departmental cohesive strategy in cooperation with all tourism partners.

The report also highlights there are huge opportunities to grow tourism particularly when it comes to boosting overseas visitor numbers. Between 2007 and 2011, global tourism grew by 23.4% but during that same period, two million fewer overseas visitors came to the UK, a drop of more than 6%. This means the Government’s target for four million new overseas visitors by 2014 will be missed.

The letter also calls for more to be done to increase the UK’s competiveness, such as credible tax breaks and steps to reduce the bureaucracy behind the visa application process which keeps so many Chinese visitors away.

At present, Europe and the USA are leading the way in attracting visitors from emerging BRIC markets. For every one Chinese tourist who visits Britain, eight go to Paris and ten visit America. On average the typical Chinese visitor spends £1,600 whilst in the UK. China has a population of 1.3b but in 2011 just 149,000 citizens visited the UK, spending £240m. In contrast the USA attracted 1.1m Chinese visitors in the same year. As well as China, the Government needs to focus on the other BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, and India) too; otherwise we will lose out on future generations of travellers.

Grant Hearn, Travelodge CEO said: “Our report confirms UK tourism has successfully weathered the recession to date and outperformed other key sectors which is great news. However as one of Britain’s biggest business sectors it deserves the chance to unlock its true potential. We have a real opportunity within our grasp which can play a significant part in helping our economy to recover; our lack of immediate action is costing jobs, growth and investment. It is in our national economic interest and this has to happen now. We need to be treated as a serious business sector.”

“Our ten-point plan is about awakening the potential of the sector and positioning tourism as a key element of a successful and sustainable economic recovery. I welcome an opportunity to discuss this proposal with Mr. Cable and his Department.”

Ufi Ibrahim, Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association said: “Across the UK, thousands of hotels, tourist attractions, restaurants, businesses small and large, depend on the Government to back them. Our industry has the potential to create over 200,000 jobs in the UK by 2015. All the evidence shows that our tourism and hospitality industry is a success story in this recession. There are measures that Government could take which would create more employment and boost the economy – such as cutting tourism VAT to 5% and the ongoing initiative to improve the tourist visa process. It is essential that there is a more co-ordinated approach for tourism in government.”

Detailed below is Travelodge’s ten-point plan for developing a tourism industry capable of creating jobs and leading the economy out of recession to sustained growth:

1. Move tourism higher up the Government’s agenda, with the first step being to move the industry to where it belongs – the Department for Business, Skills and Innovation. DBIS has both the authority and responsibility to ensure that tourism can flourish.

2. DBIS to take responsibility for setting a national strategy and policy which includes introducing performance targets and better collaboration across the industry.

3. Reinstate a full time Minister for Tourism post.

4. Create a united tourism working party with the Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly Government, Northern Ireland Assembly and the Mayor of London.

5. Develop a dedicated plan and regional tourism fund to help the national tourist boards develop a “London and beyond” strategy that considers where investment in regional tourism can deliver the strongest results.

6. Assess the business case for regional tourism zones that enjoy allowances on capital expenditure and investment in new projects

7. Ring-fence funding for hospitality apprenticeships to drive growth and jobs in the sector.

8. Simplify the visa process for visitors from emerging markets, especially China. Some steps have been taken recently, which is good news, but a lack of further action will cost jobs, growth and investment.

9. Reduce the current VAT rate of 20% for the hospitality industry to 5% in line with our European neighbours. This will create 236,000 jobs by 2015, 475,000 jobs by 2020 and annually boost the economy by £150 million.

10. Target the investment industry especially companies who invest in pension funds and savings plans to invest in tourism business ventures as an alternative long term investment.

With the opening of a resort hotel in the popular Indian coastal state of Goa, Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts will complement its global portfolio with an additional deluxe hotel. First guests are anticipated to be welcomed in the first quarter 2013.The Swissôtel Goa is located in the town of Calangute which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North Goa. The 135 guestrooms and suites are designed and propor-tioned among eight three level buildings, which are set within a tropical garden featuring idyllic lily ponds and a courtyard pool area. Rooms vary in size depending on category and feature modern design elements. An all-day dining restaurant, pool bar, cafe, fitness cen-tre, adult and children’s pools, children’s club, as well as conference and banquet facilities will delight even the most discerning guests. The hotel will also have an exclusive beach club for its guests on Calangute beach. Designed by Malaysian Architects Chong Chee Ching and Greg Dall, the elements in the lobby and throughout the resort are accented by numerous works by the Indian artist Krishna Mehta are distributed throughout the resort which present modern and colorful design highlights. The most important night-life hap-penings and restaurants of North Goa are only a few minutes’ walk from Swissôtel Goa.

“With the Swissôtel Goa, we are complementing our growing Indian hotel portfolio with an attractive holiday resort. With the already-opened Swissôtel Kolkata and the three Swissôtels under development in Mumbai, Noida and Bangalore, our portfolio on the Indian Subcontinent is growing continuously,” says Meinhard Huck, President of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. “We are pleased to cooperate in this project with Convention Hotels India Pvt. Ltd. and look forward to welcoming our first guests at Swissôtel Goa.”

”We are delighted to get this hotel underway as it marks the beginning of a long and close relationship that we wish to share with Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts,” said Priyakant Amin, Director of CHI – Convention Hotels India Pvt. Ltd. “We selected Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts to manage this prestigious property due to its reputation for delivering a contemporary luxury hospitality experience. We continue to develop our hospitality portfolio to create best-in-class properties with right partners by our side.”

With India’s first Biennale that launched in Kochi (Cochin), Kerala on 12th December, the spotlight is on the state’s evolution from a place largely about the traditional to one that is embracing the contemporary. And it is soon to have its most exciting hotel yet. Situated in the upcoming business district of the city, The Park Kochi, member of The Design Hotels, with its international appeal and innovative design, is testament to the city’s development into one of India’s major metropolises in recent years.

Designed by Lotus Group, also responsible for Raas in Jodhpur, the 28 floor, 168 room building, complete with a heli-pad on the roof, will be the tallest hotel in the state. The design is reminiscent of The Park Hotels’ hallmark style, mixing the contemporary with the traditional.

Striking Keralan influences feature throughout the hotel. Highlights include an upturned hull in the reception, harking back to the states’ sea-faring traditions, lights inspired by Netipattam (elephant decorations) in the entrance and hand-crafted, 6-storey high brass mobiles, based on traditional Kasava dancer outfits spread over two atriums.

The Miami poolside bar concept was first bought to the subcontinent by The Park Hotels and this hotel will not disappoint. Taking pride of place on the 27th floor and with jaw-dropping views over to Old Cochin and beyond, AQUA will be white-cool in the day and vibrant-high-decibel into the night.

The three restaurants consist of a 24-hour outlet, reflecting the Keralan backwaters, a specialty Keralan restaurant, serving all four cuisines from the state and a double height Asian restaurant which dominates the 27th floor.

The AURA Spa will take over the 20th floor of the hotel and a separate four-storey, seven treatment room stilted structure, surrounded by water, will launch later in 2013. The building features intricate laser-cut Tyvek wrapped in a skin of composite glass to give the appearance of a softly glowing lantern at night. Guests can indulge in treatments, both traditional Indian and a la mode, as well as a number of programmes for top to toe overhauls.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Express Mill Valley San Francisco Area. The hotel, formerly the Larkspur Mill Valley Hotel, an independent brand, recently went through a $4 million renovation and is a contemporary hotel in southern Marin County, Calif. The conversion of the 100-room hotel includes a redesign of all guestrooms, a re-modeled public space, and extensive improvements to the property’s exterior.Located at the base of Mount Tamalpais, the Holiday Inn Express Mill Valley San Francisco Area is 5 miles from the northern terminus of the Golden Gate Bridge and 11 miles from downtown San Francisco. The hotel overlooks peaceful and environmentally protected wetlands and numerous bike paths. It is within proximity to several of Northern California’s most visited attractions, including Muir Woods, Stinson Beach and the renowned Napa Valley wine country.

Guests at the Holiday Inn Express Mill Valley San Francisco Area will experience a comfortable and smart environment with innovative preferred guest upgrades to ensure a productive stay while travelling for business or leisure.

Amenities include (as well as the usual offering from Holiday Inn Express): a heated outdoor pool area with an expansive deck, private cabanas, a whirlpool spa, and an outdoor fire pit. There is also a business centre, a well-equipped fitness centre and multiple meeting and event spaces. During their stay, guests can enjoy bicycle rentals, welcome beverages at check-in, and s’mores kits each evening.

The Holiday Inn Express Mill Valley San Francisco Area is owned and managed by Ultima Hospitality under a license agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group.

Louvre Hotels Group, a major player in the hotel industry both in France and internationally, is announcing the launch of new websites for its Premiere Classe, Campanile and Kyriad brands, as well as the start of a partnership with TripAdvisor. To offer a higher quality of online customer experience
With the launch of these websites, Louvre Hotels Group is once again demonstrating their focus on improving the online customer experience.

The new sites are built for speed and efficiency and have significantly reduced the time and clicks needed to reserve a room of customer’s choice. Clients of the Group’s brands will also benefit from the best available offers thanks to an automatic price-comparison display. This multi-brand search tool will enable customers to make their choice based on the prices proposed by Première Classe, Campanile and Kyriad.

Improving the customers’ online experience will be achieved by grouping and presenting all the relevant information in one place.

With this in mind, Louvre Hotels Group has established a partnership with TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site*. Rather than having to research multiple websites, customers of Première Classe, Campanile and Kyriad will have access to all the information necessary to make their choice directly on the hotels’ websites: the overall TripAdvisor rating and the five most recent reviews in each language for each hotel.

This innovation should significantly improve Louvre Hotels Group’s online conversion rate due to the transparency of the system and the reputation of TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor gets 60 million visitors every month and 60 new contributions are made every minute to its reviews. The multiple TripAdvisor sites, representing 30 different countries and in 21 different languages, has 36 million members and more than 75 million reviews and opinions from travellers around the world.

To improve the competitiveness of Louvre Hotels Group
Online content distribution has become a major factor for success within the hotel and restaurant industry. The implementation of these new platforms will allow the Group to be more competitive in this ever-increasingly important aspect, where specialists have already appeared.

• The revamping of the websites is the product of the same brainstorming that identified four objectives for the online image of Louvre Hotels Group:
• Simplify access to numerous functionalities such as the use of promotional codes, direct links to group-bookings for more than 9 rooms, the possibility to subscribe to a newsletter on every page, a prominent position for the Group’s call center phone numbers etc.
• Optimize the customer content and layout to improve the sites’ prominence on search-engines like Google (SEO) and to get more out of the purchase of key words (SEM)
• Increase internet traffic from search engines by exploring other key entry-points
• Improve the site’s conversion rate on bookings thanks to dynamic content allowing to further promote destinations and special offers etc.

Chinmai Sharma, VP Revenue & Distribution Management of Louvre Hotels Group, said: “We are very proud of the new web sites that we have created for our brands Première Classe, Campanile and Kyriad. They meet the high standards of Louvre Hotels Group by delivering a very high-quality online customer experience and making it even easier to make a reservation at one of our many hotels. The new sites will increase our online visibility due to improved response time, rich content and ease of use, which will eventually translate into increased reservations and revenue for our hotels.”

“We are delighted to be partnering with Louvre Hotels Group, one of the leading European players in the hotel industry. This partnership will allow the Group’s customers to have access to TripAdvisor reviews for well-known brands such as Première Classe, Campanile and Kyriad”, Maud Larpent, Senior Manager, Partnerships at TripAdvisor stated. “This initiative demonstrates the Group’s commitment to transparency and means that visitors to the brands’ websites will be able to base their booking decisions on the views and opinions of travellers. We are also looking forward to helping Louvre Hotels Group collect feedback from their customers and to be working with hotel management to highlight the importance and influence of their responses to customer comments.”

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, Worldwide, July 2012

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. announces that The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu, located in the heart of the capital of Sichuan province, will become the luxury hotel operator’s first flag in Southwest China, when it opens in summer 2013.Sichuan is renowned globally as the home of the giant panda, one of China’s national treasures, while the city of Chengdu enjoys a rich history dating back over 2,000 years as a cultural and trading hub. Today, Chengdu is recognized as amongst the new leading cities inside China.

The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu, in Tianfu Square, is home to one of the city’s largest commercial districts. The hotel will have 353 rooms, including 55 suites, taking interior design cues from the style of a traditional courtyard home which can be found in parts of the old city. Featuring a palette of light woods, relaxing blues and golden hues, the property will subtly reflect the city’s heritage in a contemporary way.

The property features three restaurants including an elegant Cantonese with eight private dining rooms, Flair – the sister lifestyle restaurant and bar of The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong as well as an all-day dining restaurant. There will also be a contemporary lobby lounge that will act as a focal point for people to meet and enjoy high tea. Meeting spaces will include a Grand Ballroom, Junior Ballroom and seven additional meeting rooms, totaling 1,716 square meters of space. The hotel will be fully equipped with an indoor swimming pool as well as luxury fitness and spa facilities.

The highlights of November’s performance include:
• Egypt’s race to recovery – Sharm El Sheikh sees highest occupancy and Cairo posts record profits since the Revolution;
• Dubai hotels post record demand, revenues and profits.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® and Liberty Group has announced that Starwood’s fast-growing Aloft® brand will soon debut in Tampa, Florida. Opening in early 2014 along the Tampa Riverwalk, Aloft Tampa Downtown will occupy the former Mercantile Bank office building as part of an adaptive re-use project developed, owned and managed by the Liberty Group in a joint-venture partnership with Convergent Capital Partners, which acquired the vacant office building earlier this year. Orlando-based Baker Barrios Architects has been selected as the lead architect and interior designer for the project. Aloft Tampa Downtown will deliver style-at-a-steal with 130 spacious, loft-like rooms, forward-thinking technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere in an ideal location along the Tampa Riverwalk, the landmark gateway to downtown. It will be the fifth Aloft in Florida, following the opening of Aloft Miami-Brickwell in 2013.

The project is a vision of joint-venture partners Punit Shah of Liberty Group and Santosh Govindaraju of Convergent Capital Partners. Collectively, the companies have invested over $550,000,000 in performing / sub-performing commercial mortgages and real estate including hotels, golf courses, multifamily, and office in just the past four years.

For Liberty Group, Aloft Tampa Downtown represents yet another opportunity to adapt and reposition another distressed property in a prime location, having acquired more than 20 hotels throughout the United States since 2010.

Located along the Hillsborough River and the new Tampa Riverwalk, Aloft Tampa Downtown will be within walking distance of the University of Tampa, Tampa Convention Center, University of South Florida’s new CAMLS facility, Tampa Times Forum, Tampa Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa History Museum, Curtis Hixon Park, Florida Aquarium, and the Port of Tampa. Hotel amenities will include the Aloft brand’s signature w xyzsm bar located adjacent to the waterfront pool and a 24-hour fitness centre. Aloft Tampa Downtown will also feature a 4,000 square foot rooftop flexible meeting and outdoor terrace area in the heart of Tampa’s bustling financial district.

