Hotel Designs

The new 193-room Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square has opened, offering guests a combination of heritage, contemporary design and local art. The Novotel is located in the centre of the city on Cathedral Square and has incorporated the heritage-listed Warner’s Hotel, originally built in 1863, into the complex.

As part of the development, the Warner’s Hotel was fully restored to its former grandeur, with specialist tradesmen using tools over 100 years old to repair the building’s architraves and re-lay tiles in the foyer.

A new building has been constructed behind the existing hotel, adding 170 rooms to the existing 23 heritage rooms and suites.

General Manager of the Novotel, Zayne Boon, said guests could choose between rooms that had their origins almost 150 years apart.

Boon said that the challenge posed to Christchurch-based architect Richard Dalman, of Dalman Architecture Limited, was to offer a first-rate modern hotel while protecting and celebrating the historical value of the iconic Warner’s Hotel.

Dalman said: “The design features incorporated in the new Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square have been chosen to ensure the contrasts between old and new seem natural, yet appreciated. Modern décor has been mixed with some historic features to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere while ensuring the functional requirements of a modern central city hotel are met.”

Rather than theme the design to any specific historic period, Richard Dalman says they chose to create a stylish interior that focused on the location – on the edge of Cathedral Square in the Garden City.

Dalan said: “Polished porcelain floor tiles, complemented by timber veneer walls, textured wallpaper and a feature wall, instantly create the feeling of luxury. Behind the reception area is a wall of curving stainless steel over carved flowing panels depicting the Avon River and the braided rivers of the Canterbury Plains.”

A feature of the interior design is the use of local artists to ensure the hotel lives up to its identity as a Canterbury icon.

A grand sweeping staircase leads up to the first floor bar and restaurant, where the area has been divided into a number of spaces by golden sheer drapes, a curving wine display wall, and pivoting timber fin screens. The restaurant has views overlooking Cathedral Square.

The Square restaurant debuts ‘personal dining pods’, which provide solo diners with a discretely designed television screen as well as internet access.

Conferences will be a key focus of the Novotel, with five meeting rooms and a capacity for up to 200 delegates. Recreation facilities include a gym.

A new Premier Inn hotel has opened in York, UK. The hotel is located on Blossom Street in the city centre and has a restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.York is a great place to visit for a weekend away, and Premier Inn already has a few hotels in the town, including the York City Blossom Street North, York North, York North West and York South West.

The new York City Blossom Street South hotel is close to York Minster, which had its first building erected in 627. The hotel is also near the historic city walls, which will take the better part of a morning to stroll around. However, this is thoroughly recommended as the walk gives a good vantage point over the city.

Whilst in York it is also vital to stop by The Shambles, voted the more picturesque street by Google, and take a look at the old shoppes. The street is very charming and is one of the most famous in the UK.

A hotel in Cambridgeshire, UK, was demolished this week following a fire.The Phoenix hotel in North Brink, Wisbech, a historic part of Cambridgeshire town, caught fire during the early hours of Thursday morning. After the fire was put out it was decided to demolish the remaining building as it was deemed structurally unsafe.

The building had not been used since last August but previously featured 16 en-suite bedrooms. Neighbouring residents were evacuated during the blaze as 56 fire fighters were called to the scene to put out the flames.

One person suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital and no one else was harmed.

The building was built in the 17th century and was well-known for its Chinese restaurant when it was in operation.

It is not yet known what caused the fire but an investigation is being carried out.

Accor is planning on doubling the number of rooms under management in Vietnam by 2012. This plan includes additional hotels within the Novotel, Mercure hotel brand, as well as the launching of the ibis brand and MGallery label.

Accor considers Vietnam as an appropriate location for hotel expansion. With signs of both economic recovery and a re-strengthening of tourism arrivals, the group is thus confident to expand its presence throughout the country.

Accor plans to expand the number of brands on offer in Vietnam to include upscale products through to more economical hotel brands.

In late 2010, Accor anticipates the opening of the first Pullman hotel in Vietnam – Pullman Vung Tao and the second hotel of the MGallery collection for Vietnam in the country’s capital – Hotel De L’Opera Hanoi.

Beyond this additional developments include three Novotels – Novotel Imperial Hoi An, Novotel Resort Phu Quoc and Novotel Saigon Centre. Mercure Hanoi Hado with its central location in the city will be the third Mercure for Vietnam.

The first two ibis hotels for the country are also announced for Ho Chi Minh City – ibis Saigon and ibis Saigon South. These hotels represent the first two international economy hotels for Vietnam.

The hotel group currently has 13 hotels and 2,147 rooms in operation throughout Vietnam and more than 2,000 additional rooms committed through the above mentioned developments.

The launch of Mercure hotel brand has already begun in Vietnam with Mercure Hanoi La Gare opening in mid 2009, the introduction of Mercure Dalat Hotel Du Parc to the network, and the recent opening of Mercure Hue Gerbera.

Accor has also opened Le Belhamy Hoi An Resort and Spa, a 131-room resort hotel located on Ha My Beach and near the Unesco World Heritage site.

Opening in Spring 2010, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is situated in London’s South Bank, within walking distance of the city’s most iconic
attractions, including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and the London Aquarium.
The contemporary, design-led hotel in London features 1,021 spacious guest rooms, including 54 suites and penthouses, as well as six distinctive dining and entertainment experiences.

SBL is the telephony systems partner for Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts and we have installed and support several other PBX solutions at their other properties throughout the UK.

Steve Shute, principal engineer said: “The sheer scale of this project presented unique obstacles that needed to be managed carefully – there are 1,700 guest bedroom handsets, 270 administration handsets and 135 base stations for DECT coverage throughout the building.

“We faced challenges with the design of the public areas – no false ceilings, a solid plasterboard covering to the limited roof space that meant limited sized access holes had been cut to allow fitting of base stations. Other issues included the labelling of several thousand cables for WiFi, Telephony, Mini-Bar, Data, DECT etc. Overall a huge logistical exercise that required close co-operation between all contractors on-site.”

After a vast renovation, the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses has reopened. The hotel was renovated by the designer Didier Gomez for all the interior decoration and the architect Karim Chakor for the façade and exterior. This Sofitel becomes the sixth Sofitel hotel in Morocco Rabat and is situated in the middle of an eight hectare (20-acre) Andalusian park, a rose garden and a eucalyptus forest, close to the Oudaïas, Rabat’s little known Kasbah.

Located in the heart of the Moroccan capital, one quarter hour from the airport and just a few
minutes from the Royal Palace, the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses offers 229 rooms, including 37 suites, several of which have more than305sqm of floor space. There is also a spa measuring nearly 4,000sqm in size.

The interior décor draws its inspiration from three recurrent elements in the hotel – water,
roses and amber. At the entrance, the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses opens onto a lobby where water is omnipresent in pools of black marble.

The furniture is quite eclectic, imparting a sense of life and modernity: black for the occidental sobriety and notion of luxury, golden for the Moroccan splendour.

On the floor, a moucharabieh (decorative lattice pattern) detail is outlined in the marble. In addition to the hotel’s boutiques, the lobby is home to the Le Café Lenôtre tearoom as well as the Fish restaurant located close to the pool, which enjoys direct access for the local Rabat clientele.

From the monochrome lobby, the colourful living spaces stand out in contrast. Red and black
dominate in the El Patio restaurant, which opens onto the park like a winter garden. The play of mirrors accentuates the restaurant’s luminosity and openness. On the floor, the Agadir marble offsets a red and black Moroccan carpet designed by Didier Gomez.

In this geometric setting inspired by the 1930-40s, one of the walls is decorated with a
traditional design reproducing a work of the customs officer Rousseau: a simple outline
drawn on a sheet that the Moroccan craft workers only took a day to sculpt the plaster on an entire wall.

The Moroccan restaurant Al Warda asserts warm colours in a highly matted ambience, with
reinterpreted Moroccan type lights and ceilings made according to Fassi art. The 1960s style
furniture gives it a chick and contemporary look.

The Amber Bar displays magnificent alabaster walls, gold painted moucharabiehs and a copper ceiling in tribute to Moroccan copper work.

The rooms’ decoration continues the project’s theme of moucharabiehs, which are still
presented as panels – black this time – that slide so you can see the gardens and the city
from your bathroom.

