Hotel News in Brief

Jun 04, 07 | 7:46 am

The Westin Guangzhou, the first five-star international hotel in Guangzhou’s Tian He District, officially open offering business and leisure travelers a relaxing and refreshing urban retreat in the heart of South China’s booming economic hub. The Westin Guangzhou is located in the city’s central business district next to landmark CITIC Plaza, which is home to the majority of the Fortune 500 companies with offices in Guangzhou.  It is also just steps away from Guangzhou East railway station, the arrival point for trains from Hong Kong SAR. Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific, said: "We are delighted to be the first international upscale hotel brand to debut in Guangzhou’s Tian He district!  Westin’s innovative signature guest programs, products and services speak of the core values of the brand – personal, renewal and instinctive.  It is Westin’s goal that guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. We are enthusiastic that The Westin Guangzhou, with its experienced management and instinctive associates will raise the bar of hotel guest experiences in Guangzhou."

InterContinental Hotels Group has announced the signing of the Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing, scheduled to open in early 2008. Which bring us to a portfolio of 125 hotels – 65 in operation and an additional 60 in the development pipeline. A. Patrick Imbardelli, chief executive of IHG Asia Pacific, said: ‘China is set to become the world’s number one tourism market in the next 10-15 years. With 65 hotels in operation and a plan to have 125 hotels open by the end of 2008, we already have a good profitable business model.’ Crowne Plaza Sun Palace Beijing is being developed by Yunnan Metropolitan Construction Investment and will be managed by IHG.

The Sofitel London Gatwick, which is directly connected to the North Terminal, has just launched today its new International Arrivals Lounge for designated First and Business Class passengers.  This is the first of its kind at London Gatwick airport and British Airways and Delta are the first to sign up as airline partners. The launch also coincides with the introduction of a customer inspired 'Sunrise Check-in' service for business travellers arriving early in the morning. Surinder Arora, chairman of Arora International Hotels, owners of the Sofitel London Gatwick, said: "The simultaneous launch of the International Arrivals Lounge at London Gatwick and the 'Sunrise Check-in’ is an imaginative innovation for business travel in the UK. Our hotel is now part of a seamless travelling experience for First and Business Class passengers. We are delighted to have British Airways and Delta Air Lines on-board as our first airline partners to use this world-class facility." Only a few minutes walk from customs clearance, the new International Arrivals Lounge at Sofitel London Gatwick, part of the prestige brand of Accor Hotels, will offer luxurious surroundings and amenities for BA First and Business Class and Delta BusinessElite® passengers.  Sofitel’s trademark “art de vivre à la française” – attentive service, elegant décor, up-to-the minute technology, fine cuisine, and a warm welcome, to exceed even the highest guest expectations - creates a unique environment to refresh and rejuvenate the arriving international traveller.

The stars are out for the new White Barn Spa, which has received an impressive 4-Star rating from the Mobil Travel Guide 2007. Not even a year old, the White Barn Spa of The White Barn Inn, a Relais Chateaux property in Kennebunkport, ME is the only hotel spa to receive such a high rating in Maine. Indeed, it was the only spa of its kind in the state that the Mobil Travel Guide deemed worthy of rating at all. Widely considered the “gold standard” of hospitality rating systems, the Mobil Travel Guide provides travelers with the most objective and disciplined ratings for hotels, restaurants and spas throughout North America.  According the Guide’s “rating criteria,” a 4-Star rating is for spas that provide “a luxurious experience with expanded amenities in an elegant and serene environment.” 

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels Select Service Division announced today that they advised Watson Hospitality, based in Charlotte, NC, on the sale of the Courtyard by Marriott Portfolio to DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners, a real estate private equity investment affiliate of Credit Suisse.  The 425-guestroom portfolio is comprised of three hotels located in Charlotte, NC, Princeton, NJ and Lynchburg, VA. The hotels’ excellent locations, strong brand affiliation, and value enhancement opportunities were among the many investment highlights. Each property was developed by Watson Hospitality in accordance with Marriott's strict development specifications. Since opening, they have been exceptionally well maintained, and recently completed renovations offer the new ownership an opportunity to grow revenues and increase investment returns.  "The transaction was very successful for our client and the buyer,” said Ros Mallory, vice president, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.  “Our client received great value for the assets, and given the strategic locations of the hotels and the current market conditions, there remains significant long term value for Credit Suisse.”  The current demand for high-quality select service assets created a very competitive marketing process. 

One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai Honoured at World Travel Awards. During last night’s glamorous black-tie event at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, One&Only Royal Mirage was deeply proud to be awarded ‘Middle East’s Leading Beach Resort 2007’. The glittering celebration, known to many as the ‘Travel Oscars’, was attended by over 700 VIPs and travel executives from 25 countries. “We are delighted to have been awarded ‘Middle East’s Leading Beach Resort’ at what has become such a prestigious event with an increasing level of competition,” said Olivier Louis, General Manager of One&Only Royal Mirage. “Once again, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who voted, and will take pride in continuing our genuine, caring and focused approach to hospitality.”

The new Novotel Ningaloo has opened its very stylish "beach house" doors to the public, and journalists from all over the globe are clamouring to visit the area to experience a swim with the world famous whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef with King's Ningaloo Reef Dives. First off were journalists from Australia's east coast - who were rewarded with a succession of swims with the gentle giants, a circling hammerhead, and a pod of playful dolphins, amongst turtles and myriad colourful fish. Ningaloo will feature on an upcoming TV show "10 things to do before you die." The whale sharks feature on Lonely PLanet's Blue List of top things to to do in Australia. So don't wait, the brand new Novotel on Sunrise Beach - its decor, room design and culinary delights are worth the trip alone.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is strengthening its sales presence in Europe and, following an agreement with the Paris-based RM Consultants (RMC), is opening a new regional sales office in Moscow on 1 June 2007.  RMC already has eleven years of experience in Russia and represents numerous leading international companies in the areas of sales and marketing. As connoisseurs of the Russian market, Regis Morvan and Sergey Portyankin, the two executives in charge of representing Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, are of course also fluent in Russian. "In view of the boom anticipated in the years to come and given the ever growing interest in the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts brand in the Russian markets, it is of great importance to us to be represented in Moscow with a regional sales office," says Steven Nikolov, Senior Vice President Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. "We very much look forward to our successful co-operation with RMC." With Switzerland, Germany, France, the UK, Spain and Italy this is now the seventh regional Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts sales office within Europe.