Autograph Collection, Marriott International’s exclusive portfolio of independent hotels, continues its global growth with the opening of its first property in Asia Pacific. Newly opened, The Stones Legian, Bali, in Indonesia, represents the debut of Autograph Collection in the region. This new luxury hotel, located in one of the world’s most idyllic destinations, continues to position Autograph Collection as the premium collection for the independent-minded traveler.

The Stones marks the 36th hotel to be added to the collection’s rapidly expanding roster of independent hotels in key destinations throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The portfolio is on track to include nearly 40 hotels by year end – marking an average of one property joining per month since the collection’s inception in 2010.

“We are thrilled to introduce Autograph Collection to Asia,” said Simon Cooper, president of Asia Pacific for Marriott International, Inc. “Bali represents the ideal location to launch this dynamic new concept for Marriott International, developed for travelers who seek an extraordinary independent hotel experience. We are confident travelers will respond positively to Autograph Collection as yet another offering within the Marriott International portfolio in the region.”

Each Autograph Collection hotel possesses its own distinct identity and appeals to discerning travelers who are looking for a creative experience that only an independent hotel can deliver. Joining Autograph Collection allows each property to further showcase its own extraordinary personality. Through the collection, each hotel gains access to Marriott International’s global sales and marketing channels, including the award winning Marriott Rewards loyalty program.

Autograph Collection’s proven track record of driving reservations and increasing revenue through its international sales force and powerful marketing channels, while also promoting each property’s autonomy, has helped evolve the business model that appeals to both existing property owners and developers in the early stages of building new hotels.

“The Stones will offer premier accommodations, amenities and services, as well as exclusive, tailored experiences, in a world class destination,” said Tina Edmundson, senior vice president of lifestyle brands for Marriott International. “Welcoming this hotel to Autograph Collection provides us with the opportunity to continually present outstanding travel options to people all around the world. It’s exciting for us to make our Asia debut in such a remarkable area of the region.”

Located on the southern tip of Legian Beach on the resort island of Bali, The Stones opens as a brand new hotel, blending beach simplicity with urban chic. Where iconic architectural design meets eclectic sophistication, The Stones offers 308 stylishly appointed guest rooms and 22 suites, including a palatial Presidential Suite. Spread across three floors with a total size of 696 sqm, the Presidential Suite features the latest in-room entertainment systems, four guest rooms, luxurious rain forest shower, stylish artwork, and many other extraordinary touches.

The focal point of the property is the 3,000 square meter pool surrounded by private cabanas. The hotel features a wide selection of culinary offerings at three innovative restaurants: Stones Kitchen – a contemporary-designed restaurant serving European café food and beverages; Long Rice Table featuring authentic Indonesian dishes served in a casual and vibrant atmosphere with modern, Indonesian-inspired design; and Big Fish Bar & Grill, a casual poolside grill serving cocktails and snacks which transitions into an alfresco restaurant specializing in local seafood in the evening.

Guest can explore the indigenous elegance of the hotel’s dazzling vertical gardens as well as find tranquility and relaxation in the hotel’s Celestine Spa, offering five treatment rooms and three massage lounges. Finding inspiration in traditional Balinese massage and body treatments, the spa features natural spa products by Ritual Alami. Located adjacent to one of the island’s most popular beaches, The Stones is situated 20 minutes from NgurahRai International Airport and within walking distance to shopping, restaurants and leisure activities located in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak.

After buying the Hoxton Hotel in London for a rumoured £65 million earlier this year, London-based investment firm Ennismore Capital has reportedly agreed terms to purchase a former office block in Holborn, central London, for around £30 million from Ediston Properties and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Ennismore plans to use the building, which was previously occupied by BT Group, to expand the Hoxton brand; it will invest a further £15 million in converting the six-storey property into a 175 to 200-room hotel. Additionally, Ennismore is thought to be in negotiations for another site in London which could become the city’s third Hoxton hotel.

Rocco Forte Hotels is reportedly exiting its lease of 101-room Augustine Hotel, located in Prague, due to failure to pay its rent on the property. Financial Times reported that Rocco Forte Hotels, London, is to be given 30 days notice to leave the 5-star property after failing to reach a deadline to come to an agreement with the Luxembourg-based Waldeck Capital over a reduced rent for the leased property. According to people familiar with the matter, the hotel will be closed and a new management company appointed to operate it. Rocco Forte Hotels told Financial Times it still had a lease and had not received a notice to exit the lease. The company is dealing with financial difficulties, having posted losses over the past two fiscal years and a total net debt of €108 million (US$137 million).

