Hotel News In Brief

Jan 02, 07 | 8:46 am

Tryp Hotels opened a new hotel in the city of Buenos Aires, it is the first Tryp Hotel in Argentina and the third hotel operated by the Sol Meliá chain in the country. Considered the cultural heart of Argentina, Buenos Aires is the third biggest city in Latin America, the Tryp Buenos Aires Hotel is located right in its heart. Cosmopolitan and dynamic, Buenos Aires surprises visitors with its streets, squares and monumental buildings, as well as with the range and quality of its cultural and leisure offerings. The 62 spacious rooms at the Tryp Buenos Aires Hotel provide Wi-Fi Internet access, cable TV with 27' LCD screen, mini-bar, 24-hour room service, a desk, clock radio, coffee maker, safe, air-conditioning, heating, as well as a careful balance between rest and work areas. The hotel also provides rooms especially adapted for the disabled and rooms for non-smokers.

Access. Exclusivity. Privilege. For a fortunate few, these benefits are now available with an innovative VIP guest service program at the Biltmore, one of Miami's most fashionable resorts. Based on time-honored traditions of European-style hospitality, the new Biltmore 100 program is designed to anticipate the wishes, expectations, wants and needs of today's sophisticated traveler - with special privileges and benefits including luxurious accommodations, unlimited golf, private sports instruction and fitness training, preferred pricing, upgrades and customized in-suite amenities. With more than $40 million dollars invested in property upgrades, including a new spa, new restaurant and dining concepts, golf course refreshing, contemporary guest room furnishings, as well as the addition of a lively day-to-night social scene, the Biltmore is an undisputed luxury leader in South Florida. Although close to the best of Miami's business, entertainment, sightseeing, shopping and event locations, the property, with its iconic Mediterranean design, cocoons visitors on 150-acres of lushly landscaped grounds and exotic tropical setting. Property amenities include championship golf, tennis, the largest hotel swimming pool in the country, a top spa and fitness center and award-winning restaurants headed up by an innovative and creative culinary team.

Best Western International has signed an agreement with Phu Pha Nam Resort in Loei, Thailand to manage and re-brand the 550-acre property as Best Western Phu Pha Nam Resort, effective March 2007. The 71-room-and-villa Best Western Phu Pha Nam Resort is tucked away on a forested mountainside overlooking a lush valley dotted with three lakes. Its Swiss-chalet design incorporates teakwood to blend with the natural environment, and modern facilities have been adapted to offer leisure travelers an excellent base for outdoor activities, while providing business guests with a relaxing stay. Situated 520 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, Loei shares its northern border with Lao and forms a natural boundary dividing Thailand into east and west. Visitors to this laidback province find charming people and distinctive geography featuring endless hills and dales, along with wintry, mist-covered mountaintops.

Hilton Shanghai, the pioneering China property of the world's best-known hotel brand, has been pronounced 'Most Trusted Hotel in China' at the prestigious Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Awards 2006. Volkmar Ruebel, General Manager Hilton Shanghai, commented, "We are delighted that readers of the Reader's Digest, a leading and world-renowned publication, have recognized Hilton Shanghai as the Most Trusted Hotel in China. The award reflects our long standing commitment to providing excellent service to our guests over the past 18 years." Mr. Ruebel continued, "Trust is a core value of the Hilton brand and business, and it is only earned through dedication and a proven track record. The fact that the Chinese market has voted Hilton Shanghai the most trusted hotel is evidence of our team members' consistent efforts to deliver on their promises to our guests." One of the first five-star international hotels to operate in China, Hilton Shanghai belongs to a lineage of fine hotels with over 150,000 team members in 80 countries worldwide. Experience has taught Hilton what matters to the traveler is a variety of great facilities and services. The Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Awards have been running for eight years in Singapore, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and now the Chinese mainland. The awards recognize and reward excellence, best practice and customer-focused innovation in the local business community, offering a reliable Asian consumer directory. Judges recognized Hilton Shanghai for having the guest at the heart of its business and deploying and managing its resources to effectively meet the needs of its customer base.

