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.

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.

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.

The Opposite House, a Beijing lifestyle property managed by Swire Hotels, announced that it will be presenting “Memory,” a unique 6-piece porcelain wearable art installation by artist Li Xiaofeng from Red Gate Gallery. Xiaofeng’s installation turns classical Chinese blue and white porcelain into contemporary couture dresses using rejected pieces of porcelain art littered around the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen over the centuries, or buried, broken fragments along the layered trading routes in every direction across China. “The shards contain the history and culture of China. Through grinding, polishing and sewing them together, it narrates the country’s past, present and future to its audiences. It also indicates the rebirth of the new civilization in the Eastern Hemisphere,” said Li. “Memory” will be on display from October 1 to December 30 in the atrium of The Opposite House.

The proposed W Philadelphia Hotel has secured all approvals to move forward, according to Starwood Hotels and a construction-industry website that tracks such projects in the United States. In the spring, construction is scheduled to begin on the 500-room hotel, which will offer a conference center, a pool and a fitness center among its amenities. Completion is set for January 2015. Starwood Hotels is bringing the W Hotel brand to center city on a half-acre surface parking lot that had been designated for a $420 million Waldorf-Astoria Hotel with luxury condos before the lending markets collapsed four years ago. A slate of luxury boutique hotels has entered the Center City market in the last three years, among them the Kimpton-owned Palomar and Hotel Monaco (which opens Oct. 11) and the Le Méridien, another Starwood brand.

Designer Paul Smith and publisher Rizzoli have teamed up to select books for Lounge At One, at London’s One Aldwych. Designed by Fox Linton Associates, the 1,500 square foot Lounge At One is fully serviced throughout the day with “a changing menu of light dishes for breakfast, daytime and evening, along with cocktails, wine and hot beverages”. Hosts are on hand to take care of individual needs such as checking guests in online for flights or liaising with the One Aldwych concierge team for theatre and restaurant bookings. Cosy sofas and armchairs encourage conversation, a central media area has a selection of iPads, magazines and newspapers as well as Paul Smith’s choice Rizzoli books, and a quiet zone is perfect for relaxing. The Lounge at One is open to every overnight guest but not to the public.

On a stretch of downtown Miami’s Southeast First Street that includes a dollar store, electronics shop and empty storefronts, developers are banking on the future of a historic building. The former Miami National Bank building, built in 1925, is in the early stages of becoming the boutique Langford Hotel. If all goes according to plan, the 132-room property will be ready for guests by December 2013. The company’s website for the hotel, eb5hotel.com, describes a luxury space with a rooftop bar and ground-floor restaurant. For downtown’s central business district, an area that has long been known for being busy during the day and deserted at night, a chic new hotel would be a welcome addition. Read more here.

Le Bristol Paris has debuted Le Bar du Bristol, which completes its renovation program.  The bar features an interior design by Pierre-Yves

Rochon and Maja Oetker. Highlights include a garden fresco by Thierry Bruet and a 19th-century marble fireplace. The décor is reminiscent of an English club, with silk curtains for privacy, a wooden floor of Versailles oak, and 100-year-old pine paneling from Surrey. The bar will also host a rotating program of contemporary artwork and artists’ videos. The menu from Le Bristol’s Chef de Cuisine Eric Frechon includes international bits such as maki rolls with king crab and vegetables in spicy ketchup, chicken wings in satay sauce, and gambas tempura with ginger and coriander mayonnaise. Head Barman Maxime Hoerth leads a team that includes Roman Devaux, previously of the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Paris.

The Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, South Carolina,will look quite different next spring. Sonesta on Thursday announced that it will give the resort’s getting a $30 million makeover. The renovations are a part of the Sonesta Collection’s plan to carry out major improvements at all 24 of its U.S. hotels over the next two years. At the Hilton Head Island property, expect the 340 guest rooms to have an entirely new look, inspired by the local landscape. Design firm Sims Patrick Studio, along with architectural firm designONE studio, will transform the hotel’s look and feel. Construction will begin in December. The rooms are being redone to cater to both families and business travelers, and an over-sized desk that doubles as an activity table for the kids; a pull-out sofa, and lightweight ottomans for additional seating. In the coffee nook near the entrance, guests will find a coffee maker and refrigerator. The resort will also sport a revamped lobby with new sculpture, furniture and finishes, as well as an expansion that will bring the outside in. Expect to find an exterior stone patio with seating and landscaping that overlooks the pool and sundeck. The two existing swimming pools will be revamped, too. Next spring, guests will find a lagoon-style pool and an indoor/outdoor pool that includes space for entertaining. The resort will also get a full-service spa with three treatment rooms and other spaces.

Andaz Savannah, a lifestyle hotel, opened in the former Avia Savannah in historic downtown Savannah. The hotel just completed a renovation of its public areas to add an Andaz Lounge and introduce a sophisticated new restaurant, 22 Square, emphasizing fresh regional ingredients and southern specialties. The artful design and urban vibe of the spaces, services and amenities at Andaz Savannah are inspired by the city’s vibrant culture. The 151 guestrooms and suites at Andaz Savannah feature chic contemporary furnishings with luxurious beds and linens, flat-screen/high-definition televisions with iPod® connections and generously sized bathrooms with walk-in showers. Like all Andaz hotels, guests at Andaz Savannah receive complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access and enjoy complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages from their guestroom minibar. The hotel’s amenities include a 24-hour fitness center and a scenic outdoor terrace with cabana-lined outdoor pool. To support Savannah’s thriving art scene, Andaz Savannah will host rotating art shows that feature works produced by local artists, including those from the renowned Savannah College of Art and Design

Regent Hotels and Resorts and Rezidor Hotel Group have signed a strategic alliance agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Rezidor will develop and operate new Regent hotels in Russia, the CIS countries, the Baltic region, the Middle East and Africa, and Rezidor and Regent will jointly develop Regent properties in the rest of Europe. The Regent brand was previously part of Carlson and Rezidor before it was acquired by Formosa International Hotels Corporation a couple of years ago. “The acquisition of the Regent brand and business by Formosa in 2010 allowed us to focus on our core brands Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson, and to strengthen our network in 70 countries across EMEA,” said Kurt Ritter, Rezidor’s president and chief executive officer. “A luxury brand was however never off our agenda, and we are delighted to complement our portfolio with Regent now,” he added.

Hilton Worldwide has launched a new Waldorf Astoria hotel this week. After a £24 million renovation and refurbishment, the 254-room Caledonian Hilton Edinburgh hotel, in Scotland’s capital, has reopened as the 241-room Caledonian, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The hotel, which is more than 100 years old, has been operated by Hilton since 2000. It has become the group’s second Waldorf Astoria property in the UK, alongside Syon Park in London.

It’s been a busy week for Marriott International. The group announced plans to open its tenth hotel in Turkey, in the city of Izmir, on the Aegean coast. The Renaissance Izmir Hotel is due to open at the end of the year. Once open, the 110-room hotel will become Hilton’s first hotel in Izmir and its fifth Renaissance property in the country. Additionally, Marriott has signed a franchise agreement with SHEPI SNC for its first AC Hotel by Marriott property in Paris. When it opens in 2014, the 166-room AC Hotel Paris Port Maillot will be Marriott’s 14th hotel in the French capital and the third AC Hotel by Marriott in France. Marriott also revealed plans to open three new Autograph Collection properties in Europe by the end of the year. The Collection will make its debut in Portugal with the 72-room Fontecruz hotel in Lisbon, and France is to welcome two new Autograph Collection hotels: the 78-room Hotel De Bourgtheroulde in Rouen and the 72-room Hotel L’Hermitage Gantois in Lille; the buildings of both hotels, in the north of France, date back to the 15th century.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with German real estate and investment company Bari Gruppe that will see the group’s environmentally friendly, extended stay brand, Element, make its debut in Europe. The new-build Element Frankfurt Airport is expected to open in 2014 at the Gateway Gardens area in Frankfurt, Germany, with 133 studios and one-bedroom suites. “This is the beginning of what we anticipate will be a long-term relationship with Starwood as we introduce Element Hotels to Europe and establish it as the continent’s most eco and guest-friendly extended stay brand,” said Marco Bari from Bari Gruppe. Starwood currently operates Element hotels across the USA, but also has properties in the pipeline for Canada and the Middle East due to open in the next few years.

