W Union Square in New York City has completed a full renovation of its 270 guestrooms as well as its Extreme Wow and Wow suites. Guestrooms now feature a sculptural headboard that represents Union Square. Window coverings blend silver with silk fabric, similar to a man’s tie. The Extreme Wow suite is designed to work both as a suite and as an event venue, complete with space for a DJ booth and a wraparound couch that offers views of the city. The building, which dates to 1911, has much of its original design and details intact. For instance, the 2,300 sq ft (214 sq m) Great Room has a 23 ft (7 m) gilded ceiling and original details. The project also included a renovation of Todd English’s Olives New York restaurant. Lilium, the hotel’s bar, now features a new design by Gulla Jonsdottir of G+Design. The bar’s twisted metal ceiling flows down the walls to complement the black steel lilies sculpted by Scot Brown. The design also includes contoured wood and gold-tone accents. W Union Square collaborated with D-ash Design and Wilson Associates on the renovation project.

The Hotel Métropole in Monte-Carlo has invited designer Karl Lagerfeld to make over its exterior premises including the pool, terrace, gardens and a new Joel Robuchon restaurant. The first instalment of the project will be unveiled in July, but in the meantime, Lagerfeld has composed some frescos to create a feel of the hotel’s new look. And guess who has a starring role? None other than Baptiste Giabiconi, Karl’s French male model muse. Lagerfeld had an earlier turn on styling hotels, his first was the Schlosshotel im Grünewald in Berlin.

ABaC Restaurant, part of the boutique 15-room ABaC Hotel in Barcelona (or should we say the other way around?) was awarded Best Restaurant of the Year 2011 by the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy. It is an award to cookers, restaurants, professionals, groups and institutions related to the Catalan gastronomy world that had stand out during 2011 in Catalonia. Chef Jordi Cruz has only headed the restaurant since April 2010, and which also became a two star rating in the Michelin guide. Set in the very heart of Barcelona, surrounded by gardens and greenery, the hotel is a fusion of 2 architectural styles. The new crystal pavilion is joined with the centennial building, recently refurbished to protect its historical and architectural value. All rooms enjoy a vanguardist design, are completely soundproofed and are fitted with state of the art technical features to ensure maximum comfort. The restaurant can seat up to 60 diners and is decorated in natural tones. The kitchen of 200 m2, has been designed by Joaquim Casademont and may be visited by the guests of the hotel. Other dining facilities include a breakfast room, where private dinner or lunch can be served, or the “Lounge Bar”, which opens until 2.00 p.m. and where the music, light and color of the room subtly change. There is also an extensive cellar, offering near 1000 references, and from which you can select your perfect wine. Meeting rooms and a complete Spa leaded by the luxury British spa and skincare brand Elemis offers a wide range of treatments, and completes the services of ABaC.

Starwood Hotels announced that it will open a second W Hotel in Dubai on The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Through the W brand’s unique and distinctive programming, W Dubai – The Palm will provide a contemporary lifestyle experience with a complete service offer. The hotel will feature 283 stylish guest rooms, including 102 suites, five WOW suites and two Extreme WOW suites (W’s interpretation of a Presidential Suite). W Dubai – The Palm will also offer W exclusives including the brand’s signature W Lounge experience (W’s transformation of the traditional lobby), a glamorous WET pool, SWEAT (W’s state-of-the-art fitness centre) and an AWAY Spa. The W Dubai on The Palm Jumeirah is expected to open in 2016. A W Hotel was originally announced for The Palm Jumeirah in 2006 but was put on hold. Another W Hotel was announced for Dubai Festival City, but has also been delayed. Just two weeks ago, the 384-room W Hotel  on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, slated to open in 2017 alongside a Westin and St. Regis Hotel was announced. Things seem to be picking up once again in Dubai.

