Hotel Designs Hotel DesignsLouvre 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 is pleased to announce that The Naka Island, the newest Luxury Collection property in Asia, will open to the public in November, 2011. Set in Thailand’s southernmost province just off the coast of Phuket, The Naka Island, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket is a private, all-villa island hideaway; wrapped in years of cultural and…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that its iconic Sheraton brand has opened a new flagship hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. Owned by a joint venture between RockBridge Partners, an affiliate of RockBridge Capital, LLC, and affiliates of Davidson Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Stamford Hotel underwent an extensive, multi-million dollar renovation in recent months, resulting in a full makeover…
read moreLeicester Square is being reconstructed. Trees are boxed in for protection as the whole square gets a makeover ready for the Olympics, which I hear rumoured are coming to London. Starwood’s timing is right, although they are slightly later than scheduled, with plenty of time to work out the gremlins and get themselves in fine working order for the Great…
read moreAccelerating its global portfolio growth, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of its first Westin hotel in South America – The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center in Peru. Ideally located in the heart of San Isidro, the financial and shopping hub of Lima, Peru, The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center features 301 rooms…
read moreThe city striving to become the world’s greenest metropolis by 2020 is getting a hotel to match. Greater Vancouver will become the site of Canada’s first Element, the trailblazer in eco-conscious hospitality from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Set to welcome guests in 2014, Element Vancouver Metrotown is owned by Bosa Properties and will be managed by Atlific Hotels.…
read moreAccelerating growth in Latin America, W Hotels Worldwide has recently announced plans to open the second W Hotel in Mexico City, to be located within the bustling Santa Fe business district. Managed under an agreement between Starwood Hotels & Resorts, ALHEL and GIM Desarrollos, W Santa Fe will overlook one of the area’s most stunning evergreen valleys, with spectacular views…
read moreW Hotels Worldwide continues its successful collaboration with Design Miami/ Basel with the announcement of the 2011 Designers of the Future Award. This event marks the second occasion that the two organisations have collaborated on the award, having announced the coveted award along with their partnership at Salone del Mobile in Milan one year ago.The Designers of the Future Award,…
read moreW Hotels Worldwide has announced plans to open a W Retreat & Spa located within an exclusive beachfront community, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Mayan Rivera’s lush lagoons and pristine mangroves. Nestled on the eastern coast of Mexico’s magnificent Yucatan Peninsula, the 180-room Retreat is being designed by acclaimed architect Richard Meier. Owned by ALHEL and GIM Desarrollos,…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to open W Mumbai, marking the debut of W Hotels Worldwide in India.Located in bustling South Central Mumbai where modern architecture intertwines with colonial cultural monuments, W Mumbai will introduce its world renowned lifestyle hotel concept to one of India’s hippest cities, where the country’s music, fashion, media and entertainment industries…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced plans to introduce its fast-growing Four Points brand to Peoria, Illinois. Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Peoria opens in July of 2011 near leading businesses and Peoria’s recently revitalized RiverFront. Owned by SPE LO Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Textron Financial Corporation, the hotel will feature 319 comfortable and stylish guest…
read moreThe Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers is proud to announce a $150 million renovation project. Over the next few months, the prominent landmark will receive a floor-to-ceiling transformation, expanding the size of all 1,780 guest rooms, grand suites and the Sheraton Club Lounge, to provide travelers a relaxing oasis in the heart of New York’s mid-town Manhattan.At the Sheraton…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the debut of the first St. Regis hotel in Thailand: The St. Regis Bangkok. The new hotel, developed by Rajadamri Lodging Limited, an affiliate of Minor International Public Company Limited, will set a new standard of refined service and timeless sophistication for the region. The St. Regis Bangkok is ideally situated on…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of The Westin Houston Memorial City. Located at the heart of Houston’s bustling West Side, the newly constructed hotel is a key element of the city’s upscale Memorial City Complex and offers 267 spacious guest rooms, ample meeting facilities and the full range of Westin signature amenities and services…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the completion of its multimillion dollar renovation to The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. Throughout its storied 84-year history, The Royal Hawaiian has embodied the allure of Hawaii’s spirit and the essence of indulgent escape while ushering in a new era of luxury travel to the islands. This iconic 528-room property…