Hilton Cartagena in Colombia has wrapped up a multimillion-dollar renovation of its main-tower

guestrooms. Local designers Juan Manual Garcia and German Lopez Barrera introduced the sea’s calming essence into the refreshed accommodations through sand-colored porcelain flooring, natural oak furnishings, and a color scheme that blends the blues and violets of the sea and sky. The project also involved enlarging the indoor area by incorporating the balcony and terrace space in the rooms’ interior. In addition, the hotel revamped the pool complex upgrades including a new non-slip marble floor and landscaping.

History retold in a “surprisingly different” resort setting upon a 230-year-old Fort perched on a granite hill of the Aravallis with spectacular 360 degree views of the Rajasthani landscape.

Located at Bishangarh Village in the Jaipur District, barely 6 km off the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway, Alila Fort Bishangarh is easily accessible from both Delhi and Jaipur. It is 180 km (3 hours) from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi while it is only 55 km (1 hour) from Jaipur Airport. The drive to Amber Fort at Jaipur is only 45 minutes away and Bishangarh is a good base to explore Jaipur’s innumerable tourist attractions.

Opening late 2013, Alila Fort Bishangarh is a heritage fortress lovingly restored & transformed into a luxury resort. The original fort is left intact, with much care given to ecological restoration and the reconstruction of new residential areas, to recreate the courtly flavor of Shahpura’s royalty. The grandeur is felt in its stark and inherent simplicity that has withstood the test of time through its fortification. Perhaps the only warrior fort that has been converted into a heritage resort, Alila Fort Bishangarh is a unique example of the Jaipur Gharana architecture influenced by both the Mughals and the British. The two-metre thick ancient walls around the fort have openings for firearms and turrets (known as burjs) as battlements. A completely new structure is created above and outside the old fort to house five different styles of royal suites and the lavish public areas. As befitting its royal heritage, Alila Fort Bishangarh has its own holdings, which includes the charming Bishangarh village and its havelis (mansions). The Alila Experience will introduce guests to the colorful culture of Rajasthan with a host of rural activities and adventure for a diversely enriching journey.

This all-suite resort boasts 59 stately suites that are designed for quiet indulgence. Each suite is individually created to capture the stunning views. Its spacious interiors are elegantly furnished with large bay windows & day-beds, expansive bathrooms with footed bathtubs, luxury bedding & room amenities, comfortably accommodating a family of four.

Down the hill, the public areas comprise the arrival courtyard, luxurious banquet lawns, the pool, pool terrace & juice bar, Fitness Centre and a ‘Play Soldiers Club’ for Kiddies. Within the Fort, are two specialty theme restaurants, an all-day café lounge, a bar & cigar room, wine cellar, state ballrooms, Library, Spa Alila wellness centre, Alila Living shop and guest suites.

Alila Fort Bishangarh provides a majestic locale for grand weddings and celebratory events including MICE facilities. Its royal banquet hall, banquet dining room, conference and meeting rooms, an open-air terrace and large banquet lawns, provide a perfect setting for all occasions.

The five-star Ashford Castle resort in Ireland has been put on the market for €25 million after going into receivership in November 2011 -half the price the current owner, Tom Barrett, paid in 2008-. The 784-year-old castle, with its 83 guest rooms and 365 acres of grounds, was first founded by the de Burgo family and has had many owners over the centuries. It opened as a hotel in 1939 and gained fame in 1951 when Hollywood came to west Ireland in the form of the blockbuster film The Quiet Man – many of the stars of the film like John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara stayed at Ashford Castle. Barrett continues to operate the stylehotelsweb listed the G Hotel in Galway and the D Hotel in Drogheda, both also in Ireland.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that a Hyatt affiliate has signed a management agreement with IHHR Hospitality Private Limited (IHHR) for five Ista hotels in India to be re-branded by Hyatt. Under the agreement, the fully operational Ista hotels will be known as Hyatt Bangalore, Hyatt Pune, Hyatt Hyderabad, Hyatt Ahmedabad and Hyatt Amritsar. The branding effort is expected to be completed by March 2013. Each of the five Ista hotels enjoy premium locations within their respective cities and reflect a contemporary and modern design that offers the business traveler a convenient and stylish place to live, dine and meet. In recognition of their standing as one of India’s most successful home-grown brands, Ista Bangalore and Ista Hyderabad have been awarded a position on the Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Hot List in 2006 and 2007, respectively. They were also ranked among the top business hotels in South Asia by Travel + Leisure magazine.

