“Neighbourhood lifestyle” pentahotel Beijing debuts in Dong Cheng district.

pentahotel Beijing‘s “neighbourhood lifestyle hotel” concept combining fuss-free contemporary comfort with style, debuts in Beijing’s Dong Cheng District, providing a hub of casual relaxation and fun for guests, local residents and area visitors. The 307-room hotel joins pentahotel Shanghai as the latest Asia addition to the pentahotels group, whose popular concept includes 13 properties in Europe. Eighty properties are targeted to open by 2020.

A multi-purpose lounge, not lobby, is at the heart of every pentahotel and Beijing’s pentalounge is no exception. Designed as a lively bistro-style gathering place for meeting friends, it’s also an extension of the hotel’s guestrooms – a living room where guests can hang out and chill out, connect or disconnect. With WiFi throughout the hotel, guests can bring their own laptops or use the complimentary Internet corner.

The hotel’s New York loft-style rooms, designed to be sleek yet warm, clutter-free and streamlined, feature dark timber floors, a white and deep blue colour palette, a work desk area and high-speed broadband Internet access.

The new lobby, pentalounge and guestroom design was created by Shanghai’s Neri & Hu architectural design practice. The contemporary rustic décor in the public areas includes hardwoods and earth tones, wrought-iron pendant lights, charcoal granite flooring, brick walls, deep leather club chairs and wool rugs.

Pentalounge is anchored by the centre bar. Here, guests can order up affordable set lunches; sandwiches and snacks from the deli counter; and Western and Chinese “comfort foods” all day such as soups, burgers, pasta, salads, and congee, dumplings, barbecued pork and fried rice.

Or, guests can visit the Noodle Bar, a quirky contemporary take on a traditional noodle shop, featuring hand-pulled thin or thick noodles in rich broth with traditional fixings. On offer are Laksa, Beijing Noodles, Fishball Noodles, Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles and more.

The games room features Wii and videogames as well as an old-school pool table, darts and board games. It can double up as a non-conventional space for corporate brainstorming sessions and relaxed celebrations.

In addition to the games/meeting room on the pentalounge level, there are four meeting rooms on the sixteenth floor which combined can accommodate up to 100 people.

The neighbourhood lifestyle, 307-room pentahotel Beijing combines comfort, efficiency and style in a contemporary environment. Nestled in the heart of Beijing, pentahotel is conveniently located two minutes from Chongwenmen Metro Station. Wangfujing and the Pearl Market are a stone’s throw away for local cuisine and shopping opportunities

It looks like King & Grove have finally made a move on the third property in their rapidly-growing portfolio of US boutique hotels. With emmediate effect the Hotel Williamsburg will be known as King & Grove Williamsburg, with a bunch of other changes on the way: a fresh re-design of the rooms, plus a new restaurant and bar concept. Hopefully, something beyond the whole farm-to-table gimmick, which is not only played out, but will also be featured in King & Grove Williamsburg’s new neighbor, the Wythe.

