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.