The Godfrey Hotel Chicago, in the city’s River North neighborhood, is set to welcome guests next year. Situated at 127 West Huron Street, the 16-story lifestyle hotel is adjacent to the Hotel Felix Chicago. John W. Rutledge, founder and president of developer Oxford Capital Group and its operating affiliate, Oxford Hotels and Resorts, said: “We believe The Godfrey Hotel will become instantly recognizable due to its prominent location, distinctive architecture, compelling interior design, its host of amenities and most important of all, an extremely high touch, customer friendly service ethic.” The hotel will include 221 rooms, restaurant and lobby bar, a 12,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor rooftop lounge and conference space, spa, 24-hour fitness centre, and two floors of parking.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces the signing of the first EVEN™ Hotels property which will be located in New York City, with ownership group CWC, Inc. The IHG-managed hotel will be located at 219 E 44th Street in the heart of midtown Manhattan, and will be a flagship property for the brand. The hotel will be a new build scheduled to open in late 2014. The hotel will feature 23 guestroom floors and 230 guestrooms, dedicated meeting areas, and indoor and outdoor exercise and eating spaces for an impressive 87,000 square feet in total space. EVEN Hotels meets the large and growing customer demand for a healthier travel experience and is another industry first for IHG. EVEN Hotels uniquely provides solutions for all aspects of travelers’ wellness needs in the areas of food, work, exercise and rest.

Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reports that an upscale hotel has just opened in the newly restored, historic JR Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building in Tokyo’s Marunouchi business district. The building was restored to the way it looked a century ago and since its opening has quickly become a hot spot for tourists, the article says. The areas around the renovated station are packed each day with photo-snapping tourists. The 150-room Tokyo Station Hotel opened on Oct. 3, the paper says. Since opening, the Tokyo Station Hotel has been more than 70% full and its restaurants are fully booked, the story says. According to East Japan Railway’s website, the ambitious project began in May 2007. The hotel’s website shows what appear to be lovely rooms designed in a classic-yet-modern style. The government has designated it as an “Important Cultural Property of Japan,” the site says. All the activity has already boosted train ticket sales and sales at nearby shops and restaurants, the story says, citing ownership group Mitsubishi Estate Co.

Rafael Serrano, a Spanish investor, has purchased Admiralty Arch in London for almost £60 million and looks set to turn the London landmark into a luxury hotel. Mr Serrano recently built the 85-room Bulgari hotel in the city’s upmarket Knightsbridge area, and he has reportedly acquired the Grade I-listed Admiralty Arch on a 125-year lease, under explicit conditions that it cannot be converted into apartments or a single house. The sale is part of a series of property disposals by the UK Government. The 100-year-old building, which comprises three arches, was commissioned by King Edward VII in memory of Queen Victoria, his mother. Most recently, the building was used as office space by the Cabinet Office. 

The Luxury Collection has opened Keraton at The Plaza, a Luxury Collection Hotel—the brand’s first property in Jakarta. Keraton at The Plaza has 140 guestrooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. The interior design, developed with SCDA Singapore and BuregaFarnell Pte. Ltd. features local influences such as batik patterns throughout the hotel. The porte-cochère features an intricate mural of Javanese artwork. The hotel’s art collection includes a piece carved from mahogany and adorned with antique gold that depicts a royal welcome. The design firm Hadiprana Artworks of Jakarta curates the collection and the hotel’s gallery.Keraton Lounge serves traditional high tea every afternoon, fusing English and Javanese traditions. The lounge also serves cocktails, wine and other beverages in the evening. Bengawan, the property’s signature restaurant, serves Indonesian cuisine with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Jakarta.

Steigenberger Hotel Group announced that it will take over management of the 269-room Conrad Brussels (a Hilton brand) at the beginning of January 2013, and will run it in the future as the Steigenberger Grand Hotel Brussels. An investment programme for the coming years has been agreed with the owner, AG Real Estate, in order to give guests the best possible quality and service, in line with the international Steigenberger standards. This luxury hotel behind a historic façade has 269 guest rooms, including 32 suites and a Royal Suite, plus the restaurant “Café Wiltcher’s” and the “Loui Lounge and Bar”. It has conference facilities for up to 600 people in 16 conference rooms. The hotel also has the city’s largest column-free ballroom with 550 sqm, and there is underneath the hotel a 3,200 sqm fitness center and spa complete with pool operated by Aspria.

More Brussels hotel news: the former Brussels Hilton (another Hilton lost in Brussels) has completed the first phase of an extensive renovation of the property. Now simply named “The Hotel” the top floors have been completely renovated and have been given a surprising new identity. Guests can now fully enjoy all the various types of rooms and suites of the first 107 rooms renovated, The Urban Spa & Fitness, the latest technological gadgets, the Panorama Lounge and eight meeting rooms on the top floors. The new decor is timeless and elegant, combined with unique views over Brussels. This has been the work of the architects’ practice ‘GCA Arquitectes Associats’ from Barcelona. Extensive works have now also commenced on the lower floors, including the reception area, the restaurant, the bar and the lounge. Whilst the works are on-going, The Hotel. will remain fully open for its guests and a temporary restaurant and bar have been made available on the 26^th floor.

