Hotel Designs

Redditch based AMS Group, specialists in bespoke interiors for the retail and hotel and leisure sectors is pleased to announce that as a result of a recent evaluation by the SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance, they have been certified to FSC Chain-of-Custody standards.Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an internationally recognized standard setting body that accredits and monitors forestry certifiers worldwide.

The Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program was founded in 1989 to certify responsible forestry practices, in particular chain-of-custody refers to the complete systems and procedures that allow for the tracking of a forest product from the logs traded to the retailers who bring the final product to the marketplace.

AMS, managing director, Jim Clark said: “We are very proud to receive official recognition of our efforts in this area. As a company we are very conscious of our responsibilities and achieving certification has been important for us and is a further guarantee to existing and potential customers that we operate in the most environmentally conscious way possible.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it will be looking into a redevelopment plan for the 665-room Sheraton Manhattan at Times Square in New York City.The company is exploring a variety of options to maximize the long-term value of this significant asset which occupies 395,000 sq ft of real estate, covering a full city block, bounded by Broadway, Seventh Avenue and 51st and 52nd Street near Times Square.

The redevelopment plans will include a hotel flying one of Starwood’s brand flags, in possible combination with retail and office uses. Given the hotel’s incomparable footprint, Starwood has received considerable interest from investors and developers to partner on the project and the company has assembled a project team to assist in evaluating a full range of options and partners over the coming months.

As the hotel is redeveloped, Starwood will remove the Sheraton flag and operate the hotel as a non-branded Starwood property beginning in April. The hotel will remain open as the company finalises redevelopment plans, and will continue to be a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program. Starwood made the decision to operate the hotel as an independent because the hotel does not currently meet the upgraded standards of the Sheraton brand, which is culminating a three-year, $6bn global overhaul. As part of the revitalisation of Sheraton, Starwood’s largest and most global hotel brand, the brand has removed 32 “off brand” hotels in order to improve its quality and consistency, and reflect a significantly enhanced guest experience.

The redevelopment of the Sheraton Manhattan is illustrative of Starwood’s bullish growth plans in New York City. Starwood has more hotels in New York City than anywhere in the world and currently operates 13 hotels here with plans to open six more in 2010, including two new high-profile Sheraton properties in Brooklyn and Tribeca, the W New York Downtown and the Four Points by Sheraton Long Island City. In addition, the global hotel giant will debut its two newest brands in the Big Apple with the openings of Aloft New York Brooklyn and Element New York Times Square West, bringing its total number of New York City properties to 19. In addition, the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, the Sheraton brand’s flagship New York property, will launch a $90 million renovation later this year.

The Création Baumann design team has taken inspiration from contemporary men’s fashion for its new range of curtain and upholstery fabric.Classic suit patterns, such as herringbone and houndstooth and cord fabrics are entering the world of furnishing in a fresh interpretation.

The collection is available in natural hues and tones of sand as well as in the colours of contemporary trends.

The designs, “Sir”, “Earl”, “Prince” and “Queen” are flame retardant and are recommended for furnishings in hotels.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. will remain on track to open two properties in Jacmel, Haiti, the company has announced.The company, which is scheduled to open a 32-room Comfort Inn Hotel and a 120-room Ascend Collection member hotel, will be expanding its support of relief efforts, and sending supplies to the property slated to open as a Comfort Inn hotel later this year.

Choice Hotels, vice president of emerging markets and new business developments, Brian Parker said: “Although the earthquake caused massive destruction and set back timetables, Choice Hotels together with the hotel owner and developer, SIMACT, will continue to collaborate to see these projects to completion and open two great properties in this coastal Caribbean town.”

Choice Hotels has sent aid in response to the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12. The company has sent relief supplies, including food, water, fuel, soap and laundry detergent, directly to its Comfort Inn conversion property in Jacmel. Among the supplies were more than 1,500lbs of food and drinking water, which was scheduled to arrive 30th January from the Dominican Republic.

Parker said: “The hotel did not experience structural damage and is now providing shelter to guests and local families who lost their homes in the earthquake.”

The two properties, owned by SIMACT, will be the first Choice-brand hotels for Haiti and the first global hotel brand for the island in more than a decade and will be located on Haiti’s southern coast in Jacmel.

Choice Hotels International, president and CEO, Stephen P. Joyce said: “During times like this, we must use our substantial resources to get supplies to areas where help is so greatly needed and to do whatever we can to directly support our hotels.”

Leading Hotels of the World member ‘Hotel de l’Europe’ became the first 5 star certified hotel of the Green Key Program in Amsterdam, The Netherlands a few years ago. Baulmann Leuchten has recently become involved with the chain.The Deluxe hotel in the city center of Amsterdam was awarded for its outstanding commitment to environmental performance.

They even got the highest level of performance which can be achieved, the ‘Golden’ status. It perfectly fits to the recently lounched ‘Leading Green Link Program’, of which Baulmann Leuchten is involved.

Continuing this outstanding commitment to environmental performance Hotel de l’Europe has now refurbished all bathrooms with energy saving luminaires from Baulmann Leuchten in Germany.

The wall-mounted luminaires are made from polished stainless steel and are equipped with electronic ballast for energy saving flourescent lamps.

Together with the famous dutch architects Dam & Partners Architecten from Amsterdam, the lighting designer Industrielicht BV made sure that the luminaires are placed on both sides of the mirror to garanty a glare-free and even illumination.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that the Minneapolis-based Chambers has joined Le Méridien. The addition will increase the brand’s footprint by 10 hotels in North America.Chambers was opened in 2006 by art collector Ralph Burnet and is considered one of the world’s top art hotels, which features more than 250 original artworks by noted artists such as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Gavin Turk. The hotel has now been renamed Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis.

Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide, global brand leader, Eva Zieglar said: “Le Méridien shares with its guests a passion for style, art, architecture, design, and cuisine, all focal points of Chambers and owner Ralph Burnet. Chambers will serve as a flagship for Le Méridien’s North American portfolio, and a perfect example of its new direction as a creative hub in vibrant cities around the world.”

Le Méridien Chambers was designed for those individuals who recognize and are inspired by contemporary art and cuisine combined with great service. Behind the hotel’s distinctive mahogany double doors, guests are greeted with an eclectic mix of original, contemporary art by internationally renowned artists. Video monitors line the guestroom corridors with a constant display of award-winning video art, and during their stays, in-the-know guests take the stairs whenever possible to enjoy, Elemental, the five-story mural that runs the entire height of the hotel’s main stairwell. In the hotel’s Burnet Gallery, guests may purchase works by international, national and local artists.

Designed by Rockwell Group, Le Méridien
Chambers’ design provides an ideal backdrop to its contemporary art collection. The hotel wraps around Eden, an open-air, grotto-style lounge courtyard that is open year round and features a 10ft square gas fire pit. During the winter months a portion of Eden transforms into, Ice Chamber, a 256-foot bar created from 12,000lbs of crystal clear ice.

Le Méridien Chambers features 60 guestrooms, including six suites and nine junior suites. All the guestrooms feature original artwork and are furnished with contemporary furniture and platform beds. Rooms are equipped with 42″ plasma TVs, WI-FI Internet access, and iPod docking stations and alarm clocks.

The Rezidor Hotel Group is to open a new hotel in a new country – The Radisson Blu Hotel, Ulaanbaatar with 175 guest rooms is scheduled to open in Q1 2011. The Radisson Blu hotel, already under construction, is located in the middle of Mongolia’s capital city Ulaanbaatar, 200m from Sukhbaatar Square and Peace Avenue.

Adjacent to the building (the rooms look down on it) is the 100 year old Choijin Lama Temple which features the 18th-century gold-covered statue of Buddha Shayaryamuni; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Opera House; and the Museum of Natural History. Besides 175 rooms, the hotel will feature three restaurants (including a Paulaner micro brewery), a wellness centre and 1,500sqm of conference and meeting space.

Mongolia is known as the home of Genghis Khan and its grasslands extend into China and Russia. Virtually unknown to the outside world prior to the 1990s, the country is emerging as a travel destination. Considered remote and exotic with a rich history, Mongolia has a unique combination of attractions for visitors – annual tourist arrivals have been growing at a compound annual rate of 15 per cent.

Corporate travel also offers considerable opportunities as Mongolia’s economy will experience impressive growth. With its extensive mineral deposits it is a key exporter of commodities helping fuel the rapid economic advancement of neighbouring China. The country has made a successful transformation from a state-controlled to market-driven economy.

Rezidor, CEO and president, Kurt Ritter said: “We are delighted to enter Mongolia which is a fascinating destination and the 61st country where Rezidor is present. Our co-operation will strengthen the business of both our companies, and bring a new clientele to Mongolia.”

Philip Cowan Interiors has proudly announced the completion of the manufacture, supply and installation of curtains and soft furnishings throughout London’s newest Eco Hotel.Rafayel on the Left Bank is a luxury green hotel located in Battersea’s award-winning Falcon Wharf Development.

Rafayel was created to set a new standard for London, proving that top hotels can reduce their environmental impact without compromising on 5-star luxury, quality or comfort.

Philip Cowan Interiors supplied over 300 screen roller blinds, blackout lined curtains, cushion and bed throws.