Life Resort Da Nang has opened in Vietnam this month after numerous delays due to the global recession.The resort features 187 rooms and is situated on Bac My An Beach.

The opening marks a resurgence of development momentum on this storied stretch of coast between Da Nang and Hoi An.

Life Resort Danang‘s 187 rooms will include nine categories of accommodation, from 67 superior rooms and 91 deluxe rooms to suites and villas and one grand presidential suite.

The resort will also feature the 420sqm Nang Spa, with 10 treatment rooms, a fitness center, tennis courts, a resort pool, conference facilities, and several food and beverage outlets, including the 300-seat Senses restaurant.

Life Resorts, general director, Chris Duffy said: “Although we‘re opening a resort on the beach, this region‘s appeal extends far beyond the strand to the new golf courses, to the Marble Mountains just a few kilometers up the road, to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Hoi An, Hue and My Son.”

Cour du Corbeau, one of Europe’s oldest hotels, situated in France, has joined the MGallery collection.Fully renovated by architects Benoït Peaucelle from Levy-Peaucelle et Associes, the establishment in Strasbourg was originally built in 1528.

Cour du Corbeau – the crow’s courtyard in French – is an important part of Strasbourg’s cultural heritage. Located down the street from Notre-Dame Cathedral, the half-timbered structure is considered to be an example of Renaissance architecture.

Illustrious guests who are known to have sojourned there include Frederick II, King of Prussia; Joseph II, Emperor of Austria; Voltaire; and Alexandre Dumas père.

Comprised of ten buildings organized around pathways, recesses and staircases, Cour du Corbeau has several ornamental features, including an enigmatic coat of arms, an angel on one of the façades and a crow on a turret.

In 2009, the hotel was completely renovated leaving the traditional style intact. Every detail of the building has been restored – the coat of arms, the rafters, the balustrades, the stained glass windows and even the frescoes.

The interior has also been thoroughly redesigned. Along with a new line of neo-baroque furniture, a wide range of materials comprising Vosges sandstone, cobblestone, terra cotta tiles, ceramic tiles, copper, glass, slate, granite and pebbles have been deployed to create a contemporary atmosphere.

Alternating beige and brownish-gray tones with splashes of aubergine, raspberry and violet adds warmth and ambience. Sculpted crystals in the wall lights and multifaceted lamps create dramatic lighting and private spaces.

Each of the 57 rooms has a distinctive style thanks to its specific architecture, decoration or history. Some feature large bay windows, mansard roofs or private yards but all provide exceptional comfort and space.

The hotel features 19 suites and all the rooms offer restyled Louis XV furniture, refined oak parquet floors and LCD flat screen TVs and Wi-Fi.

The hotel’s anemities include a bar, a tea room, a laundry and a porter.

RockResort is to open a hotel, Tempo Miami, next month on the corner of Biscayne Boulevard and 11th Street.The luxury building is being designed by renowned architectural firm Arquitectonica and will be located at The Marquis Residences, a 67-story luxury resort and residential development that combines elegant design with comfort.

A signature design element will be the soaring structure’s blue tinted glass through which guests can take in views of Biscayne Bay and city lights.

The resort will also feature a 2,500sqm RockResorts Spa and fitness center, as well as a cocktail bar on the 14th floor sky pool deck.

Tempo Miami will offer 56 resort guest rooms, including seven junior suites and seven full suites, a three-meal restaurant and a third floor lounge overlooking Biscayne Bay.

Guest will also have services including personal concierge, shopping assistants, butlers and personal administrative assistants.

Hyatt has opened its first hotel in Madison, Wisconsin, US, featuring 151 guestrooms.All the rooms feature a 42 inch HDTV and an eight foot sectional sofa-sleeper.

Complimentary wi-fi is offered throughout the hotel, along with a continental breakfast each morning.

The hotel is situated in the Madison downtown area and has 760sqm of meeting space. Hyatt Madison also features a fitness centre and a coffee and wine bar.

Madison is home to one of the country’s largest universities and Hyatt Hotels, global head, Gary Dollens said the company took this into consideration when building the hotel: “The Hyatt Place brand is a perfect fit for a campus environment because it was designed for
people living a multitasking lifestyle, not just a business traveler or a leisure traveler.”

The Siegel Hotel Group has plans to open a boutique chain of Las Vegas hotels, starting with the Rumour Hotel which is to debut in June.

The 150-suite Rumour Hotel is to open on the former site of the St Tropez, across the road from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Harmon Avenue in Las Vegas.

The hotel will feature a pool that will have private cabanas, landscaped grounds and hammocks, as well as a DJ mixing decks in the evenings.

The Siegel Group said it wants its new brand of hotels to be intimate and especially tailored to the customers’ touch.

CEO, Stephen Siegel said: “Las Vegas is not thought of as a boutique hotel city like New York, Miami or San Francisco. For years, the only idea is Las Vegas was to build bigger, but The Siegel Group philosophy is to offer something entirely innovative: something smaller with the personal customer touch.

“We want to create an experience that feel exclusive, comfortable, relaxed and has great value. Each of our five boutique hotels provides a reprieve from the grind and grandiose normally associated with Las Vegas.”

The other hotels Siegel has planned for the new boutique chain includes The Artisan, Gold Spike Hotel and Casino, Oasis at Gold Spike and The Resort on Mount Charleston. The design for the chain is expected to be contemporary and stylish with the ‘culturally creative in mind’.

Steve Wynn has unveiled Encore this week, which is his all-suite boutique hotel, adjacent to sister resort Wynn Macau.According to the company, the resort hotel will feature ‘approximately’ 410 luxury suites and four villas.

Encore will also include two new restaurants and a spa which will boast eight private therapy suites, each with its own steam room, sauna and aroma-hydrotherapy bath and shower.

The resort will also house three signature stores; Cartier, Chanel and Piaget.

The InterContinental Hotels Group has opened its first new build Holiday Inn branded hotel in Mumbai, India. The hotel features 225 rooms and is situated at the Saki Naka junction in Andheri at the Mumbai airport.The hotel features an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby bar and a deli. There is also a spa and a roof-top infinity pool for guests to enjoy.

The business centre within the Holiday Inn has both conference and banquet facilities and is one of the new-look hotels that the brand has planned.

Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport, general manager, Harry Thaliwal said: “Holiday Inn Mumbai International Airport is the first new-built Holiday Inn in India, which is an important milestone for IHG. We are offering a business class product and a variety of services to our customers.”

The Crown Metropol has opened in Australia. The hotel has 658 rooms and cost A$300m to build. The Crown Metropol has an urban and metropolitan design, which was influenced by the hotel’s location in the centre of Melbourne.

It took more than 5,000 people 27 months to complete the build and will feature Australia’s first two Gordon Ramsay restaurants.

The hotel also features a spa on its 27th floor, a sky bar and terrace on level 28, four meeting rooms and a retail precinct. The shopping area is to showcase brands that were previously unavailable in Australia.

Local businesses and artists, such as Melbourne-based artist David Band and lighting designer, Steven Hennessy, were commissioned to create unique, custom-made elements throughout the hotel. Specially commissioned Australian artwork and Victorian materials feature prominently throughout Crown Metropol.

The hotel’s 658 rooms is inclusive of 579 hotel rooms, 34 studios, 12 spa accommodation rooms, 32 lofts and one apartment-style residence. Lofts boast city views while studios feature views of Port Phillip Bay.

In the lobby, a mirrored space encloses the extensive storage area while a specially commissioned light fitting, sculpture and large-scale painting completes the expansive, modern lobby.

Overall, the hotel’s rooms, studios and lofts have a dramatic, Manhattan, boutique-style feel teamed with all of the service and amenities expected of a Crown hotel.

Crown, CEO, David Courtney said: “The new hotel is a demonstration of the confidence Crown has in the future of Melbourne as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations. When the Bates Smart-designed hotel opens, it will employ 500 people and provide accommodation for approximately 250 000 guests in its first year of operation including 100 000 visitors from overseas.”

The Burj Khalifa, the new tallest tower in the world which is to house the Armani Hotel, has delayed its opening once again, this time because of the volcanic ash.It is the second opening cancellation in the Dubai tower. The first delay was for two months because there was an elevator malfunction in the 828m-tall building.

The current delay, due to the volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland delaying flights around Europe, means the hotel will now only open on April 27, instead of the expected date of April 22.

