Hotel Designs

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in a franchise agreement with Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas, has announced the opening of Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort, marking the debut of the first of three Luxury Collection hotels opening in Peru over the next two years.Located on Peru’s southern Pacific coast and surrounded by the Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas Islands, Hotel Paracas features 120 guest rooms with private terraces, a 1,524sqm spa, two outdoor pools, more than 1,500sqm of event space and two restaurants and lounges.

The Luxury Collection and Libertador will also soon unveil Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in the sacred valley of Urubamba followed by the 2011 opening of Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Cusco, the capital of the ancient Incan Empire.

Liberatador Hotels, Resorts & Spas, chief executive officer, Jorge Melero said: “The Luxury Collection brand has important penetration in South America and allows us to keep the identity of places we have and cherish. Our strategic plan for the next five years extends beyond Peru’s borders, and we look forward to future collaborations with Starwood.”

Designed by architect Bernardo Fort-Bresciawith interiors by Caparra Entelman & Associates, Hotel Paracas is inspired by the region’s ecological wonders, Pacific setting and diverse heritage. Combining rich imported fabrics with indigenous textiles and ceramics to reflect Peru’s heritage, the interiors feature subtle yet striking bamboo and rattan accents to complement the seaside surroundings.

Guest rooms feature private terraces with views of the Pacific and locally sourced wood furniture. Abstract designs on fabrics and floor coverings reflect the geometric patterns found on ancient Paracas textiles created by the Pre-Incan ancient Paracas people who are celebrated for their advanced textile manufacturing skills. Guests can choose from three types of rooms including bungalows, villas, and chalets. All rooms offer state-of-the-art modern technology, including 37″ LCD TVs, Wi-Fi Internet access and iPod docking stations.

After ten years of construction, a Four Seasons hotel has opened in Beirut, Lebanon. The front of the hotel has been brightly lit and the interiors of the hotels were inspired by Lebanese culture.

The hotel features Lebanese artwork, carved screens and gilded calligraphy. The Boulevard lounge has a European cafe and is surrounded by sofas.

A few minutes’ walk away from the hotel is downtown Beirut, with art galleries, boutiques, antique shops, cafés and restaurants.

Throughout the Hotel, there is a grill restaurant that has views of the marina, as well as a bar restaurant.

Large terraces are standard in all 230 guest rooms and suites. The Spa, built with white marble and gold mosaics, has a suede-panelled couple’s suite with private terrace and whirlpool. There is also a rooftop pool on the 26th floor that has 360 degree views.

Hilton Worldwide has signed a franchise license agreement with Akti Helona S.A. to operate a Doubletree by Hilton Resort on the island of Kos in Greece. Scheduled to open in May 2010, the Doubletree by Hilton Resort, Kos – Helona will be Hilton Worldwide’s second property in Greece and the country’s first Doubletree by Hilton, marking further growth of this brand across Europe.

Hilton Worldwide currently operates one hotel in Greece, the Hilton Athens in the capital’s city centre.

Doubletree by Hilton Resort, Kos – Helona is on the south-eastern coast line of Kos Island. The hotel, which originally opened as an independent hotel in June 2009, will offer 238 rooms including 15 suites and three villas, two restaurants and bars, a spa and fitness area, a private beach as well as 800sqm of meeting space, including a room able to accommodate up to 700 people.

Doubletree by Hilton is an brand that has seen growth since its first introduction in Europe in spring 2008. Ten properties are now open across Europe in the UK, Italy and Slovakia, with development projects confirmed in Russia and Romania.

Hilton Worldwide Europe & Africa, senior vice president, Patrick Fitzgibbon said: “Hilton Worldwide is continuing its exciting rollout of its portfolio of brands across Europe and we are delighted to announce the opening of the first Doubletree by Hilton in Greece. The country has a strong tourism infrastructure and Kos is the second most popular destination in the Dodecanese Archipelago. With the hotel market in Greece dominated by independently run hotels and domestic chains, we believe there are wonderful growth opportunities for all our brands throughout the country.”

The Rezidor Hotel Group is to open Park Inn Lipetsk in Russia. The new hotel featuring 237 rooms is under construction and scheduled to open its doors in 2012. The Park Inn hotel will be located on a site south of the city centre and 300m from the River Voronezh. Besides the 237 rooms, it will feature an all day dining restaurant, a Paulaner micro-brewery, two bars, and conferencing and leisure facilities.

Developer of the project is Joint Stock Company ‘Kuznetskiy Most Development’.

Lipetsk is located 450km south of Moscow and has a population of 500,000. It is the capital of the regional Oblast and the administrative, industrial and cultural centre of the area.

Its industrial base is expanding, strengthened by the existence of a Special Economic Zone within the city. It is particularly known for its steel production, through the presence of Novolipetsk Steel (one of the largest steel firms in Russia).

Rezidor, president and CEO, Kurt Ritter said: “This hotel marked our 35th signing in 2009. Despite the challenging climate, we could add almost 7,000 rooms to our portfolio across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. At the same time this agreement is a further symbol for our commitment to Russia – this emerging region belongs to our most important markets for future business development.”

Rezidor now has over 8,500 rooms in operation or under development in Russia, including nearly 5,000 Park Inn rooms.

The Rezidor Hotel Group has opened their very first hotel in the Spanish Capital Madrid – The Radisson Blu Hotel, Madrid Prado.Across from the Prado Museum, the new property offers 54 contemporary guest rooms, created by the celebrated Spanish design duo Sandra Taruella and Isabel Lopez.

The hotel is adjacent to the new Caixa-Forum cultural centre and there are more of Madrid’s attractions within walking distance, including the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum (the “Golden Triangle of Art”).

Rezidor said that it believes the hotel’s 54 rooms are stylish, inspiring and unique. It said the accommodation is a celebration of individuality, with relevant playful touches – such as blown up images of Madrid underscored with ambient lighting. A sleek grey and brown colour palette enhances the hotel’s chic and modern aesthetic.

The bathrooms featuring amenities by Anne Sémonin and all rooms are equipped with technological amenities such as free high-speed internet access.

The hotel also features a spa with minimalist design that offers pampering treatments, an indoor pool, a steam room, a relaxation and fitness area.

The hotel’s specialty grill “The Cask”, serves prime cuts of meat and there is also a lounge bar with a selection of cocktails and Spanish “tapas”. The contemporary restaurant also offers a selection of vegetarian options.

The Whiskey Bar features over 20 references of the single malts and is situated in the main courtyard of the building with its glass walls and views of the Madrid skyline.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Madrid Prado offers an intimate, contemporary conference area, measuring 43sqm. This space can be divided into three separate boardrooms, or combined to incorporate the built-in bar area increasing the size to 89sqm.

Rezidor, CEO and president, Kurt Ritter said: “This hotel is a perfect addition to the young and stylish portfolio of Radisson Blu. We are delighted to be present in the key market of Madrid now and look forward to our further future business development in Spain.”

Whitbread, the UK’s leading hotel and restaurant group, has confirmed details of its plans for its second green hotel and its first low-carbon restaurant. Burgess Hill Premier Inn, in West Sussex, represents the latest evolution in environmentally-friendly budget hotels. It follows Whitbread’s pioneering green hotel pilot in Tamworth, Staffordshire – the UK’s first green budget hotel which opened its doors to guests in December 2008.

The 60-bedroom Premier Inn at Burgess Hill, due to open in Autumn 2010, will adopt the best-performing green technologies trialled in Tamworth to deliver 70 per cent carbon and 60 per cent water savings.