Kettal has included two new fabrics designed by Patricia Urquiola in their 2010 catalogue: Kernel Brown and Paddock Brown.The new fabrics are part of the Kernel and Paddock ranges, and are made from an exclusive PVC-acrylic mix. They combine the advantages of Porotex with the soft feel of chenille.

With the addition of these two new models, the range now consists of six different designs.

The new Kernel Brown and Paddock Brown fabrics, designed by Patricia Urquiola, are completely resistant to the outdoors.

Kettal products can be purchased from PS Interiors in the UK via the Kettal page in the Directory.

RGCA are officially launching its new table range, The Dorchester & Alvis this monthThey have been designed to offer subtle design features as well as an alternative to the standard square, rectangular or circular tables.

The legs and rails are all solid Beech, the tops veneered and the polish has a twin pack catalyst finish suitable for contract use, available in a wide variety of finishes to suit your scheme.

The Dorchester range has the option of a black stringing detail to give a subtle design feature and the standard version has a rebate on the side of the top to give a break and reduce the visual impact.

Alvis gives a wonderful perspective alternative to the normal square or round tables. The tops and legs are all triangular and the legs taper as well. The console table is a trapezium shape.

IHG has begun the countdown to the opening of the newest InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property in Times Square.Slated to open in July, the InterContinental New York Times Square will be situated on 44th Street just west of Times Square.

Wrapped with floor-to-ceiling windows, the 36-story InterContinental New York Times Square will total 607 guestrooms each averaging 350 sq ft, including an oversized bathroom complete with walk-in rain showers. The hotel boasts 29 corner suites with expansive views of the city that allowing guests to sightsee without moving their feet. Additionally, the hotel’s 2,700 sq ft duplex Presidential Suite will showcase dramatic panoramic views of Times Square, Broadway, the New York City skyline and the Hudson River.

IHG, president, The Americas, Jim Abrahamson said: “Opening the largest new-build hotel in the New York City market since 2002 – especially in this economy – is a tremendous milestone and the result of working with the right owner to put the right hotel brand in the right location.”

Upon completion, the InterContinental New York Times Square will be one of the most environmentally responsible hotels in New York City and the largest new-build hotel to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Counsel (USGBC).

Designed by the global architecture firm Gensler, LEED certification was based on a number of green design and construction features, including the use of sustainable materials such as roofing with low solar heat gain; green roofs with drought-tolerant, low maintenance plants (i.e. moss and sedum plantings); large windows to maximize natural day lighting; and an energy-generating elevator system.

With interior design by Jeffrey Beers International (JBI), the InterContinental New York Times Square combines classic New York Art Deco heritage with contemporary and natural inspiration, providing a refreshing sanctuary from the bustling streets of Manhattan.

Cambodian-based company, the Grand Lion Group, has entered into a management agreement and related agreements with US-based hotel operator Marriott International to operate the 218 room Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap.The agreement is the first of its kind for the Grand Lion Group whose primary business is real estate and agriculture.

The Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap will be located on a 1.2 hectare site, approximately 15 minutes away from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor Archaeological Park.

Scheduled for completion in 2011, the Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap will feature 218 guestrooms with four fixture bathrooms. In room amenities will include Marriott’s plush bed and bath linen and amenities, high-definition flat-screen television, high-speed internet access, mini-bar and safe.

For dining and entertainment, there will be a casual, all-day dining restaurant, a Pool Bar & Grill and a lobby lounge. Recreational facilities will include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and a full-service spa including a relaxation lounge and a foot reflexology area. The property will also feature approximately 600sqm of function space.

Plans are also underway to open a resort hotel in the coastal holiday town of Sihanoukville and a business hotel in the capital city of Phnom Penh. Expecting to break ground in the third quarter of 2010, the Grand Palm Resort will comprise three branded International Hotels, a marina, 18- hole golf course and luxury villas and condominiums situated on a 200 hectare beachfront in the premier coastal holiday town of Sihanoukville.

The Grand Palms Beach Resort is nestled between a tropical rain forest and the Gulf of Thailand providing a retreat for those seeking seclusion. Sited four hours by road from Phnom Penh, the Resort is on target to be ready by 2013.

The planned 200-room hotel in the capital city of Phnom Penh is expected to appeal to business and leisure travellers when it opens in 2013.

Grand Lion Group, president and CEO, Mr Lundy Nath said: “After careful research and a thorough review of well-known hotel brands for two years, we selected Marriott International to be our key hotel partner in our hospitality division. The brand is world famous and internationally recognised fitting in with our marketing strategy, while meeting expectations for customers who are used to the level of comfort and standards associated with Marriott hotels around the world.”

The Grand Lion Group will invest a total of US$300m in its ongoing hotel ventures around Cambodia. The Grand Lion Group hospitality division is expected to create over 500 job opportunities in the country, and the group expects future development plans in Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam.

Just eight months after its grand opening, the 4-star hotel andel’s in Łódź has already received its fourth award.The Polish property has been recognised at Interior Awards from US-based Contract Magazine in New York for its outstanding design.

The andel’s Łódź won the award in the category of “Adaptive Re-Use” for the transformation of an existing historical building into an exclusive conference hotel.

Warimpex, CEO, Dr Franz Jurkowitsch said: “I am especially thrilled by this distinction – not only because the Contract Magazine Interiors Award is such a prestigious prize among top hotels, but also because we could show how much potential a building can have.”

Look out for a HotelDesigns’ review coming soon.

The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced another year of record openings. In 2009, the hotel group brought 36 hotels, with 7,100 rooms into operation across Europe, Middle East and Africa and created a total of 4,000 new jobs in these properties.With these numbers Rezidor was even able to surpass 2008 – with 33 openings with 6,500 rooms the group’s record year so far. And looking at 2007–2009, Rezidor notes an impressive 41 per cent cumulative growth in rooms in operation.

Rezidor, president and CEO, Kurt Ritter said: “We are proud to have achieved these results together with our owners and developers. 2009 has been a challenging year, but even in tough times Rezidor believes in growth.”

The Brussels-based group focuses on fee-based contracts (87 per cent of all opened hotels in 2009), and on a business development in emerging markets like Africa and Russia/CIS where Rezidor is the leading international player on the hospitality market.

A diversification of the portfolio is a further part of Rezidor’s success – already being Europe’s leading Airport Hotel Operator, the group grew the number of airport hotel rooms in operation by 8 per cent in 2009 and opened flagships like the Radisson Blu Hotel, Hamburg Airport (Germany) which is located directly opposite the terminals. The growth of resort rooms in operation even reached 30 per cent in 2009 – Rezidor welcomed the first guests in new and leading spa resorts like the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Dubrovnik (Croatia), the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Cesme (Turkey) and the Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso Monastir (Tunisia).

Rezidor also brought a completely new brand to the hospitality market: In June 2009, the company celebrated the opening of the first Hotel Missoni – a new luxury lifestyle brand developed in cooperation with the iconic Italian fashion house of the same name. Hotel Missoni successfully debuted in Edinburgh (Scotland); the brand’s future locations feature Kuwait, South Africa, Oman and Brazil.

The ibis hotel chain recently opened its 50th hotel in Brazil – ibis São José, located in Florianópolis-SC, Brazil.The hotel features nearly 200 rooms and is located in the city center with easy access to the airport and highway.

It is next to the Ponte Hercílio Luz bridge and close to the municipal market, Av Beira Mar and a range of bars and restaurants.

The hotel’s facilities include a 24-hour bar, paying indoor car park and Wi-Fi access (free in the lobby).

The chain’s first hotel in Brazil was the Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará, North of Brazil. Since then, another 34 Brazilian cities received one or more ibis enterprises, showing an excellent acceptance of the economy hotel concept – which ibis pioneered in Brazil.

This successful step in Brazil is one part of the ibis global network which reached 850 hotels and opened the 100 000th bedroom at the end of 2009 in Munich, Germany.

ibis and Formule 1, operations director for Latin America, Steven Daines said: “This 50th ibis opening proves the brand’s strength in Brazil and that the chain is adopting the right strategies. Since in the middle of crises time, ibis Brasil could prove the brand resistance and reactivity keeping with good occupancy rate and strong positioning. It’s always good to see our efforts rewarded.”

Le 16 Haussmann offers glamour and elegance in the heart of the Paris Opera district and RHA Furniture has been working to make all the more beautiful.Designed by the team at Bevis Design in London, RHA were selected by the owners to supply furniture to this landmark hotel restaurant.

Using luxury fabrics by Lelievre and Casamance the comfortable traditional dining tubs and side chairs provide comfort throughout your meal.

The rosewood and chrome tables can be used with or without cloths and were designed for practical use with luxury appearance.

My partner wanted to look at the Eco-Home exhibition, a show in the temporary exhibition space of the Geffrye Museum in Kingsland Road, east London, so we took a trip back in time to Hackney. I was shocked how long it had been since my last visit to this lovely museum, and delighted to see how Lottery money had enabled a terrific extension, well designed and integrated, to the 18th Century Almshouses that make up the main part of the Museum.The Geffrye Museum opened in 1914. The London County Council had been persuaded by leading members of the Arts and Crafts movement to convert the 18th century buildings into a museum related to the local furniture industry. Its purpose was to provide a reference collection of furniture of a ‘fine standard of technical and artistic excellence’ to educate and inspire the local workforce. Of course much of the surrounding industry has gone replaced by the ephemera of 21st century life, service industries, markets that are tourist attractions and restaurants.