The Armani Hotel is the first from fashion designer Giorgio Armani and will include eight restaurants, an upscale lounge, a spa with thermal suites, a fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool. The hotel will also house an Armani/Dolci chocolates store, a florist and a galleria, which is to show select couture accessories.

Marriott will open Courtyard by Marriott Ham Tan in Vietnam. The hotel will feature 200 rooms, and will consists of mix of standard guestrooms as well as semi-detached bungalows. Each of the rooms will boast views of the ocean as well as modern connectivity. Bungalow guests will also be able to enjoy ‘generous’ bathrooms with a separate tub and shower.

Marriott International, president and managing director, Ed Fuller said: “We’re thrilled by the continued expansion of our presence in Vietnam and to be introducing our Courtyard brand in Vietnam. With the opening of this hotel, we’ll be able to offer travelers in Vietnam a choice of four hotel brands from luxury to mid-priced. The World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts that Vietnam tourism over the next 10 years will grow to more than 7 million visitors annually, twice what it was in 2007, and we are positioning ourselves to be able to offer these visitors a hotel stay no matter what their travel budget dictates.”

With the opening of the Marriott Ham Tan, travelers will now have a choice of four hotel brands from luxury to mid-priced.

There will be a variety of dining spaces as well as a lobby lounge, and there will be over 500sqm of flexible meeting space.

The hotel will also house a pool and spa area with six treatment rooms.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with Tanriverdi Holding Company to manage the Shangri-La Hotel, Istanbul, opening in April 2012. The hotel will be the group’s first in Turkey.Shangri-La Hotel, Istanbul will be located between the Dolmabahce and the Maritime Museum on the European coast of the Bosphorus Straits, the 30km stretch of water separating Europe and Asia.

Built on the site of a former tobacco factory and warehouse from the 1930s, the Shangri-La Hotel, Istanbul will recreate the exterior facades of the old building, which are protected by the city’s Cultural and Natural Assets Committee.

From the hotel’s prime coastline location, guests will enjoy views across to the Asian coast of Istanbul, the Bosphorus Bridge and the city’s historic peninsula. The hotel will be designed by Istanbul-based architect Piramit with 14 storeys, seven of which will be underground to protect the historic facade. The building will be the second tallest on the coast after the Dolmabahce Palace.

The hotel’s 200 guestrooms, some of which will have private terraces, will reflect the city’s proud heritage while also including the Asian design touches and modern travel technologies. The hotel will offer several restaurants and bars including a rooftop restaurant with views of the city’s historic skyline and coastline. Additional facilities will include a health club, spa, swimming pool, business centre, ballroom, and conference and meeting room facilities.

Shangri-La Asia, chairman, Kuok Khoon Ean, said: “We are proud to work with the Tanriverdi Group on their first hotel project to make their dream of a world class luxury hotel a reality,” said Kuok Khoon Ean, chairman of Shangri-La Asia Limited. “We are honored to have the opportunity to create a Shangri-La in Istanbul, a city that has welcomed distinguished guests since the Roman and Byzantine empires, and look forward to becoming a part of the city’s future.”

After HotelDesigns recently reported that Hyatt Hotels was expanding into India, it has been revealed that Starwood Hotels has similar plans.Starwood has announced it is to expand its Aloft hotel into India with a bigger presence of new build hotels. Starwood president and CEO, Frits van Paasschen has embarked on a two week trip to India to meet hotel owners, developers and team members and to conduct more research into the market.

By 2012, Aloft expects to be operating six hotels in India, with Aloft Chennai-OMR-IT Expressway, Aloft Bengaluru-Whitefield and Aloft Coimbatore Singanallur all scheduled to open later this year. next year the Aloft Ahmedabad, SG Road, Aloft Chandigarh Zirakpur and Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park are also expected to debut.

Marriott Hotels also recently announced that it would be improving its presence in India as well. The company plans to open three JW Marriott luxury branded hotels in India in Bengeluru, Chandigarh and Chennai this year.

So why are so many hotel groups viewing India as a developer’s hot spot? In recent years the Indian government has taken major steps to improve tourism in the country, by abolishing inland air travel tax, reducing tax on aviation fuel and removing restrictions on outbound chartered flights. The government has also changed its attitude when building infrastructure, seeing convention centres as a core part of a city’s life.

All of these steps relating to tourism have meant that there is a higher demand for hotel rooms. Because of the high demand, there is a shortage of hotel rooms in the country. According to the I Love India website, there is a shortage of 150,000 hotel rooms in the nation, making it a prime candidate for development.

Not only is it tourists that are in need of hotel rooms, but business in India is booming, creating the need for hotels for business travellers. Over the past decade, business in India has intensified, creating such a need for hotel rooms that even budget hotels are charging up to US$250 a night. India currently has only 110,000 hotel rooms to accommodate 350m domestic travellers and 10m foreign tourists.

Carmen Allan

The best of style is created by owners seeking quality and caring for details rather the hype and spin of fame or fashion in design. The Arch is the latest in showcasing the best of English design.Despite the employment of French and US designers on such British icons as the Savoy, there is still an English design style that is setting new standards of comfort and refinement in London hotels.

This style is currently evident in a number of properties. Most of these are independently run, which is interesting given the tendency for the chains to proclaim a brand at a star rating and then provide interiors and facilities which don’t match their self-proclaimed level.

The latest of these lovely properties to open in London is the Arch, a hotel that has been six years in gestation in part because of the architectural complexity facing Seabrook Architects and the building and interior difficulties to be resolved in partnership with the interior designers RDD. Fortunately a patient client with a clear set of standards was persistent in seeing through to completion what is one of the most perfectly formed independent hotels to hit the London market for some time.

Setting this hotel apart from many others is the attention to detail that can be seen in everything from the plinth block and skirting board details to the careful restoration of the historic plasterwork throughout the building.

From the outside, little distinguishes the hotel from other parts of the Georgian Terrace it is set into. Parts of this street were rebuilt after being bombed in WW2, and the opportunity was taken to tidy up the post war construction, bringing the fenestration into line with that from earlier times. Inevitably the reconciliation of level changes between the buildings and the need to retain plasterwork and staircases from earlier centuries, all imposed constraints on what could be achieved in the interior.

The success of the designers is made remarkable by the fact that there is no visible evidence of their struggle to make the seven buildings work as one. Spaces flow naturally one into another, whilst corridors have quirky kinks and changes of level and direction that feel almost natural.

Hyatt Hotels has revealed plans to open 15 new hotels in India within the coming five years. The company said that this year it would open Hyatt Regency Pune, Hyatt Regency Chennai and Grand Hyatt Goa in India this year.These new properties will expand the Indian properties in Hyatt’s worldwide portfolio, which currently consists of Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa, Grand Hyatt Mumbai, Hyatt Regency Delhi, Hyatt Regency Kolkata, and Hyatt Regency Mumbai.

The company’s expansion plan includes a renewed focus on growing opportunities with existing
development partners, as well as attracting new development through the leadership of Hyatt’s
India development team. Hyatt seeks to increase opportunities for all of its brands in India by
expanding its presence in second- and third-tier cities, where business travel is increasing.

The Hyatt Regency Prune is a 306-room property and is to open near the business district and residential areas. The hotel will include luxuriously appointed guestrooms as well as serviced apartments available for long-term guests.

Guests will have access to a variety of dining and entertainment options including an all-day
lounge and café, specialty restaurant, vibrant bar and lounge, and leisure activities
that include a spa and fitness centre with an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium and yoga room.

Hyatt Regency Pune will have extensive meeting and event facilities with more than 5,000sqm of function space.

Hyatt Regency Chennai is a 329-room contemporary hotel with five restaurants and lounge bars. The hotel also will feature a spa, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and a beauty salon. It will have more than 4,800sqm of meeting space.

The Hyatt Goa is to be a 314-room hotel, overlooking the Zuari River. The spa will feature 20 treatment rooms and the property will include a large variety of indoor and outdoor dining facilities.

RockResorts International has expanded its hotel portfolio with the addition of Balcones Del Atlántico, at a beachfront resort in the village of Las Terrenas on the Samaná Peninsula of the Dominican Republic. RockResorts has been selected by Bisonó Group to manage resort operations, offer technical advisory services and provide marketing licensing services to assist in the sale of the residences for the property.