Kimpton Hotels will be opening a new Palomar Hotel in the downtown of Phoenix, Arizona on June 5, marking the completion of the highly-anticipated development project, CityScape Phoenix.  The hotel, just steps from major sports arenas, entertainment venues and cultural attractions, will add 242 spacious and contemporary guest rooms and suites and more than 10,000 square feet of stylish, flexible meeting space to the city’s lineup and will bring even more energy to the downtown Phoenix area. The destination’s interior design scheme – from the public and event spaces to the guest rooms and suites – embodies a relaxed sophistication that is modern while reflecting Arizona’s casual approach. While the overall feel is stylish and laid-back, the hotel’s desert-infused color palette features a nod to the energetic undercurrent of its CityScape and downtown Phoenix surroundings with its pops of orange, its signature accent color. Design and décor elements that use bright spots of color, lines that create a sense of movement and light-hearted artistic touches also help to bring the hotel’s ‘Art in Motion’ theme to life.

Earlier this month, Spanish company Barceló Group agreed to pay a penalty fee of £20.25 million after it pulled out of an agreement early to operate 21 hotels across the UK. The hotels’ owner, London-based Puma Hotels, has now resumed operation of the four-star properties, with assistance from independent hotel management firm Chardon Management, and relaunched them on the market under its new group, Puma Hotels’ Collection. The new brand will focus on the unique characteristics and location of each hotel, whether through local cuisine, the grounds (particularly in the case of the flagship countryside properties like the Imperial Hotel in Torquay and the Lygon Arms in Gloucestershire), or the nearby facilities and attractions. Also, starting on May 1, all properties will offer guests complimentary WiFi access.

Dubai-based Jumeirah Group has opened its first resort property in Europe: the Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa. Comprising 11 low-rise buildings connected by garden walks and internal passageways, the 120-unit resort is in the bay of Soller on the northwest coast of the Spanish island of Majorca. The hotel also features two swimming pools, a handful of unique vantage points and large spa facilities, offering 10 treatment rooms, as well as its own outdoor heated Hydropool overlooking the valley (pictured).

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group that will see it open three new hotels in Dubai and mark the debut of its St. Regis and W brands in the emirate. The 241-room St. Regis Dubai, the 384-room W Dubai – Sheikh Zayed Road and the 1,050-room Westin Dubai – Sheikh Zayed Road will be part of the US$1.4 billion, 1 million ft² Habtoor Palace complex. The three hotels are expected to open within months of each other in 2017.

Following the co-operation between Marriot International and Madrid based AC Hoteles, the former AC Diplomatic Hotel in Barcelona has been refurbished and rebranded as the Renaissance Barcelona Hotel. The hotel, which has 211 rooms and 500 m² of meeting space, aims to upgrade to five stars in the future.

Groupe Germain,  a family-run, luxury boutique hotel company based in Montreal, is expanding its sister hotel brand ALT Hotels to Winnipeg, Toronto and Halifax. Groupe Germain opened their first ALT Hotels in Québec City and Montréal. Their concept is simple and follows a worldwide trend: maximize modern design and minimize unnecessary amenities while also aiming to be green hotels. Groupe Germain Hospitality owns five hotels under its luxury moniker, Le Germain Hotels, like ALT Hotels all featured on stylehotelsweb.

Last week we brought you the news about the first of the Baccarat hotel chain opening in New York City across from the MOMA. Now we hear that the chain, which “marries Louis XV with the modern era” will open a hotel in the Moroccan capital of Rabat in 2014 just before the Manhattan property opens. Baccarat will be particularly looking for more locations in Asia and Dubai where the Baccarat design and heritage really will appeal well.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts is spending more than $6 billion revamping its iconic Sheraton brand. What the new look has in stall for can be seen at the completely renovated Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland. The hotel reopened this week after being closed two years for renovations. The hotel now offers 269 fully refurbished guest rooms (with frosted glass-walled bathrooms), newly renovated meeting

and event spaces and a new restaurant. The new interiors feature a neutral color palette, modern materials and clean lines throughout, which are accented with elegant Scottish finishes.