Adjacent to the hotel, Whitbread will develop its first low-carbon restaurant – a 220-cover Beefeater open grill restaurant.

The investment forms part of Whitbread’s corporate sustainability programme, ‘Good Together’, which was launched in December 2009 along with a pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 26 per cent by 2020.

The Burgess Hill development will include ground-source heat pumps using the earth’s natural energy to provide heating and cooling cool as well as hot water and rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling providing 100 per cent of the hotel’s toilet water use and saving 20 per cent of the hotel’s entire water use.

As well as this the hotel will have high-efficiency thermal insulation, low-flow showerheads delivering the feel and effect of a powerful shower without the associated water loss, heat-recovery shower systems capturing and reusing energy used by the boilers.

The hotel will also feature automated light controls with intelligent sensors turning lights off when not in use and sun pipes reducing the need for artificial lighting by increasing natural light.

Both the Premier Inn hotel and Beefeater restaurant at Burgess Hill will be built using timber frame construction methods from sustainably sourced wood. Timber frame has the lowest carbon content of any commercially-available building material and its flexible design allows for high levels of insulation to achieve maximum energy efficiency.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide has revealed plans to expand its Regent brand into India with the opening of The Regent Gurgaon in late 2013. The Regent Gurgaon is the latest expansion of the Regent brand globally with several other properties currently under development – The Regent Bangkok, The Regent Doha, The Regent Dubrovnik, The Regent Emirates Pearl, Abu Dhabi, The Regent Kuala Lumpur, The Regent Maldives, The Regent Manila Bay, The Regent Palmas Del Mar Puerto Rico, and The Regent Phuket Cape Panwa – all scheduled to open within the next three years.

Gurgaon is one of New Delhi’s four major satellite cities. The Regent Gurgaon, along with The Regent Residences is being developed by Pioneer Urban Land and Infrastructure Ltd, one of Gurgaon’s largest real estate developers. Both the hotel and residences will be part of a 75 acre mixed-use development called ‘Pioneer Park’ under the ‘New Gurgaon Masterplan 2021’ which includes the planned development of over 33,000 hectares of land into residential, commercial and retail facilities.

Located at an up and coming area fringing the heart of commercial Gurgaon in Sectors 61 and 62, The Regent Gurgaon has special design and facilities. The hotel will feature 160 luxurious guestrooms and suites designed to emphasize the contemporary elegance of the hotel.

The property will also include a spa sanctuary for guests to enjoy therapeutic and relaxing treatments. Other hotel amenities include an intimate restaurant featuring a wide range of wines and cigars, ballroom and boardrooms, and the Regent Bar.

Carlson, CEO and president, Hubert Joly said: “The Regent brand has strong historical roots in Asia. With this new property, Regent will now have a total of nine properties in the region, including three in operation, and six contracted projects.

Pioneer Urban Land and Infrastructure Ltd, chairman and managing director, Manish Periwal said: “While Gurgaon is fast becoming the regional headquarters for many multinational companies and emerging as a technology centre, the city still has a limited supply of internationally branded hotels. Ideally located in the main district, and linking directly to the express highway NH8 which connects Gurgaon to New Delhi and the Indira Gandhi International Airport, this luxury hotel will address the needs of the increasing number of business and leisure travellers arriving in the city.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has opened its first ElementSM hotel in New Jersey, US and the seventh Element hotel globally, Element Ewing-Hopewell in Ewing.The hotel is owned through a joint venture between American Properties Realty, Inc. and Hersha Hospitality Management, L.P., which is also the manager of the hotel.

Element, Starwood’s green trailblazer, made history when it launched as the only major hotel brand to mandate that its properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings.

With 127 guest rooms and more than 600sqm of meeting space, Element Ewing delivers an eco experience with public spaces, modern amenities and smart design. Element Ewing will offer a curbside charging station for electric vehicles for local residents and guests alike.

Element Ewing provides a new choice for Mercer County business and leisure travelers. The hotel is located between Princeton and Trenton, and Ewing and the surrounding area is home to corporations including Merrill Lynch, Bristol-Myers Squibb , Johnson & Johnson, Medeikon, Solar Energy Corporation, Redpoint Bio, Thermo-Temp Corporation, and Educational Testing Services, along with the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton at Ewing.

Starwood, specialty select brands senior vice president, Brian McGuinness said: “In a region where business thrives on fresh ideas and bold thinking, we’re pleased to introduce Element’s inspiring, invigorating guest experience. Whether they’re staying for three nights or three weeks, guests will appreciate the energizing atmosphere they’ll find at Element Ewing.”

The hotel’s opening will also bring more than 35 new – and green – jobs to Mercer County, McGuinness added.

The Rezidor Hotel Group opened its newest UK Park Inn hotel in the north of England in late 2009, the Park Inn Rotherham.The property is located near the new waterfront development at Manvers, Wath-upon-Dearne. The hotel offers 130 bedrooms, meeting facilities, a leisure club and a signature RBG restaurant.

It offers four modern and flexible meeting rooms, spanning a total of 205sqm and with capacity to accommodate up to 160 delegates theatre-style or 140 guests for a dinner dance.

The fresh and contemporary guest rooms, including accessible rooms for disabled guests and interconnecting rooms for families, are designed to be functional and easy to use. All rooms offer in-room laptop-size safes, air conditioning, flat-screen TV’s showing multiple channels and bathrooms with walk-in shower rooms.

Villas De Mairtre has launched its 2010 portfolio for both couples and families.For couples there are the Secret Cove Cottages, two Creole style two bedroom thatched beach bungalows with a tropical garden overlooking a small sandy beach facing the 5 star Le Touessrok hotel, on the South-East coast of the island of Mauritius.

The property is situated on the edge of a typical fishing village with local shops approximately 300m away.

For families, in the east in Roches Noires, on a stretch of residential beach is Villa Tropical Cove. The villa is spacious with four bedrooms, large veranda and beach facing gazebo for alfresco meals. A short drive from kite surfing, golf course (Belle Mare) and some local restaurants.

Villa Four A Chaux in neighbouring Poste Lafayette has recently been upgraded and has four bedrooms. Built around the ruins of a lime kiln with handmade stone walls, dating back to the beginning of the century and with night time spot lights the villa has particular appeal. Steps made of cut stones lead to a fine sandy beach.

The south coast features villas for the first time. In Pointe D’Esny Villa La Croisette, Chinese inspired form with wrap around veranda, views and a beach.

Only a few kilometres from Souillac on the south west coast is the sea side village of Riambel, still untouched by the development of tourism.

Villa Champagne’s owner has upgraded this large property to a high standard and the beach in front of the estate is practically empty. The lagoon is shallow and good for bathing.

The villas all have maid services and on site cooks. The In-Villa cook prepares a variety of local gastronomic meals and families with small children can use the childcare service.

Indigo Art has launched 23 new additions to their exclusive Collection, all of which can be supplied as framed pictures, stretched canvases or digital wallpaper.The new work includes semi-abstract landscape paintings by artists Anthea Eames and Mike Bell along with abstract photographic work from newcomer Saleire.

Harlequin Hotels and Resorts is to open a resort in July this year in the Caribbean.The hotel will feature a spa, performing arts academy, sports academy and a watersports centre and marina.

Other sports facilities at the resort include a tennis academy and a soccer school.

Located 90 miles west of Barbados, St. Vincent is one of an archipelago of 32 islands and cays known as ‘the Jewels of the Caribbean’.