Alila Hotels & Resorts is to open two new properties in Indonesia in 2014 – Alila Villas Bintan and Alila Seminyak in Bali. Ground-breaking ceremonies have been held at both properties as work gets underway. Both are scheduled to launch in 2014. Set in a beautiful hillside location on the idyllic Lagoi bay on Pulau Bintan only 45 minutes by ferry from Singapore, Alila Villas Bintan will become the third addition to the Alila Villas brand, which has established itself as a leader in design and style at award-winning sister properties Alila Villas Soori and Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali. Alila’s second project, Alila Seminyak, will become the fifth Alila managed property on the island, joining Alila Villas Uluwatu, Alila Villas Soori, Alila Manggis and Alila Ubud. Alila Seminyak will be set in the hippest hub of Bali and is planned to be a prime beach frontage resort comprising of 72 suites, 69 residences, extensive events space, a Spa Alila and restaurants. The resort will be distinguished by its innovative design and architecture based on a rice paddy field concept, with green spaces dominating the interiors and exteriors to create both a natural and stylish oasis.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of the 252-room Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam-Sloterdijk Station in the Netherlands. The hotel is the second of a nine-hotel portfolio currently being developed jointly with TVHG Budget Group Beheer BV (TVHG) across the Netherlands under Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn by Hilton flags. Located adjacent to Sloterdijk Station, one of the main train stations of Amsterdam, the Holiday Inn Express offers convenient access by rail to Amsterdam City Center, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam RAI Convention Center. Hotel amenities include extensive lobby level lounge spaces for work or relaxation, a lobby bar, complimentary Wi-Fi and continental breakfast served daily.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed an agreement with the Rayadah Investment Company to open two new hotels in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), including the first Hotel Indigo in the Middle East. Hotel Indigo KAFD will feature 225 rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant and a lobby lounge café. The hotel will also include a business centre, three meeting rooms, fitness facility, swimming pool, secret garden and a double-height royal suite with a panoramic balcony that soars over KAFD. KAFD, announced in 2006, is a 400-acre development north of central Riyadh. The 32 million square feet district will be a major financial centre in the Middle East and is part of Riyadh’s overall economic diversification plan. KAFD will include premier office space, housing, a financial academy, Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange, GCC Central Bank, seven museums and other recreational facilities.

Meliá Hotels International announced that it signed a 12-year lease agreement with Union Investment Real Estate, Hamburg, Germany, to manage a new-build hotel in Paris set to open in the fourth quarter of 2014. The 369-room Meliá Defense is to be located in a 20-story building located in the La Défense business district.

This summer, Hong Kong-based Amanresorts will open its 25th property overall and its fourth in Europe. The group’s latest addition to its portfolio, Amanzoe, is located near to the town of Porto Heli on Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula. Amanresorts is also planning to open a number of luxury villas at the site in the near future. The 38-suite resort takes its name from the Sanskrit-derived word for peace aman and zoe the Greek word for life.

The hotel, located at 121 State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, offers guests a unique hotel experience with the modern design and intimate service associated with boutique hotels, along with the peace of mind and consistency guests expect from staying with a large hotel group.

Opening after a multi-million dollar renovation, Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara combines the historic Santa Barbara splendor with the architectural sophistication of modern design.  The forty-one room boutique hotel has thirteen guest rooms featuring private outdoor gardens and fourteen guest rooms with views of the Riviera and mountains or urban scenes dotted by palm trees. The hotel houses the CAF Satellite @ Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara, curated by the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum, which provides exhibitions of thought-provoking artworks and site-specific, commissioned installations by local artists.

“The Hotel Indigo brand is a perfect fit for this location,” said Mary Dogan, director brand management, Hotel Indigo, the Americas, IHG. “The modern and environmentally-friendly design reflects the surrounding community and further spotlights the neighborhood as a cultural and artistic mecca.”

The Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara is a community crossroads that breathes life into a thriving and energetic arts corridor.  Located near the railroad station and Stearns Wharf at the gateway to the city, the hotel is a short jaunt to attractions, fine dining and shopping. Crossing the street into the cutting-edge Funk Zone, guests discover Santa Barbara’s hotbed of homegrown artistic production, known for its eclectic wall murals, ateliers, galleries, alternative exhibition spaces, and trendy artist shops, as well as the Urban Wine Trail.  A block from the hotel, local artists put on a mile-long, waterfront arts and craft show known as the Santa Barbara Art Walk.

Local architecture firm AB Design Studios Inc., known for its modern design and approach to adaptive re-use projects, designed the hotel with a sleek interior inside a deceptively traditional exterior.  When guests enter the main lobby of the new hotel, they step into a space of modern elegance and sophistication couched in a timeless and familiar setting.

