Second Radisson Blu Resort In Tunisia Opens

The Rezidor Hotel Group has opened the Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso, Monastir in Tunisia, its second resort in the country. Set on a 5-hectare beachfront site overlooking the Gulf of Hammamet, the resort is just 2 kilometers from the international airport and 5 kilometers from the town of Monastir and its attractions, including a 9th century Mosque, 8th century Ribat and the Museum of Islamic Art.

 

260 guestrooms, including 14 Junior Suites, 6 Senior Suites and 2 Presidential Suites combine comfort with style. Each room is equipped with comfortable bedding, a spacious bathroom, LCD television, complimentary high-speed internet access, telephone, in-room safe, minibar and feature a well-proportioned balcony/terrace. The resort will also open 20 luxurious Spa Suites, located within the Thalassotherapy Center, in 2010.

 

The resort presents guests with diverse dining options at its restaurants and bars. Chef’s Market, the buffet restaurant, offers tantalising breakfast and dinner dishes influenced by Tunisian and Oriental flavours in elegant surroundings, while MONA serves international dishes prepared with the freshest seasonal ingredients. The beach restaurant, La voile, serves a range of international favorites in an informal setting by the seashore and guests can retreat to the resort’s many bars and lounges, including the Rendez-vous Bar and Moorish Cafe.

 

At the heart of the Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso, Monastir is the 14,000-square meter Royal Elyssa Spa Cinq Mondes & Thalasso, due to open in 2010. The center offers state-of-the-art spa facilities, swimming pools, hammams, treatment rooms and food & beverage outlets, where guests can rejuvenate and relax in comfort with the variety of treatments, including the signature Thalasso treatments utilizing the healing properties of seawater. The resort also offers guests a large outdoor swimming pool, a heated indoor swimming pool and sports activities including tennis, table tennis, beach volleyball and watersports.

 

The resort is also ideal as a conference venue, with 3 elegant and versatile function rooms, a 400-square meter ballroom and spacious grounds for outdoor events capable of accomodating up to 800 guests. Each venue is equipped with high-speed internet access and are supported by the latest audio-visual equipment and a full-service business center.

 

Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso, Monastir joins the 296-room Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso, Djerba located on the island of Djerba in southeast Tunisia. The brand operates over 155 hotels in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with an additional 47 projects under development.

 

For more information, visit www.radissonblu.com.

Marriott Announces Launch Of The Autograph Collection

Marriott International has announced the launch of a new brand within its portfolio. The Autograph Collection will comprise of upper upscale and luxury, independent hotels with distinct personalities in major cities and destinations around the world.

 

The Bethesda, Maryland-based company has plans to add up to 25 properties to the brand in 2010. The iconic hotels will be grouped according to the unique experiences they offer to guests, ranging from boutique arts, resort getaways, to historic and urban-edge encounters.

 

The Autograph Collection combines the experience of an independent hotel with the product and standards of Marriott’s other full-service hotels. Each hotel will be featured on the group’s sales and marketing platforms, with affiliation with the Marriott Rewards guest loyalty program. The properties will also be required to maintain high levels of guest satisfaction and quality assurance to remain part of The Autograph Collection.

 

Marriott International joins rival hotel groups Hilton Worldwide and Starwood Hotels & Resorts in managing a portfolio of independent luxury hotels under the Waldorf Astoria Collection and Luxury Collection brands respectively.

 

For more information, visit www.marriott.com.

Tune Hotels.com Opens At Bali’s Kuta Beach

Tune Hotels.com has opened its first hotel in Indonesia, marking the budget hotel operator’s expansion beyond Malaysia. The 139-room Tune Hotels.com Kuta, Bali is located off Jalan Pantai Kuta and is a 6-minute walk from the famous beach as well as the main shopping and dining areas.

 

Each of the 84 double and 55 single rooms offer guests a clean, comfortable bed, ensuite shower and a ceiling fan. Guests can also choose to add-on optional amenities such as air-conditioning, laudered towels, television and wireless internet access for a fee.

 

Despite being minimally-priced, the hotel also provides daily housekeeping, electronic keycard access and 24-hour security. Other hotel facilities include a transportation/tour desk and a convenience store selling food and beverages, newspapers and magazines, essentials and souvenirs.

