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.

Hersha Hospitality Trust announced today that the Company has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the 80-room Bulfinch Hotel in downtown Boston’s West End neighborhood for $18.2 million, or $228,000 per key. The asset’s unique position as a brand and management unencumbered hotel along with its high growth location, allows Hersha an attractive opportunity to reposition the asset to appeal to the highly desirable urban transient and lifestyle oriented traveler. This property complements Hersha’s other independent properties in New York and Washington, similar to the Duane Street Hotel and NU Hotel. The Company plans to invest approximately $2.5 million in the hotel to upgrade guest rooms, improve the food and beverage platform, fitness and business amenities, while adding an additional room.

Commercial Real Estate Developer, The Castlewood Group Singapore, announced they are expanding their renowned lifestyle brand, Nikki Beach, in Asia, commencing with a Hotel, Spa and Beach Club in Phuket in 2013.The Nikki Beach Club plus The Nikki Beach Hotel and Spa in Bang Tao, Phuket will be our first offering to the market and will comprise a 5 star hotel with 151 luxurious suites and a mix of 23 sky villas and exclusive villas all with private pools and gardens. In addition there is a 45 m free form swimming pool, roof top infinity pool with bar and lounge overlooking an external yoga area.

Nearly 30 years after the opening of the first Hyatt hotel in Mexico, Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that a Hyatt affiliate intends to acquire the 756-room Hotel Nikko Mexico for approximately US$190 million from Japan-Mexico Hotel Investment Co., Ltd. The transaction is scheduled to close in May and, upon closing, the hotel will be rebranded as Hyatt Regency Mexico City. Hyatt will invest approximately US$40 million in a three-year renovation. Hyatt Regency Mexico City’s excellent location will position it as one of Mexico City’s most visible hotels. The hotel is situated in the heart of the upscale Polanco district on Campos Eliseos, where the headquarters of international corporations are located. Hyatt Regency Mexico City will have 734 rooms after combining some of the existing rooms into suites. The hotel’s amenities will include approximately 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space, two signature Japanese restaurants, a three-meal restaurant and lobby bar, a business center, a fitness center, tennis courts, and a pool. This summer the hotel will complete an extensive six-year renovation program that includes the complete refurbishment of all the guestrooms as well as the two Japanese restaurants.

Meliá Hotels International has signed a lease agreement for its second Innside by Meliá property and its fifth hotel overall in Düsseldorf, Germany. The new 134-room Innside Hotel Düsseldorf Hafen is to be developed in the city’s iconic, 17-storey multicoloured Colorium building, which also houses office and retail space. The hotel is expected to open in mid 2013. The landmark building at Speditionstrasse with its 17 levels and 62 metres in height was designed by the British star architect William Allen Alsop for a private investor, and is one of the symbols of the new en vogue quarter, not only because of its extraordinary shape. A façade, comprising more than 2,000 colourful glass panels, was hung in front of it displaying a mixture of full-colour spaces and differentiated four-colour elements. The most spectacular feature is the signal-red technology level on the top floor protruding above the port basin and which is illuminated at night. A trendy Innside Skybar & Lounge has been planned which will not only spoil hotel guests with culinary treats, but also provide fantastic views of the port and the city centre that is only a few minutes away on foot. A total of 134 extremely stylish rooms and suites as well as two state-of-the-art conference rooms spread across floors 5 to 14 and the ground floor. The Colorium’s floors that are not occupied by the hotel contain office rooms as well as the innovation showrooms of a major mobile phone provider or a fashion label and the Dusseldorf branch of a media academy.

Los Angeles-based Viceroy Hotel Group  is to make its debut in Europe with a hotel in the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The group has been chosen to operate a five-star urban resort in the city’s Nef Bebeköy Development in an area across ten separate buildings and over 16 acres of land, offering 58 guest accommodations, Viceroy Istanbul will boast spectacular panoramic views of the Bosphorus, the strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia, and direct access to a tranquil outdoor garden and forest area. The property will offer guests and residence luxury services including a casual and signature restaurant, banquet and meeting facilities, an outdoor art gallery, and a state-of-the-art full service fitness center and spa. We’re guessing that Viceroy’s head designer, Kely Wearstler, will be doing the interiors but this isn’t confirmed. Viceroy already has one other hotel under development in Turkey, the Viceroy Bodrum, which is scheduled to open in 2014.

