Travel Agent - September 3, 2007 - (Page 18)

Cover Story Continued from page 17 in 2008, the brand will debut in Charlotte, N.C.; Dubai; Sanya, China; and Westchester, N.Y. Additional locations include Hong Kong (2009); Lake Tahoe, CA (2009); Molasses Reef, Turks and Caicos (2007); Rose Island, Bahamas (2009); St. Lucia (2009); Toronto (2009); and Shanghai (2010). Though the brand has 51 hotels in 10 countries, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (www. fairmont.com) is showing no signs of slowing down. Its development team is targeting North America, Middle East/ Africa, Asia and Europe. While the brand has been focusing expansion efforts in Europe, with new additions in Hamburg, Germany; London; Scotland; and Monaco, Fairmont recently announced plans for a luxury mixed-use resort on Anguilla. When it opens in 2010, The Fairmont Anguilla will have 140 rooms and suites, a 15,000-square-foot Willow Stream Spa, beach club and Jack Nicklaus Golf Club. In the winter, look for Fairmont to reopen New York’s Plaza Hotel following a $350 million renovation. The brand is also set to reflag three hotels in Kenya this year. Other destinations slated for development include Cairo and Nile City in Egypt, Abu Dhabi, Vancouver, South Africa and Asia. Across the Hilton Family of Hotels (www. hilton.com), 800 hotels are in the pipeline totaling 110,000 rooms. Its luxury brand, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, announced its entrance into South America with the Conrad Buenos Aires, slated to open late 2010. The property marks Hilton’s fourth hotel in Argentina. (In addition to the Hilton Buenos Aires, the Hilton Iguazu Resort is slated to open late 2008 and the Hilton Ushuaia in 2009.) Conrad is in the process of converting a property in the Maldives and also has hotels under development in Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the Bahamas and Koh Samui. The hotel giant has also secured partnerships to grow its portfolio in India and China by 100 hotels in the next five to seven years and signed three new alliances to add 15 properties in the Caribbean and Central America, 25 in Russia and at least 15 in the U.K. over the next five years. Growing Strong Andy Cosslett, CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group (www.ichotelgroup.com), says by the end of 2008 there will be an additional 50,000 to 60,000 rooms across the group’s seven brands, which include InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. On the international front, IHG reports particularly strong growth in China, Japan, India and Vietnam. Three InterContinental Hotels & Resorts are slated to open in China this year in Chengdu, Shenzhen and Jiuzhaigou. Also slated to open by the end of the year is the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, the brand’s first property in Vietnam, along with the InterContinental Dubai Festival City. In the U.S., InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will debut in San Francisco, Sacramento, Scottsdale and Orlando over the next few years. System wide, IHG reports developments in New York City, Denver, Chicago, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Though Mandarin Oriental (www.man darinoriental.com) is seriously expanding its reach across the globe with 16 projects over the next three years, the group has carefully considered each of its new locations. “We have not rushed into the latest ‘hot’ spots, but rather have sought out business and leisure destinations that are yet to be discovered or are under revitalContinued on page 20 View of the pool at the InterContinental Shenzhen Hotel, part of the brand’s growth in China (left); a rendering of Starwood’s recently launched Aloft brand (below left); deluxe room at the new Ritz-Carlton Dallas (bottom right) 18 TravelAgent September 3, 2007 http://www.ichotelgroup.com http://www.fairmont.com http://www.fairmont.com http://www.hilton.com http://www.hilton.com http://www.mandarinoriental.com http://www.mandarinoriental.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - September 3, 2007

Contents News You Can Use Agenda: Fam Trips, Calendar of Events, Deal of the Week Cover Story: Hotel Brand Expansion Africa: Egypt’s Newest Destination Hawaii: Hawaii Update Pacific/Asia: Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square Europe: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Caribbean & Bahamas: Marriott Expands Its Caribbean Portfolio El San Juan Hotel & Casino Upgrades San Juan’s New Doubletree by Hilton Mexico: Hotels Offer Post-Hurricane Deals Ski: The Inn at Lost Creek Agent Profile Meet Mame King Advertisers’ Information Classified Marketplace Luxury Travel Expo Update People & Places Special Supplement: Las Vegas Sales Guide

Travel Agent - September 3, 2007

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