Casino company Rotate Black has signed a letter of intent with Hemingway Hotels and Resorts to operate a four-star hotel at the casino it wants to build at the Gulfport harbor. The SunHerald reports that Dual Cooper, the president of Rotate Black, said the 205-room hotel will have outdoor saltwater swimming pools and cabanas among its many amenities. Tuckey Devlin, president of Hemingway Hotels and Resorts, said the agreement was signed this week. Devlin said the agreement is contingent on financing and approval of the casino project by Mississippi’s Gaming Commission. Hemingway Hotels is a new brand that is planning hotels that evoke the image of writer and adventurer Ernest Hemingway. “The project in Gulfport is all about real good, hard, fun living,” Devlin said. The hotel would sponsor fishing tournaments and provide a variety of entertainment. And Hemingway Hotels each will contain a library featuring Hemingway’s books and other classics.

Alila Hotels & Resorts is moving into Oman. Alila currently manages boutique hotels and resorts in the Asia Pacific region; however, the Singapore-based group has got together with Muscat-based investment‚ development and management company Omran to develop the Alila Jabal Akhdar resort. The 78-room resort is scheduled to open at the end of 2013 in Oman’s Jabal Akhdar region, in the Al Hajar mountain range, a two-hour drive from Muscat.

AJ Capital Partners, a Chicago-based investment company led by John Pritzker and Ben Weprin, has agreed to buy the Chicago Athletic Association building for US$13 million and plans to spend US$20 million to convert it into a Thompson hotel, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Thompson brand is a part of Commune Hotels & Resorts, of which Pritzker is co-chairman. The hotel, which will have 240 to 260 rooms when it opens in early 2014.

The Los Angeles-based SBE revealed that it is bringing its SLS Hotels brand to New York City. The 190-room SLS Hotel New York, located at 444 Park Avenue South in Manhattan, is set to open in the second quarter of 2013. SBE and Moin Development Corp., New York City, are

jointly purchasing for US$45 million and renovating the property for US$40 million, with Moin owning 90% of the property. The former office building, built in 1920, will be renovated and have five floors added to it with Philippe Starck working on the design. “For us, this really finalizes the triangle between New York, Los Angeles and Miami,” Sam Nazarian, SBE founder, chairman and CEO told The Wall Street Journal. “New York is really going to be big for us across our platform.”The hotel will feature a rooftop nightlife concept and a mixology lounge in the lobby.

Soaked, a rooftop cocktail lounge, is now open at Mondrian SoHo in New York City. The lounge serves fruit-infused cocktails without extra sugar or artificial flavors in a 4,000-sq-ft (372-sq-m) space with natural landscaping, oversized planters, and large grass meadow. The decor features antique lighting and custom teak furniture. The menu by Beverage Director Steve Olson includes juiced orchard-to-bar cocktails, such as the 100-Mile Margarita with pineapple and jalapeño-infused tequila, apple, pear, pineapple, wheatgrass and mint; muddled drinks such as a watermelon mojito; and shaken cocktails such as the Rhub Awakening with rhubarb and caramel-infused vodka, Grand Marnier, strawberries, rhubarb, basil and lime. Frozen treats include an alcoholic strawberry rhubarb popsicle and dairy- and gluten-free soft-serve. The menu also offers non-alcoholic juices such as the Popeye, made with kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, celery, cucumber, lemon and ginger.

Delta Real Estate, a member of closely held Delta Holding, is launching a 25 million-euro ($30 million) renovation of its biggest hotel to reopen it under the Crown Plaza brand. In cooperation with InterContinental Hotels Group Plc (IHG), the world’s largest provider of hotel rooms that owns the brand, Belgrade-based Delta will turn the 420-room Continental (a former InterContinental Hotel) in the Serbian capital into a five-star hotel and reopen it in September 2013, said Delta director Zivorad Vasic.

All 270 guestrooms at the recently opened Mondrian Soho feature Apple iPads equipped with guest service software from Intelity.

The Intelity Interactive Customer Experience (ICE) software lets guests choose from 30 automated hotel services, including transportation coordination, roomservice ordering, dinner reservations and housekeeping requests. The Morgans Hotel Group property also has programmed the iPads with its own curated selection of local attractions, downloaded music and area events information.

“As we are constantly challenging ourselves to push the envelope and reinvent the guest experience, we feel this offering continues to set us apart,” says David Weidlich, executive vice president of operations for Morgans. “Our newest feature will be our minibar section, whereby a guest can order a wide arrange of curated items not typically available in a minibar, such as Flip video cameras, Rogan men’s apparel and a limited-edition Derringer bike upon which to discover New York City.”

In addition to providing a luxury service to guests, the ICE technology helps hoteliers reduce operational costs and increase guest satisfaction by fully integrating with the hotel’s property management system, allowing management to track and chart guest requests and response times. As a result, hotel managers can pinpoint how quickly needs are being met, staff strengths and weaknesses, and which products and services are most in demand.