read moreLengthening its lead as the largest five-star hotel operator in China, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced its landmark debut in Nanjing, China with the opening of The Westin Nanjing. The first Westin to open in the bustling capital city of Jiangsu Province, The Westin Nanjing boasts an ideal location at the top of the Nanjing International…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that its global powerhouse Sheraton Hotels & Resorts has opened a new hotel in Milan, Italy, further expanding the brand’s international portfolio. Architecturally stunning and modern in its design, the new Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel & Conference Centre is designed by King Roselli Architects and Saporiti Hotel Design. Inspired by…
read moreEach time I go to Poznan I stay in a different place. The first time, a few years ago, I was driving and stopped in a B&B on the outskirts of what is reputedly Poland’s equivalent to Birmingham.I’ve been a couple of times since, to speak to designers and hoteliers about hotel design at the Poznan Hotel Invest fair. I…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that Sheraton Hotels will expand its portfolio in Canada with plans to open a third Sheraton hotel in the Montreal area.Sheraton Montreal Airport Hotel is scheduled to open in April 2011 and features 476 spacious guest rooms, 19,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting facilities, and an inviting atmosphere designed to help travelers…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces plans to debut the first St Regis hotel in Jordan, furthering St. Regis’ robust global expansion and mission to introduce properties in the world’s most dynamic and exciting markets. Owned by Al Maabar Abdoun Real Estate Development Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Maabar International Investments Abu Dhabi, The St. Regis Amman…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, is pleased to unveil the long-anticipated W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak in March 2011. Marking the debut of W Hotels Worldwide in Indonesia, the new W Retreat & Spa Bali-Seminyak will be the fourth W Retreat to open across the globe. Located in Seminyak, the trendy enclave of Bali, W Retreat & Spa…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to introduce its fast-growing Four Points brand to Indiana’s West Lafayette metro area. Four Points by Sheraton West Lafayette, adjacent to Purdue Research Park and just one mile from Purdue University, is scheduled to open in late spring 2011.With extensive renovations to guest rooms and public areas, and smart enhancements throughout…
read moreExtending its reach in Latin America, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the debut of its fast-growing Aloft brand in Panama City, Panama set to open in December 2012.Located in the capital city of Panama, the newly constructed hotel is being developed by Nuevos Hoteles de Panama S.A. which will also operate the hotel under a franchise agreement…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to debut its Four Points by Sheraton brand in the Nashville metropolitan area. Four Points by Sheraton Nashville-Brentwood is scheduled to open in August 2011 just ten minutes from the heart of downtown Nashville. Four Points by Sheraton Nashville-Brentwood will offer 208 comfortable and stylish guest rooms and all the amenities…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that its global powerhouse Sheraton Hotels & Resorts will open three more hotels in China before the end of January, including its third in Shanghai and first hotel in Wenzhou, one of the most developed economic centers of Zheijang Province on China’s southeastern coast.The first to open is Sheraton Wenzhou Hotel on…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc has announced it will debut its new Aloft brand in Oklahoma City in early 2013. Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown-Bricktown will be located right at the heart of the revitalized Bricktown district – the city’s hotspot for arts and entertainment. Owned by New Century Investments, the newly constructed hotel will offer style at a steal…
read moreThe birthplace of jazz is about to get even cooler. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and its “style at a steal” Aloft brand have announced the opening of Aloft Harlem, its first New York City hotel. Located in the heart of Harlem at the corner of Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 124th Street, Aloft will soon become the area’s hottest…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® is pleased to announce the early 2011 opening of The St. Regis Bangkok. This development by Minor International PLC marks the first St. Regis hotel in Thailand and the Indochina region. Located on the prestigious Rajadamri Road in the heart of the city, The St. Regis Bangkok is located in the city’s key commercial…