Mukul, a luxury boutique hotel and spa in Guacalito de la Isla, a new $250-million, 1,670-acre private beach community on Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast, is scheduled to open in January 2013. Mukul will feature 37 accommodations, each with an ocean view, pool and private staff. Other resort amenities include Spa Mukul, with six private spa-treatment casitas; a beach club featuring dining and lounge areas and a swimming pool; and the 18-hole Guacalito Golf Course.  Mukul and Guacalito de la Isla are the vision of Nicaraguan entrepreneur Don Carlos Pellas, whose family has roots in the country that date back to the 19th century. The Pellas family businesses include transportation, computers, sugar, ethanol, Flor de Caña Rum and the Vivian Pellas Hospital. Pellas also founded the BAC Credomatic financial network in 1985.

Bulgari Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with OCT Group to open a new hotel in Shanghai in 2015. The project follows the opening of the Bulgari Hotel London in late May this year. The luxury goods brand has a further two properties – in Milan, which opened in 2004, and a resort in Bali, which opened in 2006. The Shanghai hotel will be located in a riverside metropolitan complex development in Suhe Creek, a protected heritage zone in the Zhabei District. The Bulgari Hotel will be located in the 12 upper floors of a 40-storey building designed by architecture team Foster + Partners. The hotel will have 120 rooms and suites – including the 400sqm Bulgari suite – as well as a ballroom, spa, and rooftop Italian restaurant. A Chinese fine dining restaurant will be created in the former Chinese Chamber of Commerce building at the site, which dates back to early 1900.

Hudson, a Morgans Hotel Group property in New York, has completed a US$18 million renovation of its 836 guestrooms. During nine months of work, crews removed the popcorn ceilings and installed new Venetian blinds. Guestrooms also have new storage options and new artwork in light boxes by Nick Veasy. The bathrooms have new illuminated bathroom mirrors. The next phase of the project will add two new food and beverage outlets and a new outdoor Private Park space.

A Meliá Hotels International property in Seville, Spain, is the first hotel in the city to become a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. The 189-room Gran Meliá Colón underwent an intense auditing procedure to ensure it complied with strict quality criteria in order to join the group, the largest luxury hospitality organisation in the world. “Being a member of The Leading Hotels of the World means having a passion for service and at the same time being proud of our hotel’s unique character,” said the hotel’s general manager, José Antonio Rubio.

The former Hotel Indigo on West End Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee, has reopened under Starwood’s Aloft brand. The hotel, which was previously operated under IHG’s lifestyle brand Hotel Indigo, was sold through foreclosure in July for US$18 million and has been the subject of a legal dispute between Nashville hotel developer Mark Lineberry and business partners at Wesley Hotels. Now named The Aloft Nashville Music Row, the property is the brand’s first conversion of an existing boutique hotel, and the first non-Starwood-owned Aloft hotel.

Ovolo has opened its first Australian hotel, a 43-room boutique property in Melbourne’s Central Business District. Guestrooms range from studio apartments to luxury penthouses with terraces, pinball machines and boxing punchbags. Rooms include chalkboard walls, shaving mirrors in the showers, and amenities from NYC Malin + Goetz. Personalised 24-hour reception service, free WIFI, complimentary daily mini-bar, unrestricted local calls and breakfast services are all part of the price. The company is planning a series of further openings in major Australian cities.

