Hotel Designs Hotel DesignsEuropean hotel transaction volume in 2013 reached a new peak since the onset of the global financial crisis, signalling a comeback of the hotel real estate market.The 2013 European Hotel Transactions article, published by HVS London to coincide with the International Hotel Investment Forum [Berlin, 3-5 March], reports that total transaction volume across Europe reached €7.7 billion in 2013, a…
read moreResearch undertaken by W Hospitality Group, the award-winning consultancy and one of the founding members of Hotel Partners Africa (HPA), reveals that employment in the hotel sector in Africa is set to grow substantially in the coming years. It estimates 136,000 new jobs will be created in 2014, 87,000 in 2015, 70,000 in 2016 and 27,000 thereafter based on current…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced it has signed an agreement to open a new 172-room Aloft hotel in Al Ain, the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Scheduled to debut in 2016, Aloft Al Ain will be the first Starwood property to open in Al Ain and the second Aloft hotel in…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® has announced that its sizzling Aloft brand is ramping up portfolio growth in California with a new hotel planned for Rancho Bernardo, an upscale community in San Diego North. Owned by HP Investors, LLC and managed by Azul Hospitality Group, Aloft Rancho Bernardo will be the sixth property in California when it opens in…
read moreJones Lang LaSalle’s Global Hotel Investor Outlook 2013 shows that the UK remains the leading market for hotel investment, attracting 37 per cent share of EMEA hotel investment volume in 2013. Trading and sentiment has improved and market confidence has been boosted by a number of key global investors underwriting the U.K. market through portfolio acquisitions and refinancings, notably the…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it will soon introduce its Westin Hotels & Resorts brand to the island of Mauritius. Owned by Blue Ocean Park Ltd., The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius is scheduled to open in spring 2014. The resort will enjoy a pristine beachfront location in the historic Turtle Bay of Balaclava…
read moreMarriott International, Inc. together with Ian Schrager and The Witkoff Group, Winthrop Realty Trust, New Valley LLC and Maefield Development have recently announced plans for a second EDITION hotel in New York City. Scheduled to open in 2017 and located in the heart of Times Square, the new hotel will follow the expected 2015 debut of Manhattan’s first EDITION property…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that its Le Méridien brand will soon add Indianapolis to its rapidly growing North American portfolio. Le Méridien Indianapolis will debut in November 2014 following a $9.5 million renovation of The Historic Canterbury Hotel, a landmark property in the heart of downtown. Owned by Rockbridge and managed by Azul Hospitality, Le…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the launch of its rapidly growing Four Points brand in Charleston, the capital of West Virginia. Owned by BBL Hospitality, Four Points by Sheraton Charleston completed a comprehensive $15 million renovation to transform the Charleston House Hotel into the newest addition to the Four Points portfolio. Offering spectacular views of the Kanawha…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the debut of its world-renowned Westin® brand in Portland, Maine following the strategic conversion of a landmark property in the heart of the city’s Arts District. Owned by Rockbridge and managed by New Castle Hotels & Resorts, The Westin Portland Harborview is the state’s first Westin hotel, featuring 289 guest rooms and…
read moreSleep 2013 ended on a high after two full days packed with ideas and inspiration. Over 3,600* international industry professionals attended, a 12% increase over last year and a record for Europe’s favourite and longest running hotel architecture, design and development event.The many new features and formats introduced at Sleep this year generated a palpable buzz of excitement amongst the…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the groundbreaking of The St. Regis Jakarta in Indonesia’s dynamic capital. Set to open in 2016, the all-suite hotel brings the St. Regis brand’s enduring legacy of uncompromising luxury and sophisticated service to Jakarta, elevating the city’s ultra-luxury hospitality offerings in a mixed-use development.Located in Jakarta’s central business district along Jalan Gatot…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of The Westin Singapore, marking the brand’s return to Southeast Asia’s financial and lifestyle hub. As Singapore’s first-ever integrated hotel located within an office building, The Westin Singapore occupies levels 32 to 46 of the brand new Asia Square Tower 2 commercial development in Marina Bay, the heart of Singapore’s…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that its Le Méridien brand is picking up even more momentum in North America with a new hotel planned for Cleveland, Ohio. Le Méridien Cleveland will open in January 2016 following the completion of a highly anticipated, adaptive re-use project that will join together and transform two adjacent, historic buildings on Euclid…