read moreAs HotelDesigns enters its tenth year online it continues to build its archives and useful information for designers. In the last ten years there have been visits to over 200 hotels with still and video cameras in hand, to show the influence of the specialist hotel design profession on hospitality.We add breaking news to the area that is not available…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts has officially opened the doors of their newest hotel, Le Méridien Taipei. Located in the most cosmopolitan district of Taipei – Xinyi District – and steps away from local cultural offerings, Le Méridien’s first hotel in Taiwan ushers in a new dimension of timeless chic and will be the gathering place for the creative guests, with…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel, the city’s largest airport hospitality property and the second Sheraton hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Managed by Prism Hotels & Resorts, the 15-story, 276-room property formerly known as Albuquerque Grand Airport Hotel recently completed a seven-month, $14 million renovation in preparation for its re-flagging…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok, Sukhumvit 15. The 268-room hotel’s opening marks the debut of the Four Points by Sheraton brand in Thailand and will delight business and leisure travelers alike with excellent service, comfortable and stylish guest rooms and everything guests need to travel the way they like…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. have announced the opening of Element New York Times Square West. The first Element hotel to open in New York City, Element New York Times Square West will be one of the city’s greenest properties and an eco haven located in the center of fast-paced Times Square. The opening of Element New York Times…
read moreAccelerating growth in Latin America, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced its return to Costa Rica with the opening of The Westin Playa Conchal Resort & Spa in May 2011. Marking a milestone in Starwood’s history, The Westin Playa Conchal Resort & Spa will also be the first all-inclusive resort in Starwood’s global portfolio. Starwood and Desarrollos…
read moreHorwath HTL, the world’s largest hotel consulting network, hosted a plenary session on pipeline and development at the fourth Russia and CIS Hotel Investment Conference today, held at the Renaissance Moscow Monarch Centre Hotel. Michael O’Hare, Managing Director of Horwath HTL Russia and a leading industry expert in the region, led the session and was joined by senior developers from…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has announced that it is applying its industry leading, design-driven approach to its two largest brands with the debut of new guestroom designs for Westin and Sheraton hotels. The new room schemes, from furniture to textiles, were custom-created by Starwood’s in-house Brand Design team led by Erin Hoover, Vice President of Design. With a…
read moreOmaha’s dynamic Midtown Crossing district is now the site of a new Element hotel, the much-talked-about “green trailblazer” from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Element Omaha Midtown Crossing, which opened on the 4th November 2010, is the first hotel in Midtown, and marks Element Hotels’ debut in the U.S. Midwest. The hotel is owned by East Campus Realty and…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to open its first Westin hotel in Phoenix, Arizona in February 2011. The Westin Phoenix Downtown will offer a prime location just one block from the Phoenix Convention Center, the city’s largest convention and entertainment facility. The 242-room hotel will feature sophisticated oversized guest rooms, averaging 550 square feet, as well…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that The St. Regis will open in November 2010, which will be the first St. Regis resort in China. Located on the “Roof of the World”, 3,680 meters above sea level, this stunning resort offers an unrivaled dimension of luxury, bespoke service and refined elegance at one of the most mystical and…
read moreFour Points by Sheraton is proving that timeless, stylish comfort and great value translate around the world. The sizzling brand will open ten new hotels across the globe before the end of the year, with new properties slated for cities in six countries on three continents. With the openings, Four Points will command a presence in 28 countries, up from…
read moreTechVision’s Infiniti Waterproof LCD TVs have been successfully installed in a number of Indian Hotels this year.Recently, Techvision supplied 17” Infiniti units to the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai, for their most expensive suites; The Tata Suite, Dolphin Suite, Coral Suite and Neptune Suite. Earlier this year the compaby also supplied a quantity of 17” Infiniti TVs to The Royal Gardenia,…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is proud to announce the launch of Shine for Sheraton, a global spa concept designed exclusively for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. On the heels of the brand’s recent $6 billion brand revitalization effort, Shine for Sheraton will debut in new properties across the globe and as a new spa solution for existing hotels