Northampton Group Inc., an integrated Canadian hotelier, with its development partner Silver Hotel Group, today announced the opening of their newest aloft™ hotel in Vaughan Mills, a retail and commercial development just north of Toronto. The $16 million project was completed in just over one year. Northampton also developed the world’s first ever aloft in Montreal and like this and many other alofts offers the usual re:mix™ lobby, the w xyz™ bar, re:fuel™, and a 24/7 pantry for tasty tidbits. Guest rooms feature every amenity from loft-inspired nine-foot ceilings, platform beds, picture windows, huge bathrooms complete with oversized showers and, and the luxurious Bliss® spa products, and plug-and-play connectivity.

After acquiring Las Vegas’ landmark Sahara Hotel & Casino and then shuttering the property in May 2011, SBE Entertainment Group has with the help of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC pulled together the funding to redevelop the property into what will be called the SLS Las Vegas when it reopens in 2014. The owners obtained US$300 million to redevelop the 1,600-room hotel and will bring in Gensler architects and interior designer Philippe Starck to deliver a product that is approachable and affordable, according to Sam Nazarian, founder and chairman of SBE, which owns the property with Stockbridge Real Estate Funds of San Francisco. Nazarian told Bloomberg that new restaurants and nightclubs, as well as 40,000 square feet of convention space are planned.

A 310-room oceanfront Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will be the latest addition to Aruba’s growing portfolio of luxury accommodation. Scheduled to open in 2014, the 75-million pound hotel will be located right outside Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital, and is set to dramatically change the beach landscape of the island. The brand new property will be built on the ruins of the abandoned Bushiri Hotel, which has not been operating for nearly a decade and whose demolition will be completed by the end of the year. The Aruba Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will cover a total area of 28,619 square metres and will have a maximum height of seven floors.

Husband and wife team Kit and Tim Kemp of Firmdale Hotels reopen their first hotel on June 18, in time for the Olympics.

Back in 1985 the Kemp’s acquired their first hotel, the Dorset Square Hotel, which was going to be the start of their succesful Firmdale chain, which now has seven hotels in London and one ‘across the pond’ in New York City. All are members of marketing consortium Design Hotels™  In 2002 the Kemp’s sold the Dorset Square Hotel only to acquire it back again last year.

“Always in their heart” the hotel since then has gotten an overhaul by Kit, famous for her signature style which includes bold, contrasting, colours and textures and being filled with bespoke and one-off pieces and

original art collected from around the globe. The property itself is a beautiful Regency townhouse with 38 bedrooms, many of which look onto the leafy private garden square which was originally the site of Thomas Lord’s first cricket ground. Each bedroom is being individually designed to feature WiFi, flat widescreen TVs and iPod docks while bathrooms are of marble and oak, have freestanding showers and luxurious Miller Harris bath products. There will also feature a sumptuous guest drawing room with a fireplace and a fun all-day bar and restaurant.

The Dorset Square Hotel is situated in the north of Marylebone, just doorsteps away from the Regent’s Park and Marylebone Station. Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London. The neighborhood has recently become one of London’s most urbane and exciting residential areas, with fashionable shops, cafés and restaurants lined up as well as world-class galleries, all within easy reach of London’s theatre-land and financial district.

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%).

Opening May 11, 2012

In December 2011, Design Hotels™ launched its first project on a pristine beach in Tulum, Mexico as a temporary retreat for like-minded, creative individuals to unwind and connect with self and nature. Inspiring feedback received to the project has encouraged further creative and off-radar luxury forms so we’re now steering the adventure to the Mediterranean this time for the summer season. Welcome to SAN GIORGIO MYKONOS, A DESIGN HOTELS™ PROJECT in association with Paradise Club.

Melding the carefree finesse of the ’60s bohemian life with a down-to-earth “gypset” approach, at San Giorgio, everything is about ease and enjoyment. Leisure is writ large and guests are encouraged to store or spend energy as they please. At San Giorgio, it’s like visiting the summer home of your coolest friend, who whips together a feast for the eyes and palate with as much ease and grace as he throws the island’s most talked-about fête. And you’re along for the ride.

