Travel Agent - September 3, 2007 - (Page 21)

This includes three JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts and one Ritz-Carlton, one Marriott and one Renaissance, a Marriott Executive Apartment for extended-stay clients and eight Courtyard by Marriotts. Also look for the Courtyard brand to enter Thailand. Starwood (www.starwoodhotels.com), which recently launched new brands Aloft and Element Hotels, plans to open more than 80 hotels (about 20,000 hotel rooms) and hopes to sign 200 management and franchise contracts. Like its competitors, Starwood is growing its portfolio in Asia Pacific, with a specific focus on China. By the end of 2010, the company will have opened approximately 32 new hotels in China alone under the Four Points, Sheraton, W, Westin, St. Regis, Le Meridien and Aloft brands. Starwood’s luxury brand, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, has three projects in the works that will quadruple its presence in Asia Pacific and add Osaka, Japan and Bangkok, Thailand to its portfolio. At press time, Peninsula Hotels (www. peninsula.com) was scheduled to open in Tokyo on September 1 in the chic Marunouchi neighborhood, with the largest hotel rooms in the city. Hi-tech rooms come with portable phones that can be used as mobile phones throughout the city; Video on Demand so guests can print directions, train schedules and cultural attractions in their rooms; and luxurious bathrooms capable of creating an in-room spa experience through the touch of a button. Also look for Peninsula to open in Shanghai in 2009. Carlson Hotels has a master plan to expand its upscale brand, Regent Hotels & Resorts (www.regenthotels.com), with eight new properties slated to open within the next four years. Regent Hotels & Resorts, which presently has six hotels around the world, announced its entrance into the Caribbean in April with The Regent Palms, Turks and Caicos, a luxury resort on Grace Bay Beach. The brand is also growing its Growth of U.S. hospitality industry in 2007 based on number of rooms available Luxury segment: +2.3 percent Upper upscale: +1.2 percent Upscale: +3.1 percent Midscale with food and beverage: -1.4 percent Midscale without food and beverage: + 3.6 percent Economy: + 1.2 percent (*provided by PwC) U.S. portfolio with The Regent Boston at Battery Wharf Hotel, slated to open its doors in spring 2008 with the first North American restaurant by celebrity chef Guy Martin. The Regent Bal Harbour in Florida is on target to open later this year followed by The Regent Bangkok in 2008. Also in 2008, The Regent Maldives will debut on the island of Maalefushi. Interested? Request #003. September 3, 2007 TravelAgent 21 http://www.peninsula.com http://www.peninsula.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.regenthotels.com http://www.booktravelbound.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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