Carlson expands in India, Ireland and USA… and other International hotel news

Hilton sells five Canadian Hotels but expands in Ireland
Hilton Hotels has sold five of its Canadian properties to private hotel management companies Westmont Hospitality Group and Innvest Real Estate Investment Trust for $243m (₤128m). The hotels include the 600-room Hilton Toronto, the 413-room Hilton Toronto Airport, the 571-room Hilton Quebec, the 486-room Hilton Montreal Aeroport, and the 197-room Hilton Saint John in New Brunswick. Hilton will continue to manage the properties under multi-year management agreements. Robert La Forgia, Hilton's chief financial officer said: "This transaction represents the first tranche of hotel asset sales outside the USA and is in line with Hilton's strategy to sell properties while maintaining long-term contracts." Hilton is set to open two new properties in Dublin and Limerick early next year, bringing its portfolio in Ireland to nine hotels. The 184-room Hilton Limerick, which will feature a dedicated executive traveller floor as well as meeting rooms, a health club and fine-dining restaurant, bar and café bar and the 120-room Hilton Dublin Kilmainham.

Carlson expands in India, Ireland and USACarlson Hotels Worldwide has added eight properties to its global portfolio bringing the number of its worldwide hotels to 938.
The new properties include the 86-room Radisson Jass Hotel Khajuraho in India, the 158-room Radisson SAS Farnham Estate Hotel-Cavan in County Cavan, Ireland, and the 53-room Park Inn in Milpitas, California. Carlson also acquired five new Country Inns & Suites across the USA including properties in Atlanta and Tennessee.

InterContinental US appointmentInterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has appointed Christian Hempell as vice-president of strategy for the Americas. Hempell, who will be based in the group's Atlanta office, will be responsible for the strategic development of the Americas and will report to senior vice-president of strategy and corporate development Gavin Flynn. Hempell was previously based in IGH's head quarters in London, where he was vice-president for global strategy.

Treasure Beach, Barbados to reopen
Treasure Beach hotel in Barbados is to reopen in November following a revamp. The new look boutique hotel, which has 35 suites, includes Afro-Caribbean features and was developed by interior designer Simone St Rose. Following the revamp, the hotel is also reopening its Al Fresco restaurant and has named Daniel Arratoon as head chef. Australian-born Arratoon previously worked at London's Dorchester hotel, the Millennium hotel and Ritz Carlton Double Bay in Sydney, and Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida.

Golden Tulip blossoms
Dutch hotel group Golden Tulip Hospitality is launching a five-star brand called Royal Tulip. The new brand, which will run alongside the company's existing portfolio of Golden Tulip hotels, Golden Tulip resorts and Tulip Inns, will offer luxury rooms, restaurants, cafés and bars, as well as business and leisure facilities. Golden Tulip Hospitality president Hans Kennedie said the new brand would be developed through the re-designation of existing high-end Golden Tulip hotels and resorts, together with the opening of new properties in gateway cities. "We are expecting to develop 40 hotels in the next four to five years," he said.

Stein adds three hotels to group Luxury lifestyle hotel group Stein Hotels has acquired three properties in central London, increasing its portfolio of hotels based in the capital to five. The acquisition boosts the group's European portfolio to 21 properties. The hotels are the 48-room Royal Park Hotel in Westbourne Terrace, the 39-room Cranley in South Kensington, and the 42-room Elizabeth hotel in Westminster.
Separately, Stein Hotels has announced plans to expand internationally and said it intends to build its European portfolio to 50 properties over the next five years.

Agassi and Graff to develop Idaho resort
Tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are set to develop a luxury mountain resort in the village of Tamarack in Donnelly, Idaho, in the USA. The Fairmount Tamarack resort, which will be managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, is set to open in 2009. It will include two locations, a resort and spa situated in the village of Tamarack, and a resort higher up in the mountains.
The village location, Belvedere Ridge, will feature 285 units including a hotel, apartment complexes and penthouse residences, as well as access to a golf course and health spa. The resort's mid-mountain location, Whitewater, will include 50 private residences as well as a semi-private restaurant and offer ski access. "Our vision is to create an exceptional lifestyle offering that complements the natural beauty of the resort," Agassi said.

By Emily Manson

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