Pioneering initiatives in music, design, and technology have positioned Aloft as a must-have living-social brand for the next generation of travellers. Aloft has reported consistently high guest satisfaction scores since its launch, reflecting the success of its modern and vibrant design at an affordable price point. Aloft’s social guest experience, with the buzzing re:mix lounge and w xyz bar, have also earned select hotels within the portfolio designations in TripAdvisor’s 2012 “Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in the US” rankings.

Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Malaysian hotel group Tune Hotels announced the official opening of its first ever Scottish hotel, Tune Hotel Haymarket, Edinburgh on 8th January 2013. Following the resounding success of the group’s UK entry with its four London properties, the Scottish hotel has stayed true to the brand by offering visitors international class accommodation that offers great value, great savings. Tune Hotel Haymarket has a different look and feel to other properties and showcases the group’s new, hip branding. A Tune Hotel tartan was also commissioned by the hotel, adding a subtle Scottish feel to the furnishings.

Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels, commented: “Introducing the Tune Hotel brand to Scotland was an important business move for us. The demand for a low cost hotel that offers good quality basics and importantly a great night’s sleep is becoming ever more important as tourists and business travellers are swayed by price but unwilling to trade down. Edinburgh is an immensely important trade and tourism hub and we’re excited to take part in and contribute to its continued success. Further Scottish development is definitely on the cards as we look to introduce the brand to a number of Scottish cities.

Tune Hotel Haymarket brings Tune Hotels’ UK portfolio to five with more on the way. We have 27 hotels globally across five countries and the pipeline includes hotels opening in Melbourne, Australia and Ahmedabad, India this year.”

Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said: “Tourism is one of Scotland’s major industries and The Scottish Government is fully committed to growing the sector. We have much to look forward to – 2013 is the Year of Natural Scotland and next year we have the second year of Homecoming, incorporating the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.

Visitors will come from across the globe to make the most of our beautiful natural landscapes as well as our visitor attractions and it is important that we have a full mix of accommodation available to make their stay as enjoyable as possible. I am pleased to open the new Tune Hotel in Edinburgh and look forward to working with the company as they develop their brand in Scotland – creating jobs in the process.”

Perfectly positioned opposite Haymarket station, Tune Hotel Haymarket has 179 en-suite bedrooms including double bedrooms with and without windows, alongside twin and accessible bedrooms with windows. Continuing with the group’s core vision of providing great quality basics for a great night’s sleep at a price everyone can afford, those who book in advance will be able to enjoy bedrooms for as little as £25 a night.

As a limited service hotel consumers can expect low-cost rooms focused on offering high-quality basics – five-star beds, power showers, air conditioned rooms, central locations, a clean environment, and 24 hour security – with guests only paying extra for the facilities and services they use.

West Midlands construction company Anglo Holt has announced the completion of its most northerly project ever – a £3.1 million Travelodge hotel in the Scottish Highlands.Travelodge Fort William is a 60-bedroom hotel with 21,125 sq ft of retail space. The 40-week design and build project was awarded to the construction company by Edinburgh-based clients Ashford Property Group.

Andy Elwell, managing director at Anglo Holt, said: “Fort William is our most northerly project to date. The build programme for the hotel, which is located on the high street in the shadow of Ben Nevis, was carried out during the winter.”

The Fort William project extends the company’s successful 12-year partnership with Travelodge, which has seen it complete 56 hotels, with a further five contracts currently in progress, worth a total of more than £200 million.

Marriott International has recently announced plans to introduce two of its mid-market hotel brands, the Fairfield Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands in Brazil. The company will open a new 165-room Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, and a 160-room Fairfield Inn by Marriott and 158-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel, both in Curitiba, Parana. All three properties will be developed under an agreement with Mr. Aldemir Dadalt, owner and president of Prisma Engenharia SA, a prominent regional real estate development and construction company based in Joinville, Santa Catarina, who has developed 14 hotels located in major cities of Southern Brazil.

The hotels will be Mr. Dadalt’s second project with Marriott. The first was the 128-room Hotel & Spa do Vinho Caudalie, part of the Marriott’s Autograph Collection, located in Bento Gonçalves, Brazil’s wine region in Rio Grande do Sul approximately 124 km from Porto Alegre.

The two Fairfield by Marriott hotels in Curitiba and Porto Alegre will be the first two introduced, both set to open in the first half of 2014 before the World Cup.

The 158-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Curitiba, scheduled to open in early 2015, will feature the brand’s refreshing business lobby, a casual dining restaurant, meeting space and recreational facilities include a swimming pool and a fitness center.

Marriott International is currently represented in Brazil by the 445-room Renaissance Sao Paulo Hotel, 245-room JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro, the 311-room Sao Paulo Airport Marriott, 114-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Sao Paulo and the 128-room Hotel & Spa do Vinho Caudalie.

Following a rebrand and an extensive upgrade, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania has officially opened its doors.

The Serengeti National Park is considered by many as the best in Africa and is one of Tanzania’s most famous natural wonders. The Lodge is the first Four Seasons in Sub-Saharan Africa and marks the introduction of the brand to the region with two additional properties planned in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and an exclusive beach resort on the island of Zanzibar. With a total of 77 guest rooms, including 12 suites with plunge pools and five free-standing villas with private swimming pools, the Lodge offers guests the ultimate in privacy. Each room has an elevated open-air sundeck, which provides views over the Serengeti and a truly intimate wildlife experience to its guests.

The design of the property reflects both contemporary African architectural style and its surrounding landscape – with the centrepiece of the Lodge comprising of a two storey great house that includes a choice of both indoor and outdoor dining options: Kula’s, an International and African buffet-style restaurant; Maji Bar, an à la carte restaurant and bar; and Boma Grill, offering authentic African grilled dishes using locally sourced produce. The Sundowner Bar boasts spectacular sunset views and a wine cellar where guests can sample wines from across the African continent.

Four Seasons Safari Lodge offers guests a unique opportunity to be immersed in the Serengeti from a safe and ecologically responsible environment, while still being pampered amid the unspoiled wilderness. Elevated wooden walkways weave throughout the property, connecting the great house and guest rooms with a free-standing Spa complex housing six treatment pavilions and a fitness centre. From the serenity of the Lodge’s outdoor infinity pool, guests overlook an active watering hole that attracts a daily variety of wildlife, including elephants.

Suitable for guests of eight years and above, Four Seasons Safari Lodge is also home to its own Discovery Centre featuring museum quality exhibits and a lecture hall for guests to learn about the local wildlife, environment and culture.

“It’s great to be in Africa, where each day brings a new wonder,” says James Kostecky, General Manager and Four Seasons veteran. As an avid photographer with a keen sense of adventure, he points out, “This Lodge is an excellent opportunity for first time safari travellers, families and groups to experience the natural beauty, astounding wildlife and fascinating culture of the Serengeti.”

W Hotels Worldwide has unveiled the innovative design concept for the highly anticipated W Guangzhou Hotel & Residences. Slated to open in early 2013, the first W Hotel in mainland China will introduce Guangzhou to a new style of modern luxury, featuring cutting-edge architectural and interior designs by an eclectic assemblage of international designers. With a striking exterior by renowned architect Rocco Yim, W Guangzhou will feature dynamic interiors by New York’s Yabu Pushelberg, Glyph of Toronto, Hong Kong’s AFSO, A.N.D. of Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur’s DesignWilkes. Providing a rich mosaic of architectural design elements, W Guangzhou will stylishly depict Guangzhou’s unique juxtaposition of an ancient city in the midst of a modern industrial and economic explosion. Owned and developed by KWG Property Holdings and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, W Guangzhou will join the ranks of a fast growing portfolio of W Hotels in vibrant destinations and exotic locations throughout Asia Pacific, including Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, Maldives, Koh Samui, Bali – Seminyak, Taipei, and just recently Bangkok.

A Mosaic of Design – Embracing the Past, Present & Future
As a global design powerhouse, W Hotels Worldwide pushes the boundaries with each new hotel to create innovative, yet locally relevant design stories. In partnership with KWG Property Holdings, W Guangzhou has assembled a team of cutting-edge regional and international designers to develop the hotel’s design narrative, which brings to life Guangzhou’s ancient culture and promising future.

W Guangzhou boasts a striking exterior by architect Rocco Yim of Rocco Design Architects Limited, who has developed some of China’s most recognizable and iconic projects, including Hong Kong’s International Finance Centre and Hong Kong Station as well as the Guangdong Museum in Guangzhou. The building’s exterior has an asymmetrical shape with a sleek sheath of black glass punctuated by architectural cut-outs and bright glass highlights. Layer upon layer of color, light and texture weave a vibrant, modern palate that is exciting, stylish and provocative.

The hotel’s major interior spaces each feature unique design concepts that work together to create a rich medley of experiences that capture Guangzhou’s position as an ancient city in the midst of a modern evolution. Inspired by the intricate Kesi tapestries of the region and Guangzhou’s storied history as a center of commerce and culture, the spaces utilize multiple colors, innovative installations, bold lighting and dynamic textures to dramatically transition from one to another.

W Guangzhou will introduce the city to new style of modern luxury with a range of 320 contemporary guestrooms and suites designed by Yabu Pushelberg. The hotel’s destination bar, sure to become a new hotspot in Guangzhou, will feature a stunning, bold design that is literally out of the box. Architect and designer Kosaka of A.N.D. has created a four-story lit glass loft suspended from the side of the hotel with optical fiber strings of light cascading down the inside of the glass, creating a pulsating effect of light and energy that can seen from both the inside and outside the hotel.

Yan Yu, W Guangzhou’s signature Chinese restaurant, will feature a modern design by DesignWilkes inspired by the orchid, a flower treasured throughout Asia and valued for its multiple color varieties. With a creamy white palette to anchor the interior, each private dining room will reflect a different color on the orchid spectrum, while servers will move around in colorful silk uniforms of mandarin, fuchsia, lemon, lime and plum – a prism of color to be reflected on the white background.

Innovative installations will be found throughout W Guangzhou, including the stunning three-story “Luminous WaterWall” in the entrance of the hotel. Developed by WETDesign, the piece has been inspired by impressionist paintings and is a liquid mosaic of light, lines and color that evolve, entwine and collide to create a vibrant, dynamic entry. Other installations will be cleverly functional, including a piece by Yabu Pushelberg that will frame one WOOBAR’s lounge areas, a suspended modern nest, supported by an elevated walkway and tethered above and below by thing metal strips to create an intimate and provocative space with views of the hotel’s Living Room (the W brand’s twist on the traditional hotel lobby).

ibis Styles London Excel has opened its doors following an exciting refurbishment of bedrooms and public spaces.

The hotel, ideally located opposite the London ExCeL Conference Centre in the Docklands area of London, is within one mile of London City Airport and within easy reach of The o2 Arena and the Olympic Park. It offers 302 bedrooms each featuring a work desk, flat screen TV, tea & coffee making facilities and a shower room. The hotel boasts four separate dining spaces and The Capstan Conference Centre with four meeting spaces for up to 150 people.

Thomas Dubaere, Managing Director, Accor UK and Ireland, said: “As the world’s leading hotel operator, we are always looking for opportunities to expand with franchise partners. This hotel is in a great location in the upcoming East end of London which has benefitted enormously from the Olympics. An ibis Styles offers creativity and personality for the hotel and its guests. As we continue to increase the Accor UK network to 300 hotels by 2015, ibis Styles and the economy brands will play a major part in our development.”

Unique to the economy segment, the ibis Styles hotels (formally all seasons) are all individually designed, contemporary hotels. They offer a new economy hotel experience and provide a high-quality, budget boutique atmosphere for all visitors.

ibis Styles London Excel is the fourth ibis Styles hotel in the UK, all of which are located in Greater London. The ibis Styles network will continue to grow across the UK in 2013.

For more information on London hotels please visit our website.

A STYLISH hotel in the centre of Newcastle is celebrating after being shortlisted for a prestigious tourism award.

The Sandman Signature Hotel Newcastle, the first in the UK to be opened by leading Canadian hospitality chain the Sandman Hotel Group, has been shortlisted in the Large Hotel of the Year category in the North East England Tourism Awards.The awards honour the achievements of venues, attractions, hotels and service providers working in the tourism industry and the winners of the 14 categories will be announced at a ceremony on January 31 at The Sage Gateshead.

If the multi million pound hotel, on the site of the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery at Gallowgate, opposite the Newcastle United football ground, wins its category it will then have the chance to compete against winners from other UK regions in the Visit England Awards for Excellence in 2013.

The four-star, 170-bedroom hotel and Shark Club gastro bar was shortlisted by judges from a number of organisations, including Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, Northumberland County Council, Nexus and the North East Chamber of Commerce.

General manager Kevin Gilhooly said: “Among the key factors in our decision to choose Newcastle as the destination for our first hotel in the UK were its great infrastructure and its place as the commercial and historical heart of the North of England.

“Not only has this served us well in attracting corporate clients, but it has also made us a hugely popular choice for visitors to the region who find the hotel an excellent and accessible base from which to visit all the attractions and venues this incredible region has to offer. We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award.”

The Sandman Hotel Group owns more than 45 hotels, resorts and inns across Canada and is now actively looking to expand in the UK.

Travelodge, the UK’s leading budget hotel company, has announced the recent appointment of Brian Wallace as Chairman. Brian has a wealth of experience in the hotel industry and will take up the role with immediate effect. A qualified accountant, Brian has held senior executive roles with a number of companies, including Schlumberger, Ladbrokes and Hilton, as well as non-executive roles at Miller Group, Hays plc and Scottish & Newcastle plc.

Brian spent 12 years with Hilton, initially as Finance Director, before combining that role with Deputy Chief Executive. During that period, he played a pivotal role in strengthening the balance sheet, expanding the global presence of the Company and ultimately reunifying the Hilton brand through the landmark sale of the business to Hilton Hotels Corporation in America. Brian is currently a non executive director of FirstGroup plc.

Commenting on the announcement, Grant Hearn, Chief Executive of Travelodge, said: “I am really excited to welcome Brian as the new Chairman of Travelodge. He has extensive experience of the hotel industry which will be invaluable as we continue to grow the Travelodge brand and deliver on our successful growth strategy. I have known Brian for over 12 years and believe he will be a real asset to our Company.”

Brian Wallace commented on his appointment: “I am delighted to be joining Travelodge at an exciting time in its history. The management team did a great job last year in successfully achieving the financial restructuring of the business. I am really looking forward to working with Grant and his team as Travelodge continues to focus on serving its customers, with a significant room refurbishment programme due to be launched shortly.”

Add India to the select roster of countries that are home to a GHM property.

