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Hotel News In Brief

Jan 19, 07 | 8:46 am

Banyan Tree planning US$200m luxury hotel resort in Vietnam   The luxury hotel and spa operator Banyan Tree Holdings has signed a memorandum of understanding to build a hotel resort in Vietnam. In a statement out on Monday, Banyan Tree said the resort would be built in the province of Thua Thien Hue. The MOU was signed between its subsidiary Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and the Management Board of Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone. The two parties will buy up to 200 hectares of land for the development. The project is estimated to cost around US$200 million (S$308 million)

Hope Lake Lodge Signs The Lexington Collection For its New Four-Star Family Resort Phase one of the Cortland, NY Hope Lake Lodge is scheduled to begin construction within the next 60 days. The year-round family resort will include the renowned Greek Peak Ski Resort, a new 106-room Lexington Resort and Villas, an indoor water park, restaurant, and a Cascades International Spa. “This is a very exciting time for us,” said Sam Kryger , Vice President of Peak Resorts, Inc., a family-managed company that has operated Greek Peak Ski Resort since 1962, and the developer of the Hope Lake Lodge project. “We have spent a considerable amount of time researching the hospitality industry to find the right alliances. Because we already have a very successful ski resort, we needed to find a hospitality company that would help us expand into a year-round destination, yet allow us the freedom to continue to do what we have done so well for the last 45 years. Hands down, Vantage Hospitality’s Lexington Collection is the only hotel company that can give us the resources we need to expand, yet allow us our independence.” According to Kryger, the 106-room Lexington Resort and Villas will operate as a condo-hotel. Rooms are available for purchase as wholly owned units and quarter ownership-units. Units not being occupied by the owners may be rented as hotel rooms, thus allowing the owners to share in the rental revenues and cover a portion, if not all, of their homeowner fees. Kryger stated that the sale of the condo units is going very well due to some special “pre-completion” pricing.

Movenpick Hotel Doha celebrates its 5th anniversary the Swiss way   Movenpick Hotel Doha opened late 2001, under the management of the Swiss chain, Movenpick Hotels and Resorts. Now, at the beginning of 2007, the hotel celebrates the fifth anniversary in the Swiss way. Celebrating the fifth anniversary, Movenpick Hotel Doha proudly presents a fabulous Swiss Culinary Festival, blending together the Swiss refinement with the unique richness of the Swiss tradition. It is a unique event in town that takes place between January 15 and 25, 2007, only at Seasons Restaurant. The uniqueness of the Swiss gastronomy stems from the wide variety of regional cuisines that have blended into this amazing pot. French, Italian and German tastes have melted into refined Swiss flavours, carrying the myth of healthy and tasty food. Refined over the years through the sieve of the growing tourism industry and enhanced with the values of the legendary Swiss hospitality, the Swiss cuisine has become a solid whole with a strong identity that is proudly displayed oversees. 

Giraudo named GM of Nai Lert Park Bangkok The Nai Lert Park Bangkok has announced the appointment of Mr Aurelio Giraudo as general manager. Previously holding the same position at the Regent Four Seasons Taipei, Mr Giraudo has had more than 26 years of experience in the hotel industry in four continents - Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. He had stints with Swissotel, Shangri-La, Sheraton, Banyan Tree and Imperial Hotels and Resorts. Entering its 23rd year in the industry, The Nai Lert Park Bangkok is working vigorously to maintain its commitment to excellence with a plan to revamp its f&b outlets and guestrooms. Details of the renovation are at the design stage.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Victoria Malim as Director, Global Accounts – Meetings & Incentives , UK & Ireland , effective from 22 January 2007.  Victoria brings over ten years experience in hotel sales to this position.  She began her career in 1996 and since has held several progressive positions, including Business Development Manager, The Strand Palace Hotel – Forte Hotels; Corporate Sales Executive, Corporate Sales Manager and Senior Sales Manager, The Churchill Inter-Continental, London – Six Continents Hotels & Resorts and Key Account Manager, Macdonald Hotels Plc, London .  Victoria joins Fairmont Hotels & Resorts from her most recent position as Senior Sales Manager Europe, Leisure & Russia, Grosvenor House Hotel, London .  Victoria joins the Fairmont London Global Sales Office to focus on the growth of meetings and incentives business from this region.  Victoria has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Rural Estate Management with Commercial Property Management from the Royal Agricultural College in Gloucestershire.

InterContinental Hotels Group announces the January 30 opening of the Holiday Inn Hotels & Suites-Maple Grove, Minn. The $20 million hotel is the 12th Holiday Inn Indoor Waterpark in the brand’s portfolio , with several more in the pipeline. “Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts was the first hotel chain to offer swimming pools at every hotel beginning in 1952,” said Mark Snyder, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts. “Today, our owners are taking the concept of the ‘hotel pool’ to the next level with robust Indoor Waterparks that offer families the one-stop, stress-free retreat they want, with assurance their fun and quality time is weather-proof.  The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites-Maple Grove has done a tremendous job of creating a fantastic Indoor Waterpark hotel with unsurpassed adventure for children and parents alike.”  The 25,000 sq.-ft. Venetian inspired Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites-Maple Grove Indoor Waterpark consists of an arcade, two four-story water slides, a 20-person spa, the Bambini Piscina toddler pool and an activity pool that features basketball hoops. The Venetian theme is carried throughout the experience with cobblestone streets, Gondolas and a replica of the Rialto Bridge.  There is also a twinkle light ceiling to capture the twilight atmosphere of Venice.

Five-star plans for UK's first eco resort Developers unveiled plans for a multi-million pound North Wales eco-resort .Built in the Upper Dee Valley, luxury holiday village Whitewater Country Park will boast 35 eco-holiday homes, a 5-star pamper spa, hydro-pool and gourmet restaurant. Work is already under way on the project, a mile west of Llangollen, which developers say is the first resort of its kind in the UK.Owners and guests residing at the park can choose from more than 50 leisure activities.They include Whitewater rafting and canoeing, climbing, abseiling, hotography and painting, salmon and trout fishing, rallying and quad-biking.Developers said the development would bolster the local economy and create dozens of jobs.The concept is the brainchild of the Fletcher family who have lived in the Valley for more than 20 years.They felt it was the perfect country retreat and claim to have spent years researching the ecolog home concept to ensure it was in keeping with the surrounding countryside.Funding for the scheme was provided by the Chester Branch of Allied Irish Bank (GB).Bob Fletcher said: "The Upper Dee Valley boasts some of the most stunning countryside in the UK and we have known for some time that there was a gap in the market to create a luxury lifestyle holiday destination here."Whitewater Country Park will attract more visitors to the Upper Dee Valley, and the surrounding hinterland, and this will ultimately have a positive impact on our local economy."

Citigroup to invest $30 mn in Bangalore hotel project Bangalore, Jan 16 : Citigroup Property Investors, the New York-based real estate investment management arm of Citigroup, Tuesday announced it would invest $30 million (Rs.1.35 billion) in a luxury hotel project being developed in the city. The proposed five-star hotel , estimated to cost about $100 million (Rs.4.5 billion), will have 250 rooms and become operational in 30 months. Being developed by Nitesh Estates, it is located in the prime area of the central business district. "Citigroup is partnering with us in the hotel project with $30 million investment in the first round of funding. It is expected to make additional investment in phases as the project gets going," Nitesh Estates managing director Nitesh Shetty told reporters here. Citigroup Property Investors managing director for Asia-Pacific David Schaefer said the investment in the project would transform the hospitality section in India's silicon hub.