Hyatt’s lifestyle brand has opened its first property in Northern California. The 141-room Andaz Napa, which previously previously operated under the name Avia Napa, opened its doors earlier this week after a refurbishment. It is one of 24 hotels purchased in 2011 by Hyatt from Kansas-based LodgeWorks LP in an $800 million deal. The Andaz Napa is the seventh Andaz property, joining hotels in New York City (two), San Diego, West Hollywood, London and Shanghai. Planned destinations include Savannah, Georgia; Maui, Hawaii; China; Costa Rica; India; Mexico; the Netherlands; and Turks and Caicos.

IHG has announced its third property in China under the Hotel Indigo lifestyle brand which will open next month in the port of Tianjin. The property – formerly the German consulate – will open on September 15. It features 11 villas built in a German architectural style, arranged around a triangular courtyard. It has a total of 96 guestrooms, including 10 suites, and follows openings in Shanghai in 2010 and Xiamen earlier this year. The site is 27 minutes by bullet train from the Chinese capital Beijing. Design firm Silverfox has created interiors designed to reflect “Tianjin’s eclectic Orient-meets-European heritage and proximity to the Haihe riverfront”.

The former Hotel Ambassadeur, located in the heart of Juan-les-Pins, French Riviera, has been re-branded an AC Hotel by Marriott hotel, following ambitious growth plans for the AC by Marriott brand announced last year. Following renovation, the AC Hotel Ambassadeur Antibes-Juan Les Pins exudes the modern comfort and urban style associated with the AC Hotels by Marriott brand. Blending quality, comfort, design and technology, the hotel features fresh new designs to its reception and lobby, including a signature AC Lounge with zones to relax, work or unwind. The hotel’s 221 guestrooms and suites boast smart, contemporary furnishings, natural driftwood floors and a warm and sophisticated color palette. Located in a lush and tranquil setting, the AC Hotel Ambassadeur Antibes-Juan Les Pins offers both indoor and outdoor pools, a pool-side grill and is located a short 200 meter walk from the hotel’s idyllic private sandy beach. Provençal cuisine with a unique twist can be sampled at the AC Ambassadeur Restaurant where fresh, natural ingredients are transformed into memorable culinary experiences.

Hotels giant Hilton has lost control of its only site in the centre of Paris, the four-star Hilton Arc de Triomphe, after a court battle with the owners. 

Property owner Société Immobilière et Hôtelière du Parc Monceau had complained that Hilton had “changed commercial strategy, leading to serious breaches of its obligations”. A court agreed that this was enough to strip Hilton of its rights to manage the hotel, which it had controlled since 2004. 

That means there will be no more Paris Hilton as the giant, which runs nearly 3,800 hotels worldwide, has been given three months to strip all Hilton branding from the 500-bed hotel in Rue de Courcelles in the VIII arrondissement. 

Sited just “few minutes from the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Élysées and the boutiques of the Faubourg Saint-Honoré”, it was Hilton’s only hotel within the Paris “walls” and the company has announced that it is to appeal against the tribunal ruling. 

SIHPM and its owner Albert Cohen said that Hilton’s marketing strategy had failed to exploit the Hilton Arc de Triomphe correctly – and that it should have been a five-star hotel. SIHPM is also claiming €60 million in damages.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a franchise agreement with LFPI Hotels Management Germany that will mark the entry of the group’s boutique Hotel Indigo brand in Düsseldorf. The Lindner Rhein Residence on Kaiserswerther Strasse in Düsseldorf, in the west of Germany, is to be converted into the Hotel Indigo Düsseldorf-Victoriaplatz. When it opens in 2013, the 126-room hotel will become the third Hotel Indigo in Germany (two are already in operation in Berlin).

American company Morgans Hotel Group has signed a 20-year management agreement with Moscow-based real estate developer Capital Group for its first property in Russia. The Delano Moscow will be part of Capital Group’s OKO project, which is being developed within the Moscow City mixed-used complex. When it opens in 2015, the 160-room hotel will be the first hotel to operate in the Moscow City development and it will become the third Delano property outside of the USA. The brand will be making its international debut next month when the 71-room Delano Marrakech opens in Morocco, North Africa, followed by the Delano Cesme, in Turkey, which is also expected to open in 2015.