The exclusive management group has recently unveiled plans for The Aayu Mumbai, a 42-suite luxury hotel and setting for India’s first restaurants by the world’s most decorated chef Joël Robuchon, and culinary star Hide Yamamoto. The property is scheduled to open in December 2013.The Aayu Mumbai will claim the top five floors of Kohinoor Square’s Central Tower, the tallest commercial building in the city. The all-suite hotel overlooks historic Shivaji Park and offers views of the Arabian Sea to the west, and the island mainland to the east.

Spread over a 5-acre parcel of land and towering 203 metres above the Dadar area of Mumbai, Sandeep Shikre & Associates (SSA Architects) in Mumbai and US-based GKK Works collaborated to design the 50-storey Kohinoor Square complex of office, commercial, retail and residential space that is poised to dramatically redefine the skyline of India’s most populous city.

Interior designer Jaya Ibrahim, who previously partnered with GHM on The Legian Bali, The Chedi Muscat and The Nam Hai, will lend his award-winning aesthetic to The Aayu’s spaces, including its 42 suites ranging in size from 65 to 155 square metres.

Joël Robuchon, named ‘Chef of the Century’ by the Gault Millau guide and the only chef to be awarded 28 Michelin stars, will open his 8th L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at The Aayu. Serving contemporary French cuisine with artistic flair, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon will also feature a tea lounge, pastry shop and collection of fine wines handpicked by Robuchon.

Japanese culinary genius and 2010 Global Chef Award recipient Hide Yamamoto will mastermind a second restaurant showcasing new generation Japanese cuisine from its charcoal Robata grill, homemade ramen noodle bar and sushi and sake counter.

“With the involvement of Joël Robuchon and Hide Yamamoto, GHM is redefining the culinary landscape and luxury offering of Mumbai in the same way the Kohinoor Square tower is transforming the city skyline,” said GHM President Hans R. Jenni. “Each of these chefs is an exceptional, world-renown talent. Through their collaboration with GHM, The Aayu will emerge as a new style icon in Mumbai.”

A library lounge and bar, cigar and cognac lounge, exclusive malt bar and capacious boardroom will occupy the 49th floor. The hotel’s spa will be unmoored from a fixed location, with all treatments conducted in the haven of a guest’s room. The Aayu’s 50th-floor rooftop terrace will be home to Mumbai’s highest bar, complemented by a swimming pool and deck with ocean views, as well as 1,400 square metres of landscaped courtyard.

Inspired by the Sanskrit word for ‘life’, GHM aims to make a bold new statement in India with the launch of The Aayu. Aside from The Aayu Mumbai, the group is on target to debut two other properties by the end of 2013; The Chedi Club Suzhou in China and The Chedi Andermatt in Switzerland.

Marriott International, Inc has announced the opening of the 323-room Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East under a long-term management agreement with Shanghai Hengchang Industry Co., Ltd. Speaking at the opening of the hotel, Arne Sorenson, Marriott International’s President and CEO, said: “We are delighted to be opening this wonderful Marriott Hotels & Resorts property today and adding to our extensive portfolio of hotels in China across all our brands. This hotel represents our 62nd hotel in the country and our 20th in Shanghai alone, where we are the largest operator of full-scale hotels in the city. I would like to thank our partner in this hotel, Shanghai Hengchang Industry Co., Ltd., for their trust and granting us the opportunity to manage such a magnificent hotel and we look forward to a long partnership with them.”

Located in the heart of Pudong, Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East is close to two major industrial parks which are home to the China headquarters of many Fortune 500 companies, and is just a five-minute drive from the Shanghai New International Expo Center, a popular venue of high-profile regional and domestic trade shows and exhibitions in eastern China. The hotel is easily accessible from both Pudong and Hongqiao international airports in the city.

The Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East offers 323 rooms and suites that feature scenic views of park, lake or canal of the surrounding area. The hotel provides business travellers with a full array of amenities and facilities to inspire them to perform better and stay connected with business partners, customers and family.

The hotel concierge and ‘At Your Service’ hotline provides guests with insightful information and advice for exploring and discovering the city. Guests staying on the Executive Floor enjoy exclusive access to the 21st floor lounge which is ideally suited for relaxation after a long day, taking advantage of the great panoramic views from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East features four food and beverage options providing guests with a variety of local and international culinary delights. Man Ho, the signature Chinese restaurant of Marriott Hotels & Resorts, features sumptuous Cantonese and Shanghai cuisine. This opulent restaurant offers several private dining rooms which are ideal for business meetings or intimate celebrations. Casalingo offers authentic Italian dishes from antipasto, home-made pasta, stone-oven cooked pizza to gelato, as well as a great selection of Italian wine and coffee. Pudong City Bistro offers a variety of international dishes and is a perfect choice for food lovers who want to taste cuisines from around the world, while The Lounge is an ideal venue for informal business meetings and casual social activities.

The hotel offers 1,705 square meters of banquet space, including a 655 square meter divisible and pillar-free grand ballroom, together with another 10 function rooms which feature natural light. The hotel’s recreational facilities include a fully-equipped Fitness Center with a 22-meter heated indoor swimming pool. Jacuzzi, Steam and Sauna are available in both male and female lockers with four spa treatment rooms providing a variety of pampering treatments.

Amari Doha became the first Amari hotel in the Middle East when it opened its doors to the public in the Qatari capital on 1st January 2013. Amari Doha is owned by Sharaka Holdings, formerly known as GTG and managed by Thailand based, ONYX Hospitality group’s leading upscale brand, Amari.Ideally located just 15 minutes from Doha International Airport and in convenient reach of Doha’s major commercial centres, the property boasts a prime position for exploring Doha’s historic and cultural sites, including the Islamic Art Centre and Souk Waqif, making it the perfect base for business and leisure-seeking travellers alike.

The 13 storey property features 120 contemporary designed fully appointed rooms, including 78 superior rooms, 36 deluxe rooms and six suites. Facilities include the fresh and fun Breeze Spa, which also features a Jacuzzi and Vichy shower room, Turkish bath, Sauna and steam room, a selection of food and beverage outlets, adult and children’s swimming pools, fitness centre and for visiting executives, a business centre and conferencing and banqueting facilities. The hotel’s rooftop pool lounge also provides stunning panoramic views of Doha’s skyline and the Corniche.

Says Damian Ball, General Manager, Amari Doha: “Amari Doha’s opening is a significant milestone for ONYX Hospitality Group. For the first time, Amari’s genuine Asian hospitality can now be experienced within the Middle East. Leisure travellers will be encouraged to share and experience Doha’s local attractions and hot spots while enjoying Amari Doha’s unique style and friendly service, while business travellers are equally catered to with premium quality accommodation, convenience and thoughtful consideration in both facilities and the availability of creative corporate packages and hospitality solutions.”

Commenting on the new venture, a spokesperson for Sharaka Holdings said: “As an enterprise that encompasses excellence in every business we operate, Sharaka Holdings is proud to partner with ONYX Hospitality Group to bring the reputable Amari brand to Qatar and the Middle East for the first time. With our core values of integrity, sharing and creativity we are confident Amari Doha will become a prominent player in Qatar’s hospitality landscape.”

Thistle Piccadilly is celebrating the completion of an extensive refurbishment, as part of a wider £45 million investment across the Thistle London property portfolio. The renovation of Thistle Piccadilly has transformed all 82 bedrooms, offering guests a contemporary and stylish base ideal for both business and leisure travel. All bedrooms benefit from brand new luxurious en-suite facilities with rainforest showers, specialist mood lighting, LCD TVs and tea and coffee making facilities. The lobby has also been totally remodelled and is now a bright, modern space, graced with soft lighting and furniture.

The newly refurbished House Lounge exudes the style and comfort befitting of its theatrical surroundings, making it the perfect location to enjoy a pre-theatre drink or dinner. The enticing menu features a range of British and European dishes, complemented by an extensive wine list.

Thistle Piccadilly boasts an unrivalled location in the heart of the capital near many of London’s top attractions. With Leicester Square right on the doorstep, guests can also take advantage of a wealth of cinemas and restaurants. Other top attractions that are close by include Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.

In addition to the Piccadilly refurbishment, Thistle has transformed a further four of its London hotels including:

Thistle Kensington Gardens
This popular London business and leisure hotel has been completely transformed with a new, contemporary look and feel and stunning views over Hyde Park.

Thistle Euston
Conveniently located just a few minute’s stroll from St Pancras International and London King’s Cross station, Thistle Euston is the perfect choice for business travellers. The complete refurbishment of this property includes all 362 bedrooms and six meeting rooms, the largest seating 100 in a theatre-style setting.

The Royal Trafalgar, by Thistle
All 108 bedrooms at The Royal Trafalgar, by Thistle have been newly refurbished offering Standard and Executive rooms. Located on the ground floor, the Lounge and Gravity Bar offer perfect surroundings for after work or pre-dinner drinks.

The Kingsley
Located in the heart of London, the refurbishment of this historic, boutique property has seen a complete transformation of its 127 bedrooms and seven meeting rooms.

Thistle has recently launched free, unlimited WiFi across its portfolio of London Hotels. Provided in partnership with BT WiFi, the service offers first class connectivity to guests, making remote working stress-free and keeping in touch even easier. Guests also benefit from anytime, anywhere internet access throughout the hotel properties, eliminating the need to be confined to WiFi ‘hotspots’.

David Grosfils, Regional Operations Director, comments: “Following a multi-million pound investment and three years of work, we’re extremely proud to announce the completion of this final refurbishment. We are committed to continually investing in our properties to provide first rate accommodation for our guests. The refurbishment has completely transformed bedrooms, bars, restaurants, meeting and events facilities and public areas across our London properties and will ensure our guests continue to enjoy a comfortable and relaxing stay.”

Directory member Contra Curtains supplied all the soft furnishings to Thistle Kensington Gardens, Thistle Euston and The Royal Trafalgar, by Thistle.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has now started an official countdown to the opening of its newest restoration project – the 177-room Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace, St Petersburg. Designed in 1817 by French architect Auguste de Montferrand as a Russian Palace, the Hotel represents possibly Four Seasons’ most ambitious and culturally important project in its more than 50-year history. Once home to Princess Lobanova-Rostovskaya, Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace will be the company’s first hotel in Russia and will set new standards of luxury and service in the city of St Petersburg and, indeed, the country. This painstaking project follows Four Seasons’ successful restoration of historic properties in Florence, Budapest, Istanbul and Milan and reflects the group’s ever-growing focus on rescuing unique heritage buildings as it expands its range of properties in Europe. “It is always difficult to confirm an exact opening date on a restoration project of this scale and complexity, however we are currently preparing for a Spring opening with great confidence. Anyone who has followed what was achieved in Florence or Budapest will appreciate that, with Four Seasons, the doors will only open when every last detail is as it should be. Patience will be rewarded and I am confident this will be one of the most talked about hotel openings in 2013,” said Martin Rhomberg, the hotel’s General Manger.

Four Seasons and its development partners have been working closely with the Russian heritage and planning authorities to ensure that the project reaches the same high standards of historical authenticity and cultural sensitivity for which the group has been applauded for in the historical cities of Florence, Istanbul, Budapest and Milan.

The building is located in the heart of the city and has an impressive yellow façade with huge classical white columns and a blue-green rooftop – all of which combine to make it the epitome of St. Petersburg elegance. Before the work could start, the development team produced an over 1,000-page Historical Note document covering all aspects of the proposed works for submission to the St Petersburg heritage authorities. As an example of the essential attention to detail, the existing exterior painted surfaces were studied by experts who discovered that the building had over forty remaining layers of paint. Consequently the process of choosing the most authentic colour was far from straightforward.

The hotel’s main entrance is guarded by two magnificent white marble lions that have been immortalized in Alexander Pushkin’s 1833 poem, “The Bronze Horseman.” The restoration team are obviously keen to preserve and protect this venerable pair who have now survived nearly two centuries of St Petersburg’s eventful history. During the Siege of Leningrad (as it then was known) in the Second World War they remained bravely at their posts and despite the remorseless shelling which the city suffered thanks to some strategically-placed wooden boards. The female sculpted figures also have been restored and sit atop the hotel’s terraces. Often wrongly assumed to be angels, they are in fact muses (as angels were reserved for churches in Russia) and bear the coat of arms of the Russian Empire.

The hotel has an impressive main stairway dressed in marble with elaborate mouldings and gold and bronze decoration, all of which has been restored to the original 1820s drawings of Auguste de Monteferrand with Reardon Smith Architects and interior designer Cheryl Rowley leading the restoration and conversion.

Located in the historic Admiralteysky district – just two blocks from the Hermitage Museum and close to Nevsky Prospekt and the Mariinsky Theatre – the hotel will immediately be positioned among Russia’s finest hotels. Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg provides the dream St Petersburg luxury accommodation experience: living like Russian royalty in an authentic 19th-century palace. The newly appointed luxury hotel areas reflect imperial Russian style while feeling fresh, light and contemporary.

The Lion Palace joins a collection of unique and architecturally important heritage hotels in Europe whose origins range from the fifteenth to the early twentieth centuries. These now include the Four Seasons Hotel Florence, sensitively adapted over ten years from two Renaissance palaces and set in an idyllic 11-acre garden; the Four Seasons Gresham Palace, an Art Nouveau landmark in the remarkable city of Budapest; the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, housed in a century-old neo-classical prison; the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, transformed from a nineteenth century former Ottoman place; the Four Seasons Hotel Milan developed from a Fifteenth Century convent and the legendary Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, an eight story landmark built in 1928.

The new Holiday Inn Express Princeton Southeast, formerly part of the Wyndham Princeton, is conveniently located minutes from downtown Princeton and set in 35 wooded acres overlooking a tranquil lake.Located at 870 Scudders Mill Road in Plainsboro, the new Holiday Inn Express Princeton Southeast boasts a new, modern appearance and décor, with upgraded furnishings and amenities. The three-story, 62-room hotel is perfect for business travellers planning to attend meetings or events in Princeton or Plainsboro. The hotel is conveniently located near Princeton University, the Princeton Historic District, the University Medical Center in Plainsboro, and several Fortune 500 companies. The hotel also caters to families who can enjoy nearby access to an abundance of restaurants, shops and national-brand department stores nearby, as well as Six Flags Great Adventure and Mercer County Park.

In addition to complimentary high-speed Internet access available throughout the hotel, the Holiday Inn Express Princeton Southeast has a 24-hour business centre, as well as a 735-square-foot conference room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the wooded area. Holiday Inn Express Princeton Southeast guests also have access to another conference centre facility featuring several conference rooms, which can accommodate groups from less than half a dozen to more than 350 people.

