Regent Plans Luxury Hotel In Boston

By Staff -- HOTELS Magazine, 6/1/2001

Boston Development Management Corporation, Boston, announces signing a management contract with Regent International Hotels to operate the Regent Boston at Battery Wharf Hotel and Residences. The spectacular four-building complex consisting of a 185-room luxury hotel and 99 exclusive condominiums, is expected to open in early 2003. The hotel and residences will consist of four dramatic and fully integrated buildings designed by Architectural Team, Boston. The interior designer is Jung/Brannen Associates, Boston.

The Regent Boston at Battery Wharf Hotel and Residences will offer a premier location, luxurious accommodations and high levels of personalized service. Such services include personalized concierge, memorable dining and access to an 18,000-sq. ft. (1,672-sq.m) European-style spa and health club. The spectacular waterfront site also offers 300 ft. (91 m) of dockage, and a water-taxi stop providing on-demand, non-stop direct service to Logan Airport, Charlestown and the Seaport District.

Regent International Hotels, a division of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, Minneapolis, Minnesota, has 13 properties located throughout Asia Pacific, Central Asia and the United States.

Asia / Pacific

Hyatt Regency, Hua Hin, Thailand; 202 rooms open late 2001; contact Hyatt International Hotels.

Hyatt Regency, Kolkata (Calcutta), India; 250 rooms open late 2001; contact Hyatt International Hotels.

Holiday Inn Silguri, Silguri, India; 100 rooms to open 2003; architect and interior designer: Raman Anil & Associates; management and contact: Bass Hotels & Resorts.

Caribbean

La Cabana Beach Resort, Oranjestad, Aruba; 441 rooms; renovation will be completed in two stages—first stage from mid-2001 to late 2001, second stage from mid-2002 to late 2002; cost of renovation is US$1.2 million; interior designer is Kay Mangarasian Interior Design, Washington, D.C.; contact La Cabana Beach Resort.

Starfish Ocho Rios (formerly Club Jamaica Ocho Rios), Ocho Rios, Jamaica; 90 rooms; renovation to be completed by late 2001; management and contact: SuperClubs

Starfish Trelawny (formerly Trelawny Beach & Fun Resort) Falmouth, Jamaica; 350 rooms; renovation to be completed late 2001; management and contact: SuperClubs.

Central/South America

Holiday Inn Anhembi, São Paulo, Brazil; 780 rooms to open late 2003; developer is Construtora São Jose, Brazil; management and contact: Bass Hotels & Resorts, London.

Europe

Sol Vielha, Vielha, Valle de Ará (Catalan Pyrénées) Spain; 101 rooms to open late 2002; owner is Catalan Company Covas Arnau S.A.; management and contact: Sol Meliá.

Scandic Hotel, Sydhavnen, Copenhagen, Sweden; 280 rooms; renovating and converting the HK building; opens in 2003; contact Scandic Hotels AG.

Radisson SAS, Cologne-Deutz, Germany; 391 rooms to open in 2003 at a cost of US$72 million (DM160 million); developer is Infra Immodilien GmbH Wuppertal; contact Radisson SAS Hotels.

Radisson SAS, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; 420 rooms to open in 2003; contact Radisson SAS Hotels.

North America

The Riverside Hotel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; 102 rooms; renovation and addition of 116 guestrooms at a cost of US$22 million to be completed by 2002; construction company is Miller Construction Company, Fort Lauderdale; owner and contact Las Olas Riverside Hotel Company.

Las Velas Resort (all inclusive), Cancún, Mexico; 285 rooms; renovation and addition of new spa at a cost of US$2 million to be completed late 2001; contact Group Las Velas, Cancún.

Las Velas Bacalar Gold, Quintana Roo, Mexico; 350 rooms to open in early 2002 at a cost of US$70 million with future development of an additional 150 villas; contact Group Las Velas, Cancún.

Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, Vail, Colorado; 291 rooms; addition of spa and renovation of health facilities at a cost of US$4 million; completion late 2001; management and contact: Destination Hotels & Resorts.

Homewood Suites, San Diego, California; 120 rooms open mid-2002; owner is R.A. Rauch & Associates, and general contractor and construction management company is R.D. Olson Construction, Irvine, California; contact Hilton Hotels Corporation.

Atlanta Midtown Residence Inn, Georgia; 160 rooms to open late 2001; developer and owner is Songy Partners; management and contact: Crestline Hotels & Resorts.

The Southgate Tower, New York; 523 rooms; renovation to be completed end of 2001; interior designer is DiLeonardo International; management and contact: Manhattan East Suite Hotels.

Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa, Phoenix, Arizona; 500 rooms to open in late 2002 at a cost of US$125 million; project is owned by the Gila River Indian Community; management and contact Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee; 468 rooms; renovation to be completed in several stages by 2002; interior designer is Barry Design Associates, Los Angeles; management and contact: Peabody Hotel Group.

