An operator of 14 pubs and restaurants in London is branching into the boutique hotel business. Urban & Country Leisure Ltd., run by U.K. hospitality entrepreneur Ross Sanders, announced it is spending $2.3 million to convert the former Globe Hotel in Warwick, England, into a boutique locale dubbed The Lazy Cow.

The Lazy Cow, slated to open in October, will have 16 themed rooms created by designers Tibbatts Kirk Abel. It will also feature an attached high end pub and restaurant.

“The Lazy Cow is the first of what we hope to establish as a chain of small, intimate, stylish boutique hotels that have a strong accent on quality accommodation, stylish interiors with exceptional food and drink offerings,” says Sanders. “Our aim is to provide the best possible accommodation offering to the tourist, business and destination weekend break markets. It’s a natural progression and extension of our existing UCL blueprint and plans.”

South Beach’s iconic Ritz Plaza Hotel will soon undergo a major renovation and rebranding. Owner SBE says it is moving ahead with plans for designer Philippe Starck to update the hotel’s guest rooms and relaunch the property as the SLS South Beach in spring 2012.

SBE, Sam Nazarian’s Los-Angeles-based luxury hospitality, real estate development and lifestyle company, says Starck’s design for the hotel “will feature a stunning surrealistic feel highlighted by a white-on-white palate with limited accents from carpeting, stone or artwork. Perfectly suited for a luxurious yet vibrant beach experience, the project will mark Starck’s … return to South Beach, where his 1995-designed Delano remains the market standard.”

SBE announced plans for the Starck-designed SLS chain two years ago, and debuted the concept at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel. “SLS in Los Angeles is a full boiling bucket of energy made of life, vision, creativity, intelligence, fertile surprises, love, tenderness and sexiness, but also great food and wine,” says Starck. “It is called a modern miracle. But who said that miracles happen only on the West Coast? The new SLS South Beach shall be another huge bucket of sparkling energy, but with sea, sun and sand.”

In addition to updating the Ritz Plaza’s 132 rooms, SBE plans for the site include constructing 10 new luxury pool-side bungalow suites, opening an 8,000-sq.-ft. Hyde Lounge and adding two Starck-designed restaurants: The Bazaar by Jose Andres and Katsuya.

Originally built in 1939 under renowned South Beach architect L. Murray Dixon, the Ritz Plaza features a rooftop architectural design depicting a lantern reaching to the sky and is the tallest art deco structure in South Beach.

Traders Hotel, Hong Kong is located on Queen’s Road in the Western District, the heart of buzzing street life, traditional shops, temples and numerous local eateries. The district retains a distinctive Chinese atmosphere, yet is only 10 minutes from Hong Kong’s Central business district, the Airport Express, and nightlife of Soho and Lan Kwai Fong.

Previously operated as Hotel Jen and prior to that the Novotel Century Harbourview Hotel, the hotel will become part of Shangri-La’s global sales and distribution network. The integration into the Traders’ portfolio will enable guests to participate in Shangri-La’s Golden Circle guest recognition program and airline partner programs.

“I am delighted to be part of the launch of Traders in Hong Kong,” says newly appointed General Manager, Mr Andrea Mastellone. “Having been with the brand for many years it is exciting to provide a new alternative of stylish comfort and convenience for the modern day road warrior in Hong Kong. Traders Hotel will be an easy choice for business travelers who appreciate a convenient location and efficient service or leisure visitors who like a relaxed, contemporary atmosphere.”

Renovated in 2008, Traders Hotel, Hong Kong has 280 guestrooms and suites designed in a sleek contemporary style to maximize the use of space. The clean lines, neutral color scheme and wood furniture and flooring provide a soothing setting from which to enjoy the spectacular views of Victoria Harbour or the Peak. The address is 508 Queen’s Road West, Western District, Hong Kong.

Café 508 on the second floor features extensive buffet selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner, perfect for time sensitive business luncheons or a leisurely meal with the family. The Traders Lounge on the 28th floor is available to Club guests during the day and offers a variety of benefits including private check-in/out, complimentary buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails. The Lounge opens to the public after 7:30 pm, an ideal spot to enjoy after-work drinks with a view. The Lobby Bar and rooftop outdoor pool with adjacent gym complete the guest facilities.

Traders Hotel, Hong Kong will be the first hotel within the brand to launch the Traders’ Signature Scent in its public areas. The scent, a tropical fruit green fragrance supported by a warm musk will be introduced gradually in the eleven Traders Hotels throughout Asia and the Middle East within the year.