The Holiday Inn Express Princeton Southeast is owned by Princeton Three Hospitality Group LLC and managed by GF Management under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

Spa hotels in Germany can represent for the inhibited Englishperson something of a cultural shock, as for most Germans swimming or having steam or sauna treatments is taken nude. The spa areas are separate in this hotel, and for obvious reasons were not photographed in what was a casual discovery of a very good traditional German hotel. I love the hotels that are true to their locality and its traditions, boast of the vernacular, and the Hotel Niedersachsen does that superbly well.

“.a building… guided by a series of conventions built up in his locality, paying little attention to what may be fashionable. The function of the building would be the dominant factor, aesthetic considerations, though present to some small degree, being quite minimal. Local materials would be used as a matter of course, other materials being chosen and imported quite exceptionally”

Brunskill, R.W. (2006) [1985]. Traditional Buildings of Britain: An Introduction to Vernacular Architecture

“The term vernacular is derived from the Latin vernaculus, meaning “domestic, native, indigenous”;

definition in Wikipedia
Unlike Brunskill however, I believe the vernacular can be done with both style and panache.

The Hotel Niedersachsen does both. Not only does it manage to be vernacular with style, but it has also done it at intervals over time. It is not all as it should (or even could) be of course, that is sometimes the nature of the vernacular, but much of the interiors were done, in different eras, with a style which has stood the test of time, and the current extensions promise to carry the same longevity as they are done in the same vernacular traditions. In Höxter of course they have much to live up to, as you will see.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts has announced its second property in Tampa, Fla., with the reflagging of Hyatt Regency Tampa as Hotel Tampa, an affiliate of Hilton. Prior to being renamed Hilton Tampa Downtown in 2013, the hotel will undergo extensive renovations to the guest rooms, lobby, common areas, dining and restaurant amenities, ballroom and meeting spaces, fitness centre and administrative offices. Hotel Tampa joins Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore, Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park, Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront and Hilton Clearwater Beach as the fifth Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in the Tampa Bay Area.

“Located in the heart of downtown Tampa, Hotel Tampa expands our presence along the west coast of Florida. This hotel is an ideal location for both business and leisure travellers due to its location near museums, business facilities, entertainment and dining,” said Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

The hotel features 521 guest rooms and guests will enjoy an outdoor pool, fitness centre, Avanzare Lobby Bar and Restaurant and Starbucks Coffee onsite. Business travellers will find 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a modern business centre, as well as enjoy the convenience of being within minutes of the convention centre.

Visit Villeroy & Boch’s stand (721) at January’s Hospitality Show to get an exclusive glimpse at their brand new tableware series, set to be one of their most exciting launches to date! The Affinity collection from Villeroy & Boch is set to be one of the most exciting tableware launches for the hospitality industry to date. With its clear and defined shapes and attention to detail, the Affinity range is subtly stylish, intelligent and will work in every establishment style from a business hotel to canteen to the hippest new bar. The Affinity range will not only accentuate your professional skills but will certainly not go unnoticed by your guests. Once they have set eyes on this unique design, they will want to experience it everywhere they go.

Stackable, space-saving, durable and attractively priced, this is one of Villeroy & Boch’s most diverse and dynamic product launches to date and what’s more is that it’s incredibly easy to combine with the brand’s other popular collections.

“We’ve chosen to launch our new collection at Hospitality as it is one of the leading shows for our customers. 2013 is going to be an exciting year for us with the launch of the Affinity collection and will really make you evaluate whether your existing collections are working for you. What is most exciting is the attractive pricing of the range. I’m certain that our customers will love it as much as we do!” comments Nick Green, head of hotel and restaurant at Villeroy & Boch.

Villeroy & Boch will be at stand 721 at The Hospitality Show from the 21-23rd January 2013

The latest Hotel Investor Sentiment Survey by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels’ reveals that 40% of respondents stated that their investment activity over the next 6 months will be to ‘buy’ assets, with positive buy intentions focused on Germany’s major cities and other key European markets including London, Warsaw, Vienna, Amsterdam and Paris.Jon Hubbard, CEO Northern Europe Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels said: “Survey results indicate that confidence in hotel real estate is holding up well despite the economic problems in Europe. Cap rate requirements remain firm at an average of 7.2 per cent, with keener yields for key gateway markets such as Paris, London and in key German cities where aggressive bidding has driven prices to peak levels. Internal rate of Return requirements also shifted more significantly, contracting by 170 basis points to 13.7 per cent reflecting continued strong investor interest in hotel real estate in Europe.”

When it comes to the most sought after asset type in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) results show that 28.8 per cent of respondents indicated their interest in targeting upscale properties for investments, with the sentiment in this asset class rising significantly since the last Hotel Investment survey in May 2012. By contrast, the weakest sentiment was recorded for lower asset classes in particular the budget and serviced apartment sector according to results. However, it is worth noting that the budget market in CEE showed some investor interest reflecting the attractive development opportunities in this emerging market.

Jon Hubbard continues: “With the flight to quality likely to continue investors expect a further hardening in yield requirements for core markets including Warsaw, Stockholm, Munich and Istanbul. Unsurprisingly, Western Europe was the region with the lowest capitalisation rate expectations with Paris registering 6.1 per cent and London 6.3 per cent.”

Meanwhile, survey results have also shown that investors remain optimistic about trading expectations in the short to medium term but are more cautious now about the medium term when compared to the previous Hotel Investor survey. Of the 37 cities tracked, 19 (51%) are expected to show trading performance growth in the short term (6 months). For the medium term, 24 cities (64%) are expected to show growth compared to 31 (84%) six months ago.

Christoph Härle, CEO Continental Europe Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels said, “While investors generally remain optimistic about trading expectations, results show a weakening sentiment for short term trading in southern Europe reflecting the difficulties that those markets currently face in the corporate and leisure arenas. For example, revenue per available room has started to decline in certain markets such as Madrid, Lisbon and Milan. However, looking at the positives, investors were particularly confident that Scandinavia will continue to improve in the short term having shown impressive resilience in the current challenging climate as well as growth as a leisure destination. The most positive outlook in terms of trading performance was recorded by Munich – the best performing German hotel market and certainly one to watch.”

Oetker Collection, which owns and manages masterpiece hotels around the world, is pleased to announce its newest property, L’Apogée Courchevel located in Le Jardin Alpin.
The hotel will open on 11th December 2013 and will be supervised by Philippe Perd, the Managing Director of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Chateau Saint-Martin Hotel in the south of France.L’Apogée will comprise 33 stunning suites, 20 spacious double rooms and a spectacular penthouse with its own jacuzzi and private terrace, offering breathtaking views over Courchevel village. In addition, L’Apogée will include a signature restaurant featuring a dramatic grill centerpiece, under the supervision of Michelin two-star Chef Yannick Franques, a grand terrace fordining outside, and a superb spa and wellness centre featuring treatment rooms and a swimming pool.

Situated next to L’Apogée will be a private and exclusive chalet which will feature five bedrooms, a spa and its own home cinema. L’Apogée will also benefit from its own private ski lift, enabling guests and diners to reach the hotel in true style.

The renowned architects and interior designers India Mahdavi, who has worked onprojects throughout America and Europe, and Joseph Dirand who will oversee the interior styling of L’Apogée.

The hotel is owned by French entrepreneur and businessman Xavier Niel, who owns the Internet Service Provider, Free and will be managed by Oetker Collection under the agreement.

Frank Marrenbach, CEO of Oetker Collection, commented: “We are excited to be opening our first masterpiece hotel in the French Alps. L’Apogée will complement our existing properties and fits perfectly with our portfolio. Courchevel, as a new Oetker Collection destination, will appeal to our loyal city and resort guests. We would also like to pay a particular tribute to Galaxis Capital and Philippe Gurdjian who supported us and initially introduced us to the project”.

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its second European luxury hotel opening in recent months – the highly-anticipated Waldorf Astoria Berlin. Setting a new standard in luxury for Berlin and the wider German market, the hotel marries the timeless elegance of the legendary flagship, Waldorf Astoria New York, with a unique design inspired by Berlin’s vibrant and contemporary personality. Featuring 232 luxury guestrooms and suites, the hotel sits within the spectacular new Zoofenster skyscraper, designed by renowned German architect, Professor Christoph Mäckler. With a total of 32 floors and a height of 118 metres all crafted with stone and glass and the city’s highest suite, the splendid presidential suite on the top floor, the Zoofenster and Waldorf Astoria Berlin are a truly magnificent addition to the skyline of Berlin’s City West.

The hotel’s interior design has been conceived by the renowned Parisian agency, Inter Art Etudes, in a timeless yet contemporary interpretation of art deco style. From the lobby to the guest rooms and suites, the hotel’s interior design, is worthy of the prestigious legacy of the famed Waldorf Astoria, which opened its doors in 1931 on New York’s Park Avenue.

The hotel’s enviable location puts guests on the doorstep of some of the city’s most famous tourist attractions. This includes the historic church, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, built as a memorial to Kaiser Wilhelm I, the first man to become emperor of a united Germany. The glamour of the premium shopping boulevard, Kurfürstendamm, known to locals as Germany’s Champs Elysées is only minutes away and contains a plethora of designer fashion houses.

Waldorf Astoria Berlin boasts an impressive range of dining and drinking experiences in a variety of settings and styles. The outstanding attraction will be the restaurant run by world-renowned French chef, Pierre Gagnaire. Boasting 12 Michelin stars at restaurants across the globe, Gagnaire requires little introduction and tables at the opulent “Les Solistes by Pierre Gagnaire” are set to be amongst the most highly sought after of the Berlin restaurant scene.

In addition, the Romanisches Café – renowned as a legendary meeting place for literati, local artists and musicians – is set to reopen on the ground floor of the hotel, just a stones throw from where it was first located around 100 years ago. The New York-styled Lang Bar offers upmarket ambiance in which to enjoy a range of cocktails and artisan beers. Whilst in the shadow of the famous Waldorf Astoria grandfather clock, Peacock Alley provides signature afternoon teas in a stylish, yet relaxed, environment to complete the hotel’s array of mouth-watering experiences.

Providing further opportunity for indulgence will be the hotel’s spa, featuring acclaimed French beauty specialists, Guerlain. With a tradition of excellence in the field of wellness and beauty which can be traced back almost 200 years, the Guerlain Spa Waldorf Astoria will see the trendsetting brand bring its innovative range of treatments to Germany for the very first time.

Guerlain Spa Waldorf Astoria will offer eight therapy rooms amid a spacious 1,000 square metre spa area, each individually designed to complement the delivery of a variety of treatments. Guerlain has also developed the “Beauty Revelation” a signature treatment which will be exclusive to Waldorf Astoria Berlin, combining rejuvenating body and facial treatments to invigorate the senses and leave guests with a sensation of freshness in both body and mind.

In addition to the hotel’s exclusive dining and wellness facilities, Waldorf Astoria Berlin also provides a spectacular venue for meetings, conferences and events hosting from 10 people up to 1200. The second floor of the hotel features a range of exclusive facilities including a 3550 square foot ballroom perfect for extravagant weddings, award ceremonies or banquets. Five private rooms all with the benefit of state of the art equipment and natural lighting throughout, are also available and a wonderful terrace overlooking the city, for up to 200 people, is located on the sixth floor.

All images (c) 2013 Waldorf Astoria.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has recently announced the opening of the new Holiday Inn Express Pittsburgh East – Munhall, conveniently located near the banks of Monongahela River and the area’s upscale Waterfront open-air shopping mall.Close to Interstate 376, the new hotel is just seven miles from Pittsburgh and three miles from the world-renown Kennywood Amusement Park. Surrounded by shops, nationally recognized department stores and a wide selection of restaurants, the new hotel is perfect for those travellers who want to relax in a comfortable suburban setting.

Located at 608 E. Waterfront Drive in Homestead, PA, the 70-room hotel’s proximity to Pittsburgh is also attractive to business travellers as the area hosts offices for several of the nation’s top corporations including H.J. Heinz, PPG Industries, US Steel, and PNC Financial Services Group. The hotel is also less than 20 minutes from both the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

Guest rooms feature contemporary styling, a 42-inch HD flat screen TV, iPod docking station, comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast 100% Arabica coffee. Business travellers will find large desks with ergonomic chairs, free high-speed internet access both in the rooms and throughout the hotel, and free local phone and toll free, phones with private voicemail and complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers a . The Holiday Inn Express Pittsburgh East – Munhall also features a 24-hour business centre and wireless data connections.

The new Holiday Inn Express hotel includes a 525-square foot meeting room that can accommodate up to 40 people and a fully equipped 24-hour fitness centre. The hotel Guests at the Holiday Inn Express Pittsburgh East – Munhall will experience a comfortable and smart environment with innovative preferred guest upgrades to ensure a productive stay while travelling for business or leisure. The hotel’s complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar features a full range of breakfast items, including a rotation of egg and meat selections, biscuits, yogurt, fruit, pancakes, the brand’s proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast® coffee. The SimplySmart™ shower incorporates a proprietary StaySmart™ Kohler showerhead, signature shower curtain with curved rod, and upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels. Guests will enjoy the SimplySmart™ bedding collection, where they will find crisp fresh bedding that features an attractive decorative throw, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft 200 thread-count sheets.

ISG has successfully completed a turnkey programme to deliver a new luxury hotel – the InterContinental London Westminster, in just 39-weeks on behalf of developer Supreme Hotels.The £37 million project saw the construction consultancy work under an open book management contract to fast-track the 256 bedroom scheme and complete the hotel within the accelerated timeframe. The company’s innovative approach involved putting in place multiple suppliers and subcontractors for each element of the build, reducing the risk of any delays to the extremely tight programme and ensuring turnkey project delivery with a full fixtures, fittings and equipment (FF&E) contract.

Involved in every aspect of the procurement process, the construction consultancy worked closely with its client to source the highest quality materials and products from across the globe as part of the FF&E package. Marble was imported from Italy and Spain, with furniture sourced from Italy, China and England and lighting from Germany.

Located close to the Houses of Parliament, InterContinental London Westminster is the first InterContinental Hotel to open in London for 36 years. The building was formerly the offices of the Government’s Treasury Solicitor and has now been converted to offer 256 en-suite guest bedrooms over six floors, including 44 suites.

A substantial presidential suite on level six has been created, along with an executive style club bar and lounge area on the first floor. Meanwhile, the ground floor has been extensively remodelled to accommodate a high specification lobby, lobby lounge, a winter garden area, contemporary restaurant and a sophisticated feature pub. The refurbishment also included the installation of seven new lifts, a feature helical staircase, back of house offices and facilities, restaurant and bar kitchens and a range of conference and banqueting accommodation at basement level, along with a gym for hotel guests.

The project also saw the construction of a new porte cochère to provide covered vehicular access along with the refurbishment of the building’s façade and windows, including some architecturally listed elements, as well as the construction of a large plant deck at roof level.

