The hotels Riu Palace Las Americas in Cancun and the Riu Palace Mexico, located in Playa del Carmen, have received awards from clients of the tour operator TUI Nordic. The award ceremony took place at the Hotel Riu Palace Peninsula, attended by nearly 100 tourist industry professionals.

Savills Hospitality Group, a U.S.-based unit of an international real estate services firm, has been retained by Jalousie Ltd. as its exclusive advisor to assist in raising joint venture equity or debt for the expansion of Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort in St. Lucia, West Indies.

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a franchise agreement with Hotel Fira to open its first Crowne Plaza in Barcelona - Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center. The hotel will open during the first quarter this year.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that its Le Meridien brand will soon add Indianapolis to its rapidly growing North American portfolio.