Quay Grand Suites Sydney has been rebranded to Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, a move Accor says signals a dramatic expansion of its Pullman brand in Australia. Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour is set on the eastern shore of Circular Quay. Its 67 one- and two-bedroom suites all feature balconies, separate lounge and dining rooms and kitchens and offer views either of Sydney Harbour or the Botanical Gardens. Other amenities include Quadrant Restaurant, ECQ Bar and function space. Accor acquired the Pullman name in 1991 and relaunched the brand in 2007. Currently the brand has more than 60 hotels worldwide. Many of the former Australian Mirvac hotels are scheduled to be rebranded to Pullman over the next 12 months.

Trust Hospitality launched Indie Boutique Hotels & Resorts, a lifestyle hotel collection of eight properties in the Americas. Trust Hospitality of Coral Gables, Florida, manages all of the collection’s eight properties and will manage the eight properties it says are in the Indie pipeline. Hotels in the collection are in the upscale to luxury segments and include both beachside resort and city center properties. The sizes of the properties range from under 50 guestrooms to more than 200.  The collection includes: Edgewater South Beach and Lord Balfour, both located in Miami Beach, Hotel Mela and The Mave Hotel, both located in New York City, Moonrise Hotel, St. Louis, Alma del Pacifico Beach & Spa Resort, located in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, Casa San Agustin, located in Cartagena, Colombi and The Zank, located in Salvador, Brazil.

The former Fitzgeralds Casino & Hotel has completed its dramatic transformation to become the D Las Vegas, revealing a sleek new style, energetic attitude and fun atmosphere in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. Located beneath the largest video screen in the world on Vegas’ famous Fremont Street Experience, the D sits at the center of four neon blocks of non-stop party action. The property’s complete interior and exterior renovation embraces the upbeat culture of downtown and invites guests to experience the modern amenities, first-class entertainment, fun culinary experiences and unique gaming that abound inside.

Harbour Rocks Hotel – whose origins date back to the 1880s – has joined Accor’s MGallery Collection following the completion of a total redesign and refurbishment. It is the fourth MGallery in Australia.

The 59-room Harbour Rocks Hotel is located in the heart of Sydney’s historic Rocks district, close to the harbour front and only a short walk to the city’s central business district, making it an ideal base for both leisure and corporate travellers.

Built in 1887 and opened as a hotel in 1989, Harbour Rocks Hotel sits on the grounds of Sydney’s first hospital and has been stripped back to its foundations, exposing its original sandstone and brick walls and its former working cottages.  After a 6-month renovation programme, the finished result is a striking fusion of raw elegance which blends old and new, featuring European touches throughout.

While satisfying the needs of modern day travellers, many aspects of the hotel reflect the building’s rich heritage, particularly the reverence for the hotel’s resident ghost, Eric.

As the legend goes, Eric was a patron of the premises in the late 1800s and was in love with Scarlett, the ‘Madame’ of the house. After both declaring their love for one another, Eric had to leave on a three-month journey overseas, but promised to marry Scarlett upon his return. However, by the time he arrived back in Sydney, Scarlett had died of tuberculosis. A heartbroken Eric passed away not long after and to this day, it is said Eric’s spirit lingers in the corridors of the hotel as he longs for his Scarlett.

In homage to the tragic lovers the hotel’s bar is named Eric’s and the restaurant is named Scarlett. In fact, upon arriving at the hotel, guests are greeted with a non-alcoholic welcome drink at Eric’s Bar called a ‘Scarlett Surprise’.

This is one of MGallery signatures – to bring the hotel’s story to life. From the moment a guest walks into the hotel to the experiences they have during their stay, guests are immersed in the Harbour Rocks Hotel’s story.

Relating to the hotel’s story, and as part of the MGallery journey, Scarlett restaurant is where guests can experience a Harbour Rocks Pie, a play on a dish early settlers to Sydney Harbour would enjoy. On the breakfast menu, freshly made damper rolls are available which again, relate to the hotel’s story.

General Manager of Harbour Rocks Hotel, Michael Sheridan, said the hotel’s move to be part of the MGallery Collection was a natural fit for the hotel. “It has been an amazing experience to watch the transformation of Harbour Rocks Hotel over the last six months. For it now to be joining a world-class collection of hotels as part of MGallery is a wonderful achievement.