The resort opened last winter and initially features 86 units. It is situated along the beach and has a RockResorts Spa with four private treatment cabanas and a three-meal restaurant offering fine dining for dinner.

The resort features two pools with a swim-up bar, a beach bar and grill, fitness center and gourmet deli shop.

Balcones del Atlántico has been conceived as a resort destination property that includes units of varying sizes ranging from one to three bedroom suites, along approximately one kilometer of beach. Balcones Del Atlántico features an elegant and comfortable design with a strong emphasis on the outdoor spaces within each unit.

Balcones del Atlántico is a master-planned project that will be developed in a number of phases along the beach, and will eventually consist of approximately 350 total units, multiple restaurants and bars, two RockResorts Spas, swimming pools and hot tubs, tennis court, over water palapas and other guest amenities.

Balcones Del Atlántico joins The Landings St. Lucia as well as other future warm-weather announced RockResorts including Tempo Miami, Rum Cay Resort Marina, The Bahamas and the Third Turtle Club & Spa, Turks and Caicos.

The Loews Atlanta Hotel debuted at the beginning of this month. The hotel which is situated in midtown Atlanta is part of an US$500m contemporary urban mixed-use development.The hotel is the brands first new-build hotel in more than five years and also the brand’s first property in Georgia.

The property features 414 guest rooms which includes 44 suites, as well as a spa and fitness centre. The hotel will have over 25,000sq ft of meeting space and will feature the hotel’s signature bar and restaurant.

It was designed by Daroff Design Inc, president and principal in charge of Design at Daroff Design, Karen Daroff said: “We drew inspiration from the exciting, upscale contemporary midtown are, displayed in details such as the hotel’s internally-illuminated column covers, which are evocative of the keys on a piano.”

The lobby features a sophisticated geometrically-designed floor made of black galaxy, mesa beige and pure white thassos. The front desk, a dynamic feature when entering the hotel, is made of kinor and white thassos. The white-on-white sculptural backdrop is custom designed and fabricated by a local Atlanta artist. The design of the public spaces is sleek and contemporary with over-scaled casual lounge furniture that is upholstered in plush fabrics. The palette consists of rich, warm hues of beiges and chocolates with accents of amber, cherry and jasmine.

Guest rooms and suites reflect the Loews standard of supreme comfort while offering a sophisticated interpretation of modern design. Rich textures and colors create a warm and inviting ambiance ideal for both business and leisure travelers. Technophiles can find remarkable amenities such as an in-room connectivity panel which interfaces with a multitude of portable digital devices including the 37” high definition, flat-screen television found in each guest room.

The Loews Atlanta features more than 25,000 square feet of column-free function space, including the 11,100 square foot Ellington Ballroom and the 5,400 square foot Mercer Ballroom. Guests of the Mercer Ballroom can enjoy sweeping views of Piedmont Park and Stone Mountain. Each ballroom features custom-designed, modern three-form and crystal chandelier suspended from the ceilings. Adding the 4,800 square feet of beautifully-appointed outdoor space allows for groups up to 1,230 guests. Ten breakout rooms, ranging from 480 to 1,260 square feet, as well as two dedicated meeting planner offices are also available.

Real estate developers Warimpex and UBM and hotel management firm Vienna International have opened their sixth angelo design hotel after Prague, Bucharest, Munich, Pilsen and Ekaterinburg: the angelo Hotel in Katowice, Poland. The 4-star hotel, with 203 rooms and eight conference rooms, is specially geared towards the needs of the many business travellers who visit the commercial and industrial city of Katowice. The city of Katowice (pop. 340,000) is one of the most important centres of business in Poland. Especially in the past few years, Katowice has presented itself as a city that is open to change and has plenty to offer in terms of culture. The city lies at an important crossroads in Europe and, as the centre of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, is a powerful engine driving the economy.

The newly opened 4-star angelo Hotel is located in the middle of the city’s commercial district. The 203-room business hotel has an executive floor as well as 17 apartments with a separate cooking area perfect for longer stays. A special feature is the 980 m² conference area consisting of eight light-flooded meeting rooms and a conference room for up to 300 people, making this the largest conference centre in all of Katowice. Guests looking for sport and exercise to balance out a strenuous day will enjoy the hotel’s fitness area with state-of-the-art cardio devices – the perfect place to regenerate, followed by a relaxing sauna visit.

Thanks to its location and special service, the new hotel promises to be especially attractive for business travellers while also an excellent choice for city and culture tourists.

The angelo design hotels represent a fresh and modern atmosphere with select colours and forms creating an environment that is just as conducive to work as it is for relaxation. The design concept includes a blend of intense black, coral red and yellow tones highlighted by Oriental furnishings and accessories.

Global hotel group Worldhotels will gain its first property in Helsinki city centre with the opening of Hotel Fabian in August. Located centrally close to Market Square, Esplanade Park and Kaivopuisto Park, the four-star property will provide a base for both business and leisure travellers to the Finnish capital.

Hotel Fabian’s speciality will be loft-style rooms, with large windows providing views over the city. In addition, eight of the total of 58 rooms will offer ‘extended stay’ accommodation, fitted with their own kitchenettes.

Hotel Fabian is being developed by Royal Restaurants, a Finnish organisation operating 27 restaurants in 21 locations, in addition to hotels.

Hotel Fabian is the second hotel of the group in Finland after the Airport Hotel Bonus Inn in Vantaa, Helsinki Airport.

Hotel Indigo, an InternContinental Hotels Group brand, has opened its fourth hotel in Texas after an extensive renovation.The hotel is situated in Alamo in San Antonio and has 91 guest rooms over eight floors, including seven suites.

The 100-year-old building has been renovated whilst still retaining all of its original wood work and marble.

The property features signature Hotel Indigo standards including inviting guestrooms with oversized beds, hard-surface flooring for a residential feel, spa-inspired showers and photo murals with local imagery. The hotels also offers a casual gourmet dining restaurant, a 24-hour business centre, a fitness centre and free wired or wireless high-speed internet access.

Hotel Indigo continues to build momentum. With the addition of this property, there will be 35 Hotel Indigo locations open worldwide and more than 60 hotels under development, either in the pipeline or in final negotiation. The brand’s growth strategy is focused on top-tier priority markets and gateway cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

In 2009, the brand opened 12 hotels and signed 14 deals globally.

Hotel Indigo will fully realize its global positioning with the opening of the Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund this August and additional properties are also scheduled for Liverpool, England, Glasgow, Scotland and Hong Kong.

The Hotel Indigo San Antonio at the Alamo is owned by Gibbs Master Tenant, LLC, and managed by TNJ Management under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.

The Varsity, a new boutique hotel and spa will open in alongside the River Cam in Cambridge in July this year.The hotel will offer 50 rooms and suites, each named after an Oxbridge college – celebrating the heritage of the university town. The two top floors of the hotel are made entirely from glass which will allow views of the surrounding area, including St John’s College spires and Magdalene College.

The larger suites will offer balcony areas and some will have the option of a hotel chef providing a terrace barbecue.

The Varsity will also feature a rooftop garden. Situated on the sixth floor, the Fellows Gardens is one of the highest vantage points in the city centre and is entered by hotel guests through a James Bond style automated glass hatch. The gardens will be surrounded by glass panels and will be decorated with kitsch and colourful British deckchairs, hammocks and potted plants.

Adjoining the hotel, The River Kitchen is located within an eighteenth century warehouse and has exposed brickwork and large windows overlooking the river on the ground and mezzanine level.

The Glassworks Spa is located in the same warehouse building and provides a cutting-edge health club with state-of-the-art gym equipment and classes on site. The spa itself comprises of a Jacuzzi that overlooks the river, a sauna and steam room and five private rooms offering treatments.

Washington Holdings has announced it has acquired the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in the upscale Southern California coastal community of Dana Point from an affiliate of Citigroup, Inc.Washington Holdings, which invests in well positioned commercial real estate assets in the Western United States and currently holds both debt and equity interests in hotel properties representing more than 10,000 hotel rooms, purchased Citigroup’s remaining equity interest in the 400-room luxury seaside resort.

The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort is California’s only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond resort. Opened in 2001, the oceanfront hotel features 400 guestrooms and suites, an 18-hole championship golf course, 65,000sq ft of meeting space, award-winning restaurants and a 30,000sq ft.