A survey by Hotels.com indicates that 38% of travelers base their booking decisions on free Wi-Fi availability, beating all other amenities. Additionally, 31% say they want Wi-Fi services to become a standard hotel amenity this year. “Given the explosion of mobile use in the past few years, it is no surprise that travelers are requiring free and fast Wi-Fi,” said Taylor L. Cole of Hotels.com. Free breakfast is rated by 25% of travelers and free parking by 18%. Unless you are over 60, where 34% value free breakfast over free wi-fi (27%).

With a grand opening on May 17, the 290-room Palace Hotel Tokyo will be a re-envisioning of the original Palace Hotel, which opened in 1961 as Japan’s first ever mixed use office-hotel building. That hotel was razed in 2009 to make way for this newer, sleeker, more modernized version. Ten restaurants and bars, a Club Lounge, an Evian Spa and free WiFi are some of the amenities the hotel is advertising, and all rooms supposedly have views of the gardens at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace. So know you know why it’s called the Palace hotel. The designs for the guest rooms and lobby area were done by Terry McGinnity, manager of GA Design International, known for hotel designs such as the Threadneedles in London, W Taipei and the upcoming Park Hyatt Mallorca.

South Beach Group Hotels has aquired the vacant Croydon Arms Hotel in Miami’s Mid Beach district, home to such hotels as the Fontainebleau and the Eden Roc. With the property’s close proximity to famed Millionaire’s Row, South Beach Group’s latest purchase will soon be the spot for people searching for more than just partying 24/7 in South Beach. The building at 3720 Collins Avenue was purchased for $6.75 million and a planned $15 million renovation of the property, which was built in 1937, is to follow. South Beach Group Hotels currently operates nine hotels and apartment complexes in Miami, including the Catalina Hotel & Beach Club, the Hotel Chelsea and the Whitelaw Hotel.

Not Kimpton Hotels, as we reported March 31, but Access Hotels & Resorts assumed management of the Hotel Sax Chicago from Thompson Hotels. Access and Sax owner, LaSalle Hotel Properties, could not be reached for comment reports The Chicago Tribune. Outgoing general manager Michael Carsh, a Thompson employee, attributed the split to a “philosophical difference.”

NYC’s historic Buckingham Hotel will reopen after its two year extensive renovation as The Quin. The Quin will be managed by Highgate Hotels which owns or manages several hotels around the city, including the Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel and the Paramount. Opened in 1929, the Buckingham was once a hub for opera singers and jazz musicians visiting the city to perform, largely because it is close to many of the city’s premiere theaters. The lobby once had numerous sculptures of famous musicians, complete with their old instruments. It’s unclear if the new management will maintain the hotel’s musical theme. Seven remaining elderly residents at the hotel in rent-stabilized apartments have complained about a nightmare full-building renovation that’s caused noise, flooding, broken pipes, hanging wires, and respiratory problems they blame on toxic dust.

The New York Post reported that Starwood Capital (not to be confused with Starwood Hotels) and Tribeca Associates are partnering to develop the fourth through 12^th floors of a 45-story tower in Manhattan across the street from the Museum of Modern Art. Luxury condominiums will take up the top floors while the bottom floors will be used by the New York Public Library. The development is set to open in 2014 and its total cost is US$400 million. Baccarat currently operates a residences property in Shanghai and is set to open a hotel and residences property in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2013.

Boston is set for a new hotel and then some when the 356-room Revere Hotel Boston Common opens today, April 18.

Previously housing the Radisson Hotel and Stuart Street Playhouse, the now-independent property is owned by Northwood Hospitality (New York City) and has been renovated into a lifestyle hotel and multi-use property including two theaters for movies and live entertainment, 35,000 sq ft (3,250 sq m) of meeting space and the introduction of the Emerald Lounge entertainment concept.

BBGM Interiors, also of New York City, designed the hotel. “In such an iconic city, we cannot imagine a better opportunity than designing Revere,” said Amy Jakubowski, partner at BBGM. “This challenge granted us the ability to use our creative license in new ways to bring something refreshing and innovative to the Boston hospitality market.”

A subtle flair for the dramatics was woven into the design, a tribute to the property’s theatre district locale. The guestrooms feature a bed donned in fur with a faux suede headboard, a masculine black and white hounds tooth patterned chaise, and modern case goods made of sycamore and African teak.