read moreWhen I was in Hamburg to create the Review of Accor’s Sofitel the adjacent Steigenberger was pointed out to me as belonging to the brand that was the leading German five star hotel group. It was described as an old fashioned Sleeping Beauty waiting awakening. Steigenberger found their prince in Puneet Chhatwal, one of Kurt Ritter’s so successful team who…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has recently announced its iconic Sheraton brand has reached the 100th hotel milestone in Asia Pacific with the opening of Sheraton Shantou Hotel in China, owned by Logan Group. Sheraton Shantou Hotel features 306 guestrooms, as well as 24 suites with views of the South China Sea. Rooms are equipped with all the brand’s…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced its sizzling Aloft brand has made its debut in Orlando, Florida. Aloft Orlando Downtown is located in the former OUC building and sits adjacent to Orlando City Hall. Owned by GDC Properties and operated by Yedla Management Company, this new hotel offers a prime location in the revitalized downtown business district.…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced its Sheraton brand will expand its portfolio in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area with a new hotel planned for McKinney, Texas. The City of McKinney and the McKinney Community Development Corporation (MCDC) are teaming up with Champ Hospitality and Beck Development to build the $38 million Sheraton McKinney Hotel at the…
read moreW Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc., will make its debut in Switzerland on 1st December 2013 with the opening of W Verbier and The Residences at W Verbier. Owned by Les Trois Rocs, the W brand’s first alpine and ski retreat is ideally situated at the foot of the slopes beside the Médran gondola. Featuring four…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that its Westin brand will soon inspire wellbeing in Wilmington, Delaware. Opening in March 2014, The Westin Wilmington will be connected to the Chase Center right at the heart of the city’s recently revitalized waterfront district. Owned by a joint venture between The Buccini/Pollin Group and Westport Capital, and managed by PM…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® has recently announced that its fast-growing Aloft brand will make its debut in College Station, Texas in October 2015. Designed for the next generation of travelers, Aloft College Station will be ideally located just minutes from the Texas A&M University campus. Owned by Lodging America, the new-build hotel will feature 102 spacious, loft-like rooms,…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® has recently announced it will introduce its fast growing Aloft brand to Durham, North Carolina. Aloft Durham Downtown will break ground later this year with an opening scheduled for May 2015 in the revitalized American Tobacco Historic District, which celebrates its 10th anniversary next year. Owned by Davidson & Jones, the newly constructed Aloft…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced its world-renowned Sheraton brand has expanded its footprint in Thailand with the opening of Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas in Prachuap Khirikhan, a province famed for its sandy coastline and popular resort towns of Hua Hin and Pranburi. The converted and rebranded 55-villa property is owned by Honor Business Company Limited,…
read moreOnce again Sleep is ahead of the pack by attracting the industry names that everyone wants to see and hear. Topping the conference bill this year is entrepreneur Ian Schrager, co-founder of Studio 54 nightclub and originator of the boutique hotel concept in the 80s as well as many other groundbreaking ‘modern lifestyle’ concepts which have revolutionised the hospitality industry.…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the debut of Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, adding this cosmopolitan Midwest city to Le Méridien brand’s rapidly expanding global portfolio. Owned by The Pizzuti Companies and operated by Wischermann Partners, the new build 10-story hotel will offer 135 modern rooms with all of the Paris-born brand’s signature amenities and services.…
read moreSt. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announces the debut of The St. Regis Abu Dhabi in the capital of the U.A.E, marking the brand’s second hotel in Abu Dhabi and third St. Regis hotel to open in the Middle East since the brand was introduced into the region two years ago. Having…
read moreBuilt green from the ground up, Element Vaughan Southwest is a trailblazing 152-room hotel in Vaughan, Ontario, just outside Toronto. Its opening marks the beginning of a global expansion that will see the Element brand add to its global portfolio and enter key European and Asian markets over the next few years. These include new Element hotels in Vancouver and…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® has announced that its ‘Different by Design’ Aloft brand has doubled its presence in Tulsa, Oklahoma with the opening of Aloft Tulsa Downtown. The opening also marks the successful completion of the Aloft brand’s second adaptive re-use project. The former City Hall was transformed into Aloft Tulsa Downtown by owner and developer TOCH, LLC.…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that the iconic Palacio del Inka in Cusco has now joined The Luxury Collection portfolio following an extensive $15 million renovation. Owned by Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco has been redesigned for a new generation of luxury travellers, offering discreet and personalized service…