“The SUU Hotels bring a compelling blend of natural outdoor beauty with sleek, modern and elegant décor,” said Cenk Kinay, CEO and founder of The SUU. “We want our brand to distinguish itself from the others by providing superb personal service in a relaxed and elegant refuge in the most spectacular destinations of the world.”

The SUU represents purity of the mind, body and soul, as guests are able to relax with the hotels’ luxurious services. Yoga programs and healing treatments are held at each hotel’s movement pavilion, where complimentary yoga classes are taught daily to help guests reach a place of absolute bliss and contentment. Butlers are present to extend personalized service and to help guests feel welcomed from the moment they arrive. Poolside butlers offer an afternoon fruit sorbet, Evian spring water, fresh towels and cucumbers. Guests can also be pampered while they indulge in serene indoor and outdoor spa services with organic products that include natural spices, fruits and minerals, indigenous to the area.

The SUU provides an exquisite dining experience to suit everyone’s tastes. Each menu item is made with fresh and organic ingredients and can be served on each guest’s terrace, poolside, beneath a canopy of stars or overlooking the deep blue sea. For those looking for a more intimate experience, a personal chef is also available upon request. Special Xantos menu items have been pre-selected so that gastronomes can distinguish The SUU’s signature dishes. Guests can also enjoy the hotels’ exclusive wine selection, while watching the sunset and taking in the picturesque oceanic views.

The SUU combines the natural environment with contemporary and sleek décor. Its all-white ambiance offers guests an entire holistic experience. Guests can relax and be pampered, while all their cares are left behind.

“We want to offer first class services and amenities to guests seeking a holistic experience in a modern, yet comfortable atmosphere,” said Teresa Alfonso, vice-president of The SUU. “Our guests should leave our hotels feeling rejuvenated and refreshed, having achieved an absolute feeling of purity and balance.”

The SUU Turkbuku, situated on the northern shore of the Bodrum peninsula in Turkey, offers tranquil, luxury accommodation, steps away from the crystal blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Having opened its doors on June 30th, 2010, the exclusive lifestyle villas will provide its guests a sense of tranquility and rejuvenation in Turkey’s best kept secret. Located in a rugged region off the Turkish coast, the 48 villas boast stunning views of picturesque mountains that drop steeply into the clear sea waters, surrounded by luscious orchards of lemons and tangerines.

Coming soon to The SUU is a new location. The SUU Manuel Antonio, opening in August 2010, is located in the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica, just a few minutes away from Manuel Antonio’s world-famous national park. In walking distance from the hotel, is the beautiful Biesanz Beach, which is easily accessible by a trail through the forest.

The SUU plans to develop new destinations, to include locations in Asia, Marrakesh, Mikonos, Riviera Maya, Ibiza, Majorca, St. Barts and Tunisia. For more information about The SUU Hotels, please visit http://www.stylehotelsweb.com

“Joie de Vivre is known for finding undiscovered gems,” said Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre’s CEO. “This hotel has that Cinderella story line. It’s a humble family hotel being transformed into a fun, approachable, and authentically local Laguna Beach hotel where people will want to spend time with old friends and make new ones too.”

As the ultimate beachside retreat for travelers and locals alike, Pacific Edge’s new design will marry the relaxed, sporty, and creative vibe of Laguna Beach. With its cheerful accent colors, surf-themed touches, and views of the blue sky and sea, visiting Pacific Edge will be the definitive mood-boosting experience. The hotel will evoke the feeling of visiting a friend’s beach home, mixed with edgy artistic elements, pop-style furnishings and attentive service. Embracing the inherent surf culture Southern California is renowned for, Pacific Edge has partnered with Bruce Brown Films to become the first official “Endless Summer” hotel, one of the most influential films of the surf genre, and will feature its defining artwork throughout the property as well as DVD box sets in the rooms.

Pacific Edge features 28 comfortable suites, one Villa, a multi-purpose cottage called “Hide,” and 104 deluxe guestrooms. The full service hotel also features two heated swimming pools and a Jacuzzi, a gym and spa, along with a surf lounge for private events. A unique “Beach Sherpa service” will make trips down to the water fast and convenient and WIFI is free throughout the property. The Villa, a newly refurbished 6,000 square foot inspired social gathering or creative business event space, boasts an expansive deck right on the sand. Hide, a two-story beach cottage tucked between the quaint Sleepy Hollow Lane and the Pacific Ocean, is amenable to both business meetings and intimate parties.