Revere Hotel will unveil two new venues, “Theatre 1” and “Space 57” in the space formally inhabited by the Stuart St. Playhouse. “Upon recognizing the tremendous value and unfulfilled potential of the playhouse, we were inspired to produce a modern adaptation of the theatre, returning to its days of being a marquee Boston venue,” said Simon Mais, general manager of Revere Hotel.

A US$65 million property-wide renovation is set to complete next month.

The Hyatt Regency Atlanta opened as the Regency Hyatt House in 1967. It was designed by John C. Portman, Jr. and the first of many iconic “atrium” hotels designed by Portman such as Atlanta’s Peachtree Plaza, Los Angeles Bonaventure Hotel, Detroit’s Renaissance Center and the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. The revolving, rooftop Polaris Restaurant on top of the 22 story building was also a first of many designed by Portman. However, the restaurant was closed in 2004 as taller buildings were erected on all sides of the Hyatt Regency.

In 1971 the Ivy (now Radius) Tower was added and in 1982 the International Tower bringing the room count to 1,260.

Among the changes is a refresh of the hotel’s 22-story Atrium Lobby. Custom art created from brass key fob replicas from the original Regency Hyatt House embellish the reception area.

The hotel is introducing three food and beverage options for the lobby: Sway, a breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant featuring Southern U.S. cuisine, Twenty Two Storys, featuring beer-influenced cuisine and Market offers 24-hour self-service including snacks, quick meals and bottles of wine.

Each of the hotel’s 1,260 guestrooms features new design elements and modern technology including a signature carpet design inspired by the Flora Raris sculpture located in the Atrium Lobby, wall coverings, drapes, artwork, 37-inch, LCD flat-panel televisions with HDTV channels, and iHome Dual alarm clock radios.

The renovations included a significant refresh of 180,000 sq ft (16,722 sq m) of meeting, boardroom, and exhibit space, including modernizing the 29,000 sq ft (2,694 sq m) Centennial Ballroom, the largest hotel ballroom in Georgia.

The renovations included the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting and Energy Star appliances.

A new upscale, retro-inspired, motor court concept is coming to Austin, Texas. Lone Star Court, an authentic Americana roadside hotel by Valencia Group, is breaking ground at the Domain with plans to open in early 2013.

Nostalgia will meet modern at the Lone Star Court, with an aesthetic that’s authentically Austin and Texas Hill Country from the art in the rooms to the unique outdoor environment.

Lone Star Court will have 123 retro-inspired guest rooms with high-tech amenities. True to Austin, Lone Star Court will feature live music by an outdoor fire pit and a dipping pool reminiscent of Hill Country swimming holes. Lone Star Court will draw business as well as leisure travelers to its unique “ranch-tech” property, and the restaurant and bar will be a destination for Austinites as well as visitors.

The property will have approximately 2,000 square feet of interior meeting space, an outdoor covered pavilion of 1,600 square feet, and an adjacent open air lawn that adds 1,800 square feet to the total available meeting space.

Lone Star Court will be the flagship of a new hotel concept created by Valencia Group, a Houston-based company known for its luxury independent Hotel Valencias in San Antonio and San Jose, and the recent addition to stylehotelsweb, Hotel Sorella CITYCENTRE in Houston. The court concept, a 21st century re-interpretation of the nostalgic motor court, will eventually be expressed through additional hotels by Valencia Group.

According to Doyle Graham, Jr., Valencia Group president, “This is the most exciting new concept in the hotel industry. Lone Star Court in Austin will be the flagship of what will eventually be a series of court concept hotels across the southeastern United States,” Graham said. “Each of the court concept hotels will capture the essence of the cities where they are located. Lone Star Court will be one of a kind and totally unique to Austin, Texas.”

During the early days of auto tourism beginning in the mid 1940s, roadside campsites led entrepreneurs to create quaint, cabin-like places for travelers to stay. Simple cottage camps began to evolve into more sophisticated full-service motor courts, and the number of motels in America tripled to more than 60,000 by the 1960s.