read moreSleep Hotel, dubbed “the catwalk of hotel design”, is set to bring together some of the hotel industry’s best-known designers with several newer names that are making their mark on the sector. Kelly Hoppen, BDP, The Hickson Design Partnership and Purpose Design are headlining the event this year which challenges design companies to create a concept for an imaginary hotel…
read moreA heavyweight crew from Marriott last night formally launched the St. Ermin’s as the latest addition to the Autograph collection marketed by the company. Flanked by Tina Edmundson, the Global brand Officer for the non-brand that is Autograph, and John Licence responsible for Autograph Europe, Steve Eckley, the Senior VP of Amerimar who redeveloped the St Ermin’s reported a strong…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced plans to debut Le Méridien in New Orleans amidst rising demand for the Paris-born brand in markets across North America. Le Méridien New Orleans, ideally situated within walking distance from the city’s world-famous French Quarter, is set to open in Fall 2014. The hotel, which currently operates under Starwood’s W brand,…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and PT Tiara Raya Bali International has recently announced the debut of Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran, the latest newly built Le Méridien resort to open during a year of substantial growth for the Paris-born brand. Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran, combines chic, modern design with a passion for the arts, culture and creative cuisine to…
read moreRedefine Hotels and BDL Management have announced a merger between the two companies to create Redefine BDL Hotels. The merger will create the largest independent hotel management company in the UK with 60 hotels under management, representing 6,700 rooms. The merging of the two companies will reinforce the capabilities offered by both businesses, combining the financial strength and operational experience…
read moreThe Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), today celebrates the grand opening of The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice. The renowned hotel recently re-opened its legendary doors following a meticulous 35 million Euros restoration, bringing the historic building back to its original grandeur. The 15-month restoration of The Gritti…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it will debut the W brand in Israel in 2015 with the opening of W Tel Aviv – Jaffa and The Residences at W Tel Aviv – Jaffa. Owned by Manhattan-based RFR Holding, the hotel will be set inside a historic 19th century heritage building in the revitalised ancient port neighbourhood…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced a significant commitment to its Le Méridien hotels in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region through a comprehensive renovation strategy. Le Méridien and its ownership groups will invest more than $200 million in the renovations of 13 hotels and resorts in the MEA region over the next 3 years. The French-born…
read moreOn the heels of recent W Hotel openings in Singapore and Bangkok, W Hotels Worldwide has announced plans to more than double its Asian presence by the end of 2018, offering global jetsetters nearly 20 W Hotels and Retreats in nine countries in the region. More than half of the W brand’s global pipeline is slated for Asia Pacific, including…
read moreThird of our trio of budget hotels this month Travelodge starts the year with a major reworking of its jaded image and sales pitch. Losing ground to competitors like Premier Inn and Ibis Style, despite opening the greatest number of new rooms amongst the top ten hotel operators, Travelodge has struggled under a mountain of debt in recent years. A…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Majid Al Futtaim Properties have recently celebrated the opening of Sheraton® Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel. With this opening, Starwood now operates 14 hotels in Dubai, representing the highest concentration of Starwood hotels in any individual city outside of New York. Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel is directly connected to…
read moreEditors note: Hyperlinks are provided throughout this article to the competitive set as seen in HotelDesigns Just at the moment we seem to be going through a very competitive reappraisal by the brands of their budget offerings. Marriott, have launched Moxy with IKEA as their first partner, targeting 100 hotels. Barry Sternlicht of Louvre has been reworking Campanile and Kyriad,…
read moreA few years ago I was in Washington to Review a couple of hotels. Staying in a Staybridge Suites I was collared by the manager for advice on how to give some personality to the building. Frustrated by a build system where the hotel was built from plans onto a plot similar to previous buildings, no designer involved just the…
