Six Senses to enhance facilities
BANGKOK: In addition to undertaking refurbishment work required following the tsunami, Six Senses Resorts & Spas will take the opportunity to further enhance Soneva Gili Resort, the Maldives’ first all-over-water resort, to ensure that it maintains its leadership position as the most unique experience in the Maldives.
The decision to postpone the opening was made after a thorough review of the physical condition of the property, and despite the mainly superficial damage to structures and loss of some furnishings, it was deemed that the resort could not be compromised, and must be able to offer the highest standards of service and facilities expected by Soneva guests. “We are confident that by May 1, 2005, we can assure guests that they will enjoy the fullest Soneva standards at Soneva Gili Resort & Six Senses Spa,” said chief sales officer James Sullivan Tailyour.
Radisson SAS enters Nigeria
LAGOS: Rezidor SAS Hospitality, the international multi-brand hotel management company, has signed an agreement to manage the new Radisson SAS hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. The hotel will be located on the waterfront of Victoria Island – the city’s business hub. The famous Swedish hospitality designer, Christian Lundewall, brings his 20 years of design expertise to this landmark property in West Africa. There will be a generous provision of suites with two original room styles, to take advantage of the huge demand and potential for both international travellers and the local market. It is the first one of its size and quality to be built in Lagos in the last 20 years. The Radisson SAS Hotel, Lagos is scheduled to open its doors late 2005.
Fairmont and Kingdom Hotels tie up
TORONTO: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc., Kingdom Hotels International and Bank of Scotland Corporate, a division of HBOS plc announced that they have formed a joint venture to invest in luxury hotels in key European markets. The joint venture will have a potential buying capacity of £800 million and will be equity funded 50 per cent by Bank of Scotland, 25 per cent by Fairmont and 25 per cent by Kingdom. The partners anticipate making equity contributions of up to £200 million. The hotels acquired by the joint venture will be managed by Fairmont and Bank of Scotland will provide debt financing for the joint venture. Cedar Capital Partners will serve as managers and investment advisors for the joint venture. The joint venture’s first investment is the purchase of the Monte Carlo Grand hotel in Monaco. The purchase of the hotel by the joint venture has been completed and the property will be flagged “The Fairmont Monte Carlo” in March this year. The new owners expect to invest $50 million in refurbishment.
Shangri-La to increase presence in Asia
HONG KONG: Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, has announced it will open a new spa resort in Boracay, Philippines in mid 2007, to complement the group’s existing four properties in the Philippines. The beachfront resort on Boracay island will be designed by Hawaii-based architect firm WATG and the interior design will be headed by well-known Singapore-based designer Dan Bube, who is designing the group’s Maldives resort. The resort will reflect a classic yet contemporary style combined with local cultural influences.
Le Meridien Limassol bags top award
LIMASSOL: Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort has once again been voted the World’s Leading Spa Resort 2004 at a ceremony held recently in Barbados. Lying beside a 300-metre stretch beach amidst beautifully landscaped gardens, Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort design incorporates mosaic-tiled pools, stone arches, waterfalls and alluring passageways. This luxurious “Residents Only” resort features complete privacy and a selection of delightful facilities and services exclusively available for its in-house guests only.
Diamonds all the way Ritz-Carlton Vegas
LAS VEGAS: Combining a girl’s best friend with adventures in dining, a one-time-only Diamonds for Dinner Dream Package will be served this Valentine’s Weekend at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas. The fantasy-for-two feast of jewels package is priced at $50,000, with a jewellery component whose retail value exceeds the price of the weekend. The experience features three nights in a deluxe suite on the resort’s Ritz-Carlton Club Level, one full day of four-handed massages and facials for both guests at the resort’s Spa Vita di Lago, and myriad romantic benefits. Capping it off is the presentation of four pieces of fine diamond jewelry weighing in at more than five combined carats. Not unlike the magnificent Faberge eggs of Imperial Russia, these four pieces of custom-selected diamond jewelrley will take on the mystique and challenge of hidden treasure as the selected gems are discretely nestled among a single day’s gourmet dining spreads, beverage services and night-time turndown offerings.
Golden Tulip and THL in partnership
THE NETHERLANDS: Tourism Hotels & Leisure and Golden Tulip Hospitality BV, based in The Netherlands, have entered into a strategic partnership involving a cross shareholding structure that will see the new combined group become one of the largest operators of hotels in the world. Under the terms of the agreement executed by both companies, THL will acquire a 30 per cent stake in Golden Tulip’s share capital through a mix of THL shares and cash which values.