The new, more modern motor courts along great American highways featured “air cooled by refrigeration,” television, coin-operated radios, tiled bathrooms, easy chairs, and Serta Perfect Sleepers. After decades of booming business, mom-and-pop motels began to disappear in 1956 with the Federal-Aid Highway Act that funded construction of the interstate highway system. With little means to move their facilities or re-route traffic, these gems of the road gave way to corporate chains staking their claims along the new highways.

Lone Star Court will take visitors back to the heyday of the roadside motor court experience, where guests can discover an era of authentic Americana along with modern amenities and the excitement of Austin.

The architect for Lone Star Court is RTKL Associates of Dallas, led by Jim Suggs. Suggs was part of the design team for Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio and Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose.  The designer for Lone Star Court is Lauren Rottet of Houston-based Rottet Studio, and the landscape architect is Christine Ten Eyck of Austin-based Ten Eyck Landscape Architects.

Wyndham Worldwide Corp., announced at Berlin’s International Hotel Investment Forum that it is launching its iconic Super 8 brand in Germany with a development agreement with hotel equity company Tristar Hotel of Munich.

The development agreement calls for a minimum of 10 Super 8-branded properties to be developed in Germany over the next five years.

“The Super 8 brand fits perfectly with the growing demand for budget hotel accommodations in Germany. It is the right time to enter this market with an international brand,” said Andreas Erben, managing director at Tristar Hotel.

The launch of the Super 8 brand in Germany follows an announcement at the same event last year to launch the brand in Poland, with a minimum of 10 hotels to be developed there in partnership with Colliers International and constructed by Unibep Group, a Polish construction company.

Attendees at IHIF this week are also able to experience the new Super 8 guestroom concept, featured outside the IHIF lounge. The room is innovatively built using modular construction, allowing for faster and more economical hotel development. Consistent with the brand”s founding philosophy of providing consistent, friendly service and clean rooms at affordable rates, the room concept combines simplicity with comfort, ensuring the needs of the modern day traveller are catered for with features such as a USB charging station for iPods and iPhones as well as a large bed and walk-in shower.

The Super 8 brand was established in 1974 in South Dakota and was acquired by Wyndham Hotel Group in 1993. With over 2,200 properties throughout the U.S, Canada and China, the brand has more hotels than any other economy lodging chain in the world.

Miramar Group Unveils Name and Logo of First Small Designer Lifestyle Hotel

Miramar Group’s hotel development project on 388 Jaffe Road in Wanchai will be named Mira Moon, the second hotel within the expanding Mira portfolio after the opening of The Mira Hong Kong. With the building nearing completion, anticipation is growing for the hotel’s scheduled opening in early December 2012.

“The name Mira Moon was chosen to expand and leverage upon the already successful Mira brand and also represent the design concept which is a modern interpretation of the Moon Festival fairytale,” stated Mr. Romain Chan, Group General Manager of Miramar Group. “Through a unique design and engaging interactions with our service team, every guest will take away a magical experience delivered through a sense of theatrical drama, spectacular surroundings, and impeccable service.”

According to traditional Chinese folklore, the Moon Festival fairytale is about Chang’e, a woman who took the elixir of immortality, flew to the moon and became the beautiful Moon Goddess living alongside the Jade Rabbit. The Moon Festival is one of the most celebrated occasions in China and Hong Kong, where children and adults alike admire the full moon, spotting the Jade Rabbit amongst its markings. With the silhouette of the Jade Rabbit cast upon the full moon, the logo of Mira Moon will reflect this revered moment throughout the year.

Incorporating his signature Dutch influences into this classic Chinese legend, renowned designer Marcel Wanders and Yoo Design Studio cleverly bring the fairytale to life by romantically expressing the characters through Chinese antique furniture, fabrics, and prints. Showcasing distinctive design characteristics that stand in bold contrast to the more standardised hotels, Mira Moon is a member of Design HotelsTM and will appeal to those guests craving a unique experience.

