Starwood continues expansion in Greater China
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has continued its aggressive expansion in Greater China with the opening of 13 hotels in the first quarter of this year. The new signings include the launch of the first aloft hotel in Asia with the opening of the aloft Beijing, Haidian; as well as a St. Regis resort in Lhasa, Tibet; a Sheraton and St. Regis in Macau; and a W in Guangzhou. The company also added two Westin hotels, two Sheraton properties and one Four Points by Sheraton hotel. Adding 7,000 rooms to its portfolio with these new signings Starwood now operates 38 hotels in Greater China. It plans to open 33 new hotels in the region within the next three years.

Casa Group to build Cape Verde resort
Casa Group is to build a new resort on the North African Cape Verde island of Santiago. The £2.39b project will comprise a sustainable, integrated resort development with seven distinct resort offers clustered around a parkland reserve with coastal access between Sao Francisco and Sao Tome Bays. With work beginning in mid-2008, the resort will be developed over the next 10 to15 years. Ferenc Ebozue, chief executive of Casa Group, said: “Cape Verde is an untapped opportunity for credible and committed large scale resort developers. Less than six hours direct from the UK, it is already a growing tourist destination but with little infrastructure or investment in high-quality accommodation and facilities to date.”

Marriott adds third Renaissance hotel in Paris
Marriott International is to open its third Renaissance-branded hotel in Paris in 2009, marking the company’s eighth hotel in the French capital. The 118-room Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe will be located on Avenue Wagram approximately 300m north of the city’s famous landmark. The hotel will include an all-day casual restaurant and lounge with an outdoor terrace and bar with recreational amenities including a 70sq m fitness centre and 1,500sq m of retail space. Among other amenities will be a business centre and the hotel will also feature a 150sq m of conference space which can be divided into two sections or five breakout rooms in varying configurations.

MHG to open Mondrian hotel in Chicago
Morgans Hotel Group (MHG) is to develop a Mondrian hotel in Chicago, which will be operated by MHG under a long-term management contract and is expected to open in 2010. The hotel is the fifth Mondrian property after the existing hotels in Los Angeles and Scottsdale and properties under development in Las Vegas and Miami. Mondrian Chicago, which is currently expected to have 200 rooms, will be located on the existing property of the Cedar Hotel at the intersection of State, Rush and Cedar Streets. The property is located in the Gold Coast region of Chicago in close proximity to dining, nightlife, and high-end retail boutiquesand many rooms will offer views of Lake Michigan.

Aramark wins Olympic contract
Contract caterer Aramark has been appointed by the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games as the official catering service provider for the 2008 Summer Games and Paralympic Games. The agreement will see Aramark, together with the Beijing Tourism Group, provide catering services for the athletes’ village, media villages, international broadcast centres, and the main press centre. Aramark will also manage the design and construction of the kitchen and dining facilities for the Olympic catering venues.

By Kerstin Kühn

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