The hotel started its humble beginnings in the ’90s thanks to a successful local fisherman who laid claim to a piece of Paradise Beach. Step into 2012 and the 34-room property has changed hands to the neighboring Paradise Club. Long-time friends of Design Hotels™, proprietors Thomas Heyne and Mario Hertel together with Markos Daktilidis, owner of Paradise Beach, approached the brand to design a new hospitality experience. Located just 300 meters from the club, San Giorgio is situated on one of the most scenic areas of the island between Paradise and Paranga beaches. Not only is Mykonos famed for its nightlife, of which Paradise Club is ranked amongst the top five in Europe, the picturesque white houses, dazzling blue waters and quaint alleys are the picture of a Grecian paradise.

The San Giorgio project is designed for those who seek simple pleasures like waking up to views of the sea, sharing good food prepared with love and care, and feeling the euphoric energy of a crowd dancing under a starry sky.

Only with DesignHotels™:

YOUR DESIGN HOTELS™ BENEFITS:
• Complimentary airport transfer to and from the hotel
• VIP access to Paradise Club including:
Free no-wait entry to the club’s VIP area and
A complimentary VIP shuttle
(Club opens May 24)
• Local neighborhood benefits

ALSO ENJOY:
• Complimentary WiFi
• Healthy breakfast buffet

This month saw the opening of the second Mama Shelter hotel, Mama Shelter Marseille, located in central Marseille, France.

The hotel features 127 guestrooms between 15 sq m (161 sq ft) and 45 sq m (484 sq ft) in size spread over six floors with the option of five categories and colors schemes. Rates start at €69 (US$91).

While the guestroom look is similar to those at Mama Shelter Paris, at Mama Shelter Marseille the colors reflect Marseille’s location on the Mediterranean coast.

Each room comes with a 27″ (68 cm) iMac with TV, radio, Internet and free WiFi access.

The Mama Shelter hotel company was founded by the Trigano family, Cyril Aouizerate and designed by Philippe Starck.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts opened The Westin Xi’an in China. The hotel is the first Westin in the world to have its own museum, paying tribute to the ancient history of China with a collection of more than 2,000 artifacts. The Westin Xi’an features 329 guestrooms and 32 one- to two bedroom suites. Accommodations feature flat-screen LCD televisions, rainforest showers, refreshment centers and feature Westin’s signature “Heavenly Bed”. Designed by Neri & Hu Design, The property covers nearly 60 acres and is comprised of the Westin hotel, adjacent museum, and shopping centre. Harmoniously fusing the indigenous culture with modern design, Westin Xi’an showcases a Tang dynasty architectural style. Measuring approximately 80,000 square meters, the main building features a covered porch and garden courtyard. Guests access cafes, restaurants, and other auxiliary facilities via this interior landscape.

Hotel Indigo, InterContinental Hotel Group’s upscale boutique brand announces opening of a second Hotel Indigo in San Diego at Del Mar. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation and rebranding, the 94-room hotel in downtown Del Mar offers guests sophisticated lodging with modern furnishings and a contemporary style, exuding the charm of the Del Mar community. The property boasts a full-service day-spa, two pools, hot tub, sauna and bistro-style restaurant with a full bar, among other amenities. Upgraded guest rooms feature a fresh look with new furniture, luxurious linens, warm colors, tiled bathrooms, granite countertops and spa showers. Guests will feel in harmony with the Del Mar surroundings as each room features indigenous murals depicting elements from the Del Mar Racetrack and local beaches. Additionally, two ocean-view terraces, created by local design firm Design Line Interiors, allow guests to enjoy the temperate Southern California weather, with fire pits available for cooler evenings.

InterContinental Hotel Group also unveiled its largest Holiday Inn to date in Macau, China. Last month Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced its largest Sheraton to date with 4000 rooms, also in Macau. The Holiday Inn “only” has 1,224 guestrooms, including 65 suites. All rooms and suites are decorated in a contemporary style with custom-designed furniture, feature floor-to-ceiling windows and offer a range of facilities, amenities and services. The deluxe rooms and suites overlook the city, providing inspiring views. Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central features 11 restaurants and lounges, 24-hour room service and access to additional 24-hour dining options only a short walk away. Guests also have convenient access to the ample pool deck and to the Health Club, featuring a fully-equipped gymnasium, jacuzzi, and sauna.