The Geffrye Museum shows the changing style of English domestic interiors from 1600 to the present day. Its focus is on the urban middle classes, a relatively prosperous sector of society, not as rich as the landed gentry and aristocracy, but wealthy enough to have a comfortable town house with good quality furniture and possessions. In the 17th and 18th centuries, they would typically have been merchants, financiers, doctors and lawyers. By the 19th century, as the middle classes expanded, they would have included people engaged in business and manufacturing, and now of course it’s everyone, as those who are working class become richer and the wealthy move to Monaco.

Worldhotels has added 54 new affiliates to its global portfolio, which is an increase of 12 per cent on the number of hotels admitted in the previous year.In line with its ambitious expansion plans, Worldhotels plans to add a further 100 properties worldwide in 2010.

The hotel group particularly expanded its portfolio in the UK with the addition of the renowned brand City Inn, which has properties in the UK business hubs London, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Bristol. London’s Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington also joined the group.

New properties in Europe include additional hotels in several key destinations, such as Budapest, Rotterdam, Berlin and Helsinki.

Further hotels of particular note include the brand new Grand Majestic Plaza in Prague, the historic Park Hotel in Amsterdam, the Manhattan Hotel Rotterdam, and the recently opened Atlantic Congress Hotel in Essen, the ‘European Capital of Culture 2010’.

In the US, Worldhotels added 12 new businesses and has a new presence in a variety of destinations, including Dallas, Atlanta and Chicago. The group also added its first hotels in Vermont and the Virgin Islands. One of the most recent new hotels in the US is the Dana Hotel & Spa in Chicago.

New hotels complement the Asia-Pacific portfolio of the group, with 15 being added. Among the recent additions are six new hotels in China, among which is the landmark hotel Grand Central Hotel Shanghai, four in Australia, three in India, and one each in Japan and Korea.

Worldhotels, vice president of hotel development, Ingo Gürges said: “Unlike with any other provider, WORLDHOTELS affiliate hotels commit to a full-service, one-stop solution, which is more convenient and cost-efficient than contracting such a wide range of required services from various suppliers.”

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), has announced that the Crowne Plaza Hamilton has opened after a conversion from an independent hotel. The 214-room hotel, which includes eight luxury suites, will feature the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage programme, which is available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas. The programme components include signature bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, night lights, drape clips, and amenities such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender spray.

The hotel will also offer intimate rooms for small meetings, as well as a 372-seat theatre which will cater for large scale presentations. The property also features 19,000sq ft of banquet space.

An environmentally-friendly hotel has opened in Battersea on the Left Bank in London. The Rafayel was built with the goal to reduce each guest’s carbon footprint.The hotel hopes to incorporate ‘affordable luxury’ and the ethos of ‘living at peace with nature’ for all those staying in its rooms. There are 65 bedrooms from guests to choose from, all which feature bespoke furniture and fittings.

The bedrooms at the hotel were designed to be large, with the biggest measuring over 210sqm. All rooms have full-length mirrors to let in the daylight, as well as views over the city.

The bathrooms feature body-spray showers and the larger rooms have hydrotherapy baths. Water is harvested from the rain and the hotel is able to produce 6,000 litres of rain water each day. The water is also used to grow thousands of plants on the grounds of the hotel and it is also fed into the fountain that recycles the water. Eventually the hotel hopes to increase its rain harvesting capacity to 10,000 litres a day.

Although the hotel uses the latest technology, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions through a ‘no plastic’ policy and LED lighting. This alone is set to reduce The Rafayel’s CO2 emissions by 500,000kg per year. The average London guest currently has a carbon footprint of 70kg a night and at the Rafayel it will be reduced to 17kg. The lighting program will also reduce overall electrical costs by 80 per cent a year.

The hotel has views over the Thames and features a spa. The Rafayel also has a range of bars and restaurants including a brasserie, bakery and afternoon tea lounge. The Banyan on the Thames restaurant offers a healthy all day menu and the Left Bank Brasserie is a place for casual dining. Mychelle’s Baketique sells pastries and sweets and the Crystal Bar serves cocktails, drinks and snacks.

Forbes Group Ltd will be exhibiting for the first time under its new name in the middle east at the Gulfood Exhibition in Dubai from 21-24th February 2010.Forbes has in the past supplied hotels, conference centres and prestigious sporting venues in the UAE, Qatar, Oman and India.

Besides Forbes’ products including table skirting, conference cloth, restaurant skirting and hospitality furniture (such as robust but lightweight Alu-Lite tables and aluminium stacking chairs), Anna Smarzak from the UK office will be spreading the word of Forbes’ new textiles ranges including updated conference cloth designs, additional skirting styles and an entirely new range of soft furnishings and fabrics by the roll.

Forbes Group is keen to maintain customer contacts made at past exhibitions, to raise awareness of its change of name, and to show off the latest additions to its product range. Anna will be joining Forbes Group’s distributor in the region, Everstyle Trading LLC, on Stand E1-8 in Hall No. 1. She said: “This exhibition offers us an unparalleled opportunity to meet new and existing contacts, to form a better understanding of the market and the particular requirements of customers and designers in the region.”

If you are heading for Dubai, take a sneak preview of what Forbes Group has to offer at its brand new website at www.forbesgroup.eu , then head for Everstyle’s stand, E1-8 in Hall no. 1. Nearer to home, look out for Forbes at Hotelympia from 28 Feb- 4 March (Stand S1110).

Indigo Art is delighted to present new artists Rob Hart and Anand Channar plus new photographer Alan Price. These artists are already well collected privately and Indigo is launching selected works to the corporate market.

Rob Hart’s speciality is semi-abstract evocations of hill landscapes. Dubai-based Anand Channar’s work is well known across the Middle East and Alan Price’s photography concentrates on the detail in nature.

As always with work from the Indigo Collection they can be supplied to any size as framed pictures, stretched canvases or as digital wallpaper.

The new fabrics, “Maxi”, “Mini” and “Multi” are colourful, and use dots and stripes.Intended to look as if drawn by the hand of a child, they are designed to be bright.

The fabrics can be combined with each other and are flame retardant. The collection also includes, “Fred”, “Frida” and “Farm” which feature artistic illustrations that tell stories.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport, a new-build hotel in Richmond, B.C. owned and managed by Wall Financial Corporation.The hotel incorporates green elements into the design and function. A focus of the design is a “Living Wall” that incorporates 360 living panels consisting of more than 9,000 native plants, which assist in irrigation. The hotel also has a Green Roof system with a large landscaped area consisting of drought tolerant sedum and ornamental grass with long curved arches to emulate the flight paths and movements of planes from the nearby airport.

The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport offers more than 9,900 square feet of functional meeting space. The 4,700 sq ft ballroom is equipped with all the latest technology and offers access to an outdoor terrace and garden area.

The hotel’s 176 guest rooms and eight unique suites all feature the Westin Heavenly Bed, a 32-inch HD flat screen TV, in-room and high-speed Internet access.

Additional amenities include an indoor heated pool, 24-hour business centre, a gym, valet parking and a dining room or intimate lounge.

Freed Veneers will be exhibiting its products at the Surface Design Show which will take place later this month.The company, which is new to our Directory, will be at Stand 71 from 16-18 February and are looking forward to meeting the HotelDesigns’ readers.

Freed have been sourcing veneers from around the world for more than 27 years.

With warehouses in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire and Valencia in Spain, the company carefully prepare various qualities of veneer to meet the needs of end-users. It finds the logs, sorts the veneers and supplies customers with the order.

Freed supplies from high volume commercial veneers through to specialised highly figured veneers for bespoke projects.

Wyndham Vacation Ownership, a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies has announced it has welcomed its first Club Wyndham Plus owners to its highly anticipated urban property – Wyndham Vacation Resorts at National Harbour.In development for more than three years, this 250-unit resort is the company’s second resort in the popular Washington D.C. market, joining Wyndham Old Town Alexandria.

Situated within National Harbour, this purpose-built resort property features 250 condominium-style, fully furnished units, including 42 presidential suites.

Built in an 11-storey tower, the resort also boasts a health and fitness club, indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, an outdoor terrace with a spa and wading pool as well as a recreation room.

Kettal Landscape, designed by the Kettal Studio, features modern architectural shapes that highlight nature in outdoor settings.Kettal Landscape is a very complete system comprised of totally configurable daybeds and pergolas and personalised aluminium furniture that will look great in any natural setting.

The quality of the new Natte structured fabric, the volume and comfort of the upholstery and the modernity of the proportions give it an elegant look.

The light cassis of the Kettal Landscape dining armchair and the handcrafted appearance of the braided cord lend it a natural elegance.

The dining table with a ceramic or secure glass matt tabletop is also available with a new integrated extension system.

The Kettal range is available through PS Interiors in the UK.

Carlson Hotels and The Mayapada Group have revealed their partnership to bring luxury brand Regent to Indonesia. Scheduled to open in 2011, The Regent Bali opening comes after Carlson Hotels announced that it will open a Regent property in Gurgaon, India.

The Regent Bali will be located on Sanur Beach and each of the 110 rooms will feature Balinese-inspired décor.

Guests will be able to enjoy an array of dining venues at the hotel, including both authentic Balinese dining to classic fine dining. Another key feature of this luxury property will be the bar overlooking the pool, offering guests views of the garden and ocean.