Peter Kilby, managing director of ISG’s Hotels division, commented: “Completing a project of this size and scope within such a short time scale required specialist expertise, a dynamic team and close co-operation across the delivery partners. The only way to achieve delivery of such a complex and demanding scheme was via a management contract that would enable all stakeholders to work in a collaborative and efficient manner towards the delivery timescale.

“With 36 different room layouts, a completely enclosed site and a requirement to remove all external scaffolding for two months during the Olympics and Paralympic Games, this was a scheme of considerable challenges. However, precision management, just-in-time site deliveries and a team of up to 700 construction professionals working on site at any one time, ensured that we were able to deliver to exacting five-star standards within our client’s deadline.”

The highlights of November’s performance include:
• London hotels suffer second worst profit decline of 2012;
• Another damp squib for Provincial hotels as costs stifle profit growth.

Hilton Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of its newest property in the Pearl River Delta – Hilton Zhongshan Downtown. Operated by Hilton Worldwide and owned by The Lihe Group, the property is located in the heart of Zhongshan’s central business district and surrounded by premium retail and entertainment centre. The hotel features 459 guest rooms including 34 suites; a variety of restaurants and bars, two ballrooms, as well as state-of-the-art meeting facilities and an unrivalled recreation centre.As part of the Lihe Plaza – a multi-functional commercial, residential, retail and entertainment complex, Hilton Zhongshan Downtown is the perfect choice for business and leisure travellers. The hotel is 60 kilometres from Macau, 80 kilometres from Guangzhou and 100 kilometres from Hong Kong, and is accessible by road, rail and ferry.

Hilton Zhongshan Downtown’s 459 luxurious guest rooms including 34 suites boast a range of quality amenities, including an expansive work space, wireless internet access, Peter Thomas Roth toiletries, free-standing tubs in deluxe rooms and sunken tubs in executive rooms,. Each room also features a spectacular view of the city. Wireless internet access will also be available in the building’s public areas, bringing additional convenience to hotel guests.

Guests can enjoy unparalleled recreational facilities, including a 25-meter heated, indoor swimming pool, and a professional tennis court and 24-hour fitness centre equipped with a yoga and aerobics room, whirlpool and sauna. For an ultimate indulgence, guests can also receive rejuvenating beauty treatments at the hotel’s full-service spa.

The hotel also features 3,600 square meters of conference and banquet space, including two grand ballrooms and eight state-of-the-art multi-functional rooms, all of which have large windows that let in natural light. The 1,323-square meter Grand Ballroom 1 features an eight-meter ceiling and can accommodate up to 1,200 guests in style. The magnificent Grand Ballroom 2’s 921 square meters can be divided into two separate rooms. The hotel’s business centre provides full business facilities and services to meet guests’ business needs, including computers, copy machines, printers, printing services, telephones, and postal services. The Connectivity Station provides guests with 24-hour access to computer and printing services.

The hotel features a variety of restaurants and bars, offering a variety of world-class delicacies and drinks that will satisfy guests’ different palates.

Hilton Zhongshan Downtown’s vibrant restaurant 360° opens during breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering a full-service buffet featuring contemporary Asian and Western cuisine as well as an a la carte menu. Guests can start their days with a full Hilton breakfast that includes hot and cold buffet selections and a wide range of local delicacies. Interactive cooking stations, like a wok station, tandoor oven and seafood grill delight guests during lunch and dinner. Guests can also treat themselves by trying the dessert buffet, which features a wide array of delectable, homemade desserts, cakes and ice cream.

Located on the second floor is My China which features the freshest and finest ingredients, offering specialty cook-at-the-table Cantonese and Asian hotpots.

The elegant contemporary restaurant, Il Ponte, offers authentic Spanish tapas and Italian cuisine as well as stunning views from its 58th-floor location. Open kitchens allow guests to watch chefs create magnificent dishes for a dining experience that will certainly be remembered.

Horizon Bar & Lounge, Zhongshan’s newest and most exciting lounge bar on the 59th floor, offers stunning views for guests to enjoy while relaxing with a cocktail from the bar’s extensive drinks list. This restaurant also offers a light menu of contemporary food and popular music.

The lobby bar, T Lounge & Bar, offers an extensive array of tea and coffee selections, homemade cakes and pastries and a sophisticated list of wines, fine cognacs and whiskies.

Hilton Worldwide is set to further strengthen its presence in Egypt following the signing of a management agreement with Delta for Tourism & Hotels Company to introduce a new Hilton Hotels & Resorts property to the city of Alexandria. The new 158-room Hilton Alexandria Corniche, a conversion property, is expected to open as a Hilton branded hotel in 2013 and will be Hilton Worldwide’s 19th property in Egypt and it’s second in Alexandria.

Hilton Alexandria Corniche will enjoy a prime location and imposing presence in Alexandria’s most upscale district on the city’s Corniche. Surrounded by stylish residences and boasting stunning views of the beachfront and Mediterranean Sea, the property will feature two large function rooms, four meeting rooms, a business centre, three restaurants, two of which will be speciality, and two bars. Leisure facilities will include a health club & spa, private beach and an outdoor pool.

Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide Middle East & Africa said: “I am thrilled we continue to build on our important legacy in Egypt, a country we have served for more than 50 years. Alexandria is an inspired choice for our latest signing, it is a vibrant city with a strong business and tourism sector and our new hotel, commanding a superior beachfront location, will perfectly complement the facilities at our existing city-based hotel in Alexandria.”

Known as the ‘Pearl of the Mediterranean’ and Egypt’s second largest city, Alexandria enjoys a rich and proud heritage dating back to 331 BC when Alexander the Great founded the city. Alexandria’s status as a beacon of culture and civilisation was symbolised at the time by Pharos, the legendary lighthouse which became one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, the city is a beacon to industry, commerce and tourism attracting a mix of business, leisure and cultural travellers.

Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts said: “As the pre-eminent hospitality provider in the region, our portfolio of properties in Egypt incorporates many styles and offerings but all share the well-defined, distinctive company hallmarks of top quality facilities and high standards of service. Hilton Alexandria Corniche will perfectly combine these style and service attributes to create a premium experience for both leisure and business travellers.”

Tarek El Sayed, Chairman of owners Delta for Tourism & Hotels company said: “We wanted to collaborate with an internationally recognised brand to match our ambition to provide world class hotel facilities. Hilton Worldwide has the experience and the reputation and were our natural first choice to operate this landmark property.”

The highlights of November’s performance include:
• Hotels in Athens record a loss in profit per room;
• Performance is mixed as anti-austerity protests hit major European city markets.

Scotland’s largest hotel is undergoing a £3 million refurbishment programme as it strengthens its offering to corporate clients and broadens its appeal in the increasingly competitive Glasgow marketplace.Jurys Inn Glasgow will redevelop 175 bedrooms before Christmas this year and will complete its overhaul of all 321 bedrooms by February 2013.

The hotel will be adding a range of executive rooms for the first time on the 10th and 11th floors, which will feature upgraded facilities and furnishings as well as benefits such as free wifi and early check ins and late check outs.

As part of the refurbishment programme, all rooms will receive new furniture carpets and artwork on the walls and refreshed bathrooms with new showers and chromework. Environmentally friendly lighting is being installed in the communal areas on every floor and new lighting fitted in each of the bathrooms.

The hotel’s public areas have also been overhauled. The new conference facility, Jurysmeetings, has been launched with extensive redecoration and new carpets fitted and furniture installed to the entire conference floor, which includes a conference breakout lounge and 10 meeting rooms.

Contemporary furnishings and carpets have been fitted throughout the bar area and restaurant areas, with a new grill menu in the bar and seasonal menus in the restaurant introduced. A new Costa Coffee bar has also opened, serving both guests and the wider public.

Brand new stylish lobby and lounge areas have been created, with a new colour scheme, contemporary furnishings and carpets throughout. More comfortable seating has also been installed.

The £3 million investment signals the first major redevelopment of the city centre hotel since it opened its doors in Glasgow back in 2003.

Barry Rowland, Jurys Inn Glasgow general manager said: “A lot has changed over the past 10 years – not just in the hospitality industry, but in customer expectations.

“We realised we would have to up our own game as the hotel industry has grown increasingly competitive in Glasgow and we want to remain as one of the leaders in our market segment.

“Creating two executive floors, for example, is an entirely new thing for us which we’re effectively piloting for the whole company. This shows we’re not content with business as usual.”

Jurys Inn Glasgow has also refurbished its 18 accessible rooms for disabled guests. Of the 18, 16 are partially accessible and feature lowered beds and sockets, widened doors, additional handrails and emergency cords. The other two are fully accessible rooms, which also offer roll-in wet room showers and electronic doors.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced plans to introduce its rapidly expanding Four Points by Sheraton brand to Berlin in 2014. Owned by Proprietas s.r.o., Four Points® by Sheraton Berlin Airport will be the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Berlin and the third for the brand in Germany. This new-build hotel will be located adjacent to a new business park and just a few kilometres from Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, which is currently under construction in Germany’s capital city.Four Points by Sheraton Berlin Airport will feature 253 comfortable and stylish guest rooms, two restaurants, a lobby bar, a 24-hour fitness centre as well as meeting and event space and a fully-equipped business centre. The hotel will also feature all of the brand’s defining elements, including the signature Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort bed and free Wi-Fi in all public areas, reflecting the brand’s promise and insight into the needs of today’s traveller.

Always an honest value, Four Points by Sheraton has great amenities like free bottled water and free Wi-Fi in public spaces. A delicious breakfast with great coffee and refreshing, local beer with Best Brews help guests to start and end the day right. Four Points by Sheraton gives travellers everything they need to be comfortable and productive on the road.

Berlin Brandenburg International Airport is scheduled to open by end 2013 and is projected to become Germany’s third busiest airport.

Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

The highlights of October’s performance include:

• Is Hamburg really the most attractive hotel market for investment in Germany?
• 2012 proving to be a tough year for hotels in germany’s congress markets.

With a record 467 million tourists travelling in the first half of 2012, international tourism remains firmly on track to reach one billion tourists by the end of the year.

Despite concerns over the global economy, international tourism demand continues to show resilience. The number of international tourists worldwide grew by 5% between January and June 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 (22 million more). Although a slight slowdown in growth can be expected for the rest of the year, international arrivals are forecast to exceed one billion by the end of 2012.“Amid the current economic uncertainty, tourism is one of the few economic sectors in the world growing strongly, driving economic progress in developing and developed countries alike and, most importantly, creating much needed jobs,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao.

“As we lead up to the milestone of one billion, we need to ensure that the tourism sector is supported by adequate national policies and that we work to reduce existing barriers to the expansion of the sector, such as complicated visa procedures, increased direct taxation or limited connectivity,” he added.

Asia leads growth
International arrivals were up in all regions between January and June 2012.

Asia and the Pacific (+8%) led growth by region, boosted by the recovery of Japanese inbound and outbound tourism as well as by the continued strong performance of other major source markets throughout the region. Destinations in South Asia and South-East Asia (both +9%) showed some of the best results worldwide. “Although Asia was affected by the economic crisis of 2008-2009 due to its strong linkages with other economies, the region has bounced back quickly and is today a leader in the global economy. This is clearly reflected in its tourism figures,” said Mr. Rifai.

Europe (+4%), the most visited destination in the world, consolidated its record growth of 2011, despite continuing economic volatility in the Eurozone. Results were above the regional average in Central and Eastern Europe (+7%) where many destinations saw double-digit growth, as well as in Western Europe (+5%). By contrast, demand in Southern and Mediterranean Europe (+1%) slowed down, but on top of a very strong 2011, and partly due to the recovery of destinations in North Africa and the Middle East.

The Americas (+5%) grew in line with the world average, with Central America (+7%) and South America (+6%) recording the strongest results. In fact, South America has been one of the sub-regions with the fastest tourism growth of recent years. Destinations in North America grew at 4%, a relatively high rate for a mature sub-region, while growth in the Caribbean (+5%) remained buoyant, consolidating 2011 results.

In Africa (+7%), the return of tourist flows to Tunisia is reflected in the results of North Africa (+11%). Likewise, the rebound of Egypt is clearly mirrored in the results of the Middle-East (+0.7%). Destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa (+6%) continued to show strong results, following the good growth rates of this sub-region in previous years.

Healthy demand from both emerging and advanced economy source markets
In terms of outbound markets, and among the top ten countries by expenditure on travel abroad, growth was significant in China (+30%), the Russian Federation (+15%), USA (+9%), Germany (+6%) and Canada (+6%) . In Japan, an 8% increase in spending on overseas tourism confirms the recovery of this important market. On the other hand, growth was comparatively slow or negative in the UK, Australia, Italy and France.

The Grosvenor House became the flagship European J W Marriott about four years ago, J W Marriott being the apogee of Marriott branding. Traditionally the grandest of grand hotels, Grosvenor House tries to be a grand hotel and certainly in the public areas it succeeds.

Heart of the money though is the Great Room. Originally a skating rink this, along with the Dorchester just down the road, is the main competitor for large dinner events in Central London. Perpetually booked the Great Room with its own grand entrance from Park Lane is a major driver of room bookings, but the hotel is also very popular with US tourists, and this is reflected in the J W steak house, a very transatlantic innovation added to the ageing hotel the end of a four year programme of deep refurbishment in 2008.

Resisting the temptation to knock it down and start again, which can scarcely have been much more expensive, owners the Royal Bank of Scotland invested heavily in bringing all the unseen services, soil stack, electrical and plumbing systems, into the twenty-first century. Marriott seized the opportunity to gain a major landmark in the European hotel industry as one of their first, and proclaimed as their leading J.W. Marriott in Europe.

DoubleTree by Hilton has announced the opening of the newly renovated, upscale, full-service, 177-room The Emily Morgan San Antonio – a DoubleTree by Hilton. The hotel is owned by Alamo Hotels, Inc. under a franchise license agreement with a subsidiary of Hilton Worldwide. The hotel is managed by Westmont Hospitality Group.Renovations have been completed in all areas of the hotel with rustic design elements chosen to reflect the hotel’s historic location at the site of the Alamo. Guest rooms feature new carpeting, window treatments, furniture and bedding, and bathrooms were redone in their entirety. Public areas and meeting spaces have been upgraded with new carpet, lighting and wall coverings, including stone work lamps, metallic frames and natural wood elements.

“By partnering with DoubleTree by Hilton, we gain global reach and recognition and become part of a brand that shares our commitment to a superior service culture and a respect for the hotel’s distinct history and personality,” said Chris Johnson, general manager. “That makes DoubleTree by Hilton the ideal partner for the Emily Morgan and for San Antonio. This brand caters to both business and leisure travellers who appreciate an authentic experience in a relaxed hotel atmosphere. We have given a fresh feel and a new outlook to a Texas classic.”