We learned that the Bulgari Hotel London, which was planned to open this month, will be opening on June 1. Well, that is in time for the Summer Olympics…

Louisville, Kentucky philanthropists and art collectors Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown announced plans to buy the old First National Building in downtown Lexington and

convert it to a 21c Museum Hotel — a combination boutique hotel and contemporary art museum. They opened Louisville’s 21c hotel in 2006, and Lexington’s will be the fourth in the 21c group of hotels, after Cincinnati (opening later this year) and Bentonville (opening early 2013). The hotel will have a restaurant, a bar, meeting rooms, a ballroom and approximately 80 guest rooms. The museum will be open free of charge, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The 21c Museum is the only museum in the country dedicated to collecting and exhibiting contemporary art by living artists. Architect Deborah Berke, whose New York firm Deborah Berke & Partners Architects has done design work on the other 21c hotels, said she hopes construction can begin on the First National Building before the end of the year, and that the hotel would be ready to open in 2014.

Viceroy Hotel for San Francisco: Pepplebrook (a hotel trust) has aquired the Hotel Milano in the SoMa district of San Francisco. Pepplebrook plans to invest between $8.0 and $10.0 million over the next 12 months in a complete renovation and repositioning of the hotel, including all guestrooms, public areas and the restaurant. The hotel’s comprehensive guest room and public area improvements are expected to commence in the second half of 2012 and Pepplebrook plans to rename the property upon completion of the renovation. Pepplebrook has selected Viceroy Hotel Group as manager for the Hotel Milano. Viceroy also manages two of the company’s other hotels: the Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica and the Viceroy Miami.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced that it has completed the sale of the 275-room Atlanta Perimeter Hotel & Suites (the former W Hotel Atlanta-Perimeter) to RockBridge Partners, a division of RockBridge. The property, which will be franchised, is located just north of Atlanta’s city center and will be managed by Wischermann Partners, Inc. The hotel will continue to be affiliated with Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The hotel is to undergo an 18 month multi-million dollar renovation and will afterwards will fly the Le Meridien flag.

High street clothing and home furnishings chain Laura Ashley has acquired the 49-room Edgwarebury Hotel in the village of Elstree, north of London, for £5.8 million from Corus Hotels, whose parent company, Malayan United Industries, is a major shareholder in Laura Ashley. The Tudor-style property is to be relaunched later this year as a boutique hotel showcasing Laura Ashley’s furnishings and design service. The sale reduces Corus Hotels’ UK portfolio to nine properties.

A little more than three weeks since it acquired three hotels in Germany, HPI Hotelbesitz GmbH has purchased the freehold of the Ibis Prague Karlin in the Czech Republic. HPI intends to renovate the 226-room hotel to bring it in line with the brand standards of its sister company, Pentahotels. The hotel will be rebranded later this year when the work is complete but in the meantime Accor’s Ibis brand will continue to manage the property. Several Pentahotels are featured on stylehotelsweb, a property in Beijing opened recently.

Of the Von Essen Hotels, which went into administration last year, only two out of 27 hotels remain unsold, the Ston Easton Park near Bath and the Sharrow Bay in the Lake District of northern England. This week three Von Essen’s were sold: The Royal Crescent in Bath, the Congham Hall in Norfolk and the Seaham Hall in Durham. The latter was featured on stylehotelsweb for some time, but was getting some bad reviews. Hopefully it will pick up again under new ownership and welcome it back on stylehotelsweb.

InterContinental Hotels Group has opened its second Hotel Indigo property in Scotland. The Hotel Indigo Edinburgh is housed in an 18th-century listed building (previously the Osbourne Hotel and originally five residential properties) at the heart of Edinburgh’s “New” Town. The 60-room hotel, owned by Sojourn Hotels, joins its sister property the 94-room Hotel Indigo Glasgow.

