Construction News

By Karyn Strauss, Senior Editor -- HOTELS Magazine, 6/1/2006

Trump Launches Luxury Development In Panama

PANAMA The Trump Organization and K Group, a resort developer in Panama, are partnering to develop Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower in Panama City.

The 1.8 million sq. ft. (167,225 sq. m), US$220 million project will boast a 65-story condominium tower with about 300 hotel condominium units and an additional 500 condominium units, an international casino and a private beach club on Contadora Island. The Trump Ocean Club also will feature a wellness spa, gym, pool deck, meeting and event spaces and a business center.

Other partners involved in the project include the Colombian commercializing company Espacios Urbanos S.A. and the Colombian construction firm Arias Serna y Saravia S.A. The project is expected to be complete by 2009.

Sofitel To Rise At Heathrow’s Terminal 5

LONDON Arora International Hotels announces that work has begun on the 600-room Sofitel London Heathrow, which will be one of the largest luxury airport hotels and convention centers in Europe. The £180 million hotel will be the only hotel at Terminal 5.

KCA International will design the guestrooms, which will be available at four levels: suites, prestige rooms, deluxe rooms and superior rooms. All will feature Sofitel’s signature “MyBed” as well as separate walk-in power showers.

Conferencing facilities at Sofitel London Heathrow will be capable of accommodating up to 1,500 delegates in the largest meeting room. An additional 30 meeting rooms will be available with independent foyers, allowing various types and sizes of events to occur simultaneously. Other hotel facilities will include a health spa and extensive underground parking.

Link bridges will connect the hotel with Terminal 5, taking guests straight into one of the hotel’s five atriums. The hotel is due to open in March 2008 to coincide with the opening of Terminal 5.

Hotel Indigo Coming To Scottsdale

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA Everest Holdings has announced plans to renovate a Hampton Inn property in Scottsdale, Arizona, into a Hotel Indigo. The property is scheduled to open for business in December.

Everest is investing about US$17 million in the purchase and renovation of the 126-room hotel. Guestrooms will feature renewable elements such as vivid murals, area rugs, plush duvets and slip covers that will change periodically. Public spaces will be transformed seasonally through changing artwork, foliage, murals and directional signage.

Conrad To Manage Luxury Hotel In Shanghai

SHANGHAI Hilton Hotels Corp. and Shanghai Li Xing Hotel Co. Ltd. have announced an agreement for Hilton to manage Conrad Shanghai, scheduled to be complete in 2008.

The 362-guestroom hotel, to be located in the Xintiandi district, will feature an ultra-contemporary design inspired by traditional Chinese motifs. Facilities will include an urban spa, meeting spaces and two stand-alone annexes housing food and beverage outlets and recreational areas.

Conrad Shanghai will be the third Conrad branded hotel in China.

Extension Tower Announced For Grosvenor House

DUBAI His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, owner of the Grosvenor House in Dubai, has announced the development of a second tower for the property. The extension, to be called Grosvenor House The Residence, will have 288 furnished suites and five waterside villas looking out over Dubai Marina. It is scheduled to open by the end of 2008.

The Residence will be linked to the hotel by a glass bridge and will mirror the hotel building in look and feel. Guests of both towers will have unrestricted access to facilities in both areas, including restaurants, bars, business and conference facilities, and Retreat health & spa.

New facilities to be included in The Residence are two concept restaurants, one covering the top two floors of the tower. The new building also will have a health club, hammam pools, a swimming pool and a children’s play area.

Signature touches from the hotel will be carried through to The Residence, such as plasma televisions, wireless Internet throughout and personalized butler service with 24-hour roomservice.

Hilton To Operate Luxury Hotel In Ukraine

KIEV, UKRAINE Hilton International has signed agreements with International Business Centre and Hotel Business Development Co. to operate a 5-star hotel in the capital of Ukraine.

The hotel complex will include 257 guestrooms and suites, along with a range of entertainment, health, business and meeting facilities, including a ballroom with capacity for 350 guests, 11 meeting rooms and a business center. Food and beverage outlets will consist of two restaurants, two bars and a lobby lounge.

The hotel will be designed by John Seifert Architects, London, and Andriy Pashenko, Kiev. The US$70 million project is scheduled to be complete in mid-2009.

Westin Condo-Hotel Planned In Kelowna

KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide and Saje Enterprises Ltd. have announced plans for a new 220-room Westin condo-hotel in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.

The property will feature studios along with one- and two-bedroom suites. Fireplaces, decks or patios will be standard in all units, along with gourmet kitchen facilities and dining areas.

On-site amenities will include a year-round, infinity-edged pool, outdoor hot tub, full-service spa, a gourmet fine-dining restaurant, and flexible meeting facilities for corporate and social events.

W Las Vegas Announces Development Partners

LAS VEGAS The partnership developing W Las Vegas has namedM.J. Dean Construction general contractor and has announced other partners, including Klai Juba Architects, Lacina Heitler Architects and Charles Allem Designs.

The 24.5-acre (10-ha) W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences project will encompass a mix of hotel and condo-hotel units and lifestyle amenities, including multiple restaurants, bars, lounges and nightclubs, along with a destination Bliss Spa.

Utility installation work has begun on the site, and the W Las Vegas Residences Welcome Center is nearly complete. Studios, one-bedroom units and suites ranging from 500 sq. ft. (46 sq. m) to 3,000 sq. ft. (279 sq. m) will be available and can be combined to form larger residences.