Snippets

Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux partners with iBAHN for highspeed internet access

Provider of digital converged services for hoteliers, iBAHN recently completed the installation of secure high speed internet access (HSIA) in the Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux, a member of the Rezidor Hotel Group.

The 150-room hotel underwent a complete renovation in early 2008, installing iBAHN's technology and upgrading the rooms into modern, state-of-the-art spaces. As a result, iBAHN's HSIA services are now available throughout the hotel, including all guest rooms, conference spaces, internet PC's and public areas, which offer wired and wireless access. iBAHN therefore ensures the seamless connectivity for numerous conferences, taking away the fear factor for hotel staff and conference organisers, whilst simultaneously contributing a lumpsum to the hotels conference revenue.

Mahindra Lifespaces partners with Ayala, Phillipines for world class residential community development

Mahindra Lifespace Developers (MLDL), the real estate and infrastructure development arm of the Mahindra Group has announced the inking of a joint venture agreement for residential development between its subsidiary company, Mahindra Residential Developers (MRDL) and the private equity real estate fund, ARCH Capital Asian Partners, managed by ARCH Capital Management Company, an affiliate of Ayala Land, a Philippines' real estate brand, and Ayala Corporation.

The joint venture entity, which will be 51 per cent owned by the Mahindra group and 49 per cent by Arch Capital, will undertake the development of a gated residential community together with support, retail and recreational facilities in approximately 55 acres within Mahindra Lifespaces' pioneering special economic zone (SEZ) at Mahindra World City, New Chennai, India's first integrated business city developed by the Mahindra Group and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO).

Golden Tulip announces multiple hotel projects in South East Asia

Bangkok-based subsidiary of the Golden Tulip Hospitality Group, Golden Tulip South East Asia is in the process of opening 40 hotels in four years in 10 Asian countries. In Thailand and Cambodia, five priority projects have been confirmed, namely, one in each of the popular Thai resorts of Samui and Phuket, two in Bangkok, and one in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. The company is also reviewing and negotiating the opening of properties in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and more in Cambodia along its south coast. In Thailand, fifteen additional properties including a 350-room hotel and conference centre at Bangkok's international airport are also under negotiation. Golden Tulip President and CEO, Mr Hans WR Kennedie, said that a similar expansion is taking place in China and India to complement Golden Tulip's existing global portfolio of 900 hotels in more than 50 countries. "Our strategy is to develop economy business hotels in capital cities in South-East Asia and our four- and five-star brands, Royal Tulip and Golden Tulip Resorts, in resort areas."

Ista Hyderabad wins laurels from Conde Nast

Ista Hyderabad, the flagship five-star business hotel promoted by New Delhi-based IHHR Hospitality, has been awarded a prestigious spot in 'The Years 136 Top New Hotels' by Conde Nast Traveler in their twelfth annual hotlist for 2008. The Spa at Ista Hyderabad which brings in the lineage of Ananda Spa to Hyderabad has been placed in the '76 Hot Spas' across the globe.

The spa at Ista Hyderabad comprises of six carefully designed treatment rooms in earth colours, two for Ayurveda and four multi-purpose rooms for Western, Oriental and other international treatments. It also comprises a yoga and meditation pavilion, hydrotherapy and relaxation areas for men and women.

Avalon Ayurveda joins hand with Punarnava

The launch of ayurvedic healing centre Avalon Ayurveda in north India in the Himalayas was announced by cardiovascular and cardiothorasics surgeon Dr Naresh Trehan. The treatment centre is a joint endeavour of the Gold Crown-accredited Avalon Resorts and Punarnava ayurvedic centre. The centre will have 88 centrally-heated rooms.

Global hotel brands gather to examine budget sector

Global hotel brands including EasyHotel, InterContinental, Wyndham, Hilton, Accor, Premier Inn and Travelodge will examine the budget hotel sector at The World Economy & Budget Hotels Congress annual hotel conference at the Hilton London Tower Bridge, London from June 10-13. The event has been organised by Terrapinn since the last four years.

The congress will address growing market share, geographic markets, new concept opportunities, brand building, structuring finance, development opportunities, distribution and barriers to business growth.

The speaking panel includes - Patrick Dempsey, managing director, Premier Travel Inn - Pauline Bradley, head of transactions, Quinlan Private - Philippe Weyland, managing director, Motel One AG - Guy Parsons, COO, Travelodge - Pierre Frederick Roulet, CEO, Louvre Hotels.

Hyatt to operate Grand Hyatt Hyderabad

Affiliates of Global Hyatt and Lanco Hills Technology Park, a part of the Lanco Group, have announced the signing of a definitive management agreement for the 400-room Grand Hyatt Hyderabad, due to open in Hyderabad in early 2011. The hotel will be Hyatt's second hotel in Hyderabad, following Park Hyatt Hyderabad, which is scheduled to open in early 2010.

The planned hotel is part of a 100-acre township development in Manikonda called Lanco Hills, about two miles from Gachibowli and HITEC city. The entire development is approximately 10 miles from the new international airport at Shamshabad and is part of the emerging Central Business District.
Other development components at the Lanco Hills Project include - high-rise premium residential towers, office towers, service apartments, retail and entertainment zone.

Champagne buys out VineCrest, premium Australia winery

Champagne Indage has announced its third Australian acquisition through its overseas subsidiary. It has bought over Australia's VineCrest, a premium boutique winery at the Barossa valley, in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition will facilitate Champagne Indage Australia to base its operations in Barossa, the most sought-after and highly awarded wine growing region of Australia, and provide a premium image to all the Thachi brands produced in Australia.

Having won over 100 awards, commendations and medals in the past five years, VineCrest specialises in premium quality Barossa Shiraz, Sparkling Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Semillon and Late Harvest (desert wine) as well as a distinctive Sweet Red and Ruby and White Ports. Champagne Indage recently bought out Thachi wines and the Loxton winery, both in Australia. The Thachi brands include - Broken Earth, Red Skies and South Bay that are being rolled out across the globe including India.

Six Senses to develop Hideaway, Latitude branded resorts in Brazil

Six Senses Resorts & Spas will develop two resorts in the Brazilian state of Alagoas. The properties are to be branded as Six Senses Hideaway and Six Senses Latitude. Located north east of the state capital of Maceio, the site covers an area of approximately or 495 acres. It is a one-hour drive from Maceio or a thirty-minute flight in the resorts' own Cessna Grand Caravans from Recife to the private airport.