Interior design by Level 3 Design Group in Los Angeles compliments the contemporary architecture with clean lines and a modern aesthetic.  Innovative touches include a plant-filled living wall and green space and energy efficient elements, including double-pane windows, on-demand water heaters, ionized water cleaning system, filtered water bottle refilling station and European-style bathrooms with collapsible glass-wall showers.

Colorful murals of artist implements, such as brushes, film, paints, pastels and welding torches by local artist Elizabeth Harper grace the common areas and guest rooms. Guests can browse the collection of exhibition catalogues and publications, including those by area art luminaries, in the hotel’s Art Library and rub elbows with artists during talks and openings provided in conjunction with exhibitions.

Reflective of the trend toward creature comforts with a smaller footprint, space-efficient guestrooms feature plush bedding, high-definition flat screen TVs, iHome stations and spa-inspired showers with Aveda products. Hard surface flooring with area rugs create a fresh, residential feel.  Additionally, the hotel offers outdoor lounges, 24-hour access to the hotel’s business center, an intimate boardroom that seats up to 10, complimentary Wi-Fi in public spaces, high-speed Internet connections in each room and a fitness room.

“Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara belongs to the Car-Free Alliance and offers a special discount for guests who stay at the hotel car-free,” said Kay Morter, General Manager.  “The hotel offers hip, affordable accommodations for style-minded clientele and is also pet-friendly.”

Each Hotel Indigo property is uniquely designed to reflect the culture, character and history of the surrounding neighborhood.  No two hotels are the same.  Brand standards don’t dictate the number or size of rooms, making it ideally suited to conversion properties or independent boutique hotels.

The Trump Organization, New York City, announced that it bought the 692-room Doral Hotel & Country Club, located in Miami for US$150 million. “When Doral first opened (1962), it was considered the best resort in the world,” said Donald Trump, chairman and president of the Trump Organization. “Our very significant investment in upgrading the resort will enable us to return Doral to its former glory.” Trump is planning to invest an additional US$150 million renovating the property over the next year and a half while it remains operational.

Rezidor announces the Radisson Blu Hotel, Conakry, slated to open in 2014. Besides 249 rooms with signature services such as free high speed internet access, the hotel will feature several restaurants and bars, including an outdoor terrace and rooftop F&B outlet. The hotel will also offer about 1,580m2 of conference and meeting facilities, an outdoor swimming pool and spa. Guinea is rich in minerals and other natural resources. Its mining sector and refinery industry are the driving forces behind the economic growth of this Western African country. The port and capital city of Conakry is the country’s trade hub and first stop for most international tourists visiting the country.

Auckland’s, New Zealand, former Westin Hotel on the edge of the Wynyard Quarter is to be rebranded Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour. Accor announced it was changing the 173-room waterfront hotel to become a Sofitel, following last year’s announcement that it would manage the property which was initially under its MGallery range, although it traded as Hotel Lighter Quay. Behind the name change was a fierce fight as room owners demanded payments and became so disenchanted that they split away from Westin and carved out a separate lodging business, undercutting the Westin by charging cheap rates.

A prominent building in St Andrew Square in Edinburgh has been snapped up by property developers with plans to turn it into a £120 million luxury hotel. The building, formerly the headquarters of insurance firm Scottish Provident, has been branded a “gap site” after lying empty for four years. The recently refurbished square has been touted as a potential home for a new hotel since Harvey Nichols opened its doors there in 2002, but previous schemes have so far failed to come to fruition. Four hotel proposals are being worked on at this location.

It looks like Mama Shelter’s offbeat design and budgety prices have worked well enough in Paris to warrant an expansion. Mama Shelter Marseille will be opening on April 12 with 127 rooms starting at 69€ a night. Details on the website are scant and there aren’t any photos up yet but there will be also be a Mama Shelter restaurant downstairs with food by Alain Senderens.

