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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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