Sol Meliá, the Majorca-based hotel chain, is determined to beef up its already hefty presence on the Caribbean island of Cuba with the addition this fall of a spectacular 925-room lodging in Santamaria Key, a breathtaking sandy islet off Cuba´s northern coast.
The new all-inclusive Meliá Las Dunas will feature an amazing gastronomic offer made up of half a dozen bars and a number of restaurants, including a smorgasbord, a steak house, a Cuban food restaurant and another one serving the finest international cuisine money can buy.
Barceló Group from Spain, headquartered in Palma de Majorca, Spain, announced earlier this week the formation of a new company within its portfolio: Playa Hotels & Resorts, S.L. (Playa).
Playa will focus on the acquisition and development of all-inclusive beachfront resorts in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. To date, Playa has raised more than $580 million in equity funding commitments from a small group of international institutional investors, including Barceló, Merrill Lynch Global Principal Investments and Marathon Asset Management.
The 152-room Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands will close from August 15 to November 1 for a $35-million renovation project.
The project is to add 24 luxury suites, six spa treatment rooms and a 20,000-square-foot lounge and also will include a redo of its three restaurants, according to Brad Jenks, general manager.
Hilton Hotels Corp. signed a deal to manage a hotel in China´s fast-growing city of Hefei, capital of China´s Anhui Province.
The 26-story, 566-room Hilton Hefei is slated to open later this year and is owned by the Anhui Yuanyi Hotel Co.
John Vanderslice, president and CEO, Americas, for Club Med will be leaving the hotel company May 12 after six years at the head of the Americas Business Unit. In his place, Club Med has named Cedric Gobilliard as president and CEO, North America, effective May 11.
According to Club Med, Mr. Vanderslice was instrumental in bringing about many crucial changes to Club Med North America, notably its Total All-Inclusive offering.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced last week the opening of three new hotels in the growing Mexico City market and the signing of an agreement with Mexicana Airlines as its eleventh airline rewards partner.
Choice Hotels Mexico´s three properties in Mexico City are now open and receiving guests. A Quality Inn and a Quality Suites are located in the Zona Rosa neighborhood, and the Colonia Roma neighborhood is home to a newly-built, seven-floor Quality Inn.