The resort is managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. According to Starwood, the hotel continues to see a marked increase of both group and leisure business and expects this uptrend to continue into 2010. “It is business as usual at St. Regis Monarch Beach as the hotel continues to attract high profile guests and events. The resort will host the Dana Point Concours d’ Elegance for the 3rd year in a row and resort wedding business continues to be robust with over 100 weddings booked for 2010,” says Johnny So, the hotel’s general manager.

“The hotel and the staff have performed exceptionally well throughout the past year considering the economic headwinds,” Wrench adds. “There’s a lot of news these days about hotels tipping over because they are over-leveraged and have been hit hard by the downturn. This transaction substantially reduces property level debt so that the resort can be self sustaining. We’re also committed to making some strategic investments in the resort so we can take full advantage of the recovering market.”

Viceroy Hotel Group has announced that the company will unveil the newest addition to its growing Viceroy Hotels and Resorts collection with the December 2010 opening of Viceroy Maldives.The property is being developed by Maldives-based, luxury hotel developer, EoN Resorts (EoN), in partnership with Mubadala Development Company (‘Mubadala’).

Viceroy Maldives, a luxury resort, is currently
under construction on the pristine, crescent-shaped island of Vagaru, located in the Shaviyani Atoll, one hour north of the capital Male. Due to open in December 2010, this exclusive property will be the first Viceroy to open outside of the Americas and follows the recent successful launches of Viceroy Miami, Viceroy Snowmass in Colorado and Viceroy Anguilla in the Caribbean.

The Viceroy Maldives resort will feature 61 luxury villas, situated both over the water as well as on the beaches that ring the 17-acre Vagaru Island. The villas – amongst the largest in the Maldives –will boast from 1,345 to 3,300 square feet of indoor space, with generous outdoor private areas, all including plunge pools.

The resort will also offer five unique food and beverage outlets, a spacious over-water spa and fitness centre, a signature cantilevered pool and pool deck and a full-service dive and watersports activities centre, allowing Viceroy guests to take advantage of the world-class diving, fishing and snorkeling available in the resort’s house reef and beyond.

This unique chair designed by Francesco Rota is a collaboration of Italian styling with traditional weaving techniques from Africa. Complex weaving techniques are required to manufacture the Afra chair, so Italian manufacturers Paola Lenti have combined skills with a women’s weaving cooperative in the region of South Africa.

Frasers Hospitality has opened the Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain, the first of five properties to open in the Middle East over the next two years.The Bahrain hotel is 19-storeys high and features 91 one or two bedroom suites and three penthouses.

Each floor accommodates just eight suites for and the interior design is complemented by the quality fixtures and fittings.

Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain was developed by Seef Properties, one of Bahrain’s largest real estate companies, which owns and manages various commercial properties including Seef Mall, the largest shopping and entertainment centre in the Kingdom.

The opening of Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain will be followed in quick succession with the launch of two more properties, Fraser Suites Dubai and Fraser Suites Doha.

Another two properties already on the drawing board – in Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia – are scheduled to open within the next two years.

This year, the company will open a total of 16 new properties, 12 under the Fraser brand and
4 under the new Modena brand and will make its debut in 12 major cities – Budapest
(Hungary), Bangalore (India), Doha (Qatar), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Kuala Lumpur
(Malaysia), New Delhi (India), Osaka (Japan), Bahrain (Middle East), Chengdu (China),
Guangzhou (China), Suzhou (China) and Tianjin (China).

Hilton Worldwide announced yesterday that Dakota Mountain Lodge & Golden Door Spa has changed its name to Waldorf Astoria Park City. The re-branding of the hotel in the mountain town of Park City, Utah, will take place over the next 60 days.“This intimate hotel offers the unparalleled service and quality found at all of our Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.”

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts includes more than 20 landmark destinations around the globe, each with its own story and identity and each inspired by the level of service that defined the legendary Waldorf=Astoria New York.

“Waldorf Astoria Park City is our vision of the perfect Park City experience, as distinctive and timeless as our other extraordinary destinations,” said John T.A. Vanderslice, Global Head of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands for Hilton Worldwide. “This intimate hotel offers the unparalleled service and quality found at all of our Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.”

The newest project from Grupo HABITA and architect Fernando Romero opened its doors on March 15.Grupo HABITA have lovingly restored the 1950s interior, creating a hotel with vintage charm and a chic contemporary design.

Complete with an in-house disco and pool terrace the hotel offers round-the-clock service and a laid back ambience. Ground floor rooms come with landscaped gardens whereas other rooms come with balconies and open air terraces with hammocks.

Guests can check in at the hotel’s sea level ‘Club de Mar’ fresh water pool area. A grand entrance reception leads to a landscaped garden and ground floor where there is a gym with views across the bay to Roqueta Island, a protected natural reserve. There are also poolside massage cabanas, a therapy area where a team of trained experts offer a range of body and facial treatments and, on the second and third floors, a full SPA & Baths. After dark the hotel takes on a retro glam vibe with its open air bar overlooking the bay.

The Interior A former hotspot in the 1950s, Boca Chica still maintains its famous vintage exterior although inside the refurbished interior is anything but old-school. The A-list design team, including designers Frida Escobedo and Jose Rojas, has created a hotel with chic design elements and an atmosphere of laid back tropical luxury. The original features such as the brick lattice ‘celosia’ brickwork have been maintained along with the cool white and iconic Boca Chica aqua green hues.

The hotel’s developer and owner Architect Fernando Romero, a pre-eminent Mexican architect, had a vision to create a hotel with 30 spacious rooms and 6 suites with original features and furniture from the 1950s building. The elegant and vibrant rooms come with private terraces and hammocks. Some of the rooms lead into private gardens and three of the suites have separate living rooms.

Epoque & Avantgarde Hotels has partnered with The Levante Laudon Luxury Apartments Vienna. The Levante Laudon is sister hotel of The Levante Parliament, a boutique hotel that has been a member of Epoque Hotels since 2007.The Levante Laudon in Vienna comprises of luxury furnished apartments in a central location.

The luxury apartment house is located in a Biedermeier building and are divided in two categories with two or three rooms.

The Superior Apartments are equipped with a completely fitted kitchenette with dishes, refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave, flat screen TV with satellite, direct telephone, designer furniture and complimentary internet.

The Standard Apartments are equipped with a completely fitted kitchenette with dishes, refrigerator, direct telephone, satellite TV and complimentary internet.

Guests have access to the sauna and fitness lounge at the partner hotel The Levante Parliament for a daily fee.

Epoque Hotels, president, David Maranzana said: “We are very happy to showcase also this kind of accommodation in Vienna. The Laudon is a remarkable property that is designed for long stays in this enchanting city that is Vienna.”

Hyatt is to open a 122-room Andaz Amsterdam in 2012.The hotel will be located on the site of the former Public Library on Amsterdam’s Prinsengracht, within the cultural district of Jordaan.

The hotel will be developed by Aedes Real Estate and Marcel Wanders will be responsible for the interior design.

The design concept of Andaz Amsterdam and the stylish allure of the rooms will reflect a modern view on Dutch history and will come to life through the vision of renowned architect and designer Marcel Wanders.

Marcel Wanders Studio works on architectural and interior design projects ranging from private residences to the hospitality industry. Various designs of Marcel Wanders have been selected for the most important design collections and exhibitions in the world, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and San Francisco, the V&A Museum in London and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

Andaz Amsterdam will feature the Andaz Studio; the hotel brand’s meeting facilities, an executive boardroom, a lounge, bar and restaurant as well as fitness and business centres.

In line with other Andaz branded hotels, Andaz Amsterdam will combine the lifestyle and boutique hotels with a contemporary and personal approach.

Aedes Real Estate, Paul Geertman said: “It will be a design hotel of unparalleled style. Together with Hyatt and Wanders, we will create a world class hotel, which will be characterised by style and hospitality. The entire hotel will be developed according to the highest quality standards with a special focus on sustainability. The location of course is marvellous. Only the outside of the original building will be recognisable. Behind the façade a total new development will be created. Andaz Amsterdam will be the first genuine lifestyle hotel in the Netherlands.”

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, vice president acquisitions & development, Oliver Berger said: “With the signing of Andaz Amsterdam, we are furthering our strategy of entering new markets, including those markets with significant barriers of entry such as the Dutch capital.”

