Hard Rock International makes a splash in the Caribbean and rolls out the red carpet to celebrate the grand opening of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, located in the Dominican Republic on Jan. 29, 2011. The lush, 121-acre property located on Macao Beach is Hard Rock’s first all-inclusive Hotel & Casino and marks the brand’s debut in the Caribbean.

Acqualina Resort & Spa, in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., debuted its deluxe three-bedroom, three-bathroom oceanfront suite located on the hotel’s 31st floor featuring views of the Atlantic Ocean. The 2,375-square-foot suite, designed by Miami based Zeke Fernandez, features a double door entry with wood panels leading to a foyer area.

Sol Meliá announced the signature of what will become its sixth hotel in Valencia, the former Hilton Valencia, an ultra-modern hotel with 304 rooms located in the tallest building in the city and now to be rebranded as a Meliá Hotel and scheduled to open on Feb. 21.

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts said it plans to open seven new hotels and resorts this year, increasing its presence in such vacation destinations as Spain, Greece and Cuba (for non-U.S. travelers). The Spanish hotel chain currently has 101 hotels, 67,400 beds and more than 21,000 employees. The company closed 2010 with revenues of approximately $1.2 billion, representing a 9 percent increase over the previous year.

Located on the beach of Bahia Petempich in Riviera Maya, Azul Beach Hotel by Karisma, a Gourmet Inclusive boutique property, announced the completion of its newly transformed suites and Azulitos Kid’s Club. As a part of an $11 million renovation designed to enhance the guest experience, the intimate 90-suite hotel has unveiled a collection of new suite categories, ideal for families and couples, which are now up to 500 square feet larger.

Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa, the newest beachfront property on Florida’s West Coast, has much to celebrate as it approaches its one-year anniversary this February. The 250-all-suite resort recently secured the distinction of holding AAA’s prestigious four diamond status and can now add one more accolade to its list: three green keys from the internationally respected Green Key Eco-rating Program.