The suites within the hotel will be furnished in contemporary style and will feature a sitting area with glass doors opening onto a balcony with views over the garden or the sea.

Within the resort there will be four different restaurants featuring Italian, Asian, seafood and international cuisine.

Contra Curtains Ltd is proud to announce its appointment as the soft furnishing supplier for the first five star hotel in York, UK.The Cedar Court Grand Hotel and Spa will be the flagship property in the Cedar Court Group portfolio.

With views of the Minster and the city’s ancient walls, Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa enjoys a central location.

Built in 1906 as one of the great railway buildings of York, the hotel’s Edwardian architecture is complemented with fine dining and a luxurious spa complex that features an indoor pool and treatment rooms.

Contra Curtains Ltd is looking forward to a busy start in 2010. Other projects currently underway include a 172 bedroom refurbishment at Le Meridien Hotel, Piccadilly.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Suning Real Estate Development Co. have signed agreements for Hyatt subsidiaries to provide management services to three hotels in the hubs of China’s Jiangsu province.Grand Hyatt Nanjing is currently slated to open in 2013 and Hyatt Regency Wuxi and Hyatt Regency Xuzhou are projected to debut in 2012.

Grand Hyatt Nanjing is slated to open in the city of Nanjing in 2013 as a part of the mixed-use development, Suning Plaza. This large-scale complex in the Xin Jie Kou district of Nanjing will consist of Grand Hyatt Nanjing, luxury serviced residences, a shopping mall, and facilities for dining, leisure and entertainment.

The 400-room hotel will feature food and beverage, a grand ballroom and several meeting rooms as well as a spa and fitness centre.

When completed, Grand Hyatt Nanjing will join the Grand Hyatt properties in Greater China that currently includes locations in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Taipei, and most recently Macau and Shenzhen.

Anticipated to open in 2012 as part of Suning Plaza, the 350-room Hyatt Regency Wuxi will be
part of a two tower mixed-use development in Wuxi.

The 70-storey North Tower will feature the hotel on the upper levels, serviced residences on the middle levels and office space on the lower levels. The 41-storey South Tower will contain additional serviced apartments.

An eightstorey wing of the South Tower will provide extensive space for a shopping arcade, food and beverage outlets, a cinema and other leisure facilities. Hyatt Regency Wuxi will have four restaurants and bars, an 800sqm ballroom and 10 multi-function rooms of varying sizes. There will also be a spa with six treatment rooms and a fitness centre.

In the mixed-use development Suning is planning to construct in Xuzhou, Hyatt Regency Xuzhou will be ensconced in the upper levels of a 60- torey tower, which is one of five towers that will make up Suning Plaza in the city centre. The lower levels of the tower will have serviced apartments and offices. A six-storey wing will ontain a shopping mall, restaurants and bars as well as leisure facilities.

The 350 guestrooms will have a contemporary design and the hotel will offer technology tools, restaurants and lounges, a grand ballroom and meeting venues as well as a spa and fitness centre. Hyatt Regency Xuzhou is slated to open in 2012.

Six Hyatt-branded hotels have opened in Greater China in the past 18 months, including Park
Hyatt Shanghai, Park Hyatt Beijing, Grand Hyatt Macau, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, Hyatt Regency
Hong Kong, Sha Tin, and Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui. Hyatt’s subsidiaries currently provide management services to 15 hotels in the region.

Travelodge the hotel chain is defying the recession by opening 26 new hotels this year. The £115m expansion will create more than 500 new jobs across the company, ranging from managers to cleaners.

Travelodge, chief executive officer, Grant Hearn said: “We set about making sure we had a pipeline for growth coming out of the recession because we know that the cycle of the hotel industry is very regular.”

The chain is owned by Dubai International Capital and currently employs 5,500 staff.

The new hotels will take Travelodge’s portfolio to more than 400 properties, and the expansion will lead to more than 2,000 new rooms being added. Travelodge are also expanding in London to ensure that it will be the biggest hotel brand in the capital by the 2012 Olympics.

Locations will include Edinburgh, London, Aberdeen, Chichester, Colwyn Bay and Morecambe.

Lane Hospitality of Northbrook, Illinois US has been appointed by Florida-based Florida Capital Land Corporation as the new management company for the 100 room Hilton Garden Inn in Lexington, Kentucky and the 128 room Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Shelton, Connecticut.
Lane’s expertise is managing full and select service hotels in secondary and tertiary markets around the U.S.

Located off I-75 at 1973 Plaudit Place, the Hilton Garden Inn is near businesses and attractions including Keeneland Race Track.

Guest rooms feature amenities including complementary WIFI, microwave and refrigerator, work desks, two dual line telephones, and secure in-room printing to the 24-hour business center.

Additional amenities include heated indoor swimming pool, fitness center, Great American Grill restaurant and Pavilion Pantry, and event facilities.

The newly renovated Holiday Inn & Suites Shelton is the area’s all-suite hotel close to Yale University, Bridgeport and New Haven.

The hotel offers complimentary hot breakfast bar, fitness center, swimming pool, fully equipped business center and two on-site meeting rooms.

Lane Hospitality, development senior vice president, Bill Chambers said: “We are honored to be selected to manage these two well-branded and well-positioned hotels, and we appreciate the opportunity to expand our relationship with the Hilton and Intercontinental family of brands.”

Etap Hotel, owned by Accor, has opened its 400th hotel in Europe, in Verdun, France.Since 2004, a total of 100 new hotels have been opened and the network now comprises of 34,000 rooms in 10 countries including Austria, Belgium, Germany and Poland.

In France there are 289 hotels, with the goal to expand the chain to more than 500 hotels and 45,000 rooms in approximately 20 countries by 2011.

The Etap Hotel Verdun features a de-compartmentalised living area, a flat-screen TV equipped with media dock, a bigger luggage storage area and a full length mirror in the rooms.

Public areas within the hotel have also been redesigned with a reception area and a breakfast room that are brighter than before.

The hotel was designed in cooperation with Priestman Goode, an agency that specialises in affordable and ergonomic design solutions.

The hotel is located a short distance away from the Centre Mondial de la Paix and features 70 rooms.

A semi-bespoke carpet creation from Axminster Carpets’ new Ready to Weave collection now adorns the main bar and restaurant area of The Crown Inn in Horsted Keynes, West Sussex.The 14th Century inn situated on the pretty village green, The Crown has recently been completely refurbished after storm damage several years ago and has been returned to its former glory to once again be the centre of village life.

The new landlord of this village institution chose a design from the Ready to Weave collection, and married this with three shades from the 16 strong colourbank. Axminster Carpets produced the two shortlisted colourways into trial samples and from here, the final carpet was chosen.

Produced on Axminster Carpets’ Super 8 pitch looms, Ready to Weave carpets are available in seven different specifications and the owners of The Crown Inn went for a heavy duty 49oz/ yd2 weight to ensure that the new carpet will withstand the expected levels of foot fall from villagers and visitors enjoying the new surroundings.

The Crown Inn, owner, Steve McArthur said: “Before embarking on the rather huge undertaking of the complete restoration of The Crown Inn, I had worked with Axminster Carpets on our 33 room luxury hotel, The Ravenswood, and so I knew that it was a company that could meet my expectations for the floor of the bar and restaurant, helping me to create a warm and friendly atmosphere for our latest project.