Three Michelin-starred Chef Pierre Gagnaire has opened a new restaurant at the ANA InterContinental Tokyo.The restaurant, which opened in March, is located on the 36th floor of the hotel and overlooks Tokyo city with a view that includes the iconic Tokyo Tower.

The dining area boasts renovated contempory decor featuring smooth vanilla, soft slate and caramel undertones. Designed by Ilya Design Tokyo, the restaurant hopes to provide the perfect palette for the epicurean experiences that is a Gagnaire hallmark.

The highly anticipated Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles opened last week (2 April) as the first luxury hotel of its calibre in Downtown Los AngelesPerched on the upper floors of the 54-story tower that it shares with sister hotel the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles has 123 well-appointed guestrooms, including 14 suites.

Featuring elegant, contemporary décor by renowned Los Angeles firm, Barry Design, and some of the city’s best views of Downtown L.A., the hotel provides guests with an exclusive retreat. Designed by Gensler, the hotel and luxury condominium tower will be LEED-certified and is owned by Los Angeles-based AEG.

The hotel is home to Downtown L.A.’s only full-service hotel spa, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, a luxurious, 8,000-square-foot sanctuary that is designed to reflect the glamour and excitement of Los Angeles in a calming yet sophisticated environment. With nine treatment rooms, two customized aromatherapy steam rooms, cold plunge showers and two relaxation lounges, the Spa offers guests a true respite.

Guests can also take pleasure in the panoramic vistas of Downtown L.A. and surrounding Southern California from the 3,400 sq ft signature Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge on the 23rd floor. In addition, guests can see the spectacular views from the 26th floor as they relax by the exclusive, private rooftop pool and bar. Cabana and conversational seating arrangements allow guests to enjoy the outdoors both day and night. For those interested in more active pursuits, a 2,000sq ft fitness centre on the 26th floor offers guests the opportunity to catch a productive workout while enjoying the cityscape.

The hotel also offers meeting and event planners the Gallery Collection, the most efficient meeting space in Downtown L.A., with nearly 100,000sq ft of ballroom and meeting rooms. With the size and flexibility of the event space, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles provides long-awaited support for the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

The world’s biggest JW Marriott hotel, and Texas’ first, has opened in San Antonio, US – the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort.Remaining true to the essential nature of the Texas Hill Country and nearby San Antonio the guestrooms have incorporated metals, tooled leather, carved wood, and hewn stonework into the contemporary design of 1002 rooms including 85 suites.

Each room has been appointed with furniture rich in texture and the vibrant colors of the sunset. The rooms also have scenic views for guests to enjoy.

The hotel features a 36 hole golf course, a spa, seven restaurants, two ballrooms, an events hall, three outdoor venues, meeting space and six acres of pools and fountains.

The spa is 8,000sqm in size and has 30 treatment rooms, including two couples suites with fireplaces.

Each restaurant and lounge features cocktails, and beverages with a focus on fresh, sustainable, and organic ingredients.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort will offer the largest convention and meeting space in the area with over 42,500sqm of area.

As part of the CIMA collection and Encompass, an extensive range of modern design garden furniture, these garden tables by Encompass are pure, minimalist and architectural in design. They are available in square or rectangular formats. The table tops are available in Belgian bluestone, teak, black glass, white glass or cendre (sand) coloured glass. The high grade stainless steel frame gives these garden indoor or outdoor tables an ultra modern look and when accompanied by either a Sillon or Butaque dining chair, are an excellent contemporary dining solution.

Designed by European designer Hendrik Steenbakkers, CIMA garden tables are built to a very high quality from the highest quality materials. Designed for lifelong function, the materials exceed standards for durability and with large luxury dining tables are great for entertaining family and friends all year round both indoors and out.

The Fuera Dentro CIMA collection of tables includes a wide range of sizes and specifications, available in many beautiful, different material and colour finishes. Attention to detail in the design and production of the CIMA range is outstanding; the adjustable stainless steel feet of the Doble and Cuadrado table, and the etched Fuera Dentro logo on steel legs, are subtle yet highly attractive features in themselves.

The Rocco Forte Collection, has unveiled the details of its first property in the Middle East, due to open in Abu Dhabi in fall 2010. The 281-room property, which will be a new build, will be housed in a stunning 12-floor curved glass structure designed by architect WS Atkins and Partners. Interiors are being created by Dubai-based interior design specialists KCA International under the careful guidance of Olga Polizzi, director of design for The Rocco Forte Collection.

The hotel will be the first to deliver a stylish European and Middle Eastern design to the city. It will have a sophisticated, contemporary feel and, like all Rocco Forte Collection hotels, will reflect its location by using local artwork and Middle Eastern accents in accessories and fabrics.

The Rocco Forte Collection will continue its expansion into the Middle East with the a 146-room property set to open in Jeddah in fall 2011, a 90-room all-suite golf resort opening in Marrakech in 2011 and a 275-room property scheduled to open in Cairo in 2013.

The guestrooms will be decorated in shades of green, yellow and terracotta and will feature large leather panels behind the headboards, curved modern sofas, workstations with comfortable leather chairs and art work by local artists and the poet Adonis. The spacious bathrooms will all have walk-in showers, large bathtubs, and marble vanity units. There will be two luxurious presidential suites, each measuring 3,100 square feet and featuring two balconies, a large bedroom, a dressing room with walk-in wardrobes, a separate dining room, lounge, kitchen, study, bar area, bathroom, separate guest cloakroom and artwork by a local artist.

Patterned after the world’s finest linens from Belgium, Belgique provides that same soft sophisticated ambiance for the wall. The latest fabric-backed vinyl wallcovering from Seltex takes on the look of a hand-woven textile appropriate for any environment from hospitality to healthcare.The stylised linen reference provides universal appeal, while a subdued random block design incorporates a subtle twist that differentiates Belgique from typical linen wallcoverings. In addition to its gauzy good looks, Belgique features natural linen colours that range from strong neutrals to lively brights to deep rich accents. Choose from earthy Hemp, golden Soleil, vivid Artichoke, sea blue Provencal or rusty Persimmon. The 18-colour palette has been carefully selected to meet designers’ most sought-after colour targets.

Belgique is a low-VOC fabric-backed vinyl wallcovering made with award-winning Second-Look technology to include a minimum of 20% recycled content. Samples are available from Seltex upon request.

The new La Salle Hotel by Magnolia Hotels in Bryan, Texas has unveiled its renovation, which enhanced guest rooms and public space while retaining the character and charm of the historic hotel.Décor in each guest room was enhanced with a new Magnolia bedding package, flat-screen televisions, fresh paint and modern lighting to complement the executive work desks. New flooring was added to the lobby along with leather furniture, rich woven fabrics of fuchsia, red, pink, lime green and blue which complement the setting. Historical artwork by local artists now graces the walls of the entrance of the lobby.

The property also expanded the lobby lounge to create new intimate conversation areas surrounded by leathers, warm woods and modern art. Wood floors were added to the Club Room along with new lighting and a feature wall behind the bar with a lime green European finish with metal accents. Modern art and green velvet fabrics accent the lobby and club area.

LaSalle Hotel by Magnolia Hotels is a 55-room property, which was built in 1928 and is registered as an historic landmark. There are two meeting rooms available for business meetings and events; the Grand Room accommodating up to 70, and the Brazos Room accommodating up to 45.

At the end of February the Haven sofa by Paola Lenti was awarded the Good Design Award 2009, one of the most recognised awards for excellence and innovation in the design field.Haven won the award for the innovative use of materials, its lightness and the play in contrast between the structural shape and the asymmetry of the seat.

The tubular metal structure is covered with a high tech self bearing weave, developed by Paola Lenti in conjunction with industry experts and is the result of the company’s continuous research in the field of innovating high tech materials.

The upholstery weave lets light, air and water pass through contributing to the sense of lightness and permeability that makes Haven perfect for outdoor lounging.

Haven can be produced in the colours ‘cemento’ and ‘grafite’, back and seat cushions suitable for outdoor use can be upholstered in a wide range of fabrics from the Paola Lenti collection.

Baulmann Leuchten is going to present the latest product developments at the world’s largest international lighting-exhibition Light & Building 2010 in Hall 3.1 on Stand D51. The exhibition is held in Frankfurt from April 11th. to 16th.