This new hotel is the third edition to the company’s renowned Mondrian brand

Morgans Hotel Group Co. and developer Cape Advisors, Inc. today announced the opening of Mondrian Soho on March 1st, with an exclusive preview at the end of February. Fantasy meets sophisticated chic with Morgans Hotel Group’s unveiling of its third Mondrian, the renowned lifestyle brand known for its distinct style of hospitality, nightlife and entertainment, and the company’s downtown debut in Manhattan’s famed SoHo neighborhood at 9 Crosby Street.

Situated intimately in the midst of lower Manhattan’s coveted SoHo neighborhood, Mondrian takes its place amongst a-list residents, fashionable and picturesque streets, charm and energy. Mondrian joins a unique offering of retail, art and culinary innovators and adds to this renowned cultural destination in lower Manhattan. Boasting over 100 shops, 250 galleries, and nearly 200 restaurants, SoHo is the most talked about neighborhood in New York. Noteworthy destinations close to Mondrian include Jil Sander, Opening Ceremony, Saturday Surf Shop and the New Museum, amongst others. Nearby popular areas include Greenwich Village, Nolita, the Lower East Side, Tribeca and Chinatown.

“The addition of Mondrian SoHo to our portfolio marks a significant moment in the evolution of the Mondrian brand and solidifies our presence in a neighborhood that is beloved by our sophisticated clientele, both local and international,” said Marc Gordon, President of Morgans Hotel Group. “We are looking forward to adding our unique style of hospitality, nightlife and entertainment, innovative culinary concepts, design and impeccable service to the rich culture landscape of SoHo.”

Morgans Hotel Group selected Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, the visionary behind the re-imagined Mondrian Los Angeles, to create Mondrian SoHo in collaboration with the company’s renowned in-house design team. By weaving in elements of the signature Mondrian brand ethos in subtle yet provocative design features throughout the property, Morgans Hotel Group has created a luxurious, yet approachable destination. The romantic design draws inspiration from Jean Coucteau’s 1946 French fantasy film “La Belle et la Bete”, an iconic romantic adaptation of two French fairy tales, awakening the imagination and inviting guests into a vibrant escape. All the while delivering the luxurious, chic and comfortable style for which the Mondrian brand is best known.

As guests enter Mondrian through a lush green garden topiary facade on Crosby Street, the story of “La Belle et la Bete” is unveiled in the lobby: a powdery French blue color palette unifies a series of seating vignettes over a pale oak floor. The casual and eclectic seating groups featuring custom furniture designed by Noriega, echo the whimsical environments of other signature properties within the Morgans Hotel Group portfolio.

At the highly anticipated Imperial No. 9, located just off the lobby, Chef Sam Talbot will introduce his sustainable seafood concept with a 150-seat restaurant. In keeping with Noriega’s dream-like theme, an opulent cluster of crystal chandeliers hangs over a large, mirror-topped communal table and anchors the main dining room. White washed oak floors and sandy-beige walls accented with antique mirrors embellish the airy atmosphere. A long bar clad in white-washed oak and cream colored stone serves as a casual imbibing spot with a selection of handcrafted cocktails that Morgans Hotel Group’s nightlife destinations are famous for. A play of sand colors and textures compliment subtle references to ocean motifs, giving the room a sense of refined elegance while maintaining the allure found throughout the hotel.

The garden building at Imperial No. 9 boasts a romantic setting complemented by an elegant crystal chandelier collection and accented with potted plants and natural ficus trees, all beneath the shelter of a dramatic glass roof. The centerpiece of the space is a delicate over-sized glass sculpture created by acclaimed artist Beth Lipman, and serving as a reference to Cocteau’s story in which seduction takes the form of an elaborate feast, prepared nightly. A zinc-topped, potting shed -style bar features wood shelving with potted plants, complimenting the elegant garden atmosphere. A Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz signature double-sided cottage swing completes the casual playfulness of the room and references the whimsy of the designer’s swing in the lobby of Mondrian Los Angeles.

Mondrian’s mesmerizing ambiance continues within the 270-room hotel, which includes four sprawling suites, each featuring a terrace, and a grand Penthouse on Mondrian’s 25th floor. Saturated blue corridors with custom carpet adorned with a rose vine design provide entryway to the elegant jewel-box rooms featuring large dramatic mirrors, a clever nod to the ubiquitous French tale. A number of rooms also feature a pristine marble foyer and bar area, sparkling chrome desks and classic translucent doors offering entry to the bathroom with custom-designed fixtures. Chrome night tables and sconces offset an angelic white bed, 10-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows capture the essence of a true New York City loft while lending stunning views from within the SoHo neighborhood’s tallest building.

The 1,170 square-foot Penthouse is the perfect, exclusive events destination, featuring a 200 square foot north-facing terrace with dramatic views of the Empire State building and an additional 2,000 square foot south facing terrace with stunning panoramic views.