read moreThe Arabian Travel Market (ATM) road show arrived in Amman on Sunday 10 February to conduct an educational seminar at a time when Royal impetus is driving Jordan’s ambitious tourism development plans.The Hashemite Kingdom is ploughing ahead with its 25-year master plan for sector development and government figures report a 15.3% increase in 2012 tourism receipts on 2011 figures, adding…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of Le Méridien Atlanta Perimeter, the first Le Méridien hotel to open in the Atlanta metropolitan area and one of nine new Le Méridien hotels slated to open within the next 12 months. Located in the bustling Perimeter Center business district, just minutes from downtown Atlanta, the hotel is owned…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it has introduced its Westin brand to the heart of Birmingham, Alabama. The Westin Birmingham boasts an ideal location as the anchor of Uptown, the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex’s all-new entertainment district. The Westin Birmingham joins Sheraton Birmingham Hotel as Starwood’s second property at the BJCC. The opening of The Westin…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it has completed the sale of Aloft and Element Lexington to Rockwood Capital for $36 million. As part of the agreement, the dual-hotel development in Lexington, Massachusetts will be managed under long-term license agreements by Paramount Hotel Group and continue to fly the Aloft and Element flags. “This sale is consistent…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the signing of Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center. Located in Greater Chicago directly adjacent to Oakbrook Center, one of the most prestigious shopping destinations in the United States, the 10-story building is set to undergo a $20 million transformation prior to its 2014 debut. Owned by RockBridge and managed by…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that its Westin brand expects to open its 200th hotel in 2013, driven by robust international demand and the phenomenal success of the brand’s distinct well-being positioning. Westin will open 11 new hotels this year, the vast majority outside the United States in fast-growing markets including China, India, Singapore and Panama.…
read moreSale represents largest transaction in the European market since 2011 On behalf of Groupe du Louvre, an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group is delighted to announce the successful sale of the Concorde luxury hotels portfolio to Constellation Hotels France, a Middle East based investor with global hotel holdings. This portfolio consists of 1,724…
read moreLess than a year after premiering the Aloft brand in Latin America, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. forges ahead with its expansion plans to open four new Aloft hotels: Aloft Panama, which will debut in 2013, Aloft Merida and Aloft Asuncion slated to open by 2014, and Aloft Montevideo in 2015.Aloft Merida will mark the entrance of the eighth…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® and Liberty Group has announced that Starwood’s fast-growing Aloft® brand will soon debut in Tampa, Florida. Opening in early 2014 along the Tampa Riverwalk, Aloft Tampa Downtown will occupy the former Mercantile Bank office building as part of an adaptive re-use project developed, owned and managed by the Liberty Group in a joint-venture partnership…
read moreW Hotels Worldwide has unveiled the innovative design concept for the highly anticipated W Guangzhou Hotel & Residences. Slated to open in early 2013, the first W Hotel in mainland China will introduce Guangzhou to a new style of modern luxury, featuring cutting-edge architectural and interior designs by an eclectic assemblage of international designers. With a striking exterior by renowned…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced plans to introduce its rapidly expanding Four Points by Sheraton brand to Berlin in 2014. Owned by Proprietas s.r.o., Four Points® by Sheraton Berlin Airport will be the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Berlin and the third for the brand in Germany. This new-build hotel will be located adjacent…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., and its destination sensation brand, Aloft Hotels, has recently announces the signings of Aloft Munich and Aloft Stuttgart. Aloft Hotels was created to shake up the traditional mid-market hotel sector. This innovative hotel brand is redefining the category by delivering urban-influenced, modern and vibrant design and a social guest experience all at an affordable…
read moreThe Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., recently announced that the company and its owners are investing $200 million to renovate and restore some of its most celebrated hotels in Europe. The brand is already off to a strong start with the reopening of two iconic hotels in Spain this year: Hotel Alfonso…
read moreSheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has recently announced the opening of the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort on Kuta Beach, one of world’s renowned surfer’s paradise in Bali. The hotel is located directly at the heart of Kuta beach with pristine Indian Ocean scenery. Owned by PT. Indonesian Paradise Island, the Sheraton Bali Kuta…