Developed by Indonesian conglomerate The Mayapada Group, The Regent Bali will be operated by Carlson Hotels. The accompanying Regent Residences Bali will be wholly owned, developed and operated by The Mayapada Group.

Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific, managing director, Jean-Marc Busato said: “Regent is renowned for superior luxury and service. The brand has an iconic historical legacy in Asia, and a strong affinity to the region. Our goal is to establish a Regent presence in every key gateway city and premier resort location in Asia Pacific.”

Encompass furniture has released a new range of modern lounges.FOLD is the name of the new range and it is designed by Kris Van Puyvelde for Royal Botania.

The voluptuous range of modern design lounge and modular lounge furniture is made in shaped acrylic and stainless steel.

FOLD is available with an exciting range of new fabrics for 2010.

The Swissôtel Métropole in Geneva just completed a new phase of its renovation program including its large suites and conference rooms.Following the successful renovation of its Grand Quai restaurant last year, the hotel chose local designer Fiona Pont to renovate the accommodations and conference space.

The style is contemporary: an ‘urban chic’ design with different color schemes from black and grey to emerald green and shades of brown.

The Royal suite, located on the 4th floor, offers the most beautiful views over the lake and has been completely redesigned to include a bar, a dining area and a walk-in closet: the bedroom is nestled under the roof and the bathroom includes a Jacuzzi and tropical shower.

The conference rooms on the main floor also include a new decor but also some true technical improvements such as the sound system and the soundproofing in between rooms.

Half of the Premier city side rooms are also renovated following the same design and the Business and Junior suites should be refurbished by the end of the year.

Carlson Hotels has revealed its year-end 2009 results, which include the addition of a total of 92 properties under its five brands worldwide and systemwide sales of US$5.8b.Carlson Hotels also signed 66 new properties adding to its contracted pipeline of 249 properties.

Carlson Hotels added 37 Radisson properties to its portfolio in 2009, including 10 in the Americas, five in Asia Pacific and 22 in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Key additions have included major resorts, as well as properties in key city centers and airports around the world.

In addition, Carlson signed 13 new Country Inn and Suites properties, bringing the contracted pipeline of the brand’s properties to 80.

Carlson opened 16 Park Inn properties in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Carlson also opened 14 new Park Plazas, with a mammoth 1,019 bedroomed property to open near Westminster Bridge in London next month. The hotel cost £350m to build.

The trend for all things miniature is set to hit The West End as plans for a new hotel at the Trocadero with bijous ‘pod style’ rooms have been given the go aheadWestminster Council has granted permission for a 495 bedroom hotel whose small hotel rooms take their inspiration from Japanese capsule hotels and whose designs are based upon first class air cabins.

The hotel’s ensuite rooms will measure just 12sqm to 17sqm, and will occupy part of the second to seventh floors in the Grade II-listed building in Piccadilly Circus

Being described as London’s answer to the fashionable Pod Hotel in New York, the hotel is set to join a series of major hotel developments occurring in Westminster in the run up to the London Olympics which will transform the district with its world famous attractions and ensure it can cope with the millions of extra people who will flock to it in 2012.

Westminster Council’s Planning and City Development, chairman, Alastair MossCommittee said: “We welcome this exciting new development for the West End.

“The designs for this hotel are a good example that bigger does not equal better, and take into account that when people come to central London with its vast array of attractions and things to do they do not always need or want a large room.

“With some of the best shopping streets in the world, world renowned museums and galleries, a booming Theatreland and some of the best bars and restaurants in the UK on their doorstep most of the 200 million people who visit the West End every year would rather go out than stay in.”

The redevelopment will see the upper floors of the Trocadero brought back into use for the first time since they housed the UK’s biggest indoor theme park Segaworld.

Alongside its 495 hotel rooms, the hotel will also boast a breakfast bar and a guest lounge with a terraced area on the eighth floor.

Cllr Moss added: “The design world at present is obsessed with all things miniature from iPod nanos to tiny mobile phones and with this development Westminster, as ever, is staying in vogue.”

When the Olympics comes to London in 2012 The International Olympic Committee will stay in Westminster, and with Westminster being at the hub of the Olympic Route Network, which starts in Park Lane and runs to the Olympic Park in Newham, many of the events’ visitors will want to stay here, as at the moment 98 per cent of the 30 million annual visitors to the capital come to Westminster.

To prepare for this and despite the credit crunch thousands of rooms are set to be added to the West End’s hotel portfolio.

Some of the hotels set to be added to the area look likely to include a 194 bedroom hotel at the Swiss Centre, the transformation of the former Playboy club at 45 Park Lane into a 48 room hotel and the Manchester Square Fire Station building in Chiltern Street looks set to be converted into a 33 room boutique hotel.

Baulmann Leuchten had the pleasure of fitting out a five star hotel in Germany recently.Constructed in 1897, Hotel Fairmont Vier Jahreszeiten is located in heart of Hamburg, on the Inner Alster lake and just steps away from elegant shopping arcades, cultural attractions and the exhibition and congress centre.

The Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten is a Grand Hotel in the European tradition and impresses with its charm and great luxury.

All 156 rooms and suites have been renovated and now feature a fresh, creative and detail oriented design.

The rooms are equipped with latest technological comfort. The Vier Jahreszeiten Hotel is built upon the state of the art technical expertise of Baulmann Leuchten.

Each rooms was equipped with LED reading lights to generate a cosy atmosphere for the guest.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) recently opened a new 134-room Staybridge Suites in the Seattle suburb of Mukilteo, Washington. The five-floor property features three suite options (deluxe studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom/two-bath). All suites include in-room DVD/CD players, work stations with ergonomic seating, speaker phones with direct-dial number, personal voice mail and complimentary local phone calls and fully equipped kitchens.

Guests can enjoy the hotel’s indoor pool, complimentary parking, and the brands new Outdoor Living Room, featuring a place where guests can sit on outdoor all-weather furniture beside a stacked-stone fireplace providing year-round heating.

Golfers can use the 5 hole putting green on-site. The hotel offers 580sqm of meeting space with seating capacity for 100 and a boardroom that can seat 10.

The property is a short drive from businesses and attractions including the Boeing Company’s, wide body aircraft final assembly plant in Everett, The Future of Flight Aviation Center/Boeing Tour, the Flying Heritage Collection, Fluke Corporation and Intermec Technologies.

Located adjacent to the Big Gulch Park, the Staybridge Suites provides access to a two-mile nature trail leading guests to views of the Puget Sound shore, and ending up at the Mukilteo Library.

The Staybridge Suites Seattle North-Everett is owned and managed by Mukilteo Hotel, LLC, and is located at 9600 Harbour Place.

IHG brand delivery, vice president, Gina LaBarre said: “We’re very pleased to welcome this property to our growing family of upscale extended-stay hotels. This is the second Staybridge Suites in Washington, and our extended-stay amenities, such as full kitchens, comfortable living areas, housekeeping and meal services, will appeal to guests whether they’re in the Seattle area for business or leisure.”

Kettal has released a new outdoor furniture range called Kettal Landscape.Kettal Landscape, designed by the Kettal Studio, features modern architectural shapes that highlight nature in outdoor settings.

Kettal Landscape is a very complete system comprised of totally configurable daybeds and pergolas and personalised aluminium furniture that will look great in any natural setting.

The quality of the new Natte structured fabric, the volume and comfort of the upholstery and the modernity of the proportions give it an elegant look.

The 150cm by 150cm dimensions of the island piece crean an elegant and spacious corner for relaxation.

PS Interiors is the distributor for Kettal in the UK.

Al Fresco furniture after all that snow? Yes, now is the time to think about the summer and your clients needs for outdoor furniture.Rha have a comprehensive range shown on their web site covering all applications and budgets.

A new addition to the collection is ‘Orbit’ which ticks all the boxes in regards to price, quality and design.

Designed by Ross Lovegrove who has once again extended the boundaries of technology and innovation.

The result is a leaf-like thinness and a true three-dimensional shell in a high-tech plastic (PC/ABS) in various colours.

’Orbit’ features a frame in seamless steel tube with Matt Alu Polyester Lacquer finish. The chair can be stored in stacks of up to fifteen.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announced today that the Holiday Inn Wall Street will open in April as the only full-service IHG property in the centre of the Financial District in New York City.This 20-story conversion property was newly built in 2009 and will showcase the brand’s new sign.

The Holiday Inn Wall Street is in a prime location, situated directly across the street from the Federal Reserve Bank and just a block north of the New York Stock Exchange.

IHG, chief development officer, the Americas, Jim Anhut said: “Developing strong relationships with companies like McSam Hotel Group and Hersha Hospitality Management, gives IHG the opportunity to grow our portfolio in the right markets for our guests and their travel needs. Despite the current economic market, we’ve opened four IHG properties in New York City in the past year, and this Holiday Inn Wall Street is additional proof of the strength of our brands and the commitment of our owners and franchisees.”

The Holiday Inn Wall Street is owned by McSam Hotel Group and managed by Hersha Hospitality Management, LP, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

AYANA Resort and Spa Bali has re-opened Damar Terrace restaurant following renovations by Yasuhiro Koichi.Koichi’s trademark style is reflected in the combination of traditional materials, motifs and colours, set off by cutting-edge lighting and clean modern lines softened by tranquil lotus ponds.

