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Hotel News in Brief

Dec 07, 07 | 8:46 am

Elizabeth Churchill, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Aqua Hotels and Resorts, is pleased to announce that Ocean Tower Hotel, located at 129 Paoakalani Avenue, has officially changed its name to Hotel Renew as of December 1, 2007.  The property will become the first hotel in Aqua's new Elite brand and Oahu's first true designer boutique hotel, offering the utmost in personalized service and innovative business and entertainment technology.  The hotel is currently rated #1 on TripAdvisor.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts announces it now offers meeting planners around the world a one-stop resource: www.starwoodmeetings.com to better serve their needs.  The newly revamped site is one of the most robust meetings related websites in the industry, and offers meeting planners a variety of attractive offers, rewards and recognition and comprehensive search options, making it an easy resource for organizing meetings of any scale.

Ishin Hotels Group (Michael Nigitsch: President & CEO, Headquarter: Toranomon Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan) announced the acquisition of "Hotel Sunroute Ikebukuro" and will start operating the hotel from Saturday, December 1, 2007. Hotel Sunroute Ikebukuro is accessible via public transportation and located approximately three minutes on foot from Ikebukuro station. The Ishin Hotels Group also announced the acquisition of "Hamilton Inn Ochanomizu" from Shiraishi Kosan Inc. The Ishin Hotels Group will start operating the hotel approximately two month later and also plans to renovate hotel's interior. Hamilton Inn Ochanomizu is located in Kanda Ochanomizu at the heart of Tokyo, just two stops away from Tokyo station and serviced by multiple JR and subway lines.

The Park Hotel Weggis on Lake Lucerne in the Swiss Alps has been awarded its first Michelin star. Chef Renee Rischmeyer earns the gastronomic award in the newly-released "Guide Michelin Switzerland 2008", just one year after taking the helm on the resort's acclaimed Gourmet-Restaurant Annex. The accolade is a culinary milestone for the historic 5-star, Relais & Châteaux hotel which has recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation. Set in rolling parkland with its own private beach on Lake Lucerne, a short drive from Zurich, the awards further boosts the resort's prestige among Europe's leading hotels. A total of 1,917 Swiss restaurants are recommended in the new gastronomic guide, but only 84 are awarded Michelin stars - including 11 nominated for the first time. Chef Rischmeyer is renowned for his inspired, light and aromatic gourmet cuisine at Restaurant Annex, blending traditional French cuisine with influences from Asia and the Mediterranean.

Rendezvous Hotels & Resorts International (Rendezvous) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Meade to the role of Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the group. Mr. Meade will take responsibility for all Rendezvous' sales and marketing strategies and activities. Michael will take up the role in January 2008. Mr. Meade comes to Rendezvous from a similar role in Shanghai with Jin Jiang Hotels, China's largest hotel company with over 310 hotels and inns. Prior to this, he held the position of Regional Director of Marketing, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific for Intercontinental Hotels Group, responsible for the sales and marketing function for over 45 hotels across five brands. Mr. Meade has a proven track record with multinational companies and individual hotel operations.

Chinese Boutique Hotel Company Plans Green Facility. URBN Hotels & Resorts says it will open its first boutique property in Shanghai in December 2007 and position it as an eco-friendly business. Located on Jiaozhuo Road just north of Nanjing Road and close to the former French Concession district, the new 26-room URBN Hotels is positioning itself as a carbon neutral and earth conscious hotel. It has been converted from a former 1970s post office building and will feature contemporary design with Shanghainese influences. In May 2007, URBN entered into an agreement with Climate Bridge, an international intermediary offering bespoke solutions for companies and industries to reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions. The total amount of energy the hotel consumes, including staff commutes, food and beverage delivery, and the energy used by each guest, will be tracked to calculate the carbon footprint. URBN will then purchase credits to neutralize its footprint by investing in "green" energy development and emission reduction projects in China. Hotel guests can also choose to purchase carbon credits from the program to offset their flights. All credits are verified and approved by the United Nations. This voluntary action by URBN Hotels is significant, considering China is the fastest growing emitter of greenhouse gases and is central to the success or failure of the global response to climate change. URBN is also committed to developing and operating a green property. By renovating an existing structure, focusing on using recycled and locally sourced materials such as reclaimed hardwoods and old Shanghai bricks, and introducing eco-friendly solutions like passive solar shades, rain water retention basins, and water based AC systems, URBN hopes to set an example for other Chinese businesses and industries. There are plans to develop 20 URBN Hotels in tourist and business cities throughout the country in the next 3 years. Source: CHINA CSR

Sir Norman Foster's long-delayed renovation of the Dolder Grand in Zurich finally has a solid open date: April 2008. Work on the 1897 hotel has been underway since 2004, and when it actually opens highlights will include a towering cupola-topped ballroom, a driving range, and a massive, 40,000-square-foot spa. Eco freaks will be pleased to learn that the Dolder will be partially powered by on-site thermal heat sources, but the best part may be a handful of suites by London-based United Designers, who claim the rooms are influenced by Alberto Giacometti and the Rolling Stones. Remember when rock starsdestroyed, rather than inspired, hotel rooms? Source: men.style.com

Egli Stamatiou has joined Fuenso's management team as the Corporate Manager for Bodyna Spas & Sensations, the brand which makes up the relaxation and wellness services of the group. Stamatiou, who was born in Cyprus and is qualified in International Hospitality Management at the prestigious Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland, has extensive management experience in the running of luxury hotel spas and wellness centres. She has worked as Director of the "Cinq Mondes" Spa at the Hotel Beau Rivage Palace in Lausanne; the Hotel La Reserve & Spa in Geneva and other hotel establishments in the United States, England and Mexico.

The 600-room Holiday Inn SunSpree® Resort Aruba was honored recently with the "Show We Care" award, presented in recognition of the property's strong commitment to its surrounding community. The award was presented at the 2007 InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Americas Investors & Leadership Conference held October 22-24 in Dallas, Texas.  Tom Murray, IHG Chief Operating Officer, The Americas, and Alvaro Diago, IHG Area President, Latin America, presented the award to Guillermo Valencia, general manager of the Holiday Inn SunSpree® Resort Aruba and Regional Director of Operations, Caribbean InterContinental Hotels Group.