Film director Francis Ford Coppola has opened his first resort in Europe. After purchasing a 19th-century palazzo in the town of Bernalda, southern Italy (the birthplace of his grandfather Agostino Coppola) in 2004, Mr Coppola then undertook an extensive renovation of the property, which emerged earlier this week as the Palazzo Margherita, with seven suites and two garden rooms. Coppola Resorts also runs five other resorts across South America and the USA.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that a Hyatt affiliate has signed a management agreement with Flughafen Zurich AG for a Hyatt Regency and a Hyatt Place hotel in Zurich. The hotels, expected to open in 2017, will be part of The Circle, a mixed use development that is designed to be a new service hub and commercial center at Zurich International Airport. Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport will feature 250 guestrooms, including 17 suites, that range in size from 32 sq m (344 sq ft) to 72 sq m (775 sq ft). Additionally, the hotel will offer several food and beverage outlets, a fitness center. Hyatt Place Zurich Airport will offer 300 guestrooms. Additional amenities include a market with made-to-order meals and snacks around the clock; a kitchen offering breakfast, lunch and dinner; a café and bar; a four-station e-room; and well-equipped fitness center.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced that it will debut its Aloft brand in Orlando, Florida during the second quarter of 2013 with the 119-room Aloft Orlando Downtown. To be developed by New York-based GDC Properties, Aloft Orlando Downtown will be located in the former Orlando Utilities Commission building, adjacent to Orlando City Hall. It will feauture the signature w xyz bar, re:mix lounge, re:charge fitness center and splash indoor pool as well as re:fuel, a one stop “grab-and-go” area.

Accor Hotels announced the opening of the biggest Ibis Hotel in Asia (606 rooms) in Bandung, Indonesia this week. All guest rooms convey a minimalist modern spirit, 32-inch LCD TV, Internet access and in-room safe. 222 rooms have connecting doors for families. The 22-floor hotel also features Oopen restaurant -open all day- which offers pasta and grill specialties in an open

kitchen concept. The Ibis Bandung is locatedadjacent to Bandung Supermall and TransStudio, the largest indoor theme park in Asia.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that in summer 2012, the Avia hotels in Napa (Caifornia) and Savannah (Georgia) will be re-flagged as Andaz Napa and Andaz Savannah, respectively, bringing the total number of hotels in the Andaz brand to eight. The opening of Andaz Amsterdam, Prinsengracht the ninth Andaz hotel, is expected to follow shortly thereafter. Local architecture and design firms will work to showcase the surrounding areas through their design of the Andaz Lounge in both the Napa and Savannah hotels.

Andaz Napa, California
Prior to its conversion to an Andaz hotel, California architecture and design firm Bishop Pass will complete some renovations to Avia Napa. When it is reflagged in a few months, the first Andaz hotel in Northern California will offer 141 rooms and suites in the revitalized “West End” district of downtown Napa. Bringing the outdoors in, all of Andaz Napa’s guestrooms will offer modern furnishings in an earthy color palette, complementing the surrounding landscape. Bathrooms will sparkle in white marble and feature walk-in showers and waterfall shower heads. Guests will also enjoy complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in their room throughout their stay. And as with all Andaz hotels, guests of Andaz Napa will be greeted by hosts in the Andaz Lounge upon arrival, who will accommodate, guide and assist travelers throughout their stay. Also, in keeping with the Andaz brand, the renovation of the hotel’s lobby to a lounge will pay tribute to the local area with its design inspired by the region.

The hotel’s signature restaurant and bar will showcase a “Napa-to-table” philosophy, sourcing its produce directly from Northern California ranches, orchards, mills and farms that built the valley into what it is today while dishes will focus on heritage cooking techniques and flavor combinations suited to modern day palates. To accompany the menu, the restaurant will offer a selection of high-end and boutique wines from the Napa and Sonoma regions.

Events and meetings at Andaz Napa will be made to order and can accommodate groups of up to 130 in three versatile venues, complemented by inventive, locally-inspired cuisine. Other hotel amenities at Andaz Napa will include a 24-hour fitness center and a rotating art gallery showcasing works made by local artists.