Mira Moon is situated within the bustling district of Wanchai and consists of 90 contemporary guestrooms and 1 penthouse suite. Located in the heart of Jaffe Road, just a stone’s throw away from Wanchai and Causeway Bay MTR Stations, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, major tourist attractions and the prime shopping precinct surrounding Times Square, Mira Moon is convenient for both business and leisure travellers.

“We want to introduce a new kind of modern cultural lifestyle into Chinese society,” said Mr. Martin Lee, Managing Director of Miramar Group. “This is much more than just ‘new is better’. This is about creating cultural context.”

By providing a less formal environment and letting people be who they want to be, Mira Moon is a lifestyle hotel that does just that.

The Hotel on boulevard de Waterloo in Brussels unveiled its first new guest room today. Spanish architecture agency GCA came up with the concept, which epitomizes the ultimate hotel experience for the modern, cosmopolitan traveler. The stylish, elegant room features the ideal mix of comfort and technology. The room provides an exciting first glimpse into the spectacular, full-scale renovation to come. The Hotel will be positioned in the international and exclusive premium segment.

Extensive renovations

Swedish hotel property group Pandox AB, which purchased the former Brussels Hilton on boulevard de Waterloo in Brussels in September 2010, renamed the property ”The Hotel“ when it took over management responsibilities on February 1, 2011. The owners announced their extensive renovation plans shortly after acquiring the property. They started by giving the façade a facelift, which will be completed this spring, followed by the first guest room renovations in November 2011, designed by Spanish architecture agency ‘GCA Arquitectes Associats’. The first 20 rooms will be ready to welcome guests in April, with 100 more to follow by September. The remaining 200 rooms and suites will be completed in phases, with all 424 rooms ready by spring 2013.

 The guest rooms – inspirational, elegant and innovative

The most striking feature of the new rooms is the revolutionary new layout. Gone are the obligatory desk, corner armchair, curtains, and traditional floor and table lamps. Today’s modern business traveler carries a smartphone or tablet PC, so there’s no point in cluttering up the room with a big, bulky desk. A leather sofa runs across the entire width of the room, in front of the window, accented with a practical oval-shaped table. The space has been carefully optimized to provide the visitor with maximum utility, whether it’s to work, relax or simply enjoy a great view of Brussels. Traditional curtains have been replaced with sliding semi-transparent panels that can filter in light if so desired. The room can be electrically darkened. Another striking detail is that the bathroom is also part of the open-plan space. This, naturally, contributes to the overall feeling of spaciousness, but also allows the visitor to admire the fantastic views, even from the shower. The design is inspirational, elegant, stylish and innovative.

 For the tech savvy, modern, cosmopolitan guest

Technology has become increasingly important to the modern business traveler. At The Hotel, guests can use the Mediahub™ to connect their electronic devices (smartphone, tablet PC, digital camera, video camera, iPod, iPhone, game console, etc.) to their in-room television, providing instant access to their own music, videos, photos and games directly through the TV, which acts as their own personal entertainment center. Smartphones and tablet PCs equipped with stereo bluetooth can stream audio wirelessly through the TV.

Smartphone-carrying guests can also use their device to unlock their room door as well as to check in and out. No need to wait in long lines at reception or bother with a keycard.

A range of quality apps is being developed to help maximize guests’ time, providing easy access to information about the city, The Hotel, the services and facilities available, and their meeting.

 With a view of Brussels

The renovations started off with the top floor. Next in line for refurbishment, beginning on February 1, are the meeting rooms on the 25^th, 26^th and 27^th floors, to be completed in September 2012. The executive lounge will be on the 24^th floor. The remodeled design also includes a state-of-the-art 250m² fitness center on the 23^rd floor complete with all the latest fitness equipment, a large, comfortable sauna and, of course, a phenomenal view of Brussels.

 An eco-friendly, energy-efficient approach

Given the extent of the renovations, it was the opportunity to replace the heat, water, gas and electrical installations with more environmentally-friendly solutions. The Hotel will be putting in a cogeneration system which will recover waste heat and re-use it to supply most of the hotel’s heating needs. All incandescent lamps will be replaced with LED lighting, and the temperature in unoccupied rooms will be centrally controlled. As a result of all these modifications, CO₂ emissions will be reduced by 20%, a savings of 50% on total energy consumption compared to the previous management.