and…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that its global powerhouse Sheraton Hotels & Resorts plans to open eight more hotels in China before the end of 2010, and another 18 by 2015. The Sheraton brand also marked a major milestone this month with the opening of its 30th hotel in Greater China- Sheraton Zhongshan Hotel, which is Starwood’s…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to debut its Aloft brand in Cleveland, Ohio. Aloft Cleveland Downtown is scheduled to open in early 2013 as a key element of the Flats East Bank development – Cleveland’s newest, upscale mixed-use complex. Managed by Heritage Development Company, the newly constructed hotel will offer style at a steal with 150…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(R) and its new destination sensation brand, Aloft(R) Hotels, announce that Aloft Brussels Schuman, the first Aloft hotel in Europe, opened on the 1st September 2010. Owned by Thornsett Group, Aloft Brussels Schuman introduces style at a steal to Belgium. Located in the heart of the buzzing European Union district, the hotel will feature 147…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the debut of its Aloft brand in Oklahoma with the opening of Aloft Tulsa. Owned by Anish Hotels Group and managed by LodgeWorks, L.P., this brand-new destination sensation features 136 spacious, open rooms, a tech-forward sensibility and a vibrant, social atmosphere.Aloft Tulsa is ideally located in south Tulsa, home to the…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. introduces style at a steal by announcing the opening of Aloft Chennai OMR-IT Expressway, the first Aloft hotel to open in India and the 42nd Aloft hotel globally. A second Aloft hotel opened on 1st August 2010 in Bangalore. Urbanedge Hotels, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Auromatrix Hotels Private Limited, plans to set…
read moreThe Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has completed their highly anticipated evolution with the addition of 20 new Ocean Villas located on the eastern side of the idyllic island paradise. The new 20 Ocean Villas, designed by P49 from Thailand, round off the resort’s inventory for a total of 176 rooms. Their private, contemporary design is highlighted by…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that it will introduce its wellness brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, to Hamburg. The new Westin Hamburg Hotel will open in 2012 under an agreement between Starwood and its joint venture partner, Arabella Hospitality Group. The hotel is designed by world-renowned Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron as part of the…
read moreInitially planned to open in summer 2010 and then autumn 2010, the W London Hotel, Leicester Square will now open its doors in February 2011. London’s lively West End will soon be home to the city’s newest insider escape. Hot in pursuit of the world’s most intriguing destinations, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is opening W London-Leicester Square and…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Turnberry Associates announce the upcoming opening of Sheraton Orlando Downtown Hotel on June 8th. Formerly a Marriott, the hotel will remain open through the reflagging and the ensuing renovations. Sheraton Orlando Downtown will offer 290 rooms, exceptional meeting facilities and easy access to numerous businesses and attractions.The hotel is the sixth Sheraton to…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in a franchise agreement with Libertador Hotels, Resorts & Spas, announced the opening of Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection resort in the sacred valley of Urubamba as part of its long term growth strategy in South America. With rising hotel demand and secular trends driving hotel development, The Luxury Collection will also open…
read moreWork has started on site of the Aloft London ExCeL, a sleek new hotel at ExCeL in London’s Docklands. Designed by architects Jestico + Whiles,resposible for the interors of Andels Lodz the hotel is scheduled to open at the end of 2011, in readiness for the London Olympics. The project is being developed by ExCeL London’s parent company, Abu Dhabi…
read moreFor the last four years it seems HotelDesigns has been tipping Poland to be the hot spot for hotel development in Europe. Polish hotel contract suppliers have told us they believe that Poland is still 50% ‘underhoteled’. Rezidor identified Poland as a prime target for Radisson Blu and Park Inn,Starwood have been developing Polish Westin,Sheraton and W, whilst the announcement…
read moreLocated in the heart of Stockholm’s central business district, the 465 room Sheraton Stockholm Hotel is surrounded by stunning views of Lake Mälaren, the City Hall where the annual Nobel Prize ceremony is held, and the Old Town. The Sheraton Stockholm Hotel boasts a lavish Scandinavian design with warm, neutral colours and wooden accents. Baulmann Leuchten provided luminaires simple in…
read moreStarwood has opened the Sheraton Batumi Hotel, a Black Sea Resort, in Georgia. The 203-room Sheraton Hotel is the first internationally branded hotel in the emerging Black Sea destination of Batumi and is part of the brand’s strategic expansion that will add approximately 50 new hotels and over 20,000 rooms to the Sheraton portfolio over the next three years. The…