The central thatch-roofed bale (open-air gazebo) features a large carved wooden dragon suspended dramatically above a bar made from recycled ship wood, giving it a rustic, cozy edge. Another bale extends out over the pond with plush day-beds that almost appear to float. Wooden partitions separate each day-bed, providing an intimate ambience while guests watch the colorful koi fish dart beneath lotus plants lit up by dozens of floating candles at night.

The beautiful glass lamps illuminating the restaurant were designed by Japanese glass artist Seiki Torige, who also created the bar using ‘kayu besi’ or ‘iron wood’ from an old Indonesian ship. Originally the hull of a wooden boat more than five metres in length, Seiki found this wood in a remote village in South Sulawesi. As its name suggests, iron wood is extremely hard and sinks in water like iron; according to legend, it also has the power to protect its passengers. It has been used in traditional Indonesian boatbuilding since ancient times.

The Village Market Hotel, located in the heart of Nairobi’s Gigiri district is Africa’s newest luxurious boutique hotel.The Kenyan architect, Meghraz Ehsani, who first conceptualized the now world-renowned Village Market with his brother Hamed, is a visionary who is changing the face of Nairobi.

After the Village Market won the coveted International Council of Shopping Centers’ Design Award, he began work on the newest addition to the complex, TRIBE Hotel. His primary influences include Persian architecture, and an understanding of African light, space, and sense of place.

A rebellion against the typical Holiday Inn-style “box”, TRIBE is a low-rising structure, confounding guests with its atypical angles. It plays on light and space with very generous, light-filled public spaces.

The slick, modern architecture is complimented with African warmth in handmade wooden furniture, local fabrics and artefacts. The building faces North, in stark contrast to traditional Colonial architecture – as the British built everything facing South as they would in the Northern Hemisphere. The huge glass windows in the atrium are only possible because of the North facing viewpoint, which maximizes sunlight and warmth. Owing to this, TRIBE is able to cut down on electricity, upping its green factor. The pool is solar heated, and all fixtures have been updated to be LEED certified – making this not only a wonder of modern African architecture, but an outstanding example of green architecture.

The hotel offers a variety of special rooms, each with TRIBE’s signature style. It boasts 140 luxury rooms including lofts, an Ambassadorial Suite, Presidential Suite, and Penthouse.

As part of the Création Baumann 2010 collection is the reworked Sinfonia CS.This is flame retardant textile in Trevira CS, which is considered among the most popular curtain fabrics for the last thirty years.

Experts from the Langenthal base in Switzerland, have managed to create a new environmentally sustainable dye method whilst making the fabric even softer. This involves the acquisition of the latest dye plant which uses less energy and water than traditional machines.

Sinfonia’s large colour palette was enhanced with natural elegant broken tones and contemporary accent colours.

One of the architecture inspired series, which features graphic and organic print designs, can be combined with the unis for many and varied applications.

Coral Lodge 15.41, a unique Mozambique lodge on a beach location near the UNESCO World Heritage site, Ilha de Mozambique, has announced it will open its doors officially announces on February 1, 2010.This new property is modern Mozambique luxury lodge with a distinctly African flavour.

Coral Lodge 15.41, owner, Alexandra Otto-van der Ender said: “After a lot of hard work we are excited to open our doors of our Mozambique luxury lodge in February. The resort’s design, by Dutch designer Edward van Vliet, incorporates the colours of its environment using wood and brightly-coloured textures. These natural materials make the resort blend in perfectly with the surroundings. We have made further use of the area’s natural setting by building Coral Lodge 15.41’s villas on top of the dunes.”

The lodge comprises of 10 villas and is set on a privately-owned reserve called Varanda. The living space includes informal sitting areas, a bedroom, a bathroom and a big terrace. All villas offer aquatic views over the Indian Ocean and Ilha de Moçambique.

Hilton Worldwide has signed a Management Agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Granada Investment Centre established by General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI) for the first Hilton branded property in Riyadh scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2013. Located on Riyadh’s Eastern Ring Road, linking King Khalid International Airport with the downtown area, the new-build Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will feature two towers; a 20-storey 480-room hotel tower, and a 14-storey tower with 350 hotel apartments.

Once completed, the hotel will be located between the 466,000sqm Granada Centre, a shopping and entertainment mall, and Granada Business Park. Also nearby is the new Riyadh International Conference Centre, and the King Abdullah Financial District, the future home of the Saudi Stock Exchange. Further leisure attractions within close proximity include the Al Hokair Land Theme Park.

In addition to its rooms and suites, there are varied restaurants on offer, with several food and beverage outlets, featuring all-day dining, specialty and destination restaurants, as well as two outdoor lounges.

Business meetings and conferences include separate male and female ballrooms, a junior ballroom, eight meeting rooms, two boardrooms and a business centre. Leisure and recreational facilities include a spa and health club, with separate male and female areas and a swimming pool.

Hilton Worldwide has a large brand footprint in Middle East & Africa with 44 hotels across 14 countries, and a further 19 under development. The company has an established and diverse brand portfolio in Saudi Arabia spanning Waldorf Astoria (Qasr Al Sharq), Hilton (Jeddah Hilton, Makkah Hilton & Towers, Madinah Hilton) and Hilton Garden Inn (Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya) brands.

Hilton Worldwide global operations, president, Ian Carter said: “Our goal has always been to have a Hilton branded property in every capital city around the world, so we are delighted to have signed this management agreement with GOSI marking our Hilton entry into Riyadh. There is growing demand for hotel accommodation in the capital from the business and corporate travel segments making Riyadh the perfect choice for us.”

The property was formerly a 16th century boarding school, and its refurbishment includes the hotel, restaurant and bar, and has been designed to encompasses style, originality and comfort.Located in the heart of the town centre of Hertford, Masters House benefits from all the local attractions.

Philip Cowan worked on the refurbishment, making and installing the curtains and cushions for 14 individually designed ensuite rooms.

The hotel opted for 29mm stainless steel poles with blackout lined curtains with distinguishing contrast coloured leading edges. The curtains were complimented by the assorted contrast piped and bolster cushions.

Grupo Kettal present their new Contract Outdoor 2010 catalogue, which can be ordered through PS Interiors.With this catalogue, through its four brands -Kettal, Triconfort, Hugonet and Evolutif – Grupo Kettal, offers a complete solution for Hotel requirements.

Kettal makes any outdoor space a new fresh, personal and unique “Outing Experience” in which architecture, scenery, colours, objects, materials and styles blend in a balanced design.

“The Outing Experience” applies to Contract through the different “experiences” to be created in the various “Outing Spaces”: Lounge, Restaurant, Guest Room, Pool, Spa, Beach and so on.

Dernier & Hamlyn recently worked with Martin Brudnizki Design Studio to manufacture a spectacular 2.3m high contemporary, glass chandelier for the new Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Cardiff. It incorporates hundreds of interlocking glass links arranged in a cascade of five tiers to produce both a stunning lighting effect and a beautiful addition to Martin Brudnizki’s renowned minimalist deluxe interior design.

Jamie’s Italian, managing director, Simon Blagden said: “Everyone who comes to Jamie’s Italian Cardiff talks about the chandelier. It’s a beautiful centrepiece for the restaurant and we’re very pleased with it.”

Martin Brudnizki Design Studio said: “Dernier & Hamlyn were chosen to work on this project because of their expertise in producing exquisite, bespoke chandeliers. The team responded very well to our demanding brief and worked within our tight deadline to deliver a stunning piece which is the focus point of this restaurant.”

Throughout 2010, Fairmont will open seven new hotels in growing markets around the globe. While most are newly developed properties, Fairmont will also throw open the doors at The Savoy in London and the Peace Hotel in Shanghai.The Savoy, a Fairmont managed hotel, paying homage to its original Edwardian and Art Deco design, will reopen when it unveils the culmination of a nearly two-year, £100m restoration program.

A top to bottom endeavor encompassing the entire building, including 268 guest rooms and suites, the courtyard and American Bar, the public areas and guestrooms, the extensive restoration includes a new Royal Suite and the complete remodel of the River Restaurant.

The Savoy Grill will return under the operations of Gordon Ramsay Holdings. New additions include The Beaufort Bar, a new venue for champagne and cocktails and the Savoy Tea Shop, a patisserie and take-away café, offering an array of the Savoy’s own blend of fine teas and gourmet treats.

Within the Thames Foyer, the re-introduction of a winter garden gazebo beneath an ornate glass dome will provide the perfect spot for afternoon tea. Opening in the third quarter of 2010.

Fairmont Peace Hotel is the name for the restored Peace Hotel. Situated on the Bund, the 12-story, 269-room property is in a downtown location, facing the Pudong area over the Hangpu River.

The new hotel will resurrect the Jazz Bar, a Shanghai institution since the 1930s. The 9th floor will also host the famed Peace Hall, where the property’s iconic sprung-wooden dance floor once featured Shanghai cabarets and gala parties. Opening in the second quarter of 2010.

Other hotels to open include the Makkah Clock Royal Tower in Saudi Arabia, the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, the Fairmont Pittsburgh, the Fairmont Beijing and the Fairmont Zimbali Resort in South Africa.

