Hotel boom in GermanyThe hotel market in Frankfurt will soon see a surge of new openings. Twenty hotels are currently under development and, when completed, the city will have 20,000 hotel bedrooms, a third more than today. The German market is quite volatile with a significant business market but less leisure travellers. The World Cup will be held in Germany next June and FIFA estimates that three million people will attend matches. The German tourist board expects 5.5 million further overnight stays during the tournament.
China goes green
China will have 10,000 “green” hotels by 2010, according to Zhang Zhigang, the country’s vice-commerce minister. Green hotels must be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly and save on energy and resources. It is estimated that three billion kW will be saved as a result, which is equivalent to the power consumption of 1.67 million households.
Parisian Buddha Bar to launch in Dubai
Buddha Bar is moving east, after Grosvenor House West Marina Beach by Le Meridien in Dubai bought the rights to the Parisian-based bar concept for the United Arab Emirates. The entertainment venue serves Asian fusion-style cuisine and has themed dining areas, a sushi bar, and sunken private lounges.
Best Western branches into Bulgaria
Three new properties have opened in Bulgaria under the Best Western brand. The four-star properties increase the chain’s Bulgarian portfolio to four. The 26-bedroom Best Western Europe is in the Sophia area, the Best Western Royal is located in Plovdiv, with 36 bedrooms, and the 99-bedroom Best Western Expo is near Sophia International airport.
Hong Kong goes large
The InterContinental Hong Kong is creating the largest presidential suite in the country, with 7,000sq feet of space, encompassing five bedrooms, an atrium entrance hall, living and dining rooms, a kitchen, and a wrap-around terrace with an infinity pool. The penthouse is part of the hotel’s renovation plan, which is the biggest in the 495-bedroom hotel’s 25-year history. The work is scheduled to complete in late September.
More rooms for Cape TownCape Town will see at least nine new hotels open in the next two years, according to the Cape Town Partnership, a joint venture between private businesses and the city’s government. The central business district has already been home to 1,100 new hotel rooms in the past five years, in anticipation of the football World Cup in 2010, which will be held in South Africa.