The tastefully appointed guest rooms at The Emily Morgan San Antonio – a DoubleTree by Hilton feature bright décor and modern comforts and conveniences. Rooms provide a single king size or two queen beds; granite bathrooms; mini-fridge; spacious work desks with ergonomic chairs; large screen, high-definition, LCD TVs; MP3-compatible alarm clocks; plush Sweet Dreams® by DoubleTree Sleep Experience pillows; Wolfgang Puck in-room gourmet coffee and tea service; and CITRON by Crabtree & Evelyn bath and body products. Complimentary high-speed internet access is available throughout the hotel.

The Emily Morgan San Antonio – a DoubleTree by Hilton can accommodate business and social events in 4,500sq. ft. of flexible meeting space. The hotel also has a 24-hour business centre and complimentary printing service that includes “print-from-your room” convenience. For guests who wish to keep up with their workout programme while on the road, a newly renovated, state-of-the-art, fitness centre and year-round outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool are available.

The hotel’s onsite restaurant, ORO Restaurant and Bar, features regional Texan cuisine, complimented by seasonal dishes served in a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant serves the brand’s signature Wake Up DoubleTree Breakfast, which includes hot dishes and healthy options to start the day right. At the end of a busy day, guests can unwind with a fine selection of refreshing cocktails in the restaurant’s stylish lounge. Room service also is available during peak dining hours.

Located opposite from The Alamo in the historic downtown area, The Emily Morgan San Antonio – a DoubleTree by Hilton is situated just minutes from the city’s world-famous Riverwalk. The hotel is easily accessible to the San Antonio International Airport, Stinson Municipal Airport, and Interstate highways 10, 35 and 37.

Meliá Hotels International will open its first two Innside by Meliá hotels in Spain in early 2013. The first of them will be the Innside Madrid Génova, located in the central Alonso Martínez square, which will be based in a fully-renovated historic building to create a lifestyle four star hotel with 65 rooms. The second hotel will be the Innside Madrid Luchana, with 43 rooms.Both hotels are the first in Spain for this lifestyle city hotel brand, one of the best ranked brands in its home country Germany, which joined the Spanish company’s brand portfolio in 2007. Since then, Meliá Hotels International has pursued an ambitious expansion plan for the brand, which already has several hotels schedules to open in cities such as Copenhagen, Manchester, Lisbon, Barcelona, Hamburg and Dusseldorf.

Innside by Meliá hotels provide a lifestyle business experience, efficient and smart service, contemporary design and the latest technology, making them an excellent choice for both business and leisure travellers.

The new Innside Madrid Génova in the Alonso Martínez square on the corner with Santa Engracia Street, will provide a library lounge that serves drinks and snacks, and creative meeting spaces. The majority of its 65 rooms provide views of Génova street and the Plaza de Colón.

The Innside Madrid Luchana will be located in Luchana Street on the corner with Francisco de Rojas, and will be a four star hotel providing 43 rooms, a destination bar and a rooftop with stunning views over the Spanish capital.

In the words of Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, “Innside by Meliá meets all the requirements to become a benchmark urban brand in major cities worldwide, and that is why we have a major focus on growing internationally. The new Innside hotels in Madrid, with their superb location and facilities, will definitely help us generate the brand recognition we need to promote this very powerful brand in new markets”.

Marriott International, Inc. is thrilled to announce the addition of the new Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel to its portfolio in Canada. When opened, the hotel will represent the first Renaissance Hotel to open in Alberta. Marriott International currently operates 74 hotels in Canada representing nine brands in its global portfolio, which includes eighteen brands.The newly constructed hotel will be owned and operated by Platinum Investments Ltd., and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2013. The property was originally scheduled to open under the Courtyard by Marriott brand but will now be fully redesigned to reflect Renaissance Hotels, a full-service lifestyle hospitality brand. In order to complete this transformation, Platinum Investments Ltd. has invested substantial capital into the project.

Renaissance Hotels was acquired by Marriott International in 1997 and quickly became one of the most popular brands within the company’s portfolio. The brand’s inspiration – Live Life to Discover – places an emphasis on profiling local music, art, and entertainment through its signature RLife LIVE program, while also encouraging travellers to take the time to explore the hidden gems of the community through its NAVIGATOR program.

From a construction perspective, the hotel will feature modular solid wall construction that virtually eliminates noise transfer between suites, from the hallways, and from the airfield. The windows feature triple glazed, argon filled bomb blast quality glass that will block any aircraft noise.

The hotel design will feature more functional public space similar in size to EIA’s new Central Hall for mingling, relaxing and gathering. The hotel will offer 213 rooms, including a presidential suite. Additionally, it will also offer 20,000 square feet of meeting and special event space.

Hilton Worldwide announces the opening of the new-build 207-room Hilton Lima Miraflores – the company’s first managed hotel in Peru and the flagship brand’s first Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotel in the country. Located 11 miles from the international airport in an upscale area of Lima known for its shopping, gardens and fine dining, the sophisticated Hilton Lima Miraflores brings a new level of design and service to the neighborhood. With a focus on delivering genuine Hilton hospitality and providing guests with a luxurious yet warm environment, the hotel delivers a thoughtful combination of discerning service standards and local aesthetics.

Guests of Hilton Lima Miraflores will be inspired by the hotel’s design, which plays tribute to Peruvian history and architecture. Upon arrival in the inviting lobby and throughout the hotel’s public areas, guests immediately connect to the country’s colonial period, depicted by a carpet pattern representative of the historical era, and handmade tiles that reference different areas of the city.

Featuring 207 rooms, including 44 executive rooms, 17 suites and a presidential suite, the 11-story Hilton Lima Miraflores consistently reflects sophistication, modern décor infused with Peruvian elements. All guest rooms and corridors feature individually created lattice woodwork, a key element that highlights the hotel’s identity and desire to inspire memorable experiences for guests. Similar to the carpet design, the wooden pieces of art illustrate the balconies of the 18th century, whereby ladies could see outside their windows but passersby could not see inside a home. All rooms also feature the Hilton Serenity Collection™ of amenities including plush bedding, high-definition flat screen television, alarm clock with MP3 player connection, wired and wireless internet access and more, while guests staying in an executive room or suite enjoy the added benefit of the hotel’s concierge service and rooftop executive lounge, offering light snacks and beverages throughout the day.

Dining also plays an important role at Hilton Lima Miraflores, as guests can enjoy Social, the hotel’s signature restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring Peruvian American fusion fare with local cuisine and ingredients. In the evening, the hotel’s lobby bar opens onto a street-level terrace, offering guests and locals a place to unwind in the city. This first Hilton hotel in Peru is also near a thriving culinary scene including four new restaurants by renowned local chefs, making it ideal for the gastronomy enthusiast.

The hotel provides a great base for events and business travellers, with more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space including nine meeting rooms, a business centre and a nearly 3,700 square foot ballroom that will accommodate 430 people. A rooftop terrace offers guests stunning views of Lima and the sea, while recreation options are completed by a rooftop heated outdoor swimming pool, two whirlpools and Hilton Fitness gym.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has recently announced the opening of The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. Boasting a prime location within the prestigious waterfront community of Tarpon Point, The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village is Starwood’s first full-service property in southwest Florida. The resort, which was previously known as The Resort at MarinaVillage, features all the Westin brand’s signature guest offerings and programs. Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Caloosahatchee River and San Carlos Bay, The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village features 263 oversized rooms and suites, world-class dining and 25,000 square feet of meeting and function space. Premium resort amenities include a lagoon-style outdoor pool, and access to clay tennis courts, amphitheatre, and marina with water sports, cruises and fishing. The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village features a newly renovated WestinWORKOUT® fitness studio, where guests will have plenty of choices for cardio, strength and stretching. Following further renovations, the hotel will also offer a brand-new Westin Kids Club and convert its 4,000-foot spa to a Heavenly Spa by Westin.

All guestrooms and suites at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village are equipped with 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 resort also offers the Westin brand’s signature SuperFoodsRX® menu, which includes nutrient-rich and delicious options to tempt every palate.

Both indoor dining and patio seating are available at Marker92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro, along with an enticing menu of fresh seafood, steaks, sushi and a large wine selection. The Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar & Grill provides a more casual atmosphere for al fresco dining, as well as live music.

Conveniently located between Tampa and Naples, The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village is just 18 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport and within close proximity of Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, the Ding Darling Nature Preserve, and multiple nearby golf courses.

Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

November saw the re-launch of the Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa’s 19th century Belle Epoque-style Brasserie under its original name, ‘The Bordeaux’. Originally opened in 1850 in the Place de la Comédie square at the heart of the city, today it is the only restaurant that remains from ‘old Bordeaux’.

Overseen by Executive Chef Pascal Nibaudeau, Chef Olivier Garnier will craft a menu for this Belle Epoque-style brasserie that will feature only the most traditional of French dishes and wholesome local delicacies.

Big cuts of meat such as wild boar and suckling pig can be served on request and a contemporary twist on wines by the glass, leading Bordeaux grand crus will be served from magnums and double-magnums, an opulent reminder of 19th century The Bordeaux.

Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa is also delighted to announce the appointment of David Lestelle as Spa Manager, overseeing and managing a team of 11 staff at the recently opened NUXE Spa Les Bains de Léa.

The Bordelais Spa Manager joins Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa from Hôtel Majestic in Cannes. With 17 years of experience in the industry, David Lestelle has previously managed luxury hotel spas on the French Riviera including Hôtel du Cap Eden Roc, Château Saint-Martin & Spa and the Hôtel de Paris in Monaco. He will bring this high level of experience to his work at Les Bains de Léa spa.

Commenting on his appointment at Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa; “I am particularly excited to be returning to Bordeaux to join the team at Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa. My aim is to bring my own touch and experience to NUXE spa Les Bains de Léa and lead the team towards continuing to provide guests with the highest quality wellbeing and treatment experiences.”

explora is delighted to announce the reopening this month of their Puritama Thermal Springs in Chile’s Atacama Desert. The springs have undergone an extensive renovation programme since closing in February of this year.Situated at 3500m above sea level, in a narrow gorge less than an hour from the city of San Pedro de Atacama, the Puritama Thermal Field consists of eight thermal pools with an average temperature of 33.5°C. Wooden walkways connect the eight pools enabling visitors to enjoy the many benefits of these thermal waters, as members of the ancient Atacameño culture have done for centuries.

The renovation works at the Puritama Thermal Springs this year include the addition of waterfalls and a complete refurbishment of the main pool, which is for the exclusive use of explora guests. The depths of several of the existing pools have also been altered, and new access walkways and changing rooms have been constructed, along with bathrooms and disabled facilities. In December a new terrace with picnic tables and storage lockers will also be completed. Despite all these improvements however, the springs still adhere to explora’s sustained intention of maintaining harmony with the natural surroundings.

The name ‘Puritama’, translating simply as ‘hot water’, can be traced back to an ancient, pre-Inca language, suggesting that these medicinal springs have been in use for thousands of years. The water at Puritama has both medicinal and therapeutic properties, stimulating the circulatory and digestive systems, rejuvenating the skin and relaxing the body and mind. In centuries past, sulphur miners working in the high-altitude Saciel mine benefited from the properties of these thermal pools, reenergising before and after their arduous day’s work.

The entrance fee for each visit to the Puritama Thermal Springs by explora as well as other local properties is used to directly benefit the Atacameño community. explora’s commitment to both the environment and to the local community holds true to each of their adventures and their locations: Patagonia, Atacama and Rapa Nui.

The new build Park Inn by Radisson Astana will enjoy a premium location in the center of Astana at the crossing of the right and left riversides, and adjacent to the Radisson Blu Hotel.Besides 248 comfortable guest rooms, the hotel will offer one restaurant, one bar, 12 meeting rooms from 31 to 176 sqm, and parking spaces. The complex will provide easy access to Astana’s new city centre and is in proximity to Astana’s cultural sites, making it an attractive location for business and leisure travelers.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., and its destination sensation brand, Aloft Hotels, has recently announces the signings of Aloft Munich and Aloft Stuttgart. Aloft Hotels was created to shake up the traditional mid-market hotel sector. This innovative hotel brand is redefining the category by delivering urban-influenced, modern and vibrant design and a social guest experience all at an affordable price point. Owned and developed by the Schörghuber Corporate Group, Aloft Munich and Aloft Stuttgart will mark the entrance of Starwood’s Aloft Hotels brand in Germany when they open in 2015.Pioneering initiatives in music and design have positioned Aloft as a must-have brand for the next generation of travellers. Aloft has reported consistently high guest satisfaction scores since its launch, reflecting the success of the brand’s unique positioning. A vision of W Hotels, Aloft’s social guest experience – with the buzzing re:mixSM lounge and w xyzSM bar – has earned select hotels within the portfolio designations in TripAdvisor’s 2012 Top 25 trendiest hotels around the world.

Located near Munich’s buzzing city centre, Aloft Munich will be within walking distance of retail stores, cafés and restaurants. The hotel will be directly next to Munich Central Station, offering easy access to key locations throughout the city, including Munich’s Franz Josef Strauss International Airport. Aloft Munich will feature 184 guest rooms.

The new-build Aloft Stuttgart will be part of the MILANEO mixed-use development project in Stuttgart’s European Quarter. MILANEO is a pioneering, multi-use development project which will offer shopping, restaurants and entertainment venues as well as office space and residential units. Aloft Stuttgart will comprise 165 guest rooms.

Featuring loft-like guest rooms, a buzzing bar scene in the open lobby, a grab-and go café and industrial design elements throughout, Aloft provides modern comforts and a fun social guest experience. All Aloft guest rooms are urban-influenced with over-sized windows and ultra-comfortable plush platform beds as well as walk-in showers and Bliss® amenities.

Both hotels will feature a re:mixSM lounge and w xyzSM bar. These atmospheric public spaces provide guests with a place to mix and mingle, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends. The re:chargeSM fitness centre offers an opportunity to re-energise and the unique re:fuelSM by Aloft introduces a convenient deli option for guests on the go, with an array of food and drinks available 24 hours a day.

Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

The Spanish hotel company Meliá Hotels International and the Greenland Group, one of the largest real estate group in China, have reached a strategic agreement to join forces to pursue their growth internationally, inside and outside China, respectively.For Greenland Group, an immediate impact of the agreement will be the launch of its urban hotel brand in Europe, through the adaptation and re-branding of a Meliá operated hotel in the city of Frankfurt (Germany), which was chosen by the signers because of its dynamism in the business travel segment.

In the short and medium term, Greenland Group will continue to grow its urban brand in Europe and China, and will cooperate with Meliá Hotels International in further development of hotels over the coming years.

In 2010, Meliá inaugurated its first hotel in Shanghai – the Gran Meliá Shanghai- and is currently finalising work on the construction of the spectacular Gran Meliá Xian and Meliá Chongqing. In the short term, this agreement will allow the company to open two new Meliá hotels in Jinan, scheduled for 2013, and Tianjin, two fast-growing cities located along the corridor between Shanghai and Beijing. In the medium term, the alliance foresees the evaluation of numerous hotel development projects for the most successful Meliá brands, such as Innside and Meliá in the city hotel business, and even Paradisus in the emerging resort hotel business in China.