The Oitavos, a new five-star luxury hotel and spa will launch summer 2010 in Portugal. Located just 20 minutes west of Lisbon overlooking the West Atlantic coastline, the hotel is set within the Sintra Cascais National Park and will be the first luxury hotel developed on the Quinta da Marinha Original estate.

The contemporary hotel is set amongst sand dunes and pine trees and is adjacent to the award winning Arthur Hills-designed Oitavos Dunes golf course, ranked 88th ranking in the top 100 world courses by Golf Magazine.

Oitavos management said the hotel’s bold design, sleek lines and elegantly simple interiors focus attention outwards. The result is a hotel which embraces rather than competes with its natural surroundings.

The hotel will have 142 spacious guest rooms, including 14 deluxe suites, one superior and one premium suite each with its own balcony offering sea views and vistas over the golf course.

There will be numerous dining experiences including a gourmet signature restaurant, a sushi bar, tea lounge and casual restaurant with open air terrace.

The full service destination spa, inspired by the ocean, will use natural and organic treatment products and offers a holistic wellness approach. There will be 10 treatment rooms, a spa garden and indoor and outdoor seawater swimming pool.

In addition the hotel will feature a state-of-the-art conference centre for up to 300 people; this will have facilities for groups including a separate check in desk and dining facilities.

There will be five additional meeting and boardrooms catering for up to 150 people. Each offers space, daylight, views and technical support.

Set within the family owned Quinta da Marinha Original estate, hotel guests are guaranteed an intimate and private holiday location.

The sporting estate boasts an equestrian centre, a Health and Racket Club and the Oitavos Dunes golf course.

Quinta da Marinha Original, CEO, Luis Silverio said: “The Oitavos is a luxury hotel at the pinnacle of contemporary design and innovation, offering a modern outlook of Portugal yet rooted in Portuguese heritage. The hotel is the culmination of the Champalimaud family’s vision, having first purchased the land during the 1920s, and completes this exceptional sporting estate”.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will open its first family destination resort in Hawaii on its 21-acre oceanfront property, located at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development on the western side of Oahu. Scheduled to open in 2011, the new family friendly destination will overlook lagoons and beaches and is planned to include 350 hotel rooms and 480 Disney Vacation Club timeshare villas.

Plans call for the resort to be built to engage every member of the family, from parents to children, teens and grandparents.

The resort will include an expansive pool and water play area, a 5,500sqm spa, a wedding lawn, an 2,500sqm convention center, a children’s club and dining at two restaurants – one of which will provide a view of the ocean.

At the resort’s signature water way, family friendly tubes and body slides will weave through volcanic rockwork and an iconic caldera volcano, while a nearby wading pool gives parents with toddlers an alternative to the zero-entry fun pool. In addition, more adventurous family members will find fish species in a saltwater snorkel lagoon.

Beyond activities, the resort is being designed to reflect the local culture of the Hawaiian islands. During the past year, the Walt Disney Imagineering team has been researching Hawaii and working with local architects and cultural experts as part of the resort’s creative design process.

The resulting design is a village similar to the Hawaiian customs and traditions. To further incorporate Hawaiian traditions, cultural programming in the areas of environmental education, music, dance, history, and arts and crafts; and a story-driven, technology-enabled adventure game to create a Hawaiian destination.

There are three planned signature gardens with carefully selected colors, patterns, materials and forms. Wood, thatch, lava stone and coral will be among the materials represented in the resort’s two 15-story guestroom towers, each oriented perpendicular to the ocean to maximize ocean views from the strategically angled guest rooms. Façade murals will add to the look of each tower.

In the middle of the resort, an open-air lobby building will draw its design inspiration from a traditional Hawaiian canoe house. Window designs, wall graphics and other details will carry through the building before uniting as a single cascade into the center garden below.

In October, Disney shared design plans for the new resort with Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who is looking forward to the opening of the project in 2011.

He said: “From my first meeting with Disney executives in California, to subsequent sessions in Honolulu, I continue to be impressed with the effort and the time Disney has put into researching Hawaii. Disney leaders have met with Hawaiian cultural experts to gain an understanding and appreciation of our host culture. The end result will be a resort that local residents will be proud to have on our island, and it will be a family attraction that our residents and visitors will find enjoyable and meaningful.”

Denihan Hospitality Group (DHG) has announced the summer 2010 opening of The James New York.The newly built hotel features 114 guestrooms and suites with unobstructed views of Manhattan.

DHG was awarded the management contract for The James New York by owner and developer Brack Capital Real Estate (BCRE).

Shai Shamir of BCRE said, “The James brand signifies a modern version of a luxury hotel with a strong focus on design and service that make it the perfect addition to the SoHo hotel landscape.”

DHG, co-CEO, Brooke Barrett said: “The stylish and culturally rich neighborhood of Soho is the ideal home for The James New York, providing a perfect backdrop for the brand’s artful blend of exquisite hand-crafted design, seamlessly intuitive service and
personalized comfort.”

The property designed by the Office for Design and Architecture (ODA) with collaboration of Perkins Eastman and James Design team, blends elements of artistry and community throughout. Stepped platforms reveal distinctive features including an urban garden, and a rooftop pool deck and bar.

In homage to the creative neighborhood it calls home, The James New York will showcase works from a mix of local artists, both prominent and up-and-coming.

Accommodation includes spacious corner rooms with wrap-around views, four one-bedroom suites and one 1300sq ft penthouse loft, located on the 15th floor.

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and OTO Development, LLC, will open the Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Airport-South as the first phase of the Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites development.The hotel is scheduled to open in early March in Florida, US and will offer 149 guestrooms, each with 42-inch HDTV and a sectional sofa-sleeper.

Within the building there will be complimentary Wi-Fi access and each morning there will be an included breakfast of fruit, cereal, yoghurt, breads, juice and coffee. The hotel also features more than 500sqm of meeting space.

Each room has an ergonomic work centre and a media centre that allows guests to plug in all their technologies.

The hotel is situated 2.5 miles from Hollywood International Airport and three miles from the Port Everglades Cruise Terminal.

OTO Development, LLC, CEO and president, Corry Oakes said: “Annually, more than 20 million passengers are already flying through Hollywood International Airport and nearly four million cruise passengers are utilising Port Everglades. When you factor the airport’s US$1.2b expansion and that two of the world’s biggest cruise ships will dock in Port Everglades in 2010, Hyatt Place, and soon Hyatt Summerfield Suites, can offer the kind of amenities that today’s business and leisure travelers want.”

The five star hotel opened last week and is Philippe Starck’s first Italian hotel and Design Hotels member.Emanuele Garosci, the hotelier and former rally driver, chose the interior designer to create the hotel which has 16 guestrooms along with six apartment suites, a private members club and restaurant.

The aim was to recapture the 16th century former residence’s charm. The hotel property features exposed bricks mixed with contemporary design, which includes clear glass wardrobes, and nine custom-made Murano glass works.

Garosci said: “There was a need in Venice for something new, to go against the traditional way of thinking about Venice. Palazzina Grassi is more like a private club, a combination of a hotel and very unique spaces where guests can live as a Venetian.”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened a Holiday Inn Express in Charlotte, North Carolina, US, with the brand’s new sign.The 69-room hotel is located at 9420 East Independence Boulevard and close to the CPCC Levine Campus, and the corporate offices of Family Dollar, Harris Teeter and Hendrick.

The hotel also provides access to a number of Charlotte attractions including the Carolina Courts, Extreme Ice Center and the future state-of-the-art Sportsplex.

The hotel’s newly enhanced complimentary Express Start breakfast bar will feature a rotation of various breakfast items including eggs, breakfast sausage and bacon, biscuits, yogurts, fruit and the brand’s proprietary cinnamon roll and coffee.

The hotel features in-room amenities such as free high-speed Internet access, microwave and 32” flat panel HDTV’s. Additionally, there is wireless Internet access throughout the hotel, a business center, an indoor pool and a fitness center.

The SimplySmart shower incorporates a proprietary Stay Smart Kohler showerhead, shower curtain with curved rod, upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and a custom line of cinnamon-scented bath products.

IHG Americas, brand delivery, Gina LaBarre said: “Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers. With more than 2,000 properties worldwide and nearly 600 properties in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to expand in markets like Charlotte, providing our guests with an enhanced stay experience at a great value.”

Viceroy Hotel Group has taken over as operator of the Los Angeles luxury hotel, L’Ermitage Beverly Hills. The 119-room property, managed by Raffles Hotels and Resorts since 2000 as Raffles L’Ermitage, was recently acquired by a private investor for an undisclosed sum from Fairmont Raffles Hotels International.

VHG will assume management of the property today, operating it for the interim as L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, as part of the company’s luxury Viceroy Hotel Group hotel and resort portfolio.

The company will begin a significant refurbishment of the property in the coming months, which will be phased to have minimal impact on the experience of the hotel’s guests.

The hotel will relaunch in late 2010 as Viceroy Beverly Hills, the newest addition to VHG’s Viceroy Hotels and Resorts brand which welcomed three new hotels and resorts to its portfolio in 2009 – Viceroy Miami, Viceroy Anguilla in the Caribbean and Viceroy Snowmass in Colorado.

The Viceroy brand also includes Viceroy Santa Monica and Viceroy Palm Springs, and future Viceroy properties are currently under development, including Viceroy Abu Dhabi which debuts in 2012.