This year Baulmann Leuchten is going to present a new generation of their famous “BIG LIGHTS” range with large-volume pendants and surface-mounted luminaires. Another focus will be on new developments in the field LED-lighting.

The 501-room Shanghai Marriott Hotel Changfeng Park has opened its doors to guests offering luxurious accommodation and great meeting facilities.Owned by the New Development Group Co., Ltd. and run by Marriott International under a long-term management agreement, the 32 storey, Shanghai hotel will feature 501 guest rooms as well as an executive lounge on the 31st floor.

Marriott International, area vice president – China, Mr Henry Lee said:”We are most delighted to have one more Marriott flag flying in Shanghai, arguably one of the most dynamic cities in Asia. We will work hard to bring new business and additional revenues to this thriving city. Our entire network of over 3,300 Hotels around the world will work collectively to generate travel to this newest member of our worldwide hotel portfolio.”

Morocco’s flagging tourism industry has been given a boost following an announcement by the Ramada hotel group of plans to build eight new hotels across the country.The locations of the new properties would in Marrakesh, Rabat, Casablanca and Agadir, and will come as a welcome boost to the country’s tourism economy, which has shrunk to 2007 levels due to the global downturn.

The announcement was made by Fawaz Majid Al Badr, CEO of Al-Tameer investment group, the Kuwaiti owner of Ramada, at the opening of the new Ramada Fes.

The new $14m Ramada Fes features 133 rooms, three restaurants and a spa.

The Moroccan government has laid out ambitious plans for the country’s tourism sector. In 2001, a target was set of 10 million tourists per year by 2010.

The plans included the creation of six major tourism sites on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines and the creation of an additional 15,000 rooms in Morocco’s major cities.

Building work in six resorts of Mogador, Lixus, Mazagan, Saidia, Taghazout and the Plage Blanche is still underway.

Celebrating its 18th birthday this year, The Sukhothai Bangkok has unveiled the first phase of renovations to 40 of the hotel’s superior rooms, with all 100 rooms of this type to be completely refurbished by July 2010.Set within six acres of landscaped gardens in the heart of Bangkok, this hotel combines traditional refinement with contemporary style. The current refurbishment has been undertaken by internationally-renowned interior designer Edward Tuttle, who masterminded the original interior designs for the property and has a long association with some of the world’s finest luxury hotels and resorts.

The rooms have been given a new softness thanks to the use of subtle but rich chenille canvas wall fabrics by Jim Thompson, which balance the exotic teak wood, pradou cabinetry and signature detailing that has always defined the architectural and interior style of The Sukhothai.

Amenities have been upgraded to include integrated bars and new flat screen televisions discreetly installed behind grey mirrors to blend seamlessly with the room when switched off. In the bathroom, guests will find compartmental shower and toilet areas remodelled in classic Sukhothai black granite and mirrored cabinets to create a depth of space.

Tuttle said: “Keeping the classical image of The Sukhothai was a major concern when remodelling the existing bedrooms. Subtle touches such as the new teak wood floor throughout the bedroom and bathroom, give the entire space another level of unity and luxury.”

Born in Seattle, but based in Paris for the last 30 years, Tuttle is known for his elegant and creative use of space.

Premier Inn, owned by Whitbread PLC, is bringing two new hotels to Stratford upon Avon, UK, investing £13.4 million in the town and creating approximately 75 new jobs. The hotels – on Payton Street and at the Waterways on Birmingham Road – will provide more than 200 new bedrooms.

Work has already started on turning College House in Payton Street into an 87-bedroom Premier Inn. The hotel is scheduled to open in spring 2011 and will provide approximately 30 new jobs.

The former Red Lion pub opposite, also owned by Whitbread, will be improved to become the principal pub and restaurant for the hotel.

At the Waterways, work is scheduled to start in the summer. Initially, the existing buildings on site will be demolished and cleared before the construction team moves in to build a new 130-bedroom Premier Inn.

The hotel is being developed by ABD Developments (a company owned by David Austin, The Bird Group, and Deeleys). The scheme will deliver a big boost to the overall regeneration of Stratford’s canalside area the ongoing improvement of the town centre. It is scheduled to open in summer 2011.

Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants, head of acquisitions, John Bates said: “We’re bringing investment, jobs and 200 plus new bedrooms to Stratford. That’s a major package of improvements and we want to be part of a successful Stratford regeneration and business story. Stratford has always had a strong reputation as an attractive town and leisure destination. By introducing 200 plus quality new rooms with great facilities and at a great price, we’re bringing more choice as well as more capacity to the market. That has to be good news for the town and for visitors wanting to come here.”

Expansion into Stratford is part of a strategy to grow to 55,000 rooms in the UK within four years, targeting towns where Premier Inn can achieve great locations and offer a great choice to the customer.

The new Premier Inn at Waterways is an example of Whitbread working closely with development partners to achieve high quality schemes.

The telecommunications masts currently on the site will be removed and relocated to the back of the site and parking for 90 cars will also be provided.

Continent Hotels and Resorts has signed its third hotel development and management agreement in Philippines. Construction of this luxury Condominium Resort will commence middle of this year, with completion expected August 2011. The partnership with Paradisya Land LLC represents an opportunity for Continent Hotels to enter the Philippines market and the current project is the third development project with Paradisya Land LLC.

The new Condominium Hotel will have 56 luxurious suites and will be named the Continent Fairways Resort. Owner of condominiums and future guests will have benefit of golf club membership as well.

Continent Hotels, managing director, Ethem Zagikyan said: “We can further confirm that we have reached advanced negotiations in Bulgaria and Russia and we can say that we are firmly placed for global expansion.”

Continent brand hotels are mid-scale to up-scale properties designed for the leisure, business and extended-stay traveler and consist of Continent Hotels, Continent Resorts., Continent Hotel and Suites, Continent Park Hotels, Continent Boutique and Continent Inn & Suites hotels.

Istanbul based Continent Hotel Management Ltd acquired the brand Management and Franchise Sales rights to the Continent brand in 2003 and full ownership in 2007. According to new development contracts, as of 2012, there will be 20 new Continent branded hotels open or under construction just in Russia.

The company gives consulting and project management services for new hotel developments and manages hotels under Continent brand or franchises the Continent or equity Continent brands. As of 2010, there are 6 projects under construction in Philippines, Russia and Bulgaria.

There are Continent branded properties in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia.

A new boutique hotel by Epoque Hotels has opened in Spain. The Hotel Viura is situated in Villabuena de Alava, 40km from the city of Logroño, in the wine region of La Rioja.The hotel has 33 guestrooms including 13 doubles, 13 deluxe and seven suites. It also has three spacious and modern meeting rooms equipped with technology.

The hotel features a restaurant, bar, gym and a rooftop terrace. From the terrace there are panoramic views of the San Andres Church, which was built between 1538 and 1728. There are also views of the Cantabrian mountains.

The double rooms are decorated in contemporary style and have decorative and technological elements to them. The deluxe rooms feature views over the town and the suites have garden terraces and baths and showers in the ensuites.

A Fairmont Hotel has opened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US – the first luxury hotel in the city.Featuring 185 guestrooms, 3,600sqm of event space and a 1,800sqm health club, Fairmont Pittsburgh has made its home at Three PNC Plaza, one of the largest mixed-use buildings to be certified by the United States Green Building Council in accordance with its LEED rating system.

Later this year, Fairmont Pittsburgh expects to receive LEED certification at a Gold level, which complements the company’s industry leading Green Partnership, a program focused on operational sustainability and responsible tourism practices.

Guestrooms and suites are residential in nature with living and work areas and furniture and color palettes inspired by the city’s colorful bridges. Room amenities include LCD HDTVs, iPod docking stations and four-fixture bathrooms.

Guests also enjoy views of the city landscape and rivers courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows, a first for any hotel in the city.

The hotel offers two dining options, both located within the double-height lobby of the hotel. Andy’s bar, named after two of the city’s most famous Andrews – Carnegie and Warhol – and Habitat restaurant, with the first serving up classic cocktails crafted by Fairmont’s mixologists and the latter featuring local ingredients in globally-inspired cuisine.

Glass and steel elements are used prominently throughout the hotel, along with artwork from local artists displayed throughout the hotel.

