Coming To New Zealand
AUCKLAND

InterContinental Hotels Group will open its first hotel on

New Zealand's South Island after signing a management agreement

with property developer Melview Developments Ltd. The 221-room

InterContinental Queenstown will break ground late in 2007

and is expected to be completed in 2010.

The hotel will feature more than 3,000 sq. m (32,291 sq. ft.)

of conference and meeting facilities as well as a health spa

with outdoor pool and Jacuzzis. The hotel's ingenious design

will take full advantage of the site from the escarpment's

highest point to capture the surrounding lake and mountain

views.

"Everything about this luxury development-including

hotels, retail and residential-has been approached with respect

to the international audience," says