 

Malaysia-based Tune Hotels.com currently operate 5 limited service hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. The group will add a second Indonesian property when the 170-room Tune Hotels.com Double Six Legian opens next month.

 

For more information, visit www.tunehotels.com.

India’s Second Ibis Opens In Pune

Accor’s economy Ibis brand has opened its second property in India. The 175-room Ibis Pune is located 5 minutes away from Pune International Airport and offers easy accessibility to the city’s commercial, leisure and cultural districts.

 

Each room is furnished with amenities familiar to guests at Ibis properties around the world. Amenities include a comfortable bed and hypo-allergenic pillows, bathroom, LCD television with international programming, high-speed internet access, telephone, ergonomically-designed workspace, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities.

 

For dining, the hotel’s multi-cuisine, all-day dining restaurant Spice It features interactive cooking stations serving a la carte dishes and buffet. An outdoor area adjacent to the restaurant enables guests a choice to dine whilst enjoying Pune’s weather or in air-conditioned comfort within the restaurant. The Hub is a casual lounge offering drinks and light snacks for guests to unwind, with complimentary internet access.

 

Ibis Pune has 2 meeting rooms for business travellers and event planners that can accomodate up to 24 guests each. Both spaces are supported with the latest audio-visual technology and are designed to allow natural light and views of the bustling city. For recreation, there is a 24-hour fitness room that guests work out after a day of business.

 

Ibis Pune joins the Ibis Gurgaon as part of the brand’s expansion in India. Accor plans to open Ibis properties in the cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Mumbai.

 

For more information, visit www.ibishotel.com.

IHG Opens Crowne Plaza In Hong Kong

InterContinental Hotels Group has added a new property to its portfolio in Asia. The new Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay welcomed its first guests last week on 1 November 2009. Located on Leighton Road in the heart of Causeway Bay, the hotel is 40 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport and provides easy access to major attractions, business and shopping districts by all means of transportation.

 

The 263-room hotel offers 4 accomodation types, ranging from the 34-square meter Superior Room to the 84-square meter One Bedroom Suite. Each guestroom and suite is furnished with comfortable, 330-thread count bedding, spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and rain shower, 42-inch LCD television with surround-sound DVD system and iPod docking station, high-speed internet access, dual-line telephone with voicemail feature, full-size executive workdesk, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. In addition to standard amenities, guest staying in the hotel’s Club Rooms and Suites enjoy complimentary access to the Crowne Plaza Club Lounge.

 

Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay offers 3 unique food and beverage outlets. Kudos is a casual all-day dining restaurant serving an extensive selection of international cuisine. A live kitchen in the middle of the outlet lets guests enjoy culinary displays and performances by the chefs as part of the dining experience. Connections provides a location to start the day with gourmet coffee and breakfast in a lobby lounge environment, while the chic Club @28 lounge bar located on the rooftop terrace next to the swimming pool is an ideal place to unwind over drinks and snacks with panoramic views of the city.

 

The hotel boasts facilities catering to business and leisure travellers, including a fully-equipped business center and meeting space that can accomodate up to 100 guests for a medium-sized conference. After a day of business, guests can relax at Pavilion, a serene and artistically designed rest area with views of the city below. For recreation, the hotel has an outdoor swimming pool located on the rooftop, as well as a fitness center equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.

 

Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay marks the brand’s entry in the Special Administrative Region and joins more than 274 locations worldwide. In Hong Kong, InterContinental Hotels Group operates 4 other properties, including the Holiday Inn Express Causeway Bay Hong Kong, Holiday Inn Hong Kong-Golden Mile, InterContinental Hong Kong and InterContinental Grand Stamford Hong Kong.

 

For more information, visit www.crowneplaza.com and www.ichotelsgroup.com.

W Hotels Opens 35th Property

W Hotels has opened its 35th property with the unveiling of the new W Boston, marking a milestone in the brand’s ongoing expansion. Located in the heart of Boston near Chinatown and the Theater District, the hotel is designed as a ‘virtual garden’ concept and is the result of a collaboration between local architect William Rawn, TRO Jung|Brannen and New York-based Bentel & Bentel. The building’s glass facade enables light to be subtly transitioned as it filters through into the interior spaces, while the designers have made use of falling water and a modern fireplace to create visual interest of the interior.

