Hilton to launch Hilton Garden Inn brand in Perm, Russia and other international hotel news

Hilton to launch Hilton Garden Inn brand in Perm, Russia
Hilton has signed its first hotel agreement to launch its Hilton Garden Inn brand in the Russian city of Perm. It will see the conversion of the existing Plaza Olympia hotel to the Hilton Garden Inn Perm in late 2008. The announcement comes as the company plans to open more than 70 Hilton family hotels across Russia over the next ten years. These will not only focus on Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also key regional cities.

Hyatt to manage new resort on Koh Samui
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement for a new luxury resort on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand. Scheduled to open in 2009, Park Hyatt Koh Samui will include 90 hotel and 24 residential villas offering outdoor living area, private pool, sun deck, terrace and private gardens. The resort will feature a number of dining outlets, a spa and wellness facility as well as meeting and event services, and extensive leisure facilities. Park Hyatt Koh Samui will be situated on Thong Krut Bay, along Koh Samui’s southern shoreline, 45 minutes from Samui Airport.

Langham to launch boutique hotel in Shanghai
Langham Hotels International (LHI) is to launch its first boutique hotel with the opening of the Langham, Yangtze Boutique in Shanghai. This is LHI's fourth new hotel announcement in China in six months and marks the start of the group's new boutique hotel brand The Langham. Set to open in 2008, the hotel will be Shanghai's only five-star art deco boutique hotel including 101 bedrooms and suites, a spa, five restaurants and extensive meeting facilities.

IHG to enter Nigeria
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is to enter the Nigerian market with the construction of the InterContinental Lagos. Built by construction company Milan Group, the hotel will see a $80m (£40m) investment and upon completion will comprise the tallest hotel in the country. IHG said that the hotel would be aimed at the increasing number of business travellers coming to Nigeria. IHG chief operating officer for the Middle East and Africa, John Bamsey, said: “InterContinental Lagos is a key property for us as we expand our presence across the Middle East and Africa region.”

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kuhn here.