Marriott International plans to make its first appearance in Ukraine in mid 2013. The group has signed a management agreement

with Subsidiary Enterprise Grand Plaza for the 173-room Renaissance Kiev Hotel. The hotel will be developed in an existing historic building in Kiev city centre, once the Leipzig Hotel, which is to undergo a renovation and extension.

Strategic Hotels & Resorts confirmed on Friday that it bought the Jumeirah Essex House, located in New York City, and will rebrand it as the JW Marriott Essex House New York. Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Chicago, bought the property from Dubai Investment Group for

US$362.3 million. In light of the US$10 billion in debt it is looking to refinance, Dubai Group, the parent company of Dubai Investment Group, revealed that it was seeking a buyer for the property in March. The purchase price includes 509 guestrooms and nine condominium units.

The May Fair Hotel in London officially opens its Cigar Room this month. Graham Cox and the property’s design team are behind the space, which has swing chairs, day beds, chain-mesh walls, and live fireplaces. The humidor offers forty varieties of cigars, including some lighter, more feminine options. Sophia Christoforidou leads the team of cigar sommeliers.

HG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world”s largest hotel companies and the biggest international hotel company in Greater China, today announced its first set of signings for the new HUALUXE^TM Hotels and Resorts brand. Eight management contracts have been signed since the brand launch earlier this year, including hotels in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as six emerging business and leisure destinations across the country. HUALUXE^TM Hotels and Resorts is the first international hotel brand specifically designed for Chinese consumers focusing on the unique aspects of Chinese etiquette, the importance of rejuvenation, status recognition and enabling spaces that reflect local customs and heritage. It takes the best aspects of renowned Chinese hospitality and applies IHG’s international scale, powerful systems and unparalleled insights into the Chinese market and will consistently deliver what consumers expect in China today.

MGM Resorts International and Morgans Hotel Group have announced a partnership to introduce Delano Las Vegas, an all-suite hotel at Mandalay Bay. After completing a property redesign, Morgans Hotel Group’s signature luxury brand will come to life in place of THEhotel in late 2013. In addition, Morgans Hotel Group plans to introduce several new food and beverage concepts at Mandalay Bay to be managed by The Light Group. Venues will include a casual American bistro by Chef Brian Massie, a Japanese dining destination by celebrity chef Akira Back and a new vision for Red Square. The Light Group will once again reinvent Las Vegas nightlife with a revolutionary nightclub. Each of the property’s 1,100 all-suite accommodations will be redesigned in keeping with the Delano personality.

To turn around the Crowne Plaza chain, global hotel giant IHG must first shrink it, CEO Richard Solomons told analysts during the company’s second-quarter earnings call. In the year since IHG has been working on revamping the chain, IHG has parted ways with 16 “substandard” Crowne Plaza properties in the Americas, he said. He expects to remove about 25 more hotels over the next two years. When it’s all said and done, he said, Crowne Plaza will have cut ties with about 10% of its locations – a move aimed at closing the “performance gap” between locations in the Americas and the rest of the world. The revamp should be largely completed in late 2015.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced that it plans to debut the Aloft brand in South Korea in late 2014, signing an agreement with development partner Youngshin HRD. Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of OKHOW Co., Ltd. The hotel, Aloft Suwon, will be the first Aloft hotel in South Korea, adding to the brand’s global expansion plan and growth momentum in Asia Pacific that has been building up in recent years. Aloft Suwon is located in Yeongtong-dong in the heart of historical Suwon, the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Suwon is a major industrial center, housing Samsung Electronics’ digital city and a large factory complex; it is also home to 14 university campuses. Aloft Suwon is part of a mixed use development that also consists of retail and residential spaces. The hotel occupies the 4th to 11th floors, featuring 120 guest rooms, including 114 standard rooms and six suites, in a modern, fresh, and fun setting. It also boasts a 404 square meter meeting and function space, and two food and beverage facilities, including the buzzing signature lounge and bar, and an all-day dining restaurant. Other amenities include a 275 square meter recreational facility, with a well equipped gym, and it is situated adjacent to an 854 square meter spa that provides signature rejuvenating treatments.