The Greenland Group and Meliá hotels international partnership also entails cooperation in the areas of training, global hotel distribution systems and procurement, as such complementing each other in the development and implementation of best practice management systems and responding to a mutual need to grow the international customer base and to improve the awareness of the hotel brands operated by both groups in the complex Chinese and European markets.

Greenland’s expertise in Chinese culinary and Chinese culture would benefit Meliá to excel in providing services to the Chinese guests, currently the largest outbound market into Europe, as well as offering authentic Chinese dining experience to the local market.

Mr. Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá hotels International expressed “In the new world tourism paradigm, China will soon become the largest market on the planet for both in and outbound travel. The presence of the Meliá brands are therefore key to our success in the Asia Pacific region and for our business and resort hotels in the rest of the world. Given the unprecedented dimensions of this change in a business which is already complex and specialized, global hotel chains and the country’s powerful business groups must seek partnerships if we are not to miss the boat and hence continue to grow within a win-win scenario.’

The Greenland Group is one of the first Chinese hotel groups to open a hotel with its own brand in Europe and projects to become a reference for European and Chinese business and leisure travellers in both continents.

Fabricsandpapers.com has added Casamanace as supplier and now stocks wallpapers and fabrics from the French design house.

Casamance launched its first furnishing fabrics collection in 2000 bringing some real vision to the design interiors market. Its contemporary designs, exquisite colours and variety of materials create an easy-recognisable style. The collection includes furnishing fabrics, wallpapers and wall-covering for both domestic and contract interiors.The warmth of wool combined with beautiful textures give Casamance’s Aymara collection an aura of comfort. Soft velvets, buttoned ribbons and graphic embroideries in bright colours, bring to life the neutral, contemporary colour palette of the fabrics.

Emma Vans Agnew, design director, Fabricsandpapers.com, said: “When I first saw the Casamance range I was immediately impressed by the fantastic range of colours on offer. Everything from subtle shades of dove grey and baby beige to startling electric purples and burnt orange. Couple this with some inspirational French style globe-trotting designs and you have a wonderful mix to select from.”

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Opening in March 2013, Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. marks the next North American location for the upper upscale Radisson Blu brand. The hotel features 500 fashion-inspired guestrooms, 26,300 square feet of meeting and event space, a state-of-the-art fitness centre with an indoor pool, as well as FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, which features regional Minnesota cuisine inspired by the flavours of real burning wood. As a destination itself, Radisson Blu Mall of America serves as an experience within a hotel; the hotel offers the only accommodations directly connected to Mall of America®, the country’s largest indoor entertainment centre and shopping mall that attracts over 40 million visitors from around the world every year.Construction of the USD 137.5 million Radisson Blu Mall of America began in May 2011 by Mortenson, a U.S.-based privately-held construction services company. Carlson and Mortenson are equity partners in the hotel, which will pursue LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council once it opens its doors this spring.

The hotel’s many features include:

Guestrooms & Suites
Perfect for business and pleasure alike, the Radisson Blu Mall of America offers three styles of guestrooms to suit every palate. Twenty-nine “Mansion House” suites with a warm ‘clubby’ aura feature spacious bedrooms and bathrooms, complete with contemporary amenities. Fifty-four “Naturally Cool” business class rooms feature natural wood flooring and metal accents with sweeping views of the neighbourhood and include complimentary morning breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres, among other Business Class By Radisson® amenities designed exclusively for business class guests. In addition, 417 “Urban” standard rooms, offer a unique, colour-splashed, edgy and modern atmosphere at the most affordable pricing. Every guestroom features a mini-fridge, a coffeemaker, a laptop-sized safe for valuables, and complimentary wireless Internet access.

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One billion tourists have travelled the world in 2012, marking a new record for international tourism – a sector that accounts for one in every 12 jobs and 30% of the world’sservices exports. On the symbolic arrival date of the one-billionth tourist (13December 2012), UNWTO revealed the actionstourists can take to ensure their trips benefit the people and places they visit, as voted by the public. International tourism has continued to grow in 2012, despite global economic uncertainty, to reach over one billion international tourist arrivals. The figure cementstourism’s position as one of the world’s largest economic sectors, accounting for 9% of global GDP (direct, indirect and induced impact), one in every 12 jobs and up to 8% of the total exportsof the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Recalling the positive impact even the smallest action can have if multiplied by one billion, UNWTO launched the One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities campaign to celebrate this milestone, showing tourists that respecting local culture, preserving heritage or buying local goods when travelling can make abig difference. The public was asked to vote for the Travel Tipthat would have the greatest benefit for the people and places they visitand to pledge to follow that tip when traveling.

The winning tip, revealed on the arrival date of the one-billionth tourist, was Buy Local, encouraging tourists to buy food and souvenirs locally, or hire local guides, to ensure their spending translates into jobs and income for host communities. A close second, Respect Local Culture calls on tourists to learn more about their destination’s traditions, or some words in the local language, before leaving home.

“Today, we welcome the symbolic arrival of the one-billionth tourist” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “Your actions count. That is our message to the one billion tourists. Through the right actions and choices, each tourist represents an opportunity for a fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable future.”

As it is impossible to know exactly where the one-billionth tourist arrived, many countries are celebrating the occasion by welcoming tourists arriving on 13 December.UNWTO is celebrating in Madrid, Spain, home to its headquarters, by welcoming the symbolic one-billionth tourist in the Museo del Prado, Madrid’s most-visited tourism attraction, together with the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain.

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Asia-Pacific is now taking reservations for its new absolute beach front property in Thailand, the Outrigger Phuket Beach Resort.It will be the only property in the Laguna Phuket destination resort to have a dedicated club lounge for guests looking for additional personal service and privacy. Club services will include check-in at a private reception desk, privileges at the club dining room and lounge, access to special guest rooms and amenities, and on-demand help from a club concierge.

Located on the northwest coast of Phuket, right alongside the white sands of Bang Tao beach, the Outrigger Phuket Beach Resort is currently undergoing a major renovation of all of its rooms and public areas.

When it reopens on 15 March 2013, the family-friendly resort will offer guests a luxurious experience with accommodations ranging from spacious deluxe hotel rooms to a luxurious two-bedroom villa.

All rates are subject to 18.7%service charge and VAT and are applicable for stays from 15 March 2013 to 31 October 2013. Bookings are open now.

Guests booking a minimum of two nights will receive a free dinner for two.

The 255-key Outrigger Phuket Beach Resort will have many leisure amenities for guests to enjoy, including extensive water features and slides, a resort pool, a fully equipped gym, tennis, badminton and squash courts, a kids’ club, meeting and conference rooms.

Guests will also have signing privileges at over 30 food, beverage and spa outlets in the surrounding Laguna Phuket destination resort and Laguna Phuket golf club.

The Outrigger Phuket Beach Resort is a 30-minute drive from Phuket International Airport, Patong Beach, and Phuket town.

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., recently announced that the company and its owners are investing $200 million to renovate and restore some of its most celebrated hotels in Europe. The brand is already off to a strong start with the reopening of two iconic hotels in Spain this year: Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville and Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian. This will be followed by the debut of the restored Gritti Palace in Venice and Prince de Galles in Paris in 2013. “The Luxury Collection has an intimate understanding of today’s luxury travellers who, more and more, aim to stay with a brand that offers a consistent level of impeccable service, while celebrating each hotel’s heritage and unique character,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis and W Hotels Worldwide. “We are delighted to reintroduce these historic icons, carefully restored by some of the world’s most renowned architects, interior designers and craftsmen who have preserved the authentic elegance and distinct personality so beloved by its guests, while bringing the landmark hotels into the 21st century.”

The Luxury Collection is an ensemble of more than 80 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts around the world, spanning 30 countries, offering the brand’s signature concierge service, luxury amenities and indigenous cultural experiences. There are currently 40 Luxury Collection hotels in Europe, Africa and Middle East and the four restored hotels in Spain, France and Italy will reinforce the brand’s distinguished portfolio as portals for guests to discover new, exciting destinations throughout the region.

“As part of Starwood’s strategy to strengthen our Luxury Collection brand portfolio and as the world’s leader in luxury hospitality, we are making major investments to renovate and restore some of our most distinguished hotels,” comments Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “The refurbishment of these legendary hotels allows us to continuously exceed guest experiences by offering unparalleled service and authentic experiences that reflect the local spirit of the destination.”

Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seville (reopened March 2012)

Located on the historic Calle San Fernando in the heart of Seville, Hotel Alfonso XIII is considered to be one of the grandest hotels in Europe and was commissioned by King Alfonso XIII for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition. The restoration spanned 10 months and was led by renowned Sevillian architect Demopolis, with interiors designed by The Gallery at HBA London. Recently recognised for “Best Historic Renovation” at the annual Gold Key Design Award, Hotel Alfonso XIII is a magnificent showcase of Moorish architecture and regional Andalusian design infused with Arabic accents. The hotel features 151 luxuriously-appointed guest rooms and suites and distinct culinary experiences, including Spanish cuisine at Bodega Alfonso and Andalusian specialties at San Fernando, the poolside Taifas restaurant and bar, and the Art Deco-inspired American Bar.

Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian (reopened July 2012)

The renovation of Hotel Maria Cristina was completed in time for its 100th anniversary in July, celebrating a century of elegance renewed. Situated in the storied city centre of San Sebastian, Spain’s culinary capital, this Belle Epoque gem was originally designed by famed French architect Charles Mewès and was christened in 1912 by its namesake, Queen Maria Cristina. Carried out over nine months, the refurbishment was led by Idom Engineering & Architecture, with interiors restored by The Gallery at HBA London. The hotel’s 107 lavish guest rooms and 29 suites are dressed in sophisticated pastel tones and decorated with elegant gold furnishings, evoking the élan and striking presence of all the leading ladies who have graced the environs of the hotel. Following the restoration, the hotel introduced haute Chinese cuisine at Tse Yang, complemented by Basque and international selections at Easo Restaurant and excellent cocktails at DRY bar.

The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice (reopening 31 January 2013)

Located along the city’s enchanting Grand Canal, the historic Gritti Palace is slated to open on 31 January next year, in time for the city’s celebrated annual carnival and the Venice International Biennale of Contemporary Art, following a significant 15-month restoration. Working closely with the renowned Venetian fabric house Rubelli and leading interior design firm Donghia, the restoration will return the hotel to its former glory using rare archival fabrics and stunning chandeliers and glassware from Murano. The hotel’s design is inspired by the Gritti Palace’s origins – dating back to 1475 as a private home for the noble Pisani family followed by the distinguished Doge of Venice, Andrea Gritti – to provide a home away from home for global travellers. In addition to the hotel’s famous terrace, The Gritti Palace will feature 61 guest rooms and 21 sumptuous suites as well as Club del Doge restaurant and the restored Bar Longhi. Soon to be unveiled are the reintroduction of the iconic culinary school, The Gritti Epicurean School, the new Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo SPA and the Explorer’s Library at The Gritti Palace.

Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris (reopening Q2 2013)

Built in 1928 along Avenue George V, Prince de Galles is one of the finest addresses in the City of Lights. The celebrated Art Deco treasure is set to offer the epitome of elegance and understated luxury when it reopens in the second quarter of 2013 following an extensive two-year renovation. With the acclaimed Pierre-Yves Rochon leading the design direction, the iconic hotel will feature 159 exquisite guest rooms and 44 suites in authentic Art Deco style, reviving its original grandeur and splendour. The hotel’s famous mosaic courtyard will be fully restored and together with a new signature restaurant led by acclaimed Chef Stéphanie Le Quellec, set the stage for an intimate Parisian social scene.

Starwood Strengthens Luxury Position

In the last five years, Starwood has doubled its global luxury room count to meet growing global demand. With more than 150 luxury hotels operating under the St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W brands, Starwood has the largest footprint of luxury hotels in the industry.

In addition to its commitment to restore some of the Europe’s most emblematic hotels, The Luxury Collection is enhancing its extraordinary portfolio with historic and contemporary icons around the world. The brand continues its remarkable global growth and is on track to surpass 90 hotels by 2014, including nine new hotels and resorts that are slated to open in Asia Pacific in the next two years.

Recently opened in October, Hotel Mancino 12 is the brand new jewel by Roberto Naldi Collection. It is located in the very centre of Rome a few steps from Piazza Venezia, walking distance from the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum but also from the shopping district of the Spanish Steps and the most famous Italian boutiques of the city.Hotel Mancino 12 is a five storey palace with arcades built with the typical in peperino volcanic stone. At the ground floor guests are welcomed in an elegant ambience which recreates a sense of comfort and familiarity with a cosy living room, the breakfast room and the “Mancino Office” with internet connection which can also be set up for small board meetings.

Only three guestrooms per floor, Hotel Mancino 12, bestows, on the top floor, a very exclusive suite with a private terrace and a view on the characteristic rooftops of Rome. Various shades of grey are the leitmotif of rooms and suite where one can feel a sense of equilibrium, serenity and elegance. All of them are perfectly equipped with plasma screen TV, mini-bar, air conditioning, free WI-FI internet connection.

Before stepping out in the morning, take the chance to order a perfect in-room breakfast or, if relaxing, swimming, exercising and wellness better suit your fancy, 2,000 square metres at the Prince SPA, are at disposal: Mancino 12 hotel guests are entitled to get a free admission to the biggest SPA of Rome’s city centre at the five star Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel & SPA which is part of the Roberto Naldi Collection, just apply to the reception and a private transfer will be arranged on purpose for you.

Not to miss: a perfect dining at the exclusive award-winning Mirabelle Restaurant. Located in the heart of Rome, close to the Spanish Steps it boasts one of the best city views of Rome at the 7th floor of the deluxe Hotel Splendide Royal. During winter or summer, at lunch or dinner the view over Villa Borghese Park and St. Peter’s dome in a distance really heightens the finest food and wine experience, not to mention the inspiring astounding sunset colours! Mirabelle Restaurant is rated as one of the best in town. It possible to order à-la carte or make a choice among delightful tasting menus, Italian and international delicacies with ingredients of staggering quality are offered with an impeccable service.

The visit of the president of Indonesia to The Stones Hotel Legian, Bali, marks the official opening of this landmark property on the 12th December. The opening of the hotel also marks the official launch of Autograph Collection into Asia. Located on the southern tip of Legian Beach on the resort island of Bali, The Stones opens as a brand new hotel, blending beach simplicity with urban chic. Where iconic architectural design meets eclectic sophistication, The Stones offers 308 stylishly appointed guest rooms and 22 suites, including a palatial Presidential Suite. Spread across three floors with a total size of 1,950 square meters, the Presidential Suite features the latest in-room entertainment systems, four guest rooms, luxurious rain forest shower, stylish artwork, and many other extraordinary touches.