read moreStarwood Hotels has opened the Sheraton Brooklyn New York hotel. The 25-story contemporary, full-service hotel is owned by The Lam Group and features 321 guest rooms offering modern design and a 360 degree view from the rooftop lounge. The Sheraton Brooklyn marks the first full-service hotel to open in Brooklyn in more than 12 years and is part of the…
read moreStarwood Hotels, Inland American Lodging Corporation and Alliance Hospitality Management LLC have opened the Aloft Chapel Hill. The 40th Aloft hotel worldwide, this brand new destination is close to the Research Triangle Park and features 130 spacious, loft-like rooms and 487sqm of meeting space. Inland American Lodging Corporation, Craig Lambert said: “We are really excited to be opening our second…
read moreLast month HotelDesigns provided information on the new CRC Scheme and took a closer look at green hotels. Since then we have asked some of the big hotel groups what they think of the new CRC Scheme and how it will affect their business and the way they operate.Both Hilton and Starwood said that they are happy to work with…
read moreAfter 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,…
read moreWashington 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…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that in less than 24 months since the implosion of the landmark Sheraton Bal Harbour, The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort has completed vertical construction for all three of its 27-storey towers.The new Miami property is scheduled for completion in 2011, the luxury oceanfront resort and residences located directly across from the…
read moreLocated in the new multifunctional city quarter Eurovea on the Danube embankment, the Sheraton Bratislava Hotel features 209 guest rooms including 23 suites.The new hotel is indicative of Sheraton’s role as a major driver of Starwood’s growth in EAME, with additional flagship hotels scheduled to open in destinations such as Georgia (Sheraton Batumi, Spring 2010), Greece (Sheraton Rhodes, Spring 2010)…
read moreStarwood Hotels and Resorts plans to open 14 new hotels this year, throughout the world in countries including Canada and Mexico.Other 2010 openings include The Westin Mumbai Garden City in India, The Westin Nanjing in Shanghai, China, The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino in Messinia, Greece, The Westin Austin at the Domain in Austin, Texas, and The Westin Sendai in Sendai,…
read moreOver the past two decades, he has structured more than 300 separate investment transactions with an asset value of more than US$40b. Up until 2004, he was the chief design officer and a director at Starwood Hotel and Resorts Worldwide, building it up into a successful brand. He is now the CEO and chairman of Starwood Capital. Who is he?…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. has announced the debut of its renowned Luxury Collection brand in the United Arab Emirates with the addition of Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai.The 45-storey property is located on the Dubai Marina and first opened its doors in 2005. It is custom-designed to celebrate the essence of Dubai, and blends Arabian décor…
read moreLouvre Hotels is to expand in south-east Asia, beginning with the recent signing of two hotels in Thailand’s resort destination of Pattaya. The hotel group, which is owned by Starwood Capital and run by Barry Sternlicht, is aiming for a different strategy in Asia compared to other countries.Currently Louvre Hotels is opening three different offices in Asia, in India, Shanghai…
read moreThe new Starwood hotel, now open, is located at the historic intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine and cost $350m.The opening of W Hollywood Hotel and Residences kicks off another year of international growth for W Hotels, which is on track to more than double its global portfolio by 2011. The multi-million dollar complex was developed by Gatehouse Capital and…
read moreJames Park Associates (JPA), the London and Singapore-based design practice is unveiling its latest work for Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces.The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai is reopening following a multi-million pound refurbishment that was required after large parts of the hotel were damaged in 2008’s terrorist attacks. JPA was engaged to carry out refurbishment and renovation in many…
read moreStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport, a new-build hotel in Richmond, B.C. owned and managed by Wall Financial Corporation.The hotel incorporates green elements into the design and function. A focus of the design is a “Living Wall” that incorporates 360 living panels consisting of more than 9,000 native plants,…
read moreTo continue the brand expansion by Le Meridien in the China region, Le Méridien Xiamen will debut in this month. The hotel hopes to provide creative, open-minded and forward-thinking travelers with a culturally enriching experience. Le Méridien Xiamen will be the first international hotel located on the city mountain park of Xiamen on the south-eastern coast of Fujian Province. Owned…
read more