AmericInn International, LLC announces the opening of the AmericInn Lodge & Suites in Hailey, Idaho. Located at 51 Cobblestone Lane in Hailey, the 64-room hotel opened for business December 14, 2006. The property ownership group, Sawtooth Gateway Lodging, Inc. and management company Three Rivers Hospitality, LLC are pleased to open the new Lodge & Suites to provide a quiet lodging experience with upscale services and amenities to the Hailey community and traveling guests. Every AmericInn is constructed using exclusive AmericInn SoundGuard construction. The use of masonry blocks and other noise reducing materials between every room delivers noise control for a quiet room environment and a quiet night's rest for every guest. "We offer a welcoming place to stay at the end of a busy day with quiet accommodations and enjoyable amenities that you won't find at other mid-priced hotels," said Michael Frith, general manager of the new hotel. The AmericInn Lodging System is committed to providing a quiet lodging experience to each and every guest. "The new Lodge & Suites is a great fit for the Hailey area and we look forward to providing the local community and traveling guests with exceptional lodging hospitality," adds Frith. The AmericInn of Hailey joins the franchise system of 211 hotels currently open across the country.

Marriott International, Inc. opened the 135-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Tallahassee, Florida Located at 600 West Gaines Street, the Residence Inn Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol is owned by The Finvarb Group and managed by Marriott International.  Located downtown and six miles from the Tallahassee Regional Airport, the Residence Inn Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol offers its guests convenient access to the State Capitol Complex, Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Doak Campbell Stadium.  Rates vary depending on length of stay.
“We are pleased with the continued growth of Residence Inn hotels in the Tallahassee area,” said Laura Bates, senior vice president, brand management, extended stay for Marriott International.  “This new hotel was designed to be a home away from home and provides a residential atmosphere and spacious accommodations for guest comfort.” The Residence Inn Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol is the latest to feature Marriott’s full Generation 7 design and décor package.  The hotel showcases contemporary décor and finishes that reflect the comforts and luxuries of a modern American home.  Each suite features a multi-functional living area with 32-inch high definition flat panel LCD television; fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The hotel offers daily housekeeping, complimentary grocery shopping services, free high-speed Internet access and same-day dry cleaning. A complimentary hot breakfast buffet, HOMEtouch is available each morning in the lobby area.  Other hotel facilities and services include an outdoor swimming pool, exercise room, a social room, weeknight social hour and faxing/copying/printing. The hotel also offers three meeting rooms with 4,200 square feet of meeting space to accommodate small meetings and functions of up to 250 people.

Best Western International announces the addition of the Best Western Classic Inn located at 533 W Eaton Pike in Richmond, Indiana. The hotel, owned by Soma Lodging Corporation, boasts 69 guest rooms. A complimentary continental breakfast and newspaper are available each morning. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool, fitness center and a meeting facility to accommodate up to 30 people. Rates start at $74 per night. Travelers can contact the property directly for special packages. The Best Western Classic Inn offers a variety of amenities including complimentary high-speed Internet access, free local phone calls and coffee/tea service in all rooms. In addition, many rooms are equipped with a microwave and refrigerator. Some offer in-room spas. "Best Western is proud to welcome the Classic Inn to our chain," said Mark Williams, vice president, North American Development for Best Western International. "This attractive property is a wonderful addition to our growing portfolio of quality hotels in Indiana." The hotel is located near a variety of attractions such as the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, Joseph Moore Museum, Wayne County Historical Museum and E.G. Hill Rose Garden, a memorial garden at Glenn Miller Park. Guests will enjoy plenty of shopping at Richmond Square Mall, an indoor mall featuring more than 40 specialty stores, just a short distance from the hotel. Nearby recreational activities include boating and fishing at Middlefork

Embassy Suites Hotels and Outrigger Enterprises Group announced the opening of the Embassy Suites -Waikiki Beach Walk. The hotel is a part of the Waikiki Beach Walk retail and entertainment complex, located in the heart of Waikiki, on the island of Oahu. Embassy Suites -Waikiki Beach Walk is owned by Outrigger Enterprises Group and is Hawaii's only all-suite, upscale hotel. The 22-story, two-tower hotel is connected by a vast Grand Lanai with a true Hawaiian "sense of place." The hotel offers true Hawaiian hospitality in a modern, upscale setting. This new hotel caters to families looking for Hawaiian adventure, couples looking to share a romantic, Hawaiian sunset and friends looking for delicious meals, unique shopping and plenty of fun."The opening of this new hotel is an exciting event for the Embassy Suites Hotels brand," said Jim Holthouser, senior vice president, Embassy Suites brand management. "We're thrilled to have a property in our cache that caters toward the leisure traveler unlike any other hotel in our brand, but can also service the business traveler. This allows us to be really creative in our offerings and provide amenities, services and activities that will make Embassy Suites one of the best on the island!"