 

The hotel features 235 guestrooms and suites, ranging from W Hotels’ signature Wonderful Room to the Extreme WOW Suite, vividly-designed with high-energy interiors familiar to guests at sister properties around the world. Each room is furnished with the W bed and pillow menu, a spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and rain shower complemented by amenities from Bliss, flat-screen televisions with CD/DVD player and iPod docking station, high-speed internet access, dual-line cordless telephones with voicemail feature, workdesk and a munchie box/minibar.

 

Dining at W Boston promises to be a gastronomic experience with outlets offering gourmet food and drinks from Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and master mixologist Sasha Petraske. Market by Jean-Georges serves a multicultural menu inspired by Asian, French and Italian influences and prepared with ingredients from the New England region. The cozy W Bar boasts stylish spaces to mix and mingle over drinks and light snacks, while Descent, scheduled to open early next year, will be an exclusive underground spot with cocktails created by Sasha Petraske of New York’s Milk & Honey fame.

 

Business travellers at W Boston requiring conference facilities will have 9 spaces available to them, including the 177-square meter Great Room. Each meeting space is equipped with complete audio-visual support and a teleconferencing system, with business and secretarial services provided by the WIRED business center. Guests seeking a workout can do so at the SWEAT fitness center, or indulge in the variety of spa treatments available at Bliss Spa.

 

W Boston is the brand’s ninth hotel to open in 2009. W Hotels is on track to double its portfolio by 2011, with new hotels scheduled to open in Athens, Bangkok, Dubai, Hollywood, Koh Samui, London, Marrakech, Paris and Shanghai.

 

For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

Accor Expands Into Taiwan With Novotel

French hospitality company Accor has opened its first property in Taiwan. The 360-room Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport is located minutes from the passenger terminals of the island’s busiest air hub and easily accessible to downtown Taipei by car.

 

The rooms and suites are contemporary in design and feature modern amenities for guests. Each room is furnished with a King-sized or twin beds, spacious bathroom with a bathtub or shower, LCD television with satellite programming, high-speed internet access, telephone with voicemail, work area with connectivity panel, in-room safe and minibar. The spacious suites feature a separate lounging area and access to the Premier Lounge.

 

Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport boasts 4 restaurants and bars offering a variety of cuisines for guests. Located on the second floor, THE WEI serves Chinese cuisine in an inviting setting with 6 private dining rooms and an outdoor terrace. The Square, Novotel’s flagship food and beverage outlet in Asia, offers a selection of international dishes ranging from regional specialties to European dishes. The open-plan Q-Bar in the lobby is ideal for a relaxing drink accompanied by soothing parkland views, while O2 Bar by the swimming pool serves a menu of healthy food and drinks.

 

Guests can indulge in various recreational activities at the hotel, with an indoor heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, fitness center, jogging track and massage facility amongst the entertainment offerings. Golf enthusiasts can play a round at the nearby Meilihua Miramar Golf Resort, while the nearby city of Taoyuan is accessible by the hotel’s complimentary shuttle bus. For conferences or meetings, the hotel offer a 488-square meter, pillar-less Dynasty Grand Ballroom and 5 other meeting rooms with ample natural lighting, state-of-the-art technology and supported by a full-service business center.

 

With the opening of the Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Accor now has a presence in all major regions within Greater China including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. For more information, visit www.accor.com and www.novotel.com.

New Hotel Openings In UAE

The UAE has continued its hotel boom with the opening of 2 new hotels this week in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The spectacular Yas Hotel welcomes its first guests in support of this weekend’s Formula One race while The Address Hotels+Resorts have opened The Address Dubai Marina.

 

Yas Hotel

Positioned on the Yas Marina Circuit that will host the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the 499-room Yas Hotel is the latest addition to the accomodation offering in Abu Dhabi. The international airport is 10 minutes away from the hotel, while the city centre, corniche and Dubai are easily accessible via a network of highways.

 

The rooms and suites at the hotel boast views of the race track, marina and the island at large with large floor-to-ceiling windows that open out to private balconies and have been designed to be contemporary and comfortable. Accomodation options range from the 54-square meter Deluxe and Executive Rooms to the magnificent 572-square meter, duplex Diwan Suite. All rooms are furnished with luxury bedding, an all-glass bathroom with rain shower, 42-inch LCD television with facility panel for iPod, laptop and device connectivity, high-speed internet access, telephone with voicemail feature, work area, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. In addition to the standard amenities, all suites also feature private terrace access, separate living and dining areas, while the 2 Diwan Suites have a dedicated elevator and a full chef’s kitchen.