read moreSt. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has recently announced the highly anticipated debut of The St. Regis Mauritius Resort, marking the brand’s first hotel in Africa and the 30th St. Regis hotel in the world. Designed by Stauch Vorster Architects with interiors by Trevor Julius of design firm dsgn, The St. Regis Mauritius…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that its largest brand, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, and its owners invested more than $230 million to refurbish its four iconic Hawaiian properties. The large-scale, multi-year project was completed with the recent unveiling of the Sheraton Kona Resort and meets the increased demand for high-quality accommodations as business and leisure travel…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced its Four Points® by Sheraton brand will open its first hotel in Edmundston, New Brunswick. Four Points by Sheraton Edmundston will open in July 2013 in an ideal location at the centre of downtown Edmundston. The former Clarion hotel will undergo an extensive $2.5 million renovation prior to flying the Four…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the upcoming opening of the newest Luxury Collection Resort, Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui, in January 2013. Exquisitely nestled in a stunning cove overlooking the Gulf of Siam near Chaweng Beach, Vana Belle, Koh Samui is a private haven of luxury offering an enchanting getaway and memorable experiences. Escape…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and its destination sensation brand, Aloft Hotels, has recently announced the signing of Aloft St. Petersburg. The opening of Aloft St. Petersburg in 2015 will mark the debut of Starwood’s Aloft Hotels brand in Russia. Owned by Remstroyintour LLC and Ludmila Kudryavtseva, Aloft St. Petersburg will be located in an emerging business district within…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of The Westin Snowmass Resort following an extensive, multi-million dollar renovation to reposition the prestigious, slope-side property as a Westin. Formerly known as the Silvertree Hotel & Conference Center, the resort fully refurbished all guest rooms and public areas in order to implement the full suite of Westin signature amenities,…
read moreSheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central, the largest hotel in Macau and Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ largest hotel globally, is pleased to introduce Shine Spa for Sheraton, a tranquil haven of lifestyle and pampering developed to help guests maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle during their travels. Located in the newly opened Sheraton Macao Hotel, Shine Spa is the largest Sheraton Spa…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Trinity Investments, LLC and Terra Investments S.R.L.C.V. has recently announced the debut of the first Le Méridien Hotel in Mexico City with the opening of Le Méridien Mexico City. Situated at Paseo de la Reforma 69 in the heart of the city’s vibrant financial and cultural district, Le Méridien Mexico City combines timeless chic…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently marked a new milestone with the opening of Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central – the largest hotel to open worldwide in 2012. At nearly 4,000 rooms, it is the largest hotel in Starwood’s global portfolio and the biggest hotel to open in Macau. Consisting of two sleek towers overlooking the dazzling Cotai…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. announced the grand opening of The Westin New York Grand Central on 12th October. The new hotel opens in the former New York Helmsley Hotel after the completion of a $75 million renovation. The brand’s second Manhattan hotel features a complete redesign of the hotel’s interior including 774…
read moreThe Luxury Collection, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently unveiled The Royal Begonia, A Luxury Collection Resort, celebrating the brand’s eagerly anticipated arrival in Sanya. Located on the southern tropical island of Hainan, The Royal Begonia joins the legendary Astor Hotel in Tianjin and The Hongta Hotel in Shanghai as the first Luxury Collection resort in…
read moreSt. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) proudly unveiled Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha at The St. Regis Doha on October 4th 2012, with opening performances by the Wynton Marsalis Quintet, featuring members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The debut of Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia, just 18 minutes from downtown Philadelphia. The highly anticipated property offers a vibrant, open atmosphere and all of the Sheraton brand’s recently improved amenities and services. Owned and operated by Wurzak Hotel Group, Sheraton Valley Forge features 180 rooms, extensive,…
read moreW Hotels Worldwide has announced the opening of the first W Hotel in Singapore with the debut of W Singapore – Sentosa Cove and The Residences at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove. Owned and developed by an affiliate of City Developments Limited, W Singapore is an urban oasis located on Sentosa, the city’s most glamorous island only minutes away from…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that it plans to debut the Aloft brand in South Korea in late 2014, signing an agreement with development partner Youngshin HRD. Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of OKHOW Co., Ltd. The hotel, Aloft Suwon, will be the first Aloft hotel in South Korea, adding to the brand’s global expansion…