“The history of the hotel along with its elegant new look makes it a fitting addition to the MGallery Collection and I look forward to seeing guests experience the additional benefits provided as the hotel joins the collection.”

The “Memorable Moment”, a defining link in the hotel’s story is a one-of-a-kind package, not readily available to the general public. The Memorable Moment package at Harbour Rocks Hotel will entail a private dinner for six in the Harbour View Suite which has views across to the Opera House with the Sydney Symphony String Quartet providing the background music. The package must be booked with the hotel at least two months in advance.

In becoming part of the Collection, Harbour Rocks Hotel joins a number of revered hotels, including the recently rebranded Como Melbourne, the Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains and the Grand Hotel in Melbourne. The MGallery Collection also includes the four-time “New Zealand Hotel of the Year” St Moritz in Queenstown and such distinctive properties as the Baltimore in Paris, St-Ermin’s in London, The Convent Hotel Amsterdam and Vie Hotel Bangkok.

The Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer, and the CEO of the real estate company WGF AG, Pino Sergio, signed a contract by which the Spanish hotel chain will run a new 205-room Innside hotel in the German city of Hamburg under a lease agreement.

The hotel has a location only 800 meters south from the central railway station in Hamburg and to the west of the City-Süd financial and business district. The location will connect to the new Elbbrücken area of the HafenCity development by a new boulevard. This is a spectacular development with new buildings, water areas and a new central square. The Hamburg city centre is just 1 kilometer from the Innside by Meliá Hamburg hotel.

The new Innside Hamburg, whose construction is expected to start in 2013, will open in 2015, providing meeting facilities, fitness centre, bar-restaurant and all the attributes of the Innside by Meliá brand, design and avant-garde urban spirit, designed for a clientele that requires both modern elegance and high tech. Highly appreciated in Germany, the Innside by Meliá brand will open three more hotels in the country between 2013 and 2015 in the cities of Frankfurt, Wolfsburg and Düsseldorf. In addition, the brand will open other establishments outside Germany, in cities such as Manchester (UK) and Copenhagen (Denmark).

Meli Hotels International operates 22 hotels in Germany under 3 of the Group’s brands: Meliá, Innside and TRYP, and in the coming months will open four additional hotels, thus continuing with its ambitious expansion plan in the major European cities. Meliá aims to double its presence in Germany in the coming years to benefit from the dynamism of a country in which revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased in the first half of 2012 by 7.4% over the same period the previous year – and continue to increase the brand recognition of its hotels in the German market.

A former Howard Johnson, The JHouse Greenwich made its debut in Greenwich, Connecticut.

The lobby is reminiscent of a gallery, with artwork and a projected video installation by Daniel Canogar. Seating areas surround the lobby; the library has a glassed-in fireplace and contemporary furnishings.

The property’s 86 guestrooms feature televisions in the bathroom mirrors, mirrored televisions in the bedrooms, and a personal iPad.

The hotel’s fine dining restaurant, eleven14 Kitchen, offers seasonal American cuisine under Executive Chef François Kwaku-Dongo. The space has an exposed wood-fired oven, display pantry and pâtisserie. Guests can dine indoors or in an outdoor space with subterranean heating and trellises.

The Chocolate Lab, located inside the lobby, serves house made chocolates (using fair trade chocolate from Ghana), gelato, sorbet, ice cream, and fair trade coffee from Africa and Latin America. The wine vault offers tastings as well as wine by the bottle or by the glass.

Additional amenities include a fitness center, 3,400 sq ft (316 sq m) of event space, and an outdoor heated pool with five cabanas, each of which is equipped with a television.

A new suite at The St. Regis New York marks a collaboration between St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and Bentley Motors.

The Bentley Suite, designed by Wimberly Interiors, has a sleek and refined aesthetic with a palette of neutral colors, custom Bentley leather, polished wood, and chrome details reminiscent of the interior of a racing car.

The 1,700 sq ft (158 sq m) suite is located on the 15^th floor.

A black leather tile floor offsets a linen-colored leather accent wall in the entryway, while a silver mirror takes inspiration from a carbon fiber wheel rim.

The suite’s dining room offers a large media wall with four Breitling clocks that display the current time in New York, London, Moscow and Riyadh. The room features cream walls with black trim, a crystal chandelier, a leather rug and dark stained white oak floors.

The living room has a leather sofa and wing chairs, with another crystal chandelier overhead. The herringbone drapes draw inspiration from menswear.

The sleigh bed in the bedroom is made of Bentley’s burled wood with accents of aubergine, warm gray and ivory.