Andaz Savannah, Georgia
As with the soon-to-be reflagged Avia Napa, Avia Savannah will also have some renovations completed – in this location local architect and designer, Gonzalez Architects, will help the hotel complete its transformation to Andaz Savannah. The hotel is located on the southeast U.S. coast, situated in the heart of downtown Savannah, just steps away from City Market, shopping on the renowned Broughton Street, and fantastic nightlife venues.

Offering 151 guestrooms, Andaz Savannah rooms and suites will offer contemporary furnishings and modern bathrooms, and travelers will delight in the variety of complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic refreshments offered in-room during their stay. And like Andaz Napa, guests will be greeted by local hosts that will also assist guests with concierge services, like booking a city walking tour, directing travelers to the newest emerging artist installation, or organizing transportation.

The restaurant at Andaz Savannah will serve a market to table menu with a low country flare. Coupled with the staff’s warm hospitality and new south sophistication, Andaz Savannah will create an inspiring experience for guests, business travelers and local community members alike. Andaz Savannah’s meeting and event planners will assist in organizing weddings, boardroom meetings, and special events for groups of up to 250. Featuring 2,675 sq ft of studio meeting space, and three distinct and versatile venues, Andaz Savannah will accommodate an impressive array of small meeting and event needs.

Rounding out the hotel’s amenities will be a 24-hour fitness center, and rotating art shows that feature works produced by local artists, including those from the renowned Savannah College of Art and Design.

Despite Euro-Zone Crisis, Company Sees Increased Demand for Growth in Europe – Continues to Make Significant Investments in Existing Portfolio

BERLIN — From the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that it will open 25 new hotels in Europe over the next four years. The company is already off to a strong start this year, opening two new flagship hotels in Europe with a W hotel in Paris and a Le Méridien hotel in Istanbul. Globally, Starwood plans to open 80 new hotels in 2012, building on a year of record growth with 112 new hotel deals in 2011, the highest number since before the global economic crisis.

“Even against a backdrop of uncertainty, Starwood’s pipeline of both managed and franchised deals for all nine brands in Europe is healthy and expected to grow in 2012,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. “Eastern and Central Europe are particularly fertile ground for growth, primarily with new-build properties, while we see numerous ongoing conversion opportunities in established markets throughout Europe.”

Starwood’s growth in Europe is being accelerated by a focus on key fast-growing markets, including Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. Starwood will double its portfolio in Russia and Ukraine by 2014 with openings in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Perm and Kiev. In Turkey, Starwood is expanding its pipeline aggressively with four new hotels opening in a three-year period, including the recent debut of Le Méridien Istanbul Etiler, marking the brand’s entrance into the country. With that, Starwood will operate 10 hotels in Turkey under five of its distinct brands.

Starwood Strengthens Luxury Position
In just four years, Starwood has grown its global luxury room count by 75 percent. Turning to 2012, more than 60 percent of Starwood’s new hotels will be in the luxury and upper-upscale segment.

In Europe, Starwood continues to expand its W Hotels brand into some of the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations. Following the launch of the W brand in Europe just four years ago, Starwood has opened new W hotels in London, Barcelona, St. Petersburg, Istanbul and most recently in Paris with the new W Paris – Opéra. The company will open two additional W Hotels in Europe next year with the new W Milan and the brand’s first ski resort, W Verbier Retreat & Spa in Switzerland.

Starwood is also making significant investments to enhance its existing luxury portfolio in Europe. The company has invested more than $100 million USD to renovate and restore some of its most iconic Luxury Collection hotels, including the Grand Hotel in Florence, which re-opened last year as a St. Regis hotel, as well as the Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville, Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, Hotel Prince de Galles in Paris and Hotel Gritti Palace in Venice.