Upon arrival, all guests of the hotel receive an “Edge Card,” which allows them to exclusively enjoy VIP privileges and discounts at local restaurants and businesses in Laguna Beach. Guest amenities will include plush bedding, surfboard storage, new bathroom mirrors, and coffee machines serving small batch-roasted coffee from Coffee People of Portland Oregon. Oceanfront rooms, most with balconies overlooking an expansive view of the Pacific Ocean, are perfect for families, couples, and business travelers alike and include 32-inch flat screen televisions, comfortable Adirondack chairs, and queen-sized sofa beds.

Pacific Edge will also introduce a new and exciting bar concept called “The Deck” in Fall 2010. Located on a 3,000 square foot open-air beachfront deck, The Deck will offer the ultimate outdoor lounge experience with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, fire pits for chilly nights, and a thoughtfully crafted cocktail and food menu. For day rate charges, the location will also offer five spacious surf -themed cabanas with private concierge service.

As part of their stay at Pacific Edge, guests can dine at the recently refurbished, iconic Beach House restaurant under the helm of recently hired Chef Michael Ingino, and a enjoy a menu focused on locally caught fish and seasonally grown produce. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has been a cozy locals haunt for years, known for its amazing ocean views and food. The Beach House also caters Pacific Edge’s room service menu, allowing guests to enjoy their extensive, top quality food offerings in the comfort of their hotel rooms.

“Laguna Beach is perfect for guests wanting a beach experience with a slight quirkiness,” said General Manager, Kurt Bjorkman. “Staying at Pacific Edge will be the definitive Laguna Beach, California experience. Guests will want to return year after year.”

Pacific Edge joins Hotel Erwin in Venice, Hotel Maya in Long Beach, the new Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach and the Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles, as part of Joie de Vivre’s Southern California portfolio. Rates at Pacific Edge during high season average $179 for a Village room/ $259 for Oceanfront. Low season rates average $139 for Village room/ $199 for Oceanfront.

Thompson Hotels, an elite collection of service and design-driven hotels in major urban centers, has proudly announced its transatlantic expansion with the planned addition of Belgraves, a Thompson Hotel to its portfolio.  In a joint venture with The Harilela Group, Belgraves is scheduled to open in summer 2011 in London’s affluent and international Belgravia neighborhood, featuring bold interior architecture and design by acclaimed British designer, Tara Bernerd and architectural design by EPR Architects.  The 85-room hotel will include an 80-seat signature restaurant, an intimate library bar and a fitness center, offering a seductive oasis in the heart of Central London.  The chic and eclectic lobby is set to become a second home for both hotel guests and London’s glitterati alike.

“Our first hotel, 60 Thompson in NY, was ideologically based on the intimacy of British hotels,” said Jason Pomeranc, co-owner of Thompson Hotels.  ”They have always been an inspiration to our brand, particularly those of London, and the British traveler has been very supportive of our US hotels.  London is a natural transition for the Thompson brand.  The opening of Belgraves brings us full circle.”

Blending traditional British hospitality with an American bohemian attitude, Belgraves will interpret the Thompson luxury experience in London, joining the on-going creative movement in design, dining and art that is currently forging the “new Britannia”.

“Thompson Hotels is known for offering unique experiences and first-rate service in stylish, urban areas,” said Stephen Brandman, co-owner of Thompson Hotels.  ”I am delighted to extend this reputation to the European market.  Whether staying at Thompson LES or Smyth in NY, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in LA or Belgraves in London, guests will rest assured that they will receive the same high level of service that defines the Thompson brand.”

Business and leisure travelers will delight in Belgraves’ attention to privacy, personalized amenities and thoughtful design.  Working closely with progressive interior architect and designer, Tara Bernerd, Thompson Hotels has set out to create a luxurious home away from home in the desirable Belgravia district, just minutes from London’s renowned shops, sites and the bustling Sloane Square.

“Belgraves is iconic for location alone.  Combining this with the opportunity of working with the forward-thinking and design-savvy Thompson Hotels, has magnified the appeal of the project and allows us all as a team to create a very seductive hotel,” commented Tara Bernerd.  ”We intend on creating a rich, eclectic and tactile design that combines traditional elegance with a modern architectural language.”

“Thompson Hotels has a style that London is calling for,” said Dr. Aron Harilela.  ”There is a niche in the market that is waiting to be filled and I believe we have found the perfect match.  I am confident that bringing Thompson Hotels to the heart of Belgravia in creating Belgraves, we will reinvigorate the area, giving Londoners what they have been looking for and international travelers a slice of the new London.”