Located on a residential avenue, L’Ermitage Beverly Hills features 119 rooms and suites with the feel of a private residence.

Viceroy Hotel Group, founder and CEO, Brad Korzen said: “L’Ermitage Beverly Hills is an ideal addition to our company’s expanding portfolio of luxury hotel properties. With its superb location and unrivalled reputation for excellence, the hotel is a particularly good fit for the Viceroy Hotels and Resorts brand.”

Formerly a traditional sea side hotel, St Brides Spa Hotel has been transformed into a luxury escape retreat with stylish contemporary décor and artwork throughout, thanks to CS Contract Furniture.Originally a complete refurbishment project started in 2004, all 34 bedrooms, reception area, bar and public areas were completed in 2006. St Brides Spa Hotel has recently expanded room capacity by creating an additional six luxury apartments, to be available to the general public from this month.

Each apartment includes two bedrooms, a lounge with sofa bed, plus a contemporary kitchen area. Each two bedroom apartment has been individually styled and decorated and maintains the marine theme that was established in the original refurbishment project.

Contemporary muted tones and natural design have been used to reflect the marine location. The owners have tried to create a guest room feel in the apartments to provide a comfortable, relaxed and personal environment.

The building, located on the Pembrokeshire National Park Coast Path, has been sympathetically converted to create exclusive facilities aimed at the spa connoisseur, business groups, contemporary art enthusiasts and ‘foodies’.

The multi-level sea view restaurant and terraces, perched on the cliff top were designed to compliment the unique Marine Spa. CS Contract Furniture Swallow Side Chairs have been used in the dining area of the apartments and in the bedrooms.

CS Contract Furniture Swallow Side Chairs already feature in the dining room, cliff top restaurant and meeting rooms at St Brides Spa Hotel.

Goff Associates were initially involved with the hotel design, but the recent refurbishment was completed in-house. St Brides Spa Hotel will also be adding a fourth conference room and fitness suite in the next stage of the refurbishment project

Andaz Wall Street opened on January 18, 2010. It is the only hotel situated on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan.The hotel, designed by David Rockwell and Rockwell Group, features warm saturated colour, natural materials, and open spaces throughout the 13 floors of the hotel.

It houses a sculptural pearlescent steel and stone staircase and is the central experience of the public space that links the Andaz Studio to the lounge, bar, and restaurant.

The property has 253 guestrooms which start at 345sq ft. Each will feature loft-like ceilings and seven-foot windows.

The rooms have a simple aesthetic of contemporary luxury, boasting dark stained oak floors, buttery brown leather headboards and benches, and lavender and camel sitting chairs.

Other modern details include textured walls, bleached wood accents, and locally crafted, stenciled metal artwork designed by a Brussels-based artist.

The bathrooms are covered in black marble, and all feature rainfall showerheads, while some have deep soaking tubs. Additionally, many rooms have a rotating closet that can open either into the bathroom or the bed chamber.

Heating company, Aestus, adds yet another inspiring design to its portfolio of luxury radiators and towel rails.Renowned for its innovative contribution to the UK heating market, Aestus is pleased to announce the arrival of ‘Paxton’, a highly contemporary addition that pushes the boundaries of design and innovation.

Launched in January 2010, ‘Paxton’ brings style and heat harmoniously to the modern home and would look equally fitting in a trendy bar, boutique hotel or fancy restaurant.

A clean rectangular form marries with a funky collection of cut out shapes to produce what can only be described as a piece of art. Sleek, contemporary styling is consistent throughout, ensuring a simple yet striking design that will add character to any setting.

‘Paxton’ is crafted from 8mm thick aluminium and is available in an array of colours as well as five luxury finishes including brushed, satin (shown above) or feathered aluminium as well as copper and silver leaf.

Not only visually powerful, this new addition to the Aestus family boasts a generous heat output of either 1062 or 1430 watts, and is suitable for connection to central heating systems only.

Offered in a standard height of 2000mm, and a choice of either 600 or 800mm widths, ‘Paxton’ is priced from £3289 including VAT.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has announced that Delta Group has chosen it to manage Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, Canada.The hotel is now known as Rosewood Hotel Georgia and is currently undergoing a full restoration and is scheduled to reopen in early 2011.

The property will feature 154 guest rooms and a separate 48-storey residential tower to be completed in 2012. The hotel will also feature Sense, a Rosewood Spa, a fitness centre, indoor swimming pool, a nightclub and a restaurant.

First opened in 1927, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia came to be known as Vancouver’s most historic and elegant hotel.

Interior design for Rosewood Hotel Georgia is led by Toronto-based Munge Leung. The primary inspiration for the design is to revive the hotel’s glamour and elegance.

The lobby will once again be a rich vision of dark woods, rich gold and deep reds, while guest rooms will be softly enrobed in light blues, ivory and chocolate brown. The public spaces of the hotel, including the second floor ballroom, will be Vancouver’s finest, with cornices and moldings recreated with modern materials and fine details original to the space.

Teleadapt has launched the MediaHub – an electonics panel that allows guests to play their own movies, music and TV programs through the in-room TV.Guests staying in hotels only have to plug into the panel to watch and listen to their own electronics.

The panel consists of composite audio and video, S-video, mini stereo jack, VGA (RGB), HDMI, wireless stereo bluetooth and USB.

The compostie audio and video plug allows guests to plug in an iPod, MP3 player, DVD player, game console or digital camera.

Video cameras and laptops can be plugged into the S-video socket, and headphone jacks into the mini stereo jack.

VGA (RGB) allows laptop computers to be plugged in and HDMI is for high definition video from a laptop or HD camcorder.

Finally, guests can charge their electronic devices throughthe USB port, or connect their iPhone, iPod, Blackberry and other devices to the wireless stereo bluetooth.

Häfele UK have expanded its Startec range of architectural hardware to include a new range of budget glass door patch fittings.The range is designed for 10 or 12mm toughened glass doors and has options to incorporate fixed glass as overpanels and side panels, and are available in a satin or polished stainless steel finish

Doors up to 80kgs can be carried with options of a self closing floor spring or standard floor pivot making the Startec Patches ideal for shop fronts or interior doors

Gary King of Häfele UK said ‘The Häfele Startec brand stands for top quality hardware at attractive prices, and we are confident from our market research that our customers can save up to 50% on the cost of their glass door fittings without compromising on quality’ ‘The range has been developed and tested by our German parent company and has already been used on many larger glass door projects across the world’.

The Häfele Startec Patch fitting range will be in stock at Häfele UK from the 1st of February 2010, for pricing and technical information please contact the architectural department at Häfele UK.

Hilton Worldwide has signed two franchise agreements for Doubletree by Hilton hotels in Turkey. One of the new hotels will be located in Istanbul and a second in Cappadocia and are anticipated to open in mid 2010.

This latest announcement marks Doubletree by Hilton’s entry into the Turkish market, the continued growth of Hilton Worldwide in Europe, and the further development success of the upscale, full-service Doubletree by Hilton brand.

With these latest signings, Hilton Worldwide now has a total of 15 hotels in the pipeline, across its portfolio of brands in Turkey. The company has its sights set on continued strategic growth in the country.

Doubletree by Hilton, Avanos-Cappadocia is owned by Ata Turizm Isletmecilik Tasimacilik Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti and will offer 126 bedrooms, meeting facilities, a restaurant, bars, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a spa.

This hotel conversion will see a refurbished hotel provide internationally recognised and branded accommodation in one of the world’s historical sites, which is famous for its ancient carvings and traditional Cappadocia dwellings.

Doubletree by Hilton, Istanbul-Old City – owned by Erpet Turizm Insaat Taahhut Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, will offer 172 bedrooms, meeting facilities, restaurant, lobby and rooftop bars, fitness and Turkish sauna facilities.

Located in the Old Peninsula area of Istanbul, the new build hotel will be near the city’s historic, cultural and commercial district and will be located close to tourism destinations such as the Grand Bazaar, Sultanahmet, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the historic Istanbul University building.

Development Europe & Africa, senior vice president, Patrick Fitzgibbon said: “This latest signing of two Doubletree by Hilton hotels is particularly significant as it marks the debut in Turkey of this growing worldwide brand. Hilton Worldwide already has nine hotels in operation in Turkey and we are delighted to be adding more properties in 2010, adding to the significant development momentum in this exciting market. We believe these first Doubletree by Hilton hotels in Istanbul and Cappadocia will be the first of many in Turkey.”

InterContinental Hotels Group has opened the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport after undergoing a recent renovation.The 317-room property is the larger of only two full-service hotels in the Jacksonville airport area.

The Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport has 315 guestrooms and two suites all well appointed with 37” flat-screen TVs, granite countertops, and additional upgraded features.

Guests have access to a variety of amenities including complimentary wi-fi in the guestrooms and public spaces, indoor/outdoor heated pool, fitness center, business center, same-day laundry and dry cleaning.

The hotel has three dining offerings, including Rainforest Lounge, Savannah Bistro Restaurant, and Biscotti’s Internet Café.

The Crowne Plaza brand’s meetings program ensures a planning process consisting of three key components: a Two Hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Meetings Director and a Daily Meetings Debrief. The hotel has more than 2,438sqm of flexible, upscale meeting space, which includes a 883sqm ballroom.

Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport, general manager, Mark Kane said: “We are excited about the recent renovations that have taken place at our hotel. These improvements, along with being the largest and newest hotel near the Jacksonville airport, will allow us to provide an upscale guest experience for both business and leisure travelers visiting the city.”

The property, located at 14670 Duval Road, is owned and managed by MMI Hotel Group, Inc., and under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

Frank Hudson is launching seven new collections at the Interiors Show, NEC Birmingham, 24 -27 January 2010.The new Chesterfield bed (pictured) is a take on traditional values, quality and indulgence. The Casablanca and Beach House Collections have drawn inspiration from exotic and far away dreamy locations.

You may be surprised and delighted to see what else is on offer to make your projects stand out from the rest. Individual pieces to mix and match complementing your interiors, and complete collections to answer all of your professional interior furnishing requirements. Frank Hudson provides standard and bespoke services for projects of all sizes.

To coincide with the show, it is also launching its new corporate identity for the new decade with a content rich and easily accessible website. Ideal for design inspiration and product sourcing.

Orient-Express Hotels is to aquire the Grand Hotel Timeo and the Villa Sant’Andrea in Sicily, Italy.Upon acquisition, Orient-Express Hotels will close both hotels, as it does its existing Italian properties over winter, and upgrade key facilities, such as bathrooms and the spa. The hotels will reopen to Orient-Express standard for the 2010 summer season.

Built in 1873, the Grand Hotel Timeo occupies a position in the historical centre of the city. From the hotel’s terrace, guests have views of Mount Etna and the bay of Naxos.

Since the 19th century and the era of the Grand Tour, the hotel has been popular with an elite group of international travellers, who enjoy the hotel’s unique location, swimming pool, wellness centre and the parkland which surrounds it.

Each guest room has its own terrace and the hotel’s ‘Il Dito e la Luna’ restaurant specialises in regional Sicilian cuisine.

Villa Sant’Andrea is located on the Bay of Mazzarò in Taormina’s seaside district. The atmosphere is that of a private villa, furnished with paintings and antiques and set in gardens close to a private beach. Several of the hotel’s suites open onto a private terrace.

The ‘Oliviero’ restaurant, on a panoramic terrace overlooking the Calabrian coast, is known for its fish and seafood specialities.

The Grand Hotel Timeo is adjacent to one of the city’s attractions, the Greek Theatre, dating back to the 2nd century AD. Below, looking out across the waters of the Ionian sea, Villa Sant’Andrea, built in 1830, is on the beach. The two properties are located approximately five kilometers apart and are linked by a private shuttle.

Orient-Express Hotels, president and CEO, Paul White said: “Iconic properties such as the Grand Hotel Timeo rarely become available. Both of these hotels typify Orient-Express Hotels’ core business – established properties with history and personality.”

The successful completion of this transaction at the end of January 2010 would bring the number of Orient-Express properties in Italy to eight. These include Hotel Cipriani and Palazzo Vendramin in Venice, Villa San Michele in Florence, Hotel Splendido and Splendido Mare in Portofino and Hotel Caruso in Ravello.

New at Andy Thornton is Oria, a fresh and exciting dining side chair from their 2010 contract furniture collection.A stylish update on a modern classic, Oria side chairs feature a practical leather front, and strikingly attractive flat woven loom back.

A great hotel chair in a classic style which will complement most venues, Oria side chairs also feature solid oak legs and are of durable contract quality.

Competitively priced and exclusively available to Andy Thornton, Oria side chairs are in stock now, providing an easy and cost effective way to refresh your hotel or restaurant for 2010.

Premier Inn has now opened its third site within the Gulf region at Premier Inn Dubai International Airport. This development follows two openings in Dubai over the last 18 months, and also the first Premier Inn site in Bangalore, India which opened towards the end of 2009.

Situated immediately opposite Dubai International Airport Terminals one and three and with a free shuttle bus circulating every 30 minutes, Premier Inn Dubai International Airport has 281 en-suite rooms, a restaurant, bar and Costa Coffee Shop as well as an al fresco refreshment area with pool table. The hotel also has a swimming pool and whirlpool bath.

Premier Inn Middle East, managing director, Darroch Crawford said: “Following the success of the first two Premier Inns in the region, we’re really excited about the third Premier Inn opening. Premier Inn has opened up the traditionally luxurious holiday destination of Dubai to those travellers who are looking for great value for money; making it an accessible exotic location for families and couples, of all ages, alike, as well as being a great value alternative for those travelling on business.”

The hotel operates under a strategic partnership with The Emirates Group, established to develop the Premier Inn brand within the Gulf region which started operating in 2008 when Premier Inn first introduced their high standard, ‘value’ hotel model into the Gulf market. Plans are underway to continue to develop sites across the GCC.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide has confirmed details of its expansion plans in India over the next three years.
These plans, which are well underway, will see the group add 50 properties by the
end of 2012 across four brands – Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Park Inn. This growth strengthens Carlson’s position as the largest and fastest-growing international hotel operator in India by number of hotels.

Radisson, Carlson’s contemporary upscale brand, currently has 10 properties in India, with another 25 scheduled to open within the next 36 months.

Country Inns & Suites, Carlson’s mid market brand, currently has nine hotels in operation with another 15 scheduled to open within the same time frame.

Park Plaza, the company’s upper midscale brand, currently has six properties open, with another eight under development and these are also scheduled to open within the next 36 months.

Carlson has recently launched in India its new mid market brand Park Inn. There are now three Park Inns in operation in India – Park Inn Gurgaon, Park Inn Jaipur Singh Highway and Park Inn Phoenix Resort in Goa. Another two are under development, one in Delhi CBD Shahdara and another in Bangalore.

The group also announced this week that it will introduce its luxury Regent brand to India in 2013 with the unveiling of the development for The Regent Gurgaon.

Carlson, president and CEO, Hubert Joly said: “We are optimistic about India and its growth prospects as a leading emerging economy. To be the number one international hotel
operator here is particularly pleasing.”

The project has been designed, manufactured and installed by Monk for the Royal Yacht Association at Portland in December 2009.The furniture pieces were produced in American White Oak solid wood and veneers to create a sleek and modern yet functional design. The project was completed on time and to the customers budget.

RYA, head of finance and project management, David Murray said: “We have been very pleased with the furniture design services offered by Monk. The stqndard of manufacture and fitting of the units was excellent and we are completely satisfied with the finished job.”

This development is one of the first to be fully completed for the forthcoming 2012 Olympics and will be the home for part of the British Olympic Team as they start their training in 2010.

The luxury hotel is due to open later this year, with a manor house and six mansions.The manor house will be set out over three levels and will feature 23 premiere rooms, six doubles, one room designed specifically for disability access, along with two junior suites, two executive suites and one grand palm suite.

The low rise mansions will feature 24 premiere rooms, 12 doubles, 16 junior suites and six executive suites. The mansions will also house eight junior suites and three executive suites which will have pools.

The One&Only The Palm spa will be set over 1,200sqm and will have six treatment suites, two couple suites, one of which will have a private Hammam and rasul. The property will have a 120sqm gym and juice bar, as well a tennis court and 850sqm pool.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced its plan to add more than 12,000 jobs to the market in 2010.The majority of the jobs will be created through the planned 80 – 100 new hotels Starwood and its partners are due to open this year globally.

Approximately half of the jobs will be located in the United States.

The hotels, which span Starwood’s nine brands, will be located in key urban markets like New York City and Los Angeles, as well smaller markets like Biloxi, Miss. and Kalamazoo Mich.

A full list of Starwood development plans can be found in the Download area

Combining state-of-the-art technology with the latest designs from the market, Bartech have just launched new versions of its multi-functional remote controls.The five existing models, which have been completely redesigned, are now available to manage the main functionalities of Bartech’ impressive Minibar Management System.

Bartech is the only supplier of automatic minibars who provides dedicated remote controls to manage some major functions of its system: minibar locking /unlocking in the rooms, full refilling process and minibar testing for maintenance are easily handled by the hotel staff on a room-by-room basis thanks to Bartech’s easy-to-use remote controls.

As previously, these items are provided as standard within Bartech’s turnkey installation
package.

The property will be the first luxury hotel condominium in SoHo. Designed by Handel Architects, the glass tower will stand at 46 storeys and house 391 guestrooms and suites.The hotel has views of the city’s skyline including, the Hudson River, Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building.

Interior spaces have been designed by the Rockwell Group. Trump SoHo features an 3350sqm spa, designed by DiGuiseppe Architects, and fitness centre along with a library, and a private top floor venue called SoHi.

Guests will enter through the two storey conservatory into a lobby which is inspired by early 20th century design. This lobby has ceilings nearly 7 metres high, and is framed by four ceramic columns.

The Trump SoHo’s guestrooms aim to blend classically inspired interiors with contemporary New York design, and offer views of Manhattan. There will be 131 deluxe one-bedroom suites, 245 deluxe guestrooms, ranging from 129 to 276sqm. The top floors will be crowned with 10 penthouse suites ranging from 364 to 710sqm.

Bathrooms will feature custom-designed fixtures, stand-alone shower with rain showerhead and separate tub. All guestrooms and suites feature an interface system to control room environmental settings as well as flat screen televisions, three dual-line telephones and wireless high-speed Internet access.

The Trump SoHo will be an ideal venue for conference and meetings. Its facilities include an elegant ballroom and conference rooms.

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.