“As before, my contact at Axminster Carpets proved helpful and friendly, making the whole process a pleasure. I particularly liked the Ready to Weave concept that let me put my own touch on the carpet, making the specification feel that little bit more personal. As you would expect, I am delighted with the finished article and wouldn’t hesitate in using Axminster Carpets again.”

Made in Britain from 80 per cent wool and 20 per cent nylon yarns from Axminster Carpets’ spinning and dyeing mill, Ready to Weave has one of the lowest carbon footprints of semi-bespoke carpets within the UK.

With 3.66m and 0.91m widths available to minimise waste and seams within the often intricate layout of establishments such as The Crown Inn, the Ready to Weave carpet was delivered on-site just four weeks after the acceptance of the sample.

Simultaneously to the UN-climate summit, taking place in December 2009 in the Danish capital, the Crown Plaza Copenhagen Towers has opened as the first CO² neutral hotel in the capital.The new hotel is situated in the modern district Ørestad, close to Copenhagen’s international airport Kastrup, reachable via metro in just a few minutes from the city centre.

Thanks to a facade consisting of 2,400sqm of solar panels, the Copenhagen Towers is climate neutral. This little ‘power plant’ is the biggest solar system in northern Europe and fulfills the EU Standard of a ‘Green Building’.

The master plan for the Copenhagen Towers has been developed by architects Dissing and Weitling from Copenhagen and Forster and Partners from London under the mandate of Danish investor Sjælsøgruppen.

The business and convention hotel has at total area of 130.000sqm and 25 floors encompass a total of 366 rooms. Ranging from 28sqm for a deluxe room and up to 60sqm for the suites, all rooms are furnished in Nordic-elegant style and equipped with energy saving Baulmann luminaries.

In combination with an energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamp, the integrated 3W-LED reading light perfectly illuminates the guest rooms.

These luminaries were specifically developed for this project in close cooperation with the interior design-practice Dynamo Studio from Copenhagen.

The InterContinental Hotels Group has opened the Avenue Crowne Plaza Chicago, close to Michigan Avenue’s ‘Magnificent Mile.’ A conversion of the Avenue Hotel Chicago, the 40-story hotel completed a multi-million renovation in summer 2008.

This property will be the second IHG full service hotel along the Magnificent Mile.

Avenue Crowne Plaza Chicago, general manager, Mik Mahdavi said: “With the recent renovation, which impacted all guestrooms, meeting space and common areas, we’ve essentially been able to open a brand new property. We are extremely excited about branding the hotel as a Crowne Plaza. The upscale guest experience, superior meeting offerings, and IHG’s loyalty program – Priority Club Rewards – makes our hotel an extremely attractive option for business and leisure travelers visiting downtown Chicago.\”

IHG the Americas, brand delivery vice president, Gina LaBarre said: “The hotel’s location near Michigan Avenue, Wrigley Field and the Financial Districts makes it a major attraction for leisure guests as well as business travelers. With the conversion of this hotel to a Crowne Plaza, we can now offer meeting planners in particular our comprehensive meetings program, which they won’t find at any other hotel in the Chicago market.”

The Crowne Plaza brand offers a meetings program consisting of three key components: a Two Hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Meetings Director and a Daily Meetings Debrief. The hotel has more than 5,480sqm of flexible meeting space featuring natural light from windows overlooking the city.

The Avenue Crowne Plaza Chicago boasts 350 guestrooms each complete with a flat-screen TV, iHome docking station, mini bar, rain showerhead, and granite countertops along with views of Lake Michigan and the downtown skyline. Guests have access to amenities including complimentary wi-fi in the guestrooms and public spaces, rooftop pool, fitness center, business center, in-room dining and spa services, which are available upon request.

The 40th floor of the hotel is home to the Sky Lounge and panoramic views of the city. Sky Lounge provides guests a contemporary setting to enjoy a European-influenced breakfast; the space is also available for private events.

For more casual fare, guests can visit the hotel’s first floor restaurant Elephant & Castle, an English pub-style restaurant serving English specialties throughout the day, complete with 26 ales on tap.

The property, located at 160 East Huron, is owned and managed by Driftwood Hospitality Management, LLC, and under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

To continue the brand expansion by Le Meridien in the China region, Le Méridien Xiamen will debut in this month. The hotel hopes to provide creative, open-minded and forward-thinking travelers with a culturally enriching experience.
Le Méridien Xiamen will be the first international hotel located on the city mountain park of Xiamen on the south-eastern coast of Fujian Province.

Owned by Xiamen FULONG Sports Development Co., Ltd., the new hotel is just 15 minutes from the town center in Xiamen and Xiamen International Airport.

Nestled on the slope of Xianyue Hill and surrounded by forest and natural views, the hotel features 348 refined guest rooms including 12 villa suites, all with private balconies overlooking either the courtyard or the mountain.

The hotel will feature two restaurants and a bar, as well as 10 meeting rooms with over 2,000sqm of meeting space including a 842sqm and 10m high pillarless Grand Ballroom with natural daylight.

Guests will also enjoy the fitness center, indoor heated swimming pool, spa, jogging and hiking trail along the mountain park of Xianyue. Le Meridien Xiamen is the only international hotel in the area that offers tennis courts on a hill.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts, senior vice president, Qian Jin said: “We are proud to announce the opening of Le Méridien Qingdao and Le Méridien Chongqing in the stunning key cities in China. In addition to Chongqing and Qingdao, Xiamen is famous for great landscape and rich cultural offerings. These locations are a great fit with Le Méridien brand and these new hotels highlight the significant development of the brand in China.”

Le Méridien currently operates 26 hotels in Asia Pacific and 6 hotels and resorts in China and Taiwan including Le Méridien Chongqing, Le Méridien Qingdao, Le Royal Méridien Shanghai, Le Méridien Sheshan Shanghai, Le Méridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort and Le Méridien Cyberport, Hong Kong. By 2012, the brand would have opened three new hotels in China and Taiwan including: Le Méridien Xiamen, Le Méridien Xian and Le Méridien Taipei.

The Resorts World at Sentosa, Singapore is on track for a soft opening this month.The 49 hectare resort, which includes Universal Studios Singapore, Resorts World Casino, its resident show theatre and four other hotels, has had the hotels’ façade and installation fitted out throughout last year.

About 60 per cent of the resort’s built up area will open with the soft opening this month. Two more attractions, the Marine Life Park and the Maritime Xperiential Museum, the ESPA and two more hotels – Equarius and Spa Villas – will open progressively.

The Resorts World at Sentosa currently has 600 staff on its payroll and has plans to hire a further 10,000 people when the resort opens.

The S$6.59b mega-resort will be home to Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park and the world’s largest oceanarium.

The resort has six hotels of varying themes, full conference and meeting facilities and a grand ballroom that can seat 7,300 people. The most luxurious hotel is the Maxims Tower, the world’s only Hotel Michael, named after famed US-architectural legend, Michael Graves who designed the mega-resort.

Resorts World at Sentosa, vice president of projects, Michael Chin said: “With the hotels and Universal Studios Singapore attractions such as the world’s tallest duelling coasters Battlestar Galatica and the Waterworld Stunt Show amphitheatre rising from the ground, the anticipation towards our opening is indeed mounting.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has completed the sale of the Bliss spa and product company to Steiner Leisure Limited for US$100m. As part of the transaction, Bliss and Remède spas and amenities will remain exclusive to Starwood in the hotel category at W Hotels and St. Regis Hotels, respectively. Additionally, Starwood’s Aloft brand will continue to offer Bliss Tried+Blue amenities.