The enhancement of the Sheraton brand continues to be a focus with a $6 billion USD investment in new hotels and renovations of existing Sheraton hotels. In Europe, there is a major renovation of the Sheraton Edinburgh underway, the UK’s flagship Sheraton Hotel.

“Starwood continues to grow aggressively in the established as well as the fast-growing European economies utilizing both a managed and franchised operating model. There is a large landscape of independent hotels ripe for flags and we expect to capture more than our fair share of conversion opportunities across all our nine brands. The recent conversions of the Sheraton Baku in Azerbaijan, the Four Points by Sheraton Barcelona and the upcoming re-branding of the Sheraton Mirasierra Hotel & Spa in Madrid are a testament of this strategy,” said Roeland Vos, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East.

Long Runway to Grow Mid-Market Brands
Starwood continues to expand its mid-market brands in secondary and tertiary markets around the globe where there is a long runway to grow reliable and affordable hospitality. Accounting for over 25% of the company’s global development pipeline, Starwood will open its 250th mid-market hotel this year. Starwood sees great momentum for its Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft brands in Europe with particular demand coming from Germany, Benelux, United Kingdom and Russia.

“We see great opportunities to grow our Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft brands in more mature markets where there is a strong demand for affordable yet innovative hotel brands. In the years to come, we plan to expand these brands throughout Europe with development partners who have a proven track record of success and are looking for a new and exciting growth vehicle,“ said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President Acquisition & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Denham, U.K., announced on the launch of a new health-conscious midscale hotel brand, Even.

IHG plans to own and operate its first several Even-branded properties and then look to strong existing owner relationships to accelerate growth through IHG’s franchise model, with the first location to be announced in the second quarter of 2012 and opening in 2013. The brand will be launched in the U.S. with IHG committing US$150 million for capital expenditures. IHG has set a goal of signing 100 properties within five years.

“We want to put this where our customers travel to and where they live. San Francisco, New York, the D.C. market,” said Christian Hempell, IHG’s vice president of new business development and delivery. “We want to build a number of hotels in those markets. Then places like Minneapolis, Seattle or Austin.”

IHG spent 18 months researching the new brand, which is says will fill a limited-service, health-conscious niche that about 17 million customers are looking for.

Even hotels will feature guestrooms designed to allow guest to work out in-room, a nutrition-focused menu for snacks and free flavored filtered water with glass bottles guests can fill up and take back to their rooms. The guest profile spans a large age range with a household income of US$75,000, and IHG expects the hotels to appeal to both business and leisure travelers.

“This hotel is a limited service hotel, a select service property and owners can expect healthy margins, as our customer will pay a premium if we meet their needs,” said Hempell. “We think this is the perfect time to launch a brand. We’ve seen the industry recover with strong RevPAR gains. We want to be ready to catch the next wave of development growth.”

Sheraton Hotels will be opening 20 new hotels, 12 in China alone, this year. The iconic brand will mark a milestone later this year with the opening of the nearly 4,000-room Sheraton Macao, which will be the largest Sheraton, as well as the largest Starwood hotel in the world. Offering three restaurants with poolside cafes, 140,000 square feet of meeting space and two outdoor swimming pools, Sheraton Macao is a highly anticipated addition to Cotai Strip, also known as the “Las Vegas of Asia.”

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and Edwardian Group Limited, announced they will rebrand all Radisson Edwardian Hotels, a portfolio of 13 hotels in the United Kingdom and Manchester, to the Radisson Blu brand by the second half of the year.

An investor consortium consisting of Starwood Capital Group, the LeFrak Organization and Invesco Ltd. have jointly purchased a luxury mixed-use property in South Beach that includes the former Gansevoort hotel. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The partners say they plans to invest more than $100 million in an extensive renovation of the overall property designed to reposition it as one of the premier hotel and condo destinations in Miami Beach. The 334-room hotel has been renamed The Perry South Beach until it is relaunched in late 2013 with a new brand after an extensive renovation.