read moreW Hotels Worldwide has recently announced it has signed an agreement with Terranum Hotels to debut a new W Hotel in Bogota, Colombia. Slated to open in 2014, W Bogota will be a part of a larger mixed-use development, which will also include premium office space and high-end retail. W Bogota will be located in the heart of the fashionable…
read moreA pair of Aloft hotels opening this month will have more in common than bold design and a buzzing social atmosphere; both are conversions of existing hotels, and highlight an exciting new growth channel for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.’s ‘style at a steal’ brand. Aloft San Francisco Airport will open its doors next week after 14 months of…
read moreAloft Hotels has recently announced it has opened its 60th hotel globally with the opening of Aloft Asheville Downtown in Asheville, North Carolina. Owned and operated by McKibbon Hotel Group, Inc., Aloft Asheville Downtown will offer 115 stylish guest rooms and over 1,800 square feet of unique outdoor meeting space on its Air Level pool deck and The Ledge observation…
read moreWestin Hotels & Resorts announces that it is applying its industry leading, design-driven approach to the new public space design, allowing travellers to stay balanced, refreshed and connected on the road. Designed with guests’ well-being in mind, the new lobby concept serves as a modern-day oasis for today’s demanding travellers by incorporating natural design elements, flexible and functional zoning and…
read moreThe Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., reopens the doors to the historic Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian, following an extensive $25 million restoration. The renovation of Hotel Maria Cristina, which was completed in time for its 100th anniversary this month, is part of a larger strategy to invest…
read moreWestin Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to continue the global expansion of its signature spa brand as it continues to enhance its footprint in the world’s fastest growing markets. Propelled by a growing demand for luxury services, Westin will increase its robust portfolio of Heavenly Spas with 13 openings by 2014, with all but two located outside the United…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter at the centre of New Orleans’ world-famous historic district. Previously known as The Inn On Bourbon, the former Ramada property completed a multi-million dollar renovation prior to opening under the Four Points flag. Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter offers 186 comfortable…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Colonia Roma in Mexico City. Owned and managed by Sora Group, the new hotel is the third in Mexico for the fast-growing Four Points brand, which now includes more than 160 hotels around the world. Twenty-three Four Points hotels are slated to open in 2012…
read moreW Hotels Worldwide has recently announced plans to reinvigorate more than 10 of its hotel properties across North America within the next 18 months. The renovations, which vary by hotel, are slated to include cutting-edge updates to public spaces, new signature bar and restaurant concepts, and stylish revamps to guestrooms, enhancing the W portfolio overall for both its jet set…
read moreThe Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has unveiled the iconic Hotel Alfonso XIII following an extensive $25 million restoration, returning the hotel its original splendour and luxurious grandeur. The reopening of Hotel Alfonso XIII marks the first of four Luxury Collection hotels that will undergo a multi-million dollar restoration and will re-open…
read moreThe Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., has recently announced the opening of its 80th hotel with the debut of Keraton at The Plaza, a Luxury Collection Hotel, the brand’s first hotel in Jakarta. Located in the heart of Indonesia’s capital and situated at Jalan Thamrin, one of the most prestigious addresses in…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., along with Silver Hotel Group, has recently announced the debut of its new destination sensation brand, Aloft Hotels, in the Greater Toronto Area with the opening of Aloft Vaughan Mills.Located in Vaughan, the hotel is the second Aloft hotel in Canada, joining the Aloft Montreal Airport which debuted as the world\’s first in 2008.…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the debut of The St. Regis Doha as the St. Regis brand continues its dynamic global growth and nearly triples its portfolio in just five years. Owned by Resorts Development Company and developed by Alfardan Group, The St. Regis Doha is Qatar’s first St. Regis hotel and ideally located within Doha’s…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the launch of a multi-million dollar renovation to a premier Snowmass resort in preparation for its re-opening under the Westin flag in time for the 2012-2013 ski season. Formerly known as the Silvertree Hotel & Conference Center, the 254-room resort will fully renovate all guest rooms and public areas in order to…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is pleased to announce the opening of The Westin Xian, marking the entry of the Westin brand into the Shaanxi province of China and one of the four major ancient civilizations in the world, along with Athens, Cairo and Rome. A haven for rest and relaxation, The Westin Xian is located just steps away…