NEW YORK — EDITION Hotels marks the next chapter in the lifestyle hotel story. The new Brand was conceived by Ian Schrager in a partnership with Marriott International. It will combine the personal, intimate, individualized and unique lodging experience that Ian Schrager is known for, with the global reach, operational expertise and scale of Marriott. This delicate balancing act will encompass, for the very first time, not only great design and true innovation, but also great personal, friendly, modern service as well as outstanding, one-of-a-kind food, beverage and entertainment offerings…”all under one roof.”

Each highly stylized hotel will function as a “home away from home” for leisure and business travelers. In addition, each hotel will cater to the modern day business traveler by offering functional, technologically sophisticated working environments that provide the comfort and ease of actually conducting business in an “office away from the office.”

The heightened experience, authenticity and originality that Ian Schrager brings to this new Brand coupled with the global reach of Marriott will result in a truly distinct product that sets itself apart from anything else currently in the marketplace. It is nothing less than an attempt to push the boundaries, break new ground and take the hotel industry to a whole new level. EDITION will be completely new, different and original offering an experience never before seen in the industry. It will be the first truly global branded lifestyle hotel on a large scale, setting the standard for decades to come.

EDITION will debut in Waikiki Beach October 2010 and will also open a property in Istanbul later this year. Planned openings are also scheduled in 24-hour international gateway cities such as Mexico City, Barcelona, Bangkok, and several other cities in various stages of development.

EDITION responds to new emerging cultural and social imperatives. The new Brand will reflect these changing lifestyles and cater to a vast underserved market of guests expecting and in turn demanding a unique experience, not merely a place to sleep. It is an evolutionary response to the desire for a sophisticated hotel experience. This reinvented and rethought experience will now, for the first time ever, be widely accessible and available in key lodging destinations across the globe and to everybody around the world who wants it.

EDITION is an unexpected, refreshing collection of individualized, customized, one-of-a-kind hotels that is the antithesis of an institutional “hotel chain” and a true paradigm shift in the industry. Each hotel with its rare individuality, authenticity, originality and unique ethos will reflect the best of the cultural and social milieu of its location and of the time. Although all of the hotels will look completely different from each other, the Brand’s unifying aesthetic will be in its approach and attitude to the modern lifestyle rather than its appearance. As a result, design and architecture is derived from the scale, location and feel of the individual properties rather than from contrived decorative cliches or unnecessary gestures. The Brand will be about an attitude and the way it makes you feel rather than the way it looks. Sophisticated public spaces, finishes, design and details will serve the experience, not drive it.

“Ian Schrager’s concepts have revolutionized both nightlife and hospitality. Time and time again he succeeds in making people feel as if they are part of something new, unique and special, always eliciting an emotional and visceral connection to the experiences he creates. His concepts have been and continue to be widely imitated around the world,” says Bill Marriott, Chairman and CEO, Marriott International.

For EDITION, Schrager brings his original vision, passion and commitment to excellence to create something truly special in collaboration with Marriott. “People do not want something derivative. They want the real thing and this is the whole idea behind EDITION,” says Schrager. The role of Mr. Schrager is to act as a creative consultant and lend his vision for concept, design and marketing. His ground-breaking concepts give the Brand a true competitive edge, product distinction and a huge advantage over what is currently offered. However, the ultimate decisions on design, concept and operations are made by the property owners, developers and Marriott.

EDITION will showcase the best dining and entertainment options, services, amenities and offerings for guests and locals in the know. The Waikiki EDITION, designed by Yabu/Pushelberg, will offer a restaurant by world-renowned chef, Morimoto; the exclusive Crazybox nightclub; a unique Sunrise Pool with lushly landscaped gardens by Deborah Nevins; an exclusive Private Sunset Beach with its own lagoon and imported sand from the neighboring Hawaiian islands, providing the same experience as actually lying on a beach; an intimate Lobby Bar hidden behind a secret passage as if tucked away in a castle; a Bar at the Sunrise Pool and Bar at the Private Sunset Beach both under the sun and stars with spectacular views of the Harbor and Pacific Ocean; custom and individually designed Surf and Bikini Boot Camps, the first of their kind, for the ultimate in physical fitness, dramatic weight loss and loss of inches together with custom vegetarian and organic spa menus. This together with a full service spa will offer guests the unique opportunity to actually go on vacation and come home looking better, feeling healthier and pounds lighter!; the largest luxury ballroom on Oahu for weddings and special events; an outdoor movie theatre under the stars, akin to a drive-in theater without the cars, offering first run movies, video and art installations; EDITION retail shop, and much more. Once entering this Urban Resort with its own unique, separate intense reality that offers the best of Waikiki, there will be no need to leave the hotel for anything including dining, relaxing or entertainment.

