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Hotel News In Brief

May 05, 05 | 7:46 am

The $6-million, 84-room, 21st-century model Holiday Inn hotel in Santee, S.C., opened. Developed to be more efficient to build, operate and maintain, this 56,000-sqare-foot prototype brings the iconic heritage of the Holiday Inn brand to life in a modern design.

The 101-room Comfort Inn Cardiff by the Sea (Calif.), which was formerly an Ayres Country Inn & Suites, is open. The property is owned by Newport Taft and Imad Mansour .

Lodgian completed extensive renovations at three hotels: the Radisson Phoenix Airport; the New Orleans Airport Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Kenner, La., which is being reflagged as a Radisson; and the Holiday Inn Brunswick, Ga., which will convert to a Park Inn. The renovations, aggregating in excess of $10 million, are part of the company's previously announced, three-year plan to enhance the quality and earning power of its hotel portfolio.

J. Sterling "Chip" Davis , regional v.p. of Hospitality America, and Paul C. "Bo" Aughtry III of Hospitality America, AHG Hotels LLC and Windsor/Aughtry Co., both of Greenville, S.C., are the recipients of the 2004 South Carolina Hoteliers of the Year Award from the Hospitality Association of South Carolina.

The 334-room, 90-acre Abbey Resort on Lake Geneva in Fontana, Wis., completed a $40-million redevelopment.

Formerly known as SunBurst Resort, the Caleo Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz., a member of Noble House Hotels & Resorts, completed a $9-million transformation. The renovation includes the addition of a spa and restaurant, and new room product, meeting space and pool and public areas.

AmericInn Lodging System presented the following awards during its three-day convention in St. Paul, Minn.:
     • Chairman's Award: The AmericInn West Salem, Wis.;
     • Franchise Owner of the Year: M. K.-9, Corp. - Paul & Mary Krienke;
     • Innkeeper's Award: Scott Doble - AmericInn of Rochester, Minn.; and
     • Marketing Success Award: AmericInn of Owatonna, Minn.

The Ormond Beach (Fla.) Chamber of Commerce gave its Business Renovation Beautification Award to the Comfort Inn on the Beach in Ormond Beach.

The Comfort Suites hotel in Redlands, Calif., is open. The 60-suite interior-corridor hotel is owned by CVG Hospitality and operated by Gayatree Patel .

Gina-Lynne Scharoun, Value Place franchise services president, is building a Value Place hotel-apartment property in Tulsa, Okla. Scharoun and her husband, Robert, are majority shareholders in Valued Partners, a new company formed with a small group of investors to develop the property.

AmericInn opened its 196th franchised location in Weston, Wis. The property is owned by Bradley and Jessica Kortbein .

First New-Prototype Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Hotel Opens in Joplin, Mo .The Econo Lodge brand recently opened its first new-prototype hotel with the grand opening of the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites hotel, located at 3325 Arizona Ave., in Joplin, Mo.The Econo Lodge Inn & Suites hotel is owned by Roger Pate, who also owns several other hotels franchised by Choice Hotels International. Kevin Bradt, Choice Hotels’ senior director of brand strategy, said six additional new-prototype hotels are in the pipeline for 2005, which is a testament to the competitive development costs for developers.  “The opening of our Econo Lodge Inn & Suites in Joplin is a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation in the economy segment,” he said. “With the developers’ return on investment in mind, Choice Hotels crafted this prototype to be the most competitive in the segment. The competitive development cost creates an enhanced ROI opportunity for the developer, while also creating a great brand experience for the guest.” Econo Lodge is the second-largest brand in the Choice Hotels family, which also includes Cambria Suites, Comfort Suites, Comfort Inn, Clarion, Sleep Inn, Quality, MainStay Suites and Rodeway Inn.  The new three-story, interior-corridor hotel, which opened in January and celebrated its grand opening March, features 69 spacious guest rooms and seven suites. Amenities include 25-inch televisions with cable, high-speed Internet access and free local calls. Suites also feature iron/ironing board, coffee maker, sofa sleepers, refrigerator and microwave. Business guests will appreciate HSIA, computer hook-ups and access to copy and fax services. A complimentary continental breakfast is also available.