read moreInterior design firm Bilkey Llinas Design (BLD) have completed the interior design and fit-out of the Westin Nanjing, China. This property has become the premier address in the city and is the latest in an increasing 30-year portfolio for this award winning design team in China.The designers worked extremely closely with the operator Starwood who wanted a clean, fresh palette…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that its global powerhouse Sheraton Hotels will be a key force in the company’s growth in 2012 with the opening of 20 new hotels. Sheraton will also widen Starwood’s lead as the largest global hotel operator in China, with 12 new Sheraton hotels slated to open across this fast-growing market by year’s…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced its Westin brand is on track to open its 200th hotel in the next 12 months, propelled by strong growth across Asia Pacific. Westin will open 11 new hotels this year, all but three outside the United States. More than half will open in China, the brand’s strongest growth market. Westin…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce that The Keraton at The Plaza, a Luxury Collection® Hotel, will open to the world in late April 2012. Located in the heart of Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta, The Keraton at The Plaza is an iconic oasis of quiet luxury on the Jalan Thamrin, one of Jakarta’s most prestigious streets. With…
read moreWith the highly anticipated debut of Aloft Bogota Airport in Colombia this past December 10th, and Aloft San Jose, Costa Rica opening on February 1st 2012, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. brings its sizzling style at a steal Aloft brand to Latin and Central America for the first time. Aloft’s South American premiere means the brand is now represented…
read moreStarwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced it has reached an agreement with Lilianfels Hotel Blue Mountains Pty Ltd and Echoes Hotel Blue Mountains Pty Ltd to rebrand Lilianfels and Echoes resorts in Blue Mountains, Australia. Under The Luxury Collection brand, the two hotels became Lilianfels, A Luxury Collection Resort, Blue Mountains, Australia and Echoes, A Luxury Collection…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the debut of The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa. Owned by the Tourism Development & Investment Company, the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa marks the launch of the Westin brand in the emirate. The hotel features 172 premium guest rooms, several restaurants and lounges, a Heavenly Spa®…
read moreDoes Second Life still exist? Was it just one of those websites that enjoyed a brief flurry of intense use before gently fading away? Why is it at all relevant to Aloft you may ask? Well whilst Intercontinental Hotels Group used focus groups and market research agencies to define Indigo, Starwood set up a virtual hotel in Second Life and…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of Le Méridien Coimbatore, its newest hotel in India and the 100th Le Méridien hotel globally for the brand. Owned by Appu Hotels Limited, Le Méridien Coimbatore is the first internationally branded five-star hotel in the city.Strategically located, Le Méridien Coimbatore is situated within easy access from Coimbatore Airport…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the first conversion of an existing hotel to its “style-at-a-steal” Aloft brand, launching a new phase of growth for one of the world’s most talked-about hotel brands.Aloft San Francisco Airport, a former Clarion property, will undergo a significant renovation before opening as an Aloft in the summer of 2012. The 253-room…
read moreLouvre Hotels Group brands are known to generations of UK travellers through France. My first visit to a Campanile in the 1980’s amused me. I watched travel-experienced Brits taking their own pillows to their rooms to use instead of the traditional French bolster. Thirty years on and the Louvre Hotels Group has undergone major change. In 2005 Barry Sternlicht, the…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has recently announced the debut of the first St. Regis hotel in Florence with the opening of The St. Regis Florence. The hotel, formerly the Grand Hotel Florence under Starwood’s The Luxury Collection(R) brand, underwent a meticulous 10-month restoration to bring the property back to its historical grandeur and artistic heritage.Originally designed in 1432 by…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce that Le Meridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa opened to guests on September 30, 2011. Located on an idyllic stretch of exclusive Lamai Beach, Le Meridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa is a chic and intimate boutique resort that provides guests with a unique blend of stylish amenities, luxury services, an inspiring…
read more