Hotel Indigo, one of the InterContinental Hotels (IHG), has opened an upscale boutique in Nashville, Tennessee, US.Centered in the heart of downtown Nashville, the 97-room conversion property joins the Hotel Indigo Nashville Music Row Vanderbilt. Both Nashville properties were developed by Wesley Hotels & Resorts, which currently has three Hotel Indigo properties in its portfolio with plans to develop more in the future.

The Hotel Indigo Nashville Downtown is owned by Union Street Plaza Operations and managed by Wesley Hotels & Resorts, under a license agreement with a company in the IHG.

Located on Union Street, the Hotel Indigo is a conversion of what is still considered two of the most significant historic buildings in downtown Nashville – the historic American Trust Building and the adjoining Nashville Trust Building.

While preserving the integrity and architecture of the 1920s buildings, Wesley Hotels & Resorts created a mixed-use facility that includes the Hotel Indigo, three floors of extended-stay suites, eight floors of prime office space, the only two-story Starbucks in the city and a parking garage.

The Hotel Indigo Nashville Downtown opened to the public on March 19. The 96 guestrooms and one penthouse suite are complete with original terrazzo floors and marble vanity tops.

The property features signature Hotel Indigo standards including inviting guestrooms with oversized beds, spa-inspired showers and photo murals with local imagery. The hotels also offer casual gourmet dining, 24-hour business centers, a fitness center, and free wired or wireless high-speed internet access.

With the addition of the second Nashville property, there are 34 Hotel Indigo locations open worldwide and more than 60 hotels under development, either in the pipeline or in final negotiation.

IHG, America brand delivery director, Mary Dogan said: “The Hotel Indigo brand is a flexible development option as there is no maximum or minimum number of rooms or rigid requirements surrounding the public spaces, which makes it perfect for conversions. In addition, our developers have the opportunity to interpret the design of the building as well as the interior to reflect the local environment. We can attribute our success, especially in this economy, to working with the right owners like Wesley Hotels & Resorts to put the right hotels in the right markets.”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the signing of a landmark InterContinental hotel in Beijing’s city centre.The agreement with Beijing Topwin Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. will add a total of 320 rooms by 2014 and marks another milestone for IHG’s continuing development in China.

The InterContinental Beijing City Center will join the InterContinental Beijing Financial Street and InterContinental Beijing Beichen – both also located in strategic areas and considered lodging hotspots for international travellers to Beijing.

“One of the world’s major cities, Beijing will continue to attract large numbers of business and leisure travellers from home and abroad,” said Keith Barr, managing director of IHG Greater China. “We’re continuing to target growth opportunities in high potential markets like China.”

The UK Government is implementing a new environmental scheme to reduce carbon emissions created within the private and public sectors, starting today.Around 20,000 businesses, including 23 hotel organisations in the UK, are believed to be involved in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, which will force many hotels to get their green act together. Many of the hotels involved will be franchises, such as Best Western, meaning that individual hotels will face the new scheme.The plan is hoped to reduce carbon emissions in the sector by eight per cent.

Large hotels that have half hourly electricity meters will have to participate, otherwise they could face a fine of £5,000, with an additional £500 for each subsequent working day they fail to register. Fines will also be given for inaccurate reporting, with the penalty set at £40 per tonne of carbon dioxide incorrectly reported. These hotel groups must disclose their energy consumption over the coming year and set targets to reduce it for the following year. The Environment Agency will then collect these results and rank the businesses, including hotels, on a table, rewarding the best performing companies.

For each tonne of carbon emissions created, businesses will need to pay £12. Then, depending on where these organisations rank on the table, they will either have their £12 returned to them, plus a monetary incentive if they were high-performing, or minus some cash if they were not.

Environment Agency, head of climate change, Malcolm Fergusson said: “It’s a mandatory requirement that they report it (energy consumption), however we’re not going to come around and knock on everyone’s door. But we will be doing a certain amount of auditing and monitoring. If we find a big hotel chain has failed to register then we’ll be asking questions about that.”

Companies could face a fine if they should register for the scheme but fail to do so. Fergusson said: “The scheme is designed to bring in large organisations… which are significant energy consumers. There’s a big branch of organisations that are responsible for about 10 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. If we’re going to meet the tough targets that the country has set itself by cutting emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050, it means everybody has to do their bit.”

Fergusson said hotels will be encouraged to perform well by reducing their carbon emissions because of the ranking table, which will be made public. He suggested that some businesses could use this ranking as a marketing tool. He said “There’ll be a league table and I think that where people come in this table is going to matter. There’s quite a lot of opportunities out there that are cost effective to help organisations to save money and energy and to save the planet all at the same time.”

He said he is so far unsure of hotels’ reactions, but believes it will benefit them in the long run because reducing energy consumption reduces hotels’ bills at the same time. He said some key tips for these hotel groups would be to install better lighting systems, to improve their laundry and cooking usage and to create more efficient insulation systems.

“Obviously the main things to improve on are lighting and cooling. Basic things like keeping these to more realistic levels and making them more occupant-sensitive is going to be important. Also, when it comes to the fabric – making sure bedding is well insulated and that there’s at least double glazing, if not more, on the windows.”

Fergusson said hotels should begin to see results almost immediately. “We believe that the payback times are quite short – often less than a year. Even in the short run it should be quite beneficial.”

Carmen Allan

Rezidor has opened a Park Inn hotel in Dresden, Germany.The hotel has 132 rooms and was formerly a Tulip Inn hotel.

The Park Inn Dresden is situated in Dresden Neustadt near the bank of the river Elbe. Besides 132 guest rooms and suites the property features a restaurant, a lobby bar and a meeting room. It was originally opened in 1997 and fully renovated in 2007.

Dresden is the capital of Saxony, located 170 km south-east of Berlin.

Rezidor, CEO and president, Kurt Ritter said: “This hotel is our third property in Dresden and further strengthens our presence on the local and regional market. We are delighted to once again cooperate with our partner Provent Hotels which belongs to our most important franchisees in Germany.”

A sneak preview of some of what is to come at Glasgow’s iconic Central Hotel has just been released.The Queen Anne style hotel, located in the heart of the city centre is Grade A Listed. It was acquired by the hotel and conference centre group, Principal Hayley, from Real Hotel Group in June 2009 and rebranded the ‘Grand Central Hotel’ in anticipation of it once again becoming Glasgow’s prime destination for conference, banqueting and leisure activities. The hotel will officially re-open in early September 2010.

Working closely with Scottish Heritage, the designers have retained, restored and integrated existing architectural features throughout the hotel. False ceilings, walls and cladding have been removed and in some cases bedroom ceilings now reach heights of 4.9 metres. Cornices have been restored or replaced and original full height windows reinstated along with timber reveal detailing. Each bedroom has been individually designed in response to the unique proportions of the existing architecture. The executive rooms are particularly spacious.

Vibrant palettes of hot pinks and reds on an envelope of taupe have been chosen for the executive and standard bedroom schemes respectively, in response to a brief that demanded a balance of historical sensitivity and contemporary style, vigour, atmosphere and theatre along with the provision of the latest
technology to meet the practical needs and expectations of today’s guests.

The design includes used the repetitious circular details of contemporary lighting fixtures to make reference to the history of the building by subtly recalling the long rows of iron wheels and the proximity to the station next door. A plaid-like bed throw evokes classic locomotive interior upholstery as well as nodding to Scotland’s emblematic tartan and long-standing textile industry. The artwork, set into the bed-head architecture that itself is reminiscent of old panelled carriage interiors with high backed upholstered seating, is composed of a series of juxtaposed and collaged archival photographs and abstracted close-ups of train parts. The long horizontal composition echoes the linear nature of a train journey and the rush of fleeting images flying across the window like a film-strip. All the bedrooms have
100 per cent low energy LED light fittings, pop up desk electrics and mounted plasma TV’s.

As well as 30 additional guestrooms, bringing the total number of keys to 186 including three suites that commemorate some historical greats connected with the hotel – John F Kennedy, John Logie Baird and Robert Rowand Anderson, the eminent Scottish architect who designed the hotel along with Central Station in 1876. The guest will be greeted by a grand entrance and reception and will have access to facilities that include a stunning 600 capacity banqueting room, a range of 20 meeting rooms, a new Tempus Bar and Restaurant, as well as a glittering Champagne Bar oriented to overlook the station platforms.

Interior design practice Charles Leon Associates are responsible for the £20 million pound restoration and refurbishment programme at the hotel.