Starwood, president and CEO, Frits van Paasschen said: “Not only does this sale further our strategy to focus exclusively on our global hospitality business and our nine distinct and compelling hotel brands, but our ongoing and exclusive relationship with Steiner Leisure means that we will continue to distinguish our spa offerings in our W and St. Regis hotels and provide amenities that are guest favourites.”

In addition to Bliss spas in W Hotels and Remède spas in St. Regis hotels, Starwood has more than 300 spa properties in its hotels and resorts around the world.

Starwood also develops and operates proprietary spa brands including Heavenly Spa by Westin, Explore Spa by Le Mèridien and Shine Spa for Sheraton.

The Rezidor Hotel Group will open the Hotel Missoni Ilha de Cajaíba in Brazil in early 2012.

The hotel will feature 118 guest rooms and suites and 32 villas and with this signing Rezidor brings the total number of Missoni hotels to five.

The first Hotel Missoni debuted in Edinburgh just in June last year and further properties are also due to open in Cape Town and Oman.

Hotel Missoni is developed in co-operation with the iconic Italian fashion house Missoni as a new and distinctively different kind of lifestyle hotel targeting well-travelled individuals with a strong interest in design, an understanding of food and wine, a belief in authenticity, and a cognizance of culture from a contemporary point of view.

Rezidor, president and CEO, Kurt Ritter said: “I’m delighted to add another unique Hotel Missoni to our portfolio with the interior design once again being led by Rosita Missoni herself. At the same time I’m proud to enter a new country – Brazil is the 59th nation where Rezidor is present and the first country outside our core region Europe, Middle East and Africa.”

Property Logic Brazil, managing director, Dick Blom said: “Ilha de Cajaíba is a truly unique project – designed to work in harmony with nature – and therefore a natural choice to partner with a unique brand like Hotel Missoni. Together we share a passion for a new concept in lifestyle, design and superior levels of comfort that will make the resort the most luxurious project in north-east Brazil.”

Hotel Missoni Ilha de Cajaíba will be part of a luxurious, eco-friendly resort development on the island of Cajaíba, within the Bahia de Todos os Santos (All Saints’ Bay). It is located 40km from the international airport and the city of Salvador, which has been Brazil’s first capital city and is today the capital city of Bahia.

Besides 118 rooms including 48 suites, Hotel Missoni will offer two restaurants including the signature Missoni Cucina and a Bar Missoni too.

Additionally, 32 luxurious Missoni villas with golf and sea-views will be operated by the hotel. Leisure facilities will include a private beach and swimming pool.

Guests will also have access to the island’s other facilities which will comprise a signature golf course, five other luxury hotels, a conference centre, sports centre, a marina, spas, retail shops, water sports and yacht club, and a heliport.

On the 31st December 2009, the Northern Quest Resort and Casino opened a 250 room hotel and spa.The contemporary hotel features technology and a spa in an urban lodge environment, and was an investment exceeding US$200m.

Northern Quest Resort & Casino is located minutes from downtown Spokane and Spokane International Airport, Washington.

The resort is one of only a few properties in North America to install a total IP-based, high-definition solution and video-on-demand services that allow digital check-in and customized guest information delivered to in-room televisions.

Guests can access a technology concierge and have dedicated bandwidth from every room. The resort includes over 6,700sqm of meeting room space.

Guests will experience tribal influence throughout the property. At Masselow’s Restaurant, the new fine dining restaurant, guests will be greeted in Salish, the native language of the Kalispel Tribe. In the hotel’s Heritage Hallway, artifacts and images displayed represent the Tribe’s past, present and future.

The spa and salon offers guests a men’s barber shop and a waterfall infused whirlpool in the relaxation room.

The duet treatment room for couples or small groups features an oversized soaking tub and fireplace. The spa’s swimming pool features natural stone and a lighted river ceiling inspired by the Kalispels, the people of the river.

The hotel’s opening is creating 325 new jobs, bringing Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s employment to approximately 1,675.

The Resort spends over US$800,000 monthly on local goods and services. With a total of over 2,000 jobs across its government and business enterprises, the Kalispel Tribe is one of the top employers in Spokane County.

CS Contract Furniture recently helped to refurbish the University of Chester, transforming the Principal’s House into a sophisticated boutique hotel.The building had not been refurbished for 20 years and was originally designed for a small conference centre.

The building is very traditional with high ceilings and lots of wooden panelling lining the walls.

The refurbishment has kept the traditional style but given it a modern twist.

Each room has been finished with a different type of wall paper and a different colour palette, which were chosen to coordinate with the fabric choices.

The Drawing Room has been created using muted tones that are complemented by citrus colours, to create a chic, but informal venue.

Furniture created by CS Contract Furniture and used throughout the refurbishment include the Lisbon Two Ladderback Chair and the Broxton One Tub, Low Arm and Fixed Cushion Chair.

The Holiday Inn of Laramie, Wyoming was awarded the Newcomer of the Year Award at the Intercontinental Hotels Group annual conference in Washington, D.C. The award was presented by IHG president Jim Abrahamson, for demonstrating top service scores and outstanding product for new Holiday Inn hotels. The award was presented to Regina Rhodes, General Manager.Holiday Inn Laramie, general manager, Regina Rhodes said: “We are thrilled, but certainly not surprised that our hotel was recognized as Newcomer of the Year for the Holiday Inn brand. Our hotel embodies and exceeds the level of service and hospitality you have come to expect from the Holiday Inn brand.”

With 580sqm of meeting space, the Holiday Inn of Laramie provides the perfect venue for business meetings and small association functions.

The hotel’s ballroom accommodates up to 125 guests and provides an upscale, formal setting.

The hotel features event space and contemporary designed guestrooms with high-definition TVs, catering to the corporate of leisure traveler.

Free high-speed wireless internet service is available throughout the hotel.

For small, compact bathrooms where space is at a premium, the new 300mm Centro towel rail from Aestus offers a solution.As from December 2009, homeowners need not compromise on aesthetics as this new addition to the popular ‘Centro’ collection combines practicality and style to produce a timeless and affordable piece.

Sleek and slender, the 300mm ‘Centro’ towel rail will ensure warm, dry and fluffy towels in the smallest of spaces, making it ideal for en-suite bathrooms and cloakrooms.

In common with all ‘Centro’ models, the 300mm version bridges the gap between inexpensive, generally low quality towel rails and decadent models that ooze style and class.

Distinctive design features, such as an unusual tubular pattern characterise the towel rail, allowing it to break away from the standard, inspiration free multi rail look.

It also boasts mitred joint wall fixings instead of cheap plastic brackets, inward facing tappings to keep clean lines and is manufactured from brass, and finished in chrome or bright Nickel.

‘Centro’, pictured, measures 300mm wide x 1585mm and is priced from £410 including VAT.

All models within this collection come with a five year warranty.

The Santhiya Resort & Spa in Koh Pha-ngan has been announced as the overall winner of the luxury Spa Hotel category in the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2009.The resort is located on the north-eastern tip of Koh Pha-ngan, Thailand and has recently had some new hotel rooms built.

The rooms were designed by CVS Thai Modern Hom and are 48sqm. They feature internet access, mini bar, DVD player and satellite TV.

The hotel is set in tropical gardens on a hillside which overlooks the bay. The rooms feature private verandas to enjoy the view.

Most have direct access to the infinity pool, which feature hand-crafted floating sunbeds designed in the style of traditional Thai boats.

