Asia Pacific
Shangri-La opens first of two towers in Zhongshan
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has opened its 17th hotel in China and second in the city of Zhongshan. The five-star Shangri-La Hotel Zhongshan features 463 bedrooms split over two towers, the first of which, the 268-bedroom east tower, opened earlier this month. The 195-bedroom south tower is scheduled to open in May.
Bali hotels given security ratings
Police in Bali have completed an intensive review of hotel security and ranked some of the major resorts on the island in a safety order in a bid to reassure tourists that it is safe. More than a year after the bombings in Kuta that killed more than 200 people, police have completed a review of security at 34 of the island's four- and five-star hotels. The Nikko Bali Resort and Spa in Nusa Dua was top of the list, closely followed by the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay. In total 29 of the hotels were given gold security rankings, with the remainder getting silver rankings.
Europe
Starwood to build new hotel with wine producer
Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Spanish wine producer Vinos de los Herederos del Marques de Riscal have signed a management agreement for a new hotel in the heart of the Rioja wine region, south of Bilbao. The Hotel Marques de Riscal is scheduled to open at the end of 2005 and will be designed by Frank Gehry, who is famous for creating the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The boutique-style property will become part of the Luxury Collection and will have about 30-35 bedrooms.
Thistle and NH Hoteles sign sales and marketing deal
Madrid-based NH Hoteles and London-based Thistle Hotels have teamed up to expand their coverage in each other's territories. The two hotel companies have signed a 12-month agreement to share their sales, marketing and public relations in the areas in which they operate - UK, Continental Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. This is the third deal of this kind for Thistle in recent months. It already has similar agreements with First Hotels of Scandinavia and Meritus Hotels in Singapore.
Americas
Barbados to get 353-bedroom Hilton
Hilton Caribbean, a division of Hilton International, has added its 14th hotel and ninth island to its collection. The group will open a $90m (£50m), 353-bedroom hotel in Barbados at the end of the year. The Hilton Barbados hotel will also feature a 10,000sq ft meetings complex, with a boardroom, three meeting rooms and 6,200sq ft ballroom with space for up to 500 people.
Pop Century Resort is Disney World's largest hotel
Walt Disney World has opened its largest hotel. The 2,800-bedroom Pop Century Resort at Disney World in Orlando is being marketed as a budget hotel with rooms selling for about $77 (£42) a night. The hotel features lodge buildings and furnishings inspired by different decades and their pop culture icons.
Radisson Hotel South to get Sheraton brand
The 565-bedroom Radisson Hotel South in Bloomington, Minnesota, is to be rebranded as a Sheraton following a switch in management from Carlson Hospitality Worldwide to Starwood Hotels and Resorts. The hotel is expected to open under its new flag in March this year.
Investors look forward to recovery in hotels sector
US hotel investors are hopeful of a recovery in performance this year, according to a study from Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. The company's Hotels Investor Sentiment Survey shows the strongest buy rating from investors in three years. New York and San Francisco topped the bill as cities to own hotel stock in, while Dallas and Orlando were bottom of the pile.