Hotels & Resorts
Best Western’s portfolio growing quickly in Latin America
Best Western International has announced plans for rapid expansion in Mexico, Central and South America with 29 hotels in the 2014 to 2015 pipeline. Though growth is strong throughout the region, South America is the hottest area for hotel development thanks to improving economies and Brazil hosting both the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Best Western is doing its part to meet the growing hospitality demands in Brazil. The brand currently has 16 hotels operating in the country and is working with a development partner Incortel to add 30 new properties in the next five...
Gansevoort founder to develop luxury hotel in Europe
Michael Achenbaum (pictured), the creative visionary behind New York-based Gansevoort Hotel Group, has partnered with Douglaston Development, SUSD and Hondo Enterprises to develop a full-service urban resort in East London’s fashionable Shoreditch district, set to break ground early next year. The $98 million project will feature 120 guest rooms with seven luxury suites, a restaurant, bi-level bar, rooftop swimming pool and lounge, 24-hour fitness centre, more than 540 square metres of meeting and event space, and a tech incubator. The property is expected to open in...
Condominium Connection sees higher rates, less inventory
Hawaii wholesaler Condominium Connection sees condominium and hotel rates for 2014 in the Hawaiian Islands increasing 4% to 18%, including ballooning ancillary resort fees. According to officials, due to some property closings on Oahu and reduced inventory on Hawaii’s Big Island, access may also be limited and continue pressure on pricing. Joseph Fienberg, president of Condominium Connection, says, “In 2014, we expect to see less inventory in Hawaii as hotels are becoming more aggressive in raising rates, especially during peak and high demand travel periods. The Las Vegas-style...
Westin Grill & Vine opens in Whistler
Grill & Vine, developed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts in collaboration with The Westin Resort & Spa Whistler, has officially opened its doors. Based on a modern reinterpretation of the classic grill, the casual, yet upscale restaurant is a welcoming place where guests can enjoy a menu of traditional favourites with a local twist, alongside a wide selection of wines by the glass. The newly constructed room is sleek, simple, clean and fresh. A new all day Grab & Go incorporated in the restaurant serves up Starbucks espresso coffees and a variety of takeout snacks for...
Home2 Suites opens in Mexico
Home2 Suites by Hilton, the mid-tier, all-suite hotel brand designed for business travellers and extended stay guests, has opened its 24th hotel, Home2 Suites by Hilton Queretaro, Mexico. It is the first Home2 Suites by Hilton to open outside of the United States. The four-storey, 97-suite hotel is conveniently located at the main entrance to Juriquilla, a trendy residential suburb in Queretaro, close to many local corporations, banks, shopping, and dining options. Nearby attractions include Queretaro Industrial Park, Antea Shopping Mall, and the nearby cities of San Miguel de Allende,...
Rockies Christmas at Post Hotel & Spa
Perched high in the Rockies at Lake Louise, The Post Hotel & Spa is a perfect location for a winter wonderland retreat – especially during the holiday season. The warm pleasures inside include mulled wine, freshly baked shortbread, lingering dinners and the Temple Mountain Spa. The hotel still has space available for Christmas and New Year’s, with two- and three-day weekday ski packages that include accommodations, lift tickets and breakfasts, starting at $414 p.p., double. A free ski shuttle operates from the resort direct to the ski lifts. Two-night packages with breakfasts are...
Fairmont opens fourth China property
Fairmont Nanjing -- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ fourth property in China -- opened this week in the heart of the prestigious district of Hexi New Town. It is the closest luxury hotel to major transportation centres, mainly, Nanjing Lukou International Airport and Nanjing South Railway Station, and just a few blocks from the Nanjing International Expo Centre and Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre. In celebration of its opening, the hotel is extending a special introductory offer that includes a rate of RMB 888 per night for a Deluxe Room, inclusive of daily breakfast for two, complimentary...
Get in the picture with Starwood
Guests of Starwood’s more than 1,150 hotels capture and share an average of 40,000 images per month on Instagram, prompting Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. to launch an industry-leading integration with Instagram on all of its web sites worldwide. New “Guest Galleries” from Instagram showcase the explosion of social sharing through Instagram photos and videos geo-tagged by Starwood’s digitally-savvy guests. From unique hotel amenities to eye-catching local sites, the enhanced Guest Galleries from Instagram offer a fun, new way for travellers to explore their next...