The new ‘Santhiya Supreme Deluxe’ rooms have been designed in keeping with the resorts traditional Thai style, featuring intricately carved wood, rich fabrics and handcrafted furnishings to create an authentic ambience. All accommodation is constructed using natural materials.

The last year has been a fractious one. I think we all suffered from the effects of the banking crisis. It was exacerbated in the hotel business by the panic reactions of hotel companies to perceived rather than actual threats.

The UK market actually held up very well, with occupancy averages touching lows of 63 per cent in the Provinces whilst the capital enjoyed lows on 74 per cent. By Christmas London hotels were once again quite full, with complaints of there being no rooms at the Inn echoing Bethlehem two millennia before.
What we are going to do when the Olympics arrive I dread to think, as there has been no real attempt to stimulate an increase in hotel provision. Maybe the lack of support for the tourist industry by the British government, such as cutting Visit Britains’ budget, is actually a cunning plan? By not encouraging tourism or aiding investment (as France has done for example with a 5 per cent VAT rate) despite tourism being over 8 per cent of all British economic activity maybe Whitehall plans to enable the capital to cope with an influx of maybe an extra 300,000 visitors by keeping ordinary tourists away.

Whilst the US occupancy levels, down in some areas to 35 per cent, gave every reason for their new build and refurbishment markets to stall the same was not the case in Europe. With France boasting it didn’t go into recession, Germany leading the pack out and the UK benefitting from in effect a 30 per cent devaluation of the pound, the hotel market remained remarkably buoyant.

However, the panic in the UK by hoteliers to cancel projects has lost them a valuable year to get their hotels up to international standards. Unless refurbishment programmes restart with vigour then complaints will come thick and fast at Olympic time.

The problem will be, as it always is after a recession, that the manpower will not be available to jumpstart a vigorous programme. Design practices shed staff fast and as do suppliers. For both, recruitment of replacements is a slow and painful process.

The Arch London has opened its doors to immediate acclaim as one of the capital’s most delightful and individual luxury hotels. With interiors conceived by award-winning hotel designers, RDD plc, the hotel combines contemporary London design influences with the architectural heritage of the Georgian Grade ll listed townhouses in which it is accommodated, to create a unique hotel and a glamorous new destination in the city’s West End.Entering via an elegant Portland stone portico, guests are immediately offered intriguing glimpses, through dark stained timber and glass screens, of the reception, lounge and study.

Behind the reception desk a real time projected artscape offers a constantly changing collection of video art according to the time of day and, facing this, an electric blue wall sculpture and vivid crimson leather bench provide a counterpoint to the hypnotic quality of the video images. The study is different again with black and silver hand printed wall covering, bespoke red lacquered writing desk and a deep red and black sofa accented with black and cream geometric cushions.

Le Salon, Bar and Kitchen restaurant areas are carefully blended together, each with their own environment and each needing to play a different role through day and evening. The areas are delineated by an array of devices, from semi-circular floor to ceiling banquettes to a dark gloss brick wine dispense for wine tasting and a pewter fronted cocktail bar designed to provide unhindered views of the cocktail-making drama.

A procession of contrasting light fittings leads the eye through the story of the room. In Le Salon, cascading columns of lit glass rods illuminate each dining table; in the central Bar area , three large clusters of brosilicate lamps are suspended from a pressed tin ceiling casting an array of light over the bronze and mirror detailing of the bar, and, towards the kitchen, industrial-style pendants define a more down-to-earth, inclusive tone.

The open Kitchen is part of the dining experience and the flame from its “Stone Hearth” oven can be glimpsed invitingly from the farthest corner of the room. With a dark gloss brick façade to the oven and charcoal riven tiling to the other walls, the open servery provides a dramatic backdrop to the theatre of cooking. The servery itself is finished in a bright polished stainless steel; this, together with a playful collection of hanging pots and pans creates an intriguing array of reflections.

Among the many other delightful design features there are: brushed silver bar stools by Philippe Starck, jewel coloured Tom Dixon armchairs and a specially designed glass over bar that is layered and lit to create a misty display and give a seductive glow to the space.

Of all the public spaces, it is the Library that is most reminiscent of a private townhouse drawing room with its charming “collectibles”. Traditionally inspired leather wing chairs are joined by a mix of contemporary furniture, including a large circular table with hand crafted silver powder coated base and dark stained timber top, and by a blend of modern and traditional light fittings. The centrepiece is the beautifully crafted martini cabinet.

There are 82 guestrooms over six floors and 10 different design schemes. However, the reality of planning bedrooms in a series of old townhouses meant that the designers had to individually design each room to incorporate modern technology without impacting the natural charm of the carefully restored architectural detail. The ground and first floor guestrooms retain the traditional high ceilings and elegant original casement windows. Bold wall coverings and luxurious fabrics combine to create rooms with individual flair and character. Bathrooms are well appointed with granite vanity units, bevelled glass mirrors and flat screen TVs recessed above the bath.

The Arch London has nine suites, each one unique. The ABBey 222 and SULlivan 785 have small sunken courtyards leading off the Guest Bedrooms. Each courtyard has timber decking and wall heaters.

The WHItehall 944 meeting room includes a state-of-the-art media wall and a fully programmable colour changing lighting system to suit all occasions and events. However, located in between the two suites, it is also designed to convert easily into a large sitting room with access from one or both of the suites. When used as a lounge, the media wall‟s double 52” plasma screen installation offers a host of additional entertainment facilities including Playstation 3, Nintendo WII and full Sky HD.

New furniture collections at Andy Thornton for 2010 include Lina, a stunning side chair in antiqued brown leather with a classic button back. Lina chairs combine the luxury and comfort of a traditional chair with an unmistakably modern shape.

Perfect as a restaurant chair, Lina is versatile enough to be used in hotel bedrooms as an occasional chair, in receptions, bars, or anywhere required.

Embodying the current eclectic design trend of combining many different styles, Lina’s simple elegance will complement any style of interior you choose.

Complete with signature Andy Thornton durability, Lina side chairs are competitively priced. Stocked in the leather shown, the chair can also be upholstered in any fabric of your choice.

Sweeney Properties Ltd is to open high quality accommodation in the heart of the Lake District in the summer of this year.Located just off the A591 & only five minutes away from Keswick on the site of the Old School House and Youth Hostel at Legburthwaite near Keswick, it will be a 40 bed lodge hotel.

The design, by local award winning architects Savage & Chadwick, fits into the landscape, utilising local traditional building features and materials, whilst having a contemporary feel.

This is achieved by a two story glass atrium at the heart of the building and the mixing of cedar wood cladding and local stone work under a Westmorland slated roof.

Sweeney Properties, managing director, Derek Sweeney said: “This is a really exciting project for us as it will add to our ability to cater for another sector of our clientele who are looking for high quality accommodation but do not want the full range of services provided by our Inns.”

Derek Sweeney also said: “Over the last seventeen years we have seen many changes in tourism in the Lake District. Our Lake District hotels and cottages are all located in the heart of The National Park and are a very good barometer for measuring the ebb and flow of business over the years.”

The Louvre Hotels, in conjunction with Golden Tulip Hospitality Group, has opened ten new hotels over the past month and is planning to open more soon.Throughout 2009, the Louvre Hotels group opened 60 hotels around the world.

In December they opened the Golden Tulip El Mechtel in Tunisia, near Tunis’ residential area. The hotel has 344 rooms with a view over the Belvédère Park.

Another hotel to open in Tunisia was the Golden Tulip Sfax, a modern nine floor building in downtown Sfax that has 130 rooms with private balconies and views of the sea.