 

Dining at the Yas Hotel promises to be a gastronomic experience with a selection of unique restaurants serving the finest specialties from around the world. The all-day dining Origins restaurant offers an international buffet and succulent rotisserie, while Amici serves rustic and classic Italian fare. At Atayeb, guests can sample foods from the bordering regions of the Mediterranean and the Middle East accompanied by Moroccan and Lebanese wines. The best of Asian cuisine is offered at Angar, Kazu and the Noodle Box, serving Indian, Japanese and traditional street food respectively, while seafood lovers can indulge in the freshest catch from the region’s waters including oysters, Gulf shrimp and Omani lobsters at Nautilus. Guests seeking a light meal can head to the Yas Lounge where pastries, cakes, house chocolates and desserts are served with freshly brewed coffees. After sundown, the Rush Bar, Skylite Lounge, Latitude & Longitude pool bars provide ideal venues to relax and mingle over drinks.

 

Set in the newest recreational districts of Abu Dhabi, the Yas Hotel showcases a diverse range of recreation and leisure facilities, including a state-of-the-art gymnasium with sauna and steam rooms, a luxury spa with 10 treatment rooms and 2 rooftop swimming pools. Beyond the hotel, the 143-berth marina and yacht club promises watersports activities and guests can also play a round of golf at the Middle East’s first 18-hole links golf course. Yas Island will also be home to shopping malls, a Warner Brothers theme park and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the first theme park dedicated to the Italian carmaker.

 

Meeting and event space at the hotel total 962 square meters and include the 509-square meter Al Manaar ballroom, as well as 6 meeting rooms and 4 boardrooms. Each venue features advanced audio-visual equipment, with the meeting rooms and boardrooms also enjoying natural light. A fully-equipped business center is available to support guests and meeting planners with their individual requirements.

 

For more information, visit www.theyashotel.com.

 

The Address Dubai Marina

In neighbouring Dubai, The Address Dubai Marina is the latest addition to the portfolio of The Address Hotels+Resorts. The 200-room hotel offers easy access to Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi and is a short ride from the Dubai Media and Internet Cities, Knowledge Village, Jebel Ali Free Zone and some of the city’s business hubs.

 

Each of the stylish rooms and suites feature luxury bedding with pillow choices by Muehldorfer, spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and shower, accompanied by bath amenities from Angelo Caroli, flat-screen televisions with iPod docking station, high-speed internet access, telephone with voicemail capability, workdesk, fully-stocked minibar and coffee-/tea-making facility. 5 accomodation types are available, including the 280-square meter Presidential Suite with a residential-style living area, dining room, 2 bedrooms, study, kitchen and exclusive access to the Club Lounge.

 

5 outlets at the hotel offer guests a variety of dining options, with the signature restaurant, Mazina, serving Asian, Arabic and European dishes prepared in front of guests in the show kitchens. Rive Gauche blends the charm of a classic French brasserie with the modernity of Dubai, where guests can dine on the outdoor terrace to views of the marina. Located in the lobby, Kanbaa, serves snacks and freshly baked sweets and savouries, as well as afternoon tea. Shades, the poolside restaurant offers light meals in the day, turning into an urban retreat for cocktails and live DJ sets after sundown, while the aptly-named Blends is a mix of 3 innovative experiences. The trendy lounge offers champagne and fine wines displayed in magnificent floor-to-ceiling cellars, with a dedicated cigar room stocking limited edition Cuban and South American cigars, while the mixologists concoct creative beverages in the cocktail lounge.

 

As a business hotel, The Address Dubai Marina features meeting facilities that cater to events of all sizes. The Constellation Ballroom can accomodate up to 1,000 guests, with an adjoining poolside terrace that is ideal as a pre-function or breakout space. 15 other meeting rooms feature private balconies overlooking the marina and can accomodate groups from 10 to 100 guests. The hotel’s event planners are on-hand to assist guests in planning their event, ranging from audio-visual support to gourmet banquets.