The focal point of the property is the 3,000 square meter pool surrounded by private cabanas. The hotel features a wide selection of culinary offerings at three innovative restaurants: Stones Kitchen – a contemporary-designed restaurant serving European café food and beverages; Long Rice Table featuring authentic Indonesian dishes served in a casual and vibrant atmosphere with modern, Indonesian-inspired design; and Big Fish Bar & Grill, a casual poolside grill serving cocktails and snacks which transitions into an alfresco restaurant specializing in local seafood in the evening.

Guest can explore the indigenous elegance of the hotel’s dazzling vertical gardens as well as find tranquillity and relaxation in the hotel’s Celestine Spa, offering five treatment rooms and three massage lounges. Finding inspiration in traditional Balinese massage and body treatments, the spa features natural spa products by Ritual Alami. Located adjacent to one of the island’s most popular beaches, The Stones is situated 20 minutes from NgurahRai International Airport and within walking distance to shopping, restaurants and leisure activities located in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak.

RPW Design has completed interior design, decorative lighting, furniture and finishes of all public areas and guest rooms of the newly opened InterContinental London Westminster. In just eleven months from appointment to opening, the interior designers have transformed Queen Anne’s Chambers, a former government building which is now home to 256 beautifully designed rooms including 44 luxury suites and an imposing penthouse. Welcoming and very English public areas at ground floor level have been designed to capture the traditions of the hotel’s illustrious neighbours in Westminster. Jan Wilson, owner and managing director of RPW, explains how local references were incorporated within the InterContinental Hotel Group’s brand guidelines, focussing on the very specific requirements of a property located in the heart of the government district and serving that market. The reception marble and mosaic floor has detail references to the floor at Westminster Abbey, and motifs from St James’s Park are also used to reference the design. The theme of the hotel’s signature artwork relates to various aspects of British political life in subtle and satirical ways.

The dominant feature of the principal guest lounge is a sculpture inspired by Jan Wilson and created by the studio “Evil Robot Designs”, who use re-cycled model toys to create very individual art. The concept here is a re-creation of the House of Commons, leaving visitors and guests to decide for themselves who is represented by the various characters that are present in this surreal version of the parliamentary chamber.

The hotel’s public rooms are set to become the new destination for members of the ‘Westminster Village’. In the Blue Boar Bar and Restaurant, which has its street entrance in adjacent Tothill Street, the designers created a series of public areas that feel intimate and private including secluded corners for private conversations, and a private drinking room. The Restaurant with its dark wood panelling and warm tones continues that tradition, and both areas operate as standalone elements in the development.

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The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., is pleased to debut the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve property in the Americas with Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico. Situated on 1,400 acres of the former Laurance Rockefeller estate, the long awaited second Reserve, part of an exclusive collection of bespoke properties, will usher in a new level of luxury travel experiences for guests in the Western Hemisphere. A cherished destination, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is an intimate retreat offering a true sense of barefoot elegance, blending Laurance Rockefeller’s novel environmental design philosophies and modern yet minimal décor. Created as an open-air enclave infused with references to the surrounding natural landscape and diverse culture, Dorado Beach is a true luxury sanctuary designed to allure the world’s most discerning travellers through a bevy of one-of-a-kind lifestyle experiences, including:

Accommodations
With 100 spacious guestrooms and 14 one-bedroom suites that sit directly onto the beach, guests can select from an exquisite collection of accommodations that allow the backdrop to take precedence through a complete indoor and outdoor experience. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors entirely disappear onto seamless ocean views, while outdoor shower gardens, indoor showers with deep soaking tubs, individual infinity-edge pools, rooftop pools and cabanas create an incomparable luxury experience.

Su Casa
Originally erected in the 1920s for the plantation land’s first owner, Clara Livingston, Su Casa’s storied grandeur now serves as a four-bedroom VIP villa overlooking the ocean. Paired with towering palm trees, expansive gardens, a private infinity edge pool and a spacious cigar veranda, the hacienda has been fully restored and modernized following a multimillion dollar restoration while preserving its legendary heritage and serene beauty.

Spa Botánico
Tucked away amid lush flora is Spa Botánico, a five-acre botanical sanctuary of pampering offering a holistic yet modern approach to beauty and wellness incorporating Manos Santos practices, ancient local healers often referred to as ‘Holy Hands’. Reflective of Dorado Beach’s lush surroundings, Spa Botánico blends a soothing natural environment inspired by these ancient Puerto Rican healing traditions, modern therapies and the finest quality of local botanicals to indulge the body, mind and spirit. Distinctive treatment facilities, warm and cool pools, waterfall showers, glass-walled treatment pavilions and open air Treehouse platforms create a relaxing state of well being among nature.

Mi Casa by José Andrés
For a world-class culinary experience, internationally acclaimed Chef José Andrés introduces his first restaurant outside the United States with Mi Casa. Inspired by Puerto Rico’s diverse culinary landscape, guests are treated to an artfully crafted menu of locally-caught seafood and avant-garde dishes. Chef Andrés will fuse his knowledge of sophisticated cooking and regional flavours to offer guests a truly exceptional culinary experience and a unique blend of Spanish and Puerto Rican flavours. The restaurant’s beverage selection mirrors its distinct cuisine showcasing an array of traditional and handcrafted cocktails, a portfolio of artisanal offerings and a robust international wine list complementing complex yet delicate flavours.

Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment
Designed for adults, families, and children, participants of Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment can discover Puerto Rico’s natural wonders both on land and sea, including coral reefs, a diversity of birds, wetlands, and traditional Taino culture through exciting and memorable adventures and activities, such as snorkelling, kayaking, hiking and exploring an archaeological site directly on property. Integrating the program’s environmentally-conscious philosophy into the building’s infrastructure, the Ambassador House is designed to adhere to the highest standards of the U.S. Green Building Council, with a variety of sustainable efforts including regionally-sourced materials, renewable energy, organic and sustainable finishes and furniture, and monitoring systems to reduce the buildings overall energy usage.

The guest journey begins at the arrival pavilion, incorporating stylistic influences of contemporary soft structures and lush, indigenous landscape. Framed by striking ocean views, guests ascend the luxury hotel’s entryway to the arrival pavilion consisting of multiple small buildings separated to preserve the land’s original trees. Connected walkways raised above sunken gardens create a tropical forest floor punctuated by restful hanging beds, so every view is of both the land and sea and a seamless transition between the indoor and outdoor environment.

To complement an unparalleled luxury experience, guests are invited to revel in a magical social event at the iconic Surf Room, a newly designed reconstruction from the original Rockefeller era. Beautifully appointed floor-to-ceiling glass windows enhance sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea which open out to an outside terrace set directly upon sand, creating an enchanting background perfect for any special occasion.

In addition to Mi Casa, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve offers three dining venues, including Positivo Sand Bar, situated parallel to the ocean offering magnificent vantage points with al fresco cuisine and refreshing cocktails; Encanto Beach Club Bar & Grill, an open-air bistro with freshly grilled cuisine for lunch and Asian-style selections for dinner; and La Cocina Gourmet, an outpost providing Puerto Rican coffees, homemade gelatos and local delights.

On a cold November day in Liverpool, beautiful American socialite and actress Olivia Palermo cut the ribbon to open a ground-breaking new pampering destination Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols. Based within the heart of shopping destination Liverpool ONE, Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols is 22,000 square feet over three floors entirely devoted to preening, luxury make-up and beauty treatments including teeth whitening, tanning and waxing.The incredible cutting-edge interior of the new concept store, including the exclusive first floor WOW Champagne Bar, was designed by leading London-based interior and graphic design agency FOUR IV. Bar stools and side chairs for the first floor WOW Champagne Bar were supplied by contract furniture specialist Andy Thornton.

Startlingly, brilliantly, dazzlingly white, our side chairs are dotted throughout the champagne bar, where customers can relax after their pampering treatments and enjoy a bite to eat, with cocktails and endless glasses of champagne. With a practical vinyl finish, the chairs feature contrasting electric blue piping and dark stained timber sleek legs, to complement the ultra-glamorous interior.

Matching Andy Thornton bar stools are also in bright white, with angular bases in sleek stainless steel and neat footrests for extra comfort. Positioned around the bar, the bar stools are perfectly situated for customers enjoying post-treatment light bites and drinks. We also supplied gold consultation stools to the Nails Inc Champagne Bar, pedicure and lash stools in electric blue and silver, reception stools in cream to the spa arrivals area and a treatment room pouffe in cream with gold rope detail.

The finished result is stunning; a luxurious and timeless mix of shades of gold, white and cream, with flashes of a rich, electric blue provided by cushions and detail on the chairs, making the WOW Champagne Bar a beautiful place to be, and be beautiful.

Beauty Bazaar, Harvey Nichols in Liverpool touts itself as an all-day experience, the ultimate in high-end indulgence taking pampering to a whole new level.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has announced the opening of the Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa Orange County, following a conversion from an independent brand, The Hotel Hanford. A 224-room property in the heart of Orange County, the Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa is located adjacent to famed shopping destination South Coast Plaza, and in close proximity to John Wayne Airport, Disneyland®, iconic beaches, golf courses, museums and sports arenas. The Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa Orange County features contemporary design touches by CRDS, Inc., that reflect a stylish and relaxed Southern California vibe. For meetings and events, the hotel has 9,000 square feet of meeting space and nearly 20 different venue options, including both indoor and outdoor spaces, and can cater to almost any event style or size. The hotel offers a signature comprehensive meetings program that ensures a seamless planning process and an exceptional meeting experience consisting of three key components: a Two-Hour Response Guarantee, a Crowne Meetings Director and a Daily Meetings Debrief.

The Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa Orange County boasts 224 guestrooms, including six suites. Guests can take advantage of a variety of amenities, including complimentary high-speed Internet access, in-room dining, rainwater showers and ample parking.

Additionally, the hotel has hired a new Executive Chef, Ruben Gonzalez, and will be undergoing a restaurant concept and menu change in the upcoming months.

The Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa Orange County is independently owned by Westport Capital Partners and Urban Common LLC and operated by Brighton Management under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has recently announced the opening of the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort on Kuta Beach, one of world’s renowned surfer’s paradise in Bali. The hotel is located directly at the heart of Kuta beach with pristine Indian Ocean scenery. Owned by PT. Indonesian Paradise Island, the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort is part of a luxurious shopping destination, presenting over 200 retail outlets in an open-air style and designed architecture inspired by the design of Bali’s rice paddy field. Centrally located at the heart of Pantai Kuta and just 5 kilometres away from Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), the resort’s elevated position on the island provides amazing ocean and beach views.

Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort offers an exclusive retreat, amidst spacious open-air terrace, outdoor rooftop pool and unrivalled panoramic views of the ocean. The resort introduces 203 guest rooms and suites ranging from 46 to 265 square meters, each fitted with the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® Bed and features a spacious private balcony with uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean or the resort’s signature social courtyard. Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort also features a signature two-story Oceanic view Presidential Suite with contemporary approach of Balinese interior and private sundeck lounge.

Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort houses three dining venues where travellers can enjoy Sheraton’s signature restaurants – the all-day dining Feast® with its vibrant open-kitchen, located alongside beachwalk patio overlooking the Kuta Beach, or indulge at Bene – a light-hearted Italian trattoria with oceanic setting, where guests can also relish mesmerizing views of the beautiful Bali Strait on the rooftop deck level. The Lounge offers a locally inspired cocktail menu, with open-air setting and Indian Ocean scenery.

To keep travellers fit and energized, Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort introduces Sheraton Fitness by Core PerformanceTM with lifestyle designed training programs and encompassing a fully equipped fitness centre, Shine Spa for Sheraton that will pamper and rejuvenate guests with signature treatments blending from the East to the West with local Balinese touches and Color Your PlateTM a simple three colours approach to a healthy food program.

With a total of over 1,600 square meters all located on one level, Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort offers 9 flexible event spaces – including a 700 square meters ballroom that is divisible and supported with an underground secure parking facility capable of hosting over 2,000 vehicles. In addition the meeting spaces are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including broadband or wireless high-speed Internet Access. Travellers can stay connected with the exclusive Link@Sheraton® experienced with Microsoft® that provides a connectivity hub, with complimentary Wi-Fi and Personal Computer stations.

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has recently announced the highly anticipated debut of The St. Regis Mauritius Resort, marking the brand’s first hotel in Africa and the 30th St. Regis hotel in the world. Designed by Stauch Vorster Architects with interiors by Trevor Julius of design firm dsgn, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is modelled on a Victorian sugar-baron’s manor house set in a historical estate. With vast terraces, sumptuous rooms and colonnades, the resort provides guests with an idyllic island sanctuary reminiscent of the destination’s unique colonial past.

The resort features 172 elegant guestrooms and suites, ranging from 700 to 2300 square feet, all with expansive terraces and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. The lavish beachfront St. Regis Villa features a private entrance, four luxurious bedrooms with private pools and gardens, stylish entertainment and dining areas, an infinity pool, a bar and private spa treatment room.

Exquisite Culinary Experiences

The resort’s signature restaurant, Simply India, promises an unforgettable fine dining experience created by Michelin-starred celebrity chef Atul Kochhar and offers a modern interpretation of authentic Indian cuisine. Led by Executive Chef Olivier Belliard, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort offers six other distinct gastronomic experiences ranging from Le Manoir Dining Room with a menu inspired by a blend of French and traditional Mauritian cuisine, to the modern Asian menu at Floating Market, and a relaxing beachside spot for casual oceanfront dining at The Boathouse Bar & Grill. Inspired by the legendary St. Regis New York hotel which opened in 1904, The 1904 Bar offers elegant rum cocktails and vintage whiskeys alongside the St. Regis ritual of champagne sabering.

Luxury Leisure and the First Iridium Spa in Africa

The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is home to the region’s first Iridium Spa, offering 22,730 square feet of blissful surroundings including a full-service salon, relaxation lounge, jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, as well as a dedicated men’s grooming salon and a 24-hour fitness club. Featuring 12 treatment rooms with ocean views, the Iridium Spa works with renowned beauty and skincare brands Valmont and Bella Luccè to indulge guests with bespoke spa treatments.

The Kite Flyers Club offers complimentary childcare services for children from four to 12 years old, including recreational highlights such as beach bonfires and kite-making, as well as facilities like indoor and outdoor play areas, the children’s kitchen corner and a swimming pool. Optional activities include guided excursions to the zoo and sugarcane museum, cooking classes and horseback riding.

Situated in the heart of the resort, the manor house comprises seven luxurious suites with in-room spa facilities, a private 24-seat cinema, a Drawing Room for indoor entertainment and games, a swimming pool, as well as a library and conservatory. Other leisure facilities at the resort include a beachside swimming pool, a tennis court and a resort boutique. For private celebrations, the Astor Room can be booked for events hosting up to 100 people.

Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.