Last month also saw the opening of the Tulip Inn Lucknow in India. The hotel is a few minutes from Hazratganj, Lucknow’s business district.

In France, the Kyriad Lyon-Est Bron Eurexpo opened with 50 rooms and so too did the Première Classe Perpignan Nord Rivesaltes with 54 rooms.

The alliance also inaugurated five hotels by the end of December – two Kyriad hotels in France (in Sedan and Poitiers) and three Golden Tulip hotels in Thailand (two in Phuket and one in Pattaya), which will be the chain’s first properties in Thailand.

Louvre Hotels and Golden Tulip Hospitality Group, president, Pierre-Frédéric Roulot said: “The goal is to cement our presence in Europe while venturing out to conquer new expanding or developing areas. We already know that we will be opening 28 new hotels in 2010, adding up to more than 3,000 rooms in 10 locations around the world. By 2011, the alliance is aiming to run 1,250 hotels with more than 100,000 rooms.”

The heart of Schulte is design. Schulte’s influence began in 1964 with the ubiquitous automotive steering column stalk switches that are used worldwide. This was followed by the automatic release lawnmower switches and more recently pressure washers that start only when the water trigger is pressed. This is around 1.5 million systems per year to Karcher and now the company has introduced EVOline.The EVOline designs work internationally at the interface between the networks and people, and are made by Schulte in Germany.

Wherever there are meetings or people are working and visiting there is a need for power and multimedia connectivity in one place, and that can be installed with confidence.

In hotel guest and conference or meeting rooms EVOline systems impact positively on the visitors, and the efficiency of installations of new and reworked facilities.

Have a look at the EVOline Overview catalogue which shows typical applications.

Hillswood Furniture has launched a new collection called Desiree.The collection comes from Italy and is one of three new collections launched at this year’s Sleep exhibition.

With it’s unique style which is undoubtedly Italian and simple elegance this collection would complement any interior space be it hotel lobby, lounge and bar area, bedroom or dining room.

The frame is manufactured in solid beech polished to choice and can be upholstered from our extensive range of flame retardant soft fabrics or leather or COM.

New universal mobile device charging station is compatible with over 2000 devicesHotels across the globe are encountering frustrated guests who are desperate to re-charge and re-connect. TeleAdapt is pleased to announce an affordable, universal charging solution for hotels – the ChargeHub.

ChargeHub is a compact, mobile device charging station designed specifically for the hospitality industry. It comes equipped with 12 different device connectors, making it compatible with most major mobile phone brands used around the world.

A female USB port extends the charging convenience to guests who bring their own cable, for charging Bluetooth headsets, portable game consoles, and other USB powered devices.

TeleAdapt, founder and CEO, Gordon Brown said: “Convenient, universal power is and always will be a concern for hotels and their guests. A power outlet is just not enough when travellers forget their charging cables. With millions of guests checking in with mobile phones that have cable requirements unique to each country, a universal charger like ChargeHub is the only feasible solution to service their charging needs.”

ChargeHub has been designed to address the specific challenges hotels face when catering to a global audience. It provides the power, it provides the cable and it’s designed to fit within any room configuration.

ChargeHub’s patented design works well in a guestroom environment or installed in the business center and meeting room space. Four screw holes allow the unit to be secured in place anywhere in the room. Choose to install ChargeHub on a desktop, on the side of a desk, or built into a drawer for a more hidden application. An instructional decal is affixed to the top to conceal the screws and create a seamless look.

Hamilton Litestat is a UK-leading designer and manufacturer of decorative electrical wiring accessories including switch plates, sockets, card switches and lighting controls. With over 40 years’ experience supplying commercial and residential markets, Hamilton provides an ever-expanding, diverse range of quality, design-led products as well as producing bespoke commissions.The products range from traditional antique brass switch plates to up-to-the-minute lighting control panels finished in glossy piano black. Other finishes available across the Hamilton ranges include satin chrome and bright chrome, satin steel and bright steel, wooden finishes, satin brass and polished brass, and pearl oyster. Two of Hamilton’s most popular ranges, Hartland CFX and Linea CFX, feature entirely concealed fixings, perfect for ultra-modern rooms that require a smooth, minimalist feel.

Recently, Hamilton introduced another dimension to its comprehensive product range – Perfect Partners door furniture. Available exclusively from Hamilton in the UK, the handles perfectly match many of the stylish finishes found across the other accessories ranges. Designers of both residential and commercial interiors can now look to Hamilton to provide the complete range of finishing touches in order to give their rooms a sleek, co-ordinated look.

Although suitable for a wide variety of applications, Hamilton’s products have recently been installed in a number of hospitality interiors due to their combination of hardwearing functionality and design-led aesthetics. The slimline Hartland range has proved particularly popular, having recently been used in both Trewhiddle Village, a prestigious holiday villa complex in South Cornwall, and the luxury Jurys 4-star hotel in Great Russell Street, London. As the Jurys hotel serves international visitors Hamilton produced bespoke plates that incorporate American and European sockets, as well as matching card switches and dimmer plates.

Hamilton’s Managing Director, Rod Hamilton – one of the first people to introduce the dimmer to the UK market in the 1960s – believes that a combination of up-to-the-minute technology and high visual appeal is key to optimising electrical wiring systems. He said: “Being able to provide a whole range of wiring solutions that feature the same plate design helps to minimise cost without having to compromise visual appeal.”

“All of Hamilton’s wiring accessories may be combined with any of our self-designed inserts which include Euromod communication and data modules, grid fix solutions and standard box fit. This means that a whole range of wiring solutions may be achieved using the same plate design, with different inserts combined within one plate in order to integrate separate functions and streamline the overall scheme. Our Digital Mercury lighting control system may also be controlled from a plate specially designed to co-ordinate with the other switches and sockets in the scheme. At the end of the day, the two most important things in designing your electrical wiring system are that it works efficiently and blends in with the rest of the interior design,” he added.

As many of Hamilton’s plates are made in its UK factories, bespoke accessories may also be engineered to address specific requirements.

All of Hamilton’s products, including Perfect Partners, will be on display at the Interiors show in Birmingham from 24–27 January 2010; visit stand D18.

The new 81-room Country Inn & Suites by Carlson Washington at Meadowlands has opened for business at 245 Meadowlands Blvd. The hotel is the first Country Inns & Suites by Carlson in the greater Pittsburgh area. The non-smoking hotel features an indoor pool, whirlpool and new fitness centre with strength and cardio equipment.

Other amenities include a complimentary hot breakfast and meeting space is also available. The hotel offers a variety of guest room styles including standard rooms, studio suites, one bedroom suites, Jacuzzi rooms and an extended stay suite. All rooms feature complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, microwave, refrigerator and HBO.

Located near Interstate 79, the hotel is only minutes from the Meadows Race Track and Casino and Tanger Outlets. The hotel is less than 30 miles from Pittsburgh International Airport and taxi service is available.

Country Inns & Suites by Carlson features traditional architecture and a residential interior design with the brand’s plank lobby flooring, lobby fireplace and front porch. It has furnishings that blend rich woods and natural earth tones throughout the hotel.

Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, executive vice president, Steve Mogck said: “We’re very excited to bring another Country Inns & Suites By Carlson to this region. All employees will participate in our ‘Be Our Guest’ service training program, to ensure consistent delivery of quality customer service at our hotels.”