 Added value for the chic boulevard de Waterloo

The location of The Hotel is and remains one of its greatest assets. ”We really wanted The Hotel to blend in seamlessly with its surroundings. As it so happens, The Hotel shares boulevard de Waterloo with nearly all of the top international luxury lifestyle brands. With our premium positioning and elegant international image, we have no doubt about fitting in. We’re expecting the restaurant, bar and lobby lounge on the ground floor to bring a certain added value to the boulevard de Waterloo“, commented Aldert Schaaphok, Vice President, Pandox AB.

Last on the renovation agenda is the ground floor, to be completed in the autumn of 2013. The hotel will remain open throughout the renovations.

Melia’s contemporary city-centre Innside brand, which it acquired in 2007 has signed its first hotel in the UK. Construction is set to begin on the four-star, 208-bedroom Innside Manchester Hotel during the second half of 2012. The hotel will form part of the new multi-use First Street North development. Innside by Melia currently operates nine properties in Germany and one is set to open in Barcelona.

The Rezidor Hotel Group and Al Jassim Group have announced a 2015 opening for the Hotel Missoni Doha (Qatar). The luxury lifestyle hotel will be exclusively designed by Rosita Missoni and feature approximately 200 rooms and 70 serviced apartments. The hotel will be built along the C Ring Road in the heart of Doha, just 10 minutes from the International Airport. The extensive food and beverage outlets will comprise Hotel Missoni’s signature restaurant “Cucina” with a traditional yet creative Italian menu, a second all-day-dining restaurant, Bar Missoni, a pool bar and a lobby lounge. Guests will benefit from an 800 square meter Spa- and fitness area, an outdoor swimming pool, approximately 1,500 square meter conference- and banquet facilities including ball room, and a business centre. Hotels Missoni are operated in Edinburgh and in Kuwait; further properties are under development in Oman, Turkey, Brazil and Mauritius.

Rezidor also announced this week the rebranding of the 583-room Ramada Plaza Doha Hotel into a Radisson Blu Hotel in the third quarter of 2012.

Even more Qatar hotel news: the June, 2013 scheduled Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, The Pearl-Qatar has already won an AAA five-star diamond award as best design for a boutique beach resort in the Middle East. That is slightly odd for a hotel which even has opened yet. Designed by the award winning Singapore-based ECO ID Architects with interior design by Gatserelia Design, the Nikki Beach is a $45m boutique beachfront resort with 47-luxury villas and spa suites. The development will include Satine, a pan Asian specialty restaurant, NikkiSpa by Espa, Envy, the Ultra VIP lounge, a signature Nikki Beach Club with private plunge pools, a Tone Fitness Center and many other guest amenities.

HotelChatter reports that an offshoot of the Soho House Group will open in Chicago’s West Loop/Fulton Market area inside a vacant warehouse. Soho House would install about 50 rooms, a signature restaurant and a rooftop pool.

Our December 26 report on the Clark Hotel in Los Angeles suggesting that King & Grove was to be the new operator of New York’s Chelsea Hotel was right. This month comes the news that King & Grove are also taking over the management of the brand-new opened Hotel Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York. The Chetrit Group, owner of the Clark Hotel and the Chelsea Hotel is close to an agreement buying the Hotel Williamsburg, currently operated by Graves Hospitality from Minneapolis.

The ill-fated Cipriani hotel project in Miami Beach finally is getting afoot. Only no longer under the Cipriani name, but under its original name, The Saxony. Argentine hip hotelier Alan Faena of Buenos Aires’ Faena Hotel fame is taking on the project. A condo tower by star architects Foster and Partners is being added and the Faena Saxony Hotel as it is called now is “coming soon” we see at the Faena website.

The Spanish mission styled 97-room Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, now with The Leading Hotels of the World, is being sold to Kimpton Hotels for $40m.