Rodeway Inn Portland Airport Opens With Unique Mission-based Model  The Rodeway Inn Portland Airport, located at 9727 NE Sandy Blvd., is open. Eastside Foursquare Church purchased the former 120-room Travelodge property and is in the process of completing a $2.2 million renovation. Profits from the hotel are used to help provide spiritual and community support to Portland residents.  “The vision we’re planning for this facility is as exciting as any project I’ve ever been involved with,” said Eric Bahme, senior pastor of Eastside, whose congregation, along with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, purchased the hotel. Bahme also manages the property. “In a year, this facility will be an entirely new facility with a strong Christian influence that will host a coffee shop, bookstore, auditorium and convention center,” he said.   Spacious guest rooms feature either a king-size or two queen-size beds. Courtyard guest rooms are available. Some rooms have a hot tub, microwave and refrigerator. All guest rooms feature coffee makers, free local calls and cable television with HBO. Nursery and daycare service providers are located on-site, and the Sacred Ground Espresso coffee shop is open. An outdoor pool is open seasonally.  A new conference facility, which includes smaller breakout meeting rooms and PowerPoint plasma audiovisual screens, can accommodate up to 250 people. Business travelers will appreciate available computer hook-ups and access to fax and copy services.  A complimentary continental breakfast is offered and includes muffins, bagels, juice, fresh fruit, coffee and tea. The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to the Portland International Airport, and Stay and Fly packages are available.  Located 6 miles from downtown Portland, nearby attractions include The Grotto, Rose Garden Arena, Oregon Convention Center, Waterfront Park, Multnomah Falls, Lloyd Center Mall and the Portland Zoo. Several restaurants are located within walking distance. The Rodeway Inn Portland Airport participates in Choice Hotels’ EA$Y CHOICE rewards program, where guests earn stamps toward free stays, discount rooms and airline miles.

Abu Dhabi hotels drive business with summer packages   Danat Hotels & Resorts launch Summer Escapes across the group  Danat Hotels & Resorts has launched their Summer Escapes package across the group – both four- and five-star hotels – to continue to drive local awareness of the emerging Abu Dhabi hotel brand. According to group marketing manager Kate Beaven, the summer season offers the opportunity to grow the Danat brand in the local market. Danat Hotels & Resorts manages two new five-star resorts, the Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna and the Al Raha Beach Hotel, as well as a cluster of four-star properties in the emirate.  Beaven said: “Summer is no longer a slow period for hospitality in the region. Hotels have experienced a steady growth in the summer season due to an increase in intra-Gulf travel for families, as well as UAE residents taking advantage of value-added rates to sample the beaches and desert culture.” Designed for UAE residents, all Summer Escapes rates are based on single or double occupancy; children 12 years and younger can stay in the room for free, and also receive a 50 per cent discount on food and beverage.  The summer package price is inclusive of buffet breakfast, two free drink vouchers and in-room bottled water. Beaven continued: “Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna and Al Raha Beach Hotel are fresh to the local market and are really finding their niche as boutique resorts, offering sun, sea and silence. Meanwhile, our four-star properties continue to provide an excellent value alternative for a weekend away.”  Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna is the first five-star resort on the previously undiscovered west coast of the UAE and its Summer Escape package is Dhs479 for double occupancy. Meanwhile Al Raha Beach Resort, the first boutique resort in the city of Abu Dhabi, is Dhs675 for double occupancy. The group’s four-star properties include the Mafraq Hotel, Liwa Hotel and Mirfa Hotel, spread throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi. 

Radisson SAS Hotel Rostock opens in August    Brussels, May 2005. In mid-August the first guests will enter the Radisson SAS Hotel Rostock, when this important seminar and conference hotel opens its doors in the over 800-year-old seaport. The management contract for the first-class 247-room hotel is currently being officially signed in Brussels.The new Radisson SAS Hotel will make an outstanding addition to the Rezidor SAS Hospitality portfolio. With an attractive modern architectural style and a chic ambience, the hotel will have a superb seminar and conference wing unique to the region, offering a total of nine rooms including an events hall to accommodate up to 400 guests. And of course the 4-star hotel will also offer a restaurant, an inviting day bar and a spacious wellness zone."We are very pleased that we have been able to expand the German region with this strategically favourably placed business hotel", says a delighted Kurt Ritter, President & CEO Rezidor SAS Hospitality. "We see the new Radisson SAS Hotel Rostock as the gateway to Scandinavia and these countries remain an important and, for Rostock, a very promising home market." The hotel will mainly accommodate business travellers and conference guests from Germany and Scandinavia. But there will also be special offers for stopovers and short holiday breaks.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts to Introduce New Luxury Resort and New Standard of Ultra-Luxe Living in Bali : St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bali will debut in 2007 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced that it has reached an agreement with PT Pacific Resorts Buana Indonesia to manage The St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bali. Located in the elite enclave of Nusa Dua, The St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bali will feature 74 oversized suites plus 29 villas, as well as 25 residential villas available for long-term leases when it opens in 2007. The St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bali will be developed on an 8.6 hectare secluded beachfront site in the Nusa Dua Resort area in Bali, next to the Bali Golf and Country Club, and will be an integrated resort complex comprising hotel and residences. "As we continue to strategically grow the St. Regis brand, we seek only the world's most desirable destinations. Nusa Dua was planned and designed, along with Phuket, the premier leisure destination of Asia," cited Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific.  "We are honoured to fly our flag on what will be one of the most extraordinary luxury resorts in Asia and beyond". The St. Regis Resort & Residences, Bali will feature 74 oversized suites plus 29 beautifully appointed stand-alone villas. Other facilities include four of the finest food and beverage outlets, a 680 square meters spa, outdoor swimming pool and a health club. One of the most impressive qualities of the hotel will be the renowned St. Regis Butler Service, offering unparalleled round-the-clock personal attention to every guest. Nusa Dua is located in southern Bali and is well-known for its clean, white beaches and clear water, and offers travelers a wide range of water sports and leisure activities like spa and hiking. Nusa Dua is approximately 20 minutes drive from the airport in Bali.

Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket prepares to unveil its new Lagoon Villas On the 1st of May 2005, the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket unveiled its newly-refurbished Lagoon Villas after a major three-month long makeover. The extent of the refurbishments promises to raise the profile of the 36 villas from ‘traditional’ to a unique ‘urban-contemporary’ feel. An ideal choice for couples and honeymooners, the aptly-named Lagoon Villas are built directly on the lagoon and connected to the remainder of the resort via a series of bridges. The 1-bedroom villa offers a spacious living area on the first floor which now features white marble flooring and new furnishings in vividly-contrasting dark and light colors complemented by striking artwork adorning the walls. A wooden staircase ascends to the second storey and opens onto an airy loft-style bedroom with parquet flooring and new décor in eye-catching red, gold and black tones. A key feature of the large upper-floor bathroom is the open-air shower and Jacuzzi bath, while down below a private jetty linked to the balcony allows for personalized check-in by boat for each and every guest.

Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers introduces new Aqua Day Spa The Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers will open AQUA DAY SPA in early May which is designed to refresh and rejuvenate the spirit as well as physical well being. The flavor is distinctly Vietnamese with effortless relaxation, tranquil ambience and pampered indulgence by gracious and caring Vietnamese therapists. Every detail, every touch is thoughtfully added, from the welcoming traditional Vietnamese tea, sweetened with wild bee honey, to the fresh Lotus Flowers, Orchids and water features.

Vareena Spa at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit is now open! The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok is proud to announce the opening of the luxury spa “ Vareena”.With the intention to create the name of spa with the Thai touch to communicate the Thai hospitality, Vareena comes from “Varee” that means Water.Vareena Spa occupies 900 square meters with 2 sky view luxury suites which include Shower steam room, Plunge pool and Jacuzzi, 2 luxury double treatment rooms and 5 soothing single rooms with the signature treatments as Urban retreat, The De – stress and Thai herbal detox.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts to launch USD22 million refurbishment programs at two resorts in Fiji   Sheraton Royal Denarau Resort, Fiji will be undergoing a major refurbishment that will ultimately see it rebranded as The Westin Resort & Spa. The refurbishment program will see the popular resort's traditional and artistic elements and unique character enhanced by luxury amenities. The refurbishment will include a total revamp of the resort’s guestroom including the addition of the famous Westin Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Shower in each guestroom. The resort will also enhance its lobby, restaurants, bars, pool area and expand the swimming pool. A world-class spa will also be built on the resort's premise in 2006. Sheraton Fiji Resort will also see its guestrooms upgraded, with a total refurnishing including implementation of the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed adding pure comfort. The resort's grand ballroom and general facilities will also be rejuvenated to suit the needs of guests traveling on both business and pleasure

Back to nature at Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna  Resort offers exclusive access to island wildlife reserve Getting back to nature need not involve a trip to another continent for UAE residents this summer: the new resort Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna is a secluded beach retreat, complete with access to a Sir Bani Yas, the private island nature reserve.Far from the madding crowds, it is the first destination resort in the area, and offers convenient access to both deep sands and deep seas. “However, communing with nature does not mean we have to forego the comforts of modern-day life,” said general manager Manoj Kanwal. “We have all those modern day necessities such as air-conditioning, satellite TV, cooling pools, sandy golf facilities, and massage facilities indoor and outdoor.” Key to the attractions of the resort is Sir Bani Yas, a haven for wildlife off the coast of the Abu Dhabi emirate. The initiative of the late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sir Bani Yas Island nature reserve is the result of years of careful conservation and the reintroduction of indigenous plants and animals, transforming the 230sq km island in to an offshore oasis, fuelled by a daily dose of nine million gallons of desalinated water.  The result is a landscape of orchards, lakes, olive groves and forests where oryx and gazelles run free, and where giraffes and ostriches can also be seen along with 170 species of birds and butterflies.  According to Kanwal, the nature reserve is expected to be a major draw for visitors in the coming months. “Sir Bani Yas island is accessible to the public on tours that are only pre-bookable through the resort here,” he said.  “Numbers are limited each day to ensure the environment on the island remains pristine, and visitors are treated to something a little different in terms of the Middle East.”  Combining the best of essential pampering and luxury with soft adventure, Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna is located 220km to the west of Abu Dhabi city.