Home2 Suites by Hilton, the extended-stay hotel chain, has announced the groundbreaking of its first hotel.The 119-room Home2 Suites by Hilton Fayetteville, N.C. is being developed by Alabama-based LBA Properties. The hotel is expected to open in the 2010 fourth quarter.

Hilton Worldwide, global head of brand management, Bill Duncan said: “Developer response to this brand has been extremely gratifying. We launched Home2 Suites by Hilton less than 11 months ago in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression. Since January of this year, we have broken ground on the first property, received 67 applications, approved 53 franchise agreements, with commitments to move into construction shortly, and have more than 30 additional properties in the early stage of development pipeline. We believe Home2 is the fastest growing brand to launch in Hilton’s history and based on the current pipeline, we expect the 100th Home2, a pivotal milestone, to open in 2013.”

The four-story hotel will feature a number of amenities, including an integrated guest laundry and fitness room, outdoor living rooms, grills, outdoor exercise course and wireless internet accessible from all areas of the hotel. It will also feature the Oasis, a flexible community space that includes gathering and individual work zones, a pantry, complimentary breakfast service area, activity room and indoor pool.

Guest rooms provide separate media and bedroom areas, as well as a fully accessorized kitchenette, containing a refrigerator/freezer with icemaker, dishwasher, microwave/convection oven and coffee maker. The living area has a queen-size sofa/sleeper, 42-inch flat-screen TV, roll-around ottoman, ambient and task lighting.

All guest rooms include a “working wall” that incorporates the kitchenette and flexible working space with a moveable desk and adaptable storage options. Environmentally conscious appointments include low flow showers and faucets, bulk bath amenities, dual flush toilets, recycled flooring and other sustainable product selections.

Regal Kangbo Hotel, when it opens next year, will be the only five-star international hotel in Dezhou, Shandong Province, China. The hotel is strategically located in Dezhou Economic Development Zone (DEDZ) and will be surrounded by the Municipal Government Office Tower and the DEDZ Office Tower.

The hotel will pose as the highest building in the city with 100m height and a total gross floor area of about 40,000sqm, and will be a tall diamond-shaped tower in appearance.

The 22-storey Regal Kangbo Hotel will feature 215 deluxe and spacious guestrooms and suites, offering a wide range of dining options, comprehensive meeting facilities with a 750sqm grand ballroom befitting all kinds of conferences and banquets.

The hotel offers well appointed health club with indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and complete massage facilities as well as other recreational facilities like chess rooms and karaoke.

The Regal Kangbo Hotel is due to open in the third quarter of 2010.

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Stonestreet Hospitality Realty Corporation have opened Hyatt Place in Uncasville, Connecticut, US. The hotel is the first newly built hotel to open in Uncasville since 2001.Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Stonestreet Hospitality Realty Corporation have opened Hyatt Place in Uncasville. The hotel is the first newly built hotel to open in Uncasville since 2001.

Hyatt Place Uncasville features 176 guestrooms, all of which have a 42-inch HDTV, the Hyatt
Grand Bed and an eight-foot sectional sofa-sleeper. There is complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel and a complimentary continental breakfast.

Every guestroom is also equipped with a media centre that allows electronic devices to plug directly into the 42-inch high definition television, giving guests instant access to the technological amenities they’re accustomed to accessing at home or in the office.

Within the hotel there is also about 260sqm of meeting space, a large lobby space, a fitness centre and a coffee and wine bar serving Starbucks coffee.

The Guest Kitchen offers made-to-order breakfast, lunch and dinner entrées around the clock, and specially trained Hosts are on hand to offer assistance with everything from directions to check-in to a freshly made meal.

Hyatt Place Uncasville is under the leadership of general manager Merrielee Beetham
Turley, assistant general manager David R. LaValley and director of sales and marketing
Eileen M. Wert.

Hyatt Place Uncasville, general manager, Merrielee Beetham said: “We’re thrilled to be Uncasville’s first newly built hotel to open in eight years and believe that city residents and travellers will find Hyatt Place Uncasville worth the wait. Located just one mile from the Mohegan Sun and a short drive from the area’s historic attractions, Hyatt Place Uncasville gives business and leisure travellers instant access to everything Uncasville and the surrounding area have to offer.”

Coastal interiors have always incorporated elements of the outdoors but lately, designers and homeowners everywhere are embracing the easy-yet-elegant al fresco d?cor associated with warm climates ? regardless of geography.Chella Textiles president Lee Menichella is not surprised by this collective determination to rest easy and soak up the sun when we can ? literally and figuratively.

Menichella said: ?The shift toward living in the moment makes perfect sense in light of recent unprecedented worldwide events. Even those living in cold climates half the year want to make the most of their outdoor spaces.?

Santa Barbara-based Chella has created virtually maintenance-free fabrics for a decade. Menichella said: “The difference is that now, the easier lifestyle they afford is what everyone wants.”

Equally at home indoors and out, Chella?s solution-dyed acrylic fabrics, sheers and trimmings for upholstery and drapery resist sunlight, stains, water, wine and the like.

Quodes has introduced cabinets designed by Japanese designer Nendo.

Nendo drew inspiration for Collar from the collar of a shirt. Quodes have extended the range with an affordable bookcase and show case.

Modern, contemporary and funky furniture, the Collar range offers bookcases, chests of drawers and cabinets with doors. Collar cabinets can be used standalone or as a composition of several models

The configuration on the left is 200 cm long with a height of 40 / 80 cm. It is composed of a lowboard with 4 drawers (L200 H40 D55cm) and a metal bookcase module (L50 H40 D35 cm).

Bookcases are made of powder coated metal. Chests of drawers and cabinets with doors have a MDF corpus and metal fronts / shelf.

The colours available include:
Pantone Cool Gray 3 C
Pantone Warm Gray 3 C
Pantone Cool Gray 8 C
Traffic White

JAL Hotels Co., Ltd. has announced it will open Hotel Nikko Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in October, 2011. The company jointly signed a hotel management agreement with Fei Yueh Vietnam Co., Ltd., the owner of the hotel.Hotel Nikko Saigon will be JAL Hotels’ second hotel in Vietnam after Hotel Nikko Hanoi, which was opened in 1998. Fu Tsu Construction Co., Ltd., the parent company of Fei Yueh Vietnam Co., Ltd. and one of the major construction companies in Taiwan, also owns two Nikko Hotel International properties: Hotel Royal Taipei and Palau Royal Resort.

JAL Hotels has had management contracts to operate these hotels since Hotel Royal Taipei opened in 1984, and the two companies have enjoyed a relationship for the past 25 years.

JAL Hotels has been seeking an opportunity for quite some time to open a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest centre of commerce in Vietnam. The contract for the management agreement was based on mutual benefit for both parties.

Hotel Nikko Saigon will be built in the newly-developed large-scale commercial complex ‘Royal Centre Project’, located in Ho Chi Minh City. Construction of the hotel is expected to be completed as the second phase of the development.

The hotel will have 22 floors above ground and 3 basement-level floors, with 335 guest rooms occupying a total of 58,437sqm (including 19,249sqm at the basement level).

The hotel’s main guest rooms will provide a 40sqm, larger than most guest rooms in hotels of the same class in the city. The hotel’s facilities will include an all-day dining facility that includes Japanese cuisine, as well as a Chinese restaurant, and will also provide guests with banquet rooms, a business centre and fitness club.

The hotel is expected to cater to the demands of both business and leisure clientele. The first phase of the development opened in December 2008 with a shopping mall and office space. The third phase will be completed in 2013 with four luxury residential towers.