Marriott International is considering selling its three Edition hotels (New York, London, Miami Beach) to fund an expansion of the lifestyle brand created with Ian Schrager. “We already have interested buyers,” said Arne Sorensen in a recent interview. “We’re willing to put in more money to expand Edition,” added Mr Sorenson, who is set to replace Bill Marriott as chief executive officer at the end of the month. Marriott would continue to operate the properties after the sale. Besides those three locations, Marriott has announced Editions for Bangkok and Abu Dhabi. Marriott has a stated commitment of US$800 million to develop the Edition brand, an atypical move for the company that is primarily focused on managing hotels. The Edition brand has had a rocky start with only two Edition-branded hotels opened so far in Istanbul and Honolulu, and the Honolulu hotel has since rebranded amid legal acrimony between the hotel’s owner and Marriott.

Africa’s first easyHotel is to open later this year in Johannesburg, South Africa. Work is due to start next month on the 120-room easyHotel Rissik Street, which is being developed over three floors of the city’s former Stuttafords department store, and it is expected to open in November 2012. The budget hotel will be the first fruit of a 20-year master franchise agreement between easyHotel and African conglomerate Lonrho, which will see a total of 50 easyHotels open across the African continent by 2016.

Aloft Tucson University, a former Four Points by Sheraton property, will undergo a complete renovation before opening in the first half of 2013. The 150-room hotel is owned by Starwood, demonstrating the company’s commitment to the fast-

growing, three-year-old Aloft brand. In September, Aloft announced its first conversion project, Aloft San Francisco Airport (a former Clarion Hotel) set to open this fall. Additionally, Aloft’s “green” adaptive reuse of Dallas’ historic Santa Fe Railroad terminal won multiple awards from a local preservation group in 2010.“We continue to see two types of opportunities as ideal candidates for an Aloft conversion: Hotels built in the ‘70s or ‘80s in need of renovation, and unique independent boutique hotels seeking a stronger brand point of view and the ability to utilize Starwood systems,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North American Development for Starwood.

The Mövenpick Hotel Lausanne, Switzerland, has unveiled three new conference rooms and 72 stylish new business rooms following the completion of a major six-floor extension project. The business rooms in the newly built North wing are designed to satisfy a new generation of business travellers who not only need fast Wi-Fi and a safe place to store their laptops, but also a room that is contemporary as well as comfortable. New elements include a cutting edge ‘open space’ bathrooms with individual walk-in Italian style rain showers and separate toilet; a pillow menu with six different options; a 32-inch, 135-channel LED television; a Nespresso coffee machine; private balcony and an inviting interior design featuring soothing tones of dark purple offset by beige headboards, wooden motifs, bold carpets and historic images of the Ouchy area from Lausanne Museum.

Belgraves, a Thompson Hotel, is now open in London’s upmarket Belgravia neighborhood. The property is the company’s first outside North America and is a joint venture with The Harilela Group.

The hotel, a former Sheraton Hotel, has 85 stylish guestrooms and suites with interiors designed by Tara Bernerd. The bedrooms feature silver grey wooden floors and a palette of natural greys and textures with aubergine accent walls. The bathrooms are finished with marble, smoked glass and brass beaded curtains.

The lobby includes a large fireplace for to give guests a cozy greeting, along with library and hideaway spaces.

Food and beverage options include the 80-seat Hix Belgravia and Mark’s Bar, both by UK celebrity chef Mark Hix. The bar also features a unique cigar garden.

More than a year after signing an agreement with Quays Hotels Ltd, Wyndham Worldwide has now opened its first managed Ramada hotel in the UK. Construction of the 200-room Ramada Encore Newcastle-Gateshead in the city of Newcastle, northeast England, started in February 2011 and cost £15 million to complete.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that a Hyatt affiliate has signed a management agreement with an affiliate of Island Hospitality Partners, LLC for Hyatt Place Bayamón and El Tropical Casino. It will be the first Hyatt-branded select service hotel in Puerto Rico and, upon opening, will mark the return of Hyatt-branded hotels to Puerto Rico after a nine year absence. Hyatt Place Bayamón and El Tropical Casino, expected to open in the first quarter of 2014, will be a seven story building offering 156 guestrooms with an adjoining casino, free-standing restaurant and bar, and a multi-level parking garage. The hotel will be located next to the 42-acre Luis A. Ferré Science Park and will also be close to the city’s largest shopping mall. Bayamón is the island’s second most populous city and is located 15 miles southwest of San Juan.