NH Hoteles announced that from August 1 all its guests will have access to free Wi-Fi both in all the rooms and in common areas in its establishments.

Aloft Atlanta Downtown, formerly a Days Inn, will open in the spring of 2013 with 263 rooms and 2,000 square feet of meeting space. This new Aloft hotel will be in a prime location in Atlanta, close to the thriving hub of

Georgia State and Georgia Tech as well as tourist attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca Cola. The CNN Center, Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Dome are also in the neighborhood. As with all Aloft Hotels, you can expect a contemporary room, a w xyz bar, the re:fuel 24/7 pantry, the re:mix lounge, a pool, free WiFi and affordable rates. It’s too early to know the specific hotel rates for this location yet, but Aloft rooms usually start at about $125 per night.

A Chicago developer is planning to build a 240-room hotel in Boston’s Downtown Crossing, one of several projects that will help revitalize the time-worn shopping district. Oxford Capital Group plans to build the hotel on Temple Place, one of the small side streets in the so-called Ladder District that has attracted a rush of redevelopment proposals in recent months. The company purchased 59 Temple Place for $23.2 million earlier this year after a bidding war with more than 100 would-be buyers, and now intends to renovate the existing building. In 2009, Oxford Capital made a splash in Chicago with the opening of the Hotel Felix, a 225-room boutique hotel with a restaurant, sleek lobby bar and spa.

NYLO will soon open its third boutique hotel in the Dallas market. The loft-style hotel brand will begin operating a 76-key locale

in mid August in a 101-year-old building that formerly housed the Dallas Coffin Co. The NYLO Dallas South Side Hotel will join two other properties in the market, in Plano and Las Colinas. The South Side property is the brand’s first conversion property, as well as its first to seek LEED certification. The project’s developer is Matthews Southwest, and its interiors were created by Dallas-based 5G Studios. NYLO officials said during the South Dallas building’s conversion, every possible part of its original five-story structure has been incorporated into the hotel, and that its guest rooms will feature original concrete floors and exposed ceilings. The hotel will also be home to the SODA Bar, which will feature a roof top infinity pool and glass-enclosed bar/lounge offering a panoramic view of downtown Dallas, along with a Terrace Bistro restaurant adjacent to its lobby.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced the signing of Le Méridien Dhaka, slated to open in July 2013. Owned by Best Holdings Limited, the 304 room hotel will be located close to Dhaka International Airport with easy access to the city’s central business district offering breathtaking views of the city. Le Méridien Dhaka will span between the eighth and fifteenth floors of a new mixed use development and offer guests breathtaking views of Dhaka from the building’s rooftop. Four food and beverage venues, including an all-day dining restaurant and specialty restaurant and bar, will offer distinctive culinary experiences for both guests and locals alike. The hotel will also house a 2,800 square-foot fitness center fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and a 2,400 square-foot spa.

Marlon Brando’s dream of building an eco-resort in Tahiti is finally coming true, years after the legendary actor’s death. The Brando will open on a private island he had bought in Tahiti three years after filming 1962′s Mutiny of the Bounty, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Brando, who starred in such iconic films as The Godfather and A Streetcar Named Desire, bought a 12-island atoll called Tetiaroa 20 miles north of the main island of Tahiti. He had been inspired by his third wife, French Polynesian actress Tarita Teriipia. The Hollywood Reporter points out that he and his wife had opened a hotel on one of the islands but abandoned the island after a family tragedy in 1990. Brando’s son Christian was convicted of killing the boyfriend of Brando’s daughter Cheyenne, who years later committed suicide in Tahiti. Brando died in 2004. The Brando is scheduled to open in late 2013. Brando’s heirs gave permission to Tahitian developer Richard Bailey to build it. According to the Reporter, the resort’s energy needs will be 100% renewable.