North America
US tourism industry bounces back
The US tourism industry is almost back to pre-11 September levels, according to the latest government figures. A report from the US government's Department of Commerce shows that total sales in the country's tourism industry are now just 0.5% below the $751.3b (£428.4b) achieved in 2000.
Montreal's Wyndham hotel to become Hyatt Regency
Hotel owner CNL Hospitality Properties has bought the Wyndham Montreal hotel in Canada for an undisclosed sum. The hotel will now be managed by Hyatt Hotels Corporation under a long-term contract and will be named the Hyatt Regency Montreal. The hotel features 607 bedrooms and has 34,000sq ft of meeting space.
Mountain resort is a first for Four Seasons
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has opened its first mountain resort. The group has opened a 124-bedroom hotel at the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village, Wyoming. The resort also features 17 condominium private residences and 40 Residence Club apartments, a spa and 8,000sq ft of meeting space.
Europe
Accor takes on management of two Pattaya hotels
French hotel group Accor has announced two new management contracts in Pattaya, Thailand. It will manage the 234-bedroom Novotel Garden Cliff resort and the 253-bedroom Mercure Pattaya hotel. The Novotel is scheduled to open in September 2004 and the Mercure will open in January 2005. Accor currently manages 18 hotels in Thailand.
Crete's Blue Palace joins Luxury Collection
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has added a new hotel to its Luxury Collection portfolio. The Blue Palace resort and spa on the Greek island of Crete will join this month. The hotel has 204 bedrooms and a 21,500sq ft spa with 22 treatment rooms. It is owned by well-known Greek hoteliers the Sbokos family.
Ritz-Carlton to manage Portuguese golf resort
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has taken over management of the Penha Longa hotel and golf resort in the Estoril coastal region of Portugal. The 177-bedroom hotel will undergo a US$20m (£11.4m) refurbishment, adding more bedrooms and a spa to the property by spring 2006. The hotel will be the fifth hotel in Europe managed by Ritz-Carlton.
Middle East
Hilton signs management deal in Qatar
Hilton International has signed a 15-year management contract with the New Doha Hotel Company to manage the Hilton Doha hotel in Qatar. The 320-bedroom hotel will form part of a US$60m (£34.2m) development in Doha, the Qatari capital, and is scheduled to open in December 2005.
Asia-Pacific
Cairns hotel will be Shangri-La's second in Australia
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has announced a new management agreement with Australian property investor Huntercorp Pacific to operate a five-star, 256-bedroom hotel in Cairns, north Queensland. In mid-2004, following an Aus$25m (£10.6m) renovation, the Radisson Plaza hotel will be rebranded as Shangri-La. The property will be Shangri-La's second hotel in Australia.
Marriott plans first opening in Fiji
Marriott International will open its first hotel in Fiji next year. The group has signed an agreement to manage the 250-bedroom Fiji Marriott Resort from December 2005. The hotel will feature 640sq m of meeting space, including a 350sq m ballroom, three meeting rooms and a boardroom.