 

After a day of business, guests can relax at The Spa, where they can indulge in signature treatments using essential oils from Aromatherapy Associates. There are 12 tranquil treatment rooms with luxurious shower facilities and views of the marina, while the sauna and steam baths provide a deep and relaxing cleanse. An infinity pool, modern fitness center and hair salon complement the wellness facilities, while the beach and waters of the Arabian Gulf is a short walk away.

 

The Address Dubai Marina joins other The Address properties in Dubai, including The Address Dubai Mall, The Address Downtown Burj Dubai and The Palace – The Old Town. For more information, visit www.theaddress.com.

Doubletree Opens Largest Property In Orlando

Hilton Worldwide’s Doubletree Hotels has opened its largest hotel in Orlando, Florida. Formerly the International Plaza Resort and Spa, the 1,094-room Doubletree Resort Orlando-International Drive has undergone a USD35 million transformation. The resort now features a Balinese-inspired theme with contemporary dark wood furnishings and Indonesian design accents again the tropical landscape. Located in the heart of the city’s tourism corridor, the property is easily accessible from Orlando International Airport, while the Orange County Convention Center and Seaworld, as well as shopping and dining facilities, are within walking distance of the hotel.

 

A variety of accomodation options, ranging from Resort Guestrooms, Tower Accomodations and Suites are available to guests. Each guestroom is furnished with the signature Sweet Dreams by Doubletree bed, bathroom with glass-enclosed shower and products by Neutrogena, 32-inch LCD television with clock radio featuring iPod connectivity, high-speed internet access, 2 telephones with voicemail capability, workdesk with power and connector ports, in-room safe, microwave, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. In addition to standard amenities, the Suites include a comfortable, oversized living room, separate dining room with table and a kitchenette.

 

The Doubletree Resort Orlando-International Drive presents 3 unique dining options for guests. Max’s Deli offers casual dining, with breakfast pastries and Starbucks coffee on the menu, while the Bamboo Grille is a full-service, 270-seat all-day dining restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine with an Asian fusion twist. For drinks, guests can head to the Red Parrot Pool Bar and Tropical Isle located by the resort’s swimming pool, where they can enjoy signature drinks and frozen specialties.

 

Catering to both business and leisure travellers, the resort offers  conventions and recreational facilities within its 28 acres of lushly landscaped grounds. Over 5,574 square meters of indoor and outdoor event space, ranging from large ballrooms at the Oceans Convention Center to the elegant and intimate outdoor spaces at the Tower Terrace. Each facility is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, business services and amenities. Guests on vacation will enjoy facilities such as the 3 swimming pools, mini-golf course, full-service day spa and fitness center, or the quiet solace of a palm-shaded hammock or a Polynesian hut. A high-tech children’s lounge with computers and Nintendo Wii game consoles will entertain younger guests, while shuttle services to Orlando’s renowned attractions (Walt Disney World, Seaworld and Universal Studios) complement Doubletree Resort Orlando-International Drive’s facilities.

 

Doubletree boasts a portfolio of distinctively designed hotels and resorts in more than 200 gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations worldwide, including Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Dar es Salaam, Lima, London, New York City, Qingdao, San Juan and Washington DC.

 

For more information, visit doubletree1.hilton.com.

Media One Hotel Opens In Dubai

Frankfurt-based WORLDHOTELS has added a new property in Dubai to its hotel portfolio under the Deluxe collection. Located in the heart of the emirate’s bustling Media City district, Media One Hotel occupies the first 23 floors of a 43-floor mixed-use tower and is minutes from Dubai Marina and the iconic Palm Jumeirah.

 

Each of the 260 rooms and 10 suites feature comfortable bedding, a bathroom with separate bathtub and shower, satellite television and high-speed internet access. Other amenities include a workdesk, telephone, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities.

 

3 restaurants in the 4-star property offer guests various dining options. At The Med, guests can indulge in mediterranean favorites throughout the day, while CafeM and Z:ONE serve international cuisine.

 

Targeted at professionals, Media One Hotel boasts 7 meeting rooms capable of accomodating up to 90 guests, supported by a fully-equipped business center. For recreation, there is an outdoor pool, fitness center, sauna and steam room.

 

A collection of unique, independent hotels, WORLDHOTELS has almost 500 affiliated properties in more than 300 destinations and 70 countries worldwide.

 

For more information, visit www.worldhotels.com.