Opening later this year, The Istanbul EDITION, designed by Gabellini/Sheppard, will offer 77 oversized guest rooms and suites with Rosewood or Soaped Oak walls, ceilings and floors, each like a unique and precious wood jewel box; the finest custom materials, exotic finishes and fabrics in the world; silk area rugs; marble guest bathrooms with floor to ceiling glass enclosed rain showers; world-renowned Cipriani Restaurant; a double height ceiling lobby with gold and silver leaf mosaic detailing and travertine floor and walls; private check-in; a Lobby Bar with private garden terrace; exclusive private event space; Penthouse floor Ballroom; a private club in the sky; a 2,400 square foot one-of-a-kind Penthouse with custom fabrics, furniture and exotic finishes throughout; 20,000 square foot spa by ESPA; high-end, luxury retail boutiques; a private drawing room with honesty bar and screening room for first run movies and private screenings. The Istanbul EDITION will be the picture perfect cultural mix of East meets West.

Brussels-based hotel management company The Rezidor Hotel Group opened Radisson Blu Hotel, Milan yesterday.  The first Radisson Blu in Milan and second in Italy, the 250-key property was formerly known as the Chedi Milan and The Virtus.

Hotel interiors by Jaya Ibrahim offer a serene, “Indonesia-meets-Italy” aesthetic. Guestrooms in warm earth tones with bronze and white accents include limestone bathrooms, flat screen televisions and complimentary high-speed internet access.  The 10th floor, 1,600-square-foot Penthouse Suite features a separate living room, bedroom, and kitchenette with private dining space, as well as floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to a private terrace with sweeping city views.

Radisson Blu Milan offers Rezidor’s signature contemporary Italian restaurant Filini, which serves a modern Italian menu and opens onto a garden courtyard for daily al fresco dining. The hotel’s sleek Lounge Bar, situated between the lobby and restaurant,  is highlighted by a marble spiral staircase

Additional hotel facilities include an indoor swimming pool located under a glass atrium and overlooking the Milan skyline, as well as health and wellness facilities including a steam room, private sauna, and fully-equipped fitness center.

Radisson Blu Milan also offers eight meeting rooms, a conference room with capacity for 240 guests, a 10-seat boardroom and a private delegate entrance. All meeting and events space features natural light as well as complimentary high-speed internet access.

Located in the northern Bovisa district, near Milan’s major international trade fairs, the hotel is within 20 minutes of city-center attractions such as La Scala Opera House, the Duomo Cathedral and Brera, Milan’s old city.

Radisson Blu Milan joins the existing Radisson Blu es. Hotel, Rome in Italy’s capital, as well as a number of new properties in major European cities. Recent openings include two boutique hotels in Paris, France; a resort in Dubrovnik, Croatia; a boutique hotel in Madrid, Spain; and a major renovation to a city-center hotel in Hamburg.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces a management agreement with the Norwegian real estate developer Linstow for 10 Reval Hotels in the Baltics (Latvia, Estonia & Lithuania) and in Russia. The agreement between Rezidor and Linstow will come into effect on June 1, 2010 and includes 3 hotels in Riga, 2 hotels in Tallinn, 2 hotels in Vilnius, and 1 hotel in each Kaunas, Klaipeda and St. Petersburg – adding a total of 2,367 rooms to Rezidor’s portfolio. 6 hotels will be rebranded as Radisson Blu and 4 as Park Inn.

“We are delighted and proud that Linstow, Reval Hotels owner, has chosen Rezidor as a business partner”, comments Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor. “Reval Hotels is the leading hotel chain in the Baltics. This portfolio agreement gives Rezidor, which is the number one among the international hotel operators in Russia, a strong market position in the Baltics, too. We will be able to substantially strengthen our position in the key markets of Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius, where we already are present with our upper upscale brand Radisson Blu and a total of 760 rooms”, continues Ritter.

”After developing and building up the Reval Hotels chain in the Baltics, Linstow now wishes to focus on its core role as a real estate developer and real estate investor. As an internationally renowned hotel player in expansion, Rezidor has a very strong sales organization and presence with well known brands in all markets outside the Baltics and St. Petersburg that are important to bring new customers to our hotels. The management deal therefore assures further revenue growth for our hotels in both the Baltics and Russia. This will happen through, among other things, more effective marketing of the hotels,” says Per Mortensen, CEO of Linstow.

Reval Hotel Sonya in St Petersburg/Russia (173 rooms) will become a Radisson Blu and be Rezidor’s second property of this brand in town.