“This is a powerhouse asset with a unique beach footprint in one of the strongest hotel markets in the nation with high barriers to entry,” said Starwood Capital chairman and ceo Barry Sternlicht. “We are excited to create an outstanding destination resort and residences in this dynamic city.”

In addition to the hotel, property includes 255 condo units, 90,000 sq. ft. of retail space including a 42,000-sq.-ft. David Barton Gym, three outdoor swimming pools, and multiple indoor and outdoor food and beverage venues. It also includes a 26,000-sq.-ft. rooftop pool and lounge, a 32,000-sq.-ft. elevated pool plaza and restaurant, and a 48,000-sq.-ft. private beach. The property occupies the entire block between 23rd and 24th Sts. on Collins Ave. and has more than 600 linear feet of beach frontage.

The condominiums will also be improved and then offered for sale later this year. Those residences will have access to the full hotel services, as well as the project’s pools and food, beverage and fitness venues. The repositioning will also include several new local and national stores and restaurants in the retail corridor along Collins Avenue, the partners said.

The name change will also put an end to the confusion that for some time the Gansevoort was no longer part of the namesake group, which operates properties in New York City (Meatpacking and Park Avenue) and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Viceroy Hotel Group announced that The Jalousie Plantation in St Lucia and the Tides Zihuatanejo, Mexico, will be rebranded as Viceroys.

More Viceroy news: HNA Group Co., Haikou, China has purchased the 165-room Cassa Hotel and Residences, located in New York City, and signed an agreement for Viceroy Hotel Group to manage the property. The hotel, completed in 2010, is located on 45th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue. The amount of the transaction has not been released. The previous owner, Waterscape Resort, New York City, filed for bankruptcy in April 2011.

Mandarin Oriental is to make its debut in Turkey, increasing its presence in Europe to seven countries. The Hong Kong-based group is to manage the Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum, which is expected to open in 2014 on the Bodrum peninsula, on Turkey’s Aegean coast. The resort will have 82 guest rooms, 20 suites and 214 private residences.

Swissotel Hotels & Resorts is to open its fourth property in Germany. Joining its sister hotels in Berlin, Bremen and Düsseldorf/Neuss, the 235 room Swissotel Dresden Am Schloss is due to open on 1 April 2012 opposite Dresden Castle, at the centre of the city’s medieval Old Town.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has announced its first Sheraton Hotel in Madrid:  the 180-room Sheraton Madrid Mirasierra Hotel & Spa. The existing Mirasierra Suites Hotel is currently being adapted to Sheraton standards and is expected to be rebranded this spring.

U.K. trade publication Construction Enquirer reported that two years after stopping work due to a fiscal dispute with the property’s previous owner JJW Hotels & Resorts, Shepherd Construction has won a £33 million (US$52 million) contract to convert the former Berners Hotel, located in London’s Fitzrovia neighborhood, into a Marriott Edition to open in 2013. 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. However since then Marriott International Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, announced it would commit US$800 million to develop the Edition brand, an atypical move for the company that is primarily focused on managing hotels. The lifestyle brand was created with famed hotelier Ian Schrager.

The U.S. General Services Administration has chosen Trump Hotel Collection and Colony Capital’s proposal as the winning bid to develop the historic Old Post Office and Clock Tower in Washington, D.C. into a 250-room luxury hotel. The new hotel will be named Trump International Hotel, The Old Post Office, Washington, D.C. and include restaurants, a bar and lounge, banquet, ballroom and meeting facilities, a library, curated museum, indoor and outdoor gardens and spa facilities. Approved by the U.S. Congress in 1880 and completed in 1899, the massive Richardsonian Romanesque Revival edifice is located at Pennsylvania Avenue and 12^th Street, in downtown Washington.

And more DC hotel news: HEI Hotels & Resorts, Norwalk, Connecticut, announced on Wednesday that it bought the 154-room Hotel Palomar Arlington, which it rebranded as Le Meridien Arlington, for an undisclosed amount.