The cutting-edge W Hotel Istanbul unveils a new Restaurant, OKKA. OKKA serves bold Turkish classics, created by master chef Tolga Atalay in a contemporary bistro setting. These include pomegranate marinated chicken, rose petal crème brûleé, fried semolina stuffed with lamb, as well as mezze specialties and 25 variations of kebab. OKKA also offers the widest collection of locally produced wines in Istanbul, and Turkey’s only self-pour Raki service for guests to enjoy the popular Turkish anise-flavoured liquor. In a typical W take on tradition fused with technology, OKKA features the world’s first three-dimensional holographic belly dancer – a futuristic image that contrasts with the restaurant’s burnished leather wallpaper, alabaster marble bar, etched smoked mirror inlays and azure columns.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that an affiliate has signed a management agreement with Hotel De La Paix, Co., Ltd. for the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Cambodia. Under the agreement, Hotel De La Paix Siem Reap, one of the country’s top-rated hotels, will be rebranded as Park Hyatt Siem Reap. The hotel will close on June 30, 2012 for a complete renovation and is expected to open as Park Hyatt Siem Reap in the first quarter of 2013. The property, designed by award-winning Bangkok-based interior designer Bill Bensley, was voted as Cambodia’s No. 1 hotel by Travel + Leisure and ranked No. 29 on its World’s Best Hotels 2010 list. Bensley will oversee the upcoming renovation. Park Hyatt Siem Reap will include 107 guest rooms and suites and features two restaurants, a bar and a retail bakery. The hotel will also feature meeting facilities, a spa, fitness center, and two swimming pools.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced its Aloft® brand will open a new property in Cupertino, California in early 2013. Aloft Cupertino will be the third Aloft to open in California and its second in Silicon Valley, following the opening of Aloft San Francisco Airport in July 2012. Aloft Cupertino will deliver style at a steal with 123 spacious, loft-like rooms, forward-thinking technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere. Located in the heart of Cupertino’s business district, the new Aloft will be convenient to numerous high-tech businesses such as Apple, Hewlett Packard and IBM. Also nearby are Santa Clara University, HP Pavilion, Winchester Mystery House, and a selection of wineries and world-class golf courses. Amenities will include an indoor pool, w xyz sm bar, 24-hour fitness center and 2,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, ideal for both business meetings and social gatherings.

The Rezidor Hotel Group is to operate the Okoume Palace Hotel in Libreville, Gabon. Rezidor recently took over the management of the property. Rezidor will operate the property as an unbranded hotel for an interim period while the Okoume Palace Hotel (a former InterContinental Hotel) will undergo an extensive renovation. In September 2013, the hotel will be dual branded – offering a 330 rooms Radisson Blu hotel and a 140 rooms Park Inn by Radisson hotel tower. In addition, the complex will provide 5 restaurants & bars, extensive meeting facilities, a business class lounge, a gym, and an outdoor swimming pool.

De-Thompsonized and Re-Kimptonized 1: Hotel Sax in Chicago, which has been a Thompson for just over two years will turn into a Kimpton Hotel on April 27th. A Thompson source says the Sax was just “not up to brand standards” hence the reason why they took over Sutton Place, which will turn into Thompson Chicago after some renovations. This switch now means Thompson’s standing in the Windy City drops from two back down to one while Kimpton bumps up to five hotels in Chi-town. Meanwhile in Toronto, the Sutton Place Toronto Hotel has closed to be turned into condos.

De-Thompsonized and Re-Kimptonized 2: The Donovan House in Washington, DC will turn into a Kimpton Hotel on April 10. Previously it was managed by Thompson Hotels and apparently is leaving Thompson Hotels for the same reason as the Hotel Sax in Chicago. That’s down to 0 for Thompson in the capital, and up to 8 for Kimpton, not counting another 3 in Alexandria, just over the Virginia border.