Construction Of Two Crowne Plaza Hotels In The Dominican Republic

Santiago/Santo Domingo - UK-based Bass Hotels & Resorts, announces the opening of two Crowne Plaza Hotels in the Dominican Republic. The US$14 million, 200-room Crowne Plaza in Santiago is designed by Alan Lapidus, New York, and is located in the city’s commercial district. It will include a 10,764 sq.ft. (1,000 sq.m) state-of-the-art meeting facility, two restaurants, parking and a casino.

The US$16 million, 208-room Crowne Plaza in Santo Domingo will be a 22-story tower located on the seaside boulevard El Malecón and will anchor a mixed-use complex that includes the hotel, a retail shopping mall, commercial office space, residential condominiums and a casino.

Both properties will provide the latest technology, a business center and fitness center. The operator of both developments is Coral Hotels & Resorts, Dominican Republic.

Newport Beach, California

The new 159-room luxury Balboa Bay Club and Resort is the first full-service resort hotel to be located on prime waterfront property along the area of Newport Beach known as Mariner’s Mile. The Balboa Bay Club and Resort will be constructed on the site of the historic Balboa Bay Club, a private family beach club. Henry Schielein, who is the president and COO of the Balboa Bay Club, will oversee the construction and management of the new property.

In addition to the hotel, the Balboa Bay Club and Resort will include a private clubhouse for members only. Both facilities, the hotel and clubhouse, will be linked by covered walkways and lushly landscaped grounds. The US$55-million project will feature an Italian Renaissance architectural style in keeping with the Mediterranean-like climate of Southern California. The interior designer is Bob Barry Designs, Beverly Hills, and the architect is Lee & Sakahara Architects, Irvine, California. The private clubhouse opens in late 2001, and the resort opens in early 2003.

The resort will offer a grand ballroom for private parties, special events and corporate groups, and will seat up to 550 for banquets. It will also offer eight meeting rooms, banquet rooms, a boardroom, a pre-function area and a pool deck for receptions. Dining facilities include a waterfront dining room, entertainment lounge as well as outdoor dining on the bayside deck.

Accor Plans First Sofitel In Canada

Montreal, Canada Accor North America, New York, announces plans to enter into a long-term management contract of a 259-room property under the umbrella of its luxury brand, Sofitel hotels. It will be Sofitel’s first venture into Canada.

The new Sofitel Montreal is scheduled to open in early 2002, and will involve the conversion of an existing office building on Sherbrooke West in the central business district and in the heart of Montreal’s Golden Mile. Preliminary plans call for 259 rooms including 20 suites, an authentic French restaurant, lobby/lounge bar area, Sofitel’s unique Le Petit Bijou gift shop, a 3,600-sq.ft. (334-sq.m) ballroom and 2,700 sq.ft. (251 sq.m) of additional meeting space. A health club and on-site parking also will be available.

“Montreal’s energy and vibrancy attracts business and leisure travelers alike, making it an ideal location for Sofitel,” says Jean-Francois Maljean, president, Accor business and leisure hotels

North America. “We have been looking to fly the Sofitel flag in Canada for some time, so we are very excited about this new venture. The opening of Sofitel Montreal will elevate an already strong Canadian presence we have with our Novotel brand.”

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Expands Portfolio

Dallas, Texas Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage two exclusive resorts in the remote and picturesque Republic of Palau, announces Jim Brown, president of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. The resorts will be built on two distinct islands within the Caroline Islands of Micronesia. “We are extremely pleased that our first entrée into the South Pacific will be the extraordinary country of Palau, with its stunning surroundings and spectacular diving,” said Brown.

On a private, 12-acre (5-ha) island near Koror, Rosewood will manage a 60-room ultra-luxury resort, accessible only by private boat or resort yacht. On the island of Malakal, Rosewood will manage a 40-room resort adjacent to a picturesque marina and village. The architectural firm of RNL Design, in tandem with Hirsch Bedner & Associates, Santa Monica, California, will design the resorts, which are slated to open in the first quarter of 2003.

The two properties will be developed by a subsidiary of the Morita Corporation. The Quest Resort will include a restaurant, lobby lounge, pool bar and grille, and a 12-room specialty spa and fitness center. Among the amenities at Malakal Village will be retail shops, diving and water sports facilities and ready access to the marina.

Starwood Opens Two Hotels In Chicago

Chicago Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, plans two hotels for Chicago, the W Chicago-City Center, in the heart of the city, and W Chicago-Lakeshore, located on Lake Shore Drive. The addition of these properties brings Starwood’s number of W Hotels to 15.

The 556-room W Chicago-Lakeshore, formerly a Days Inn, incorporates Asian simplicity with a glamorous twist. Guests catch glimpses of Chinese brick-set porcelain limestone tiles inlaid with grass and river rock upon entrance. The guestrooms will be designed with subtle references to Zen glamour. Chocolate brown ceilings and accent touches of dark cherry and cranberry permeate the room. Also available are private meeting rooms located throughout the hotel, the brand’s first retail outlet and a restaurant/bar.

Renovated from the historic Midland Hotel, the 390-room W Chicago-City Center’s décor will combine elegant elements from the past with modern touches and amenities in an inventively striking and dramatic way. The hotel will be home to a French café, We-, featuring classic bistro dishes. Also available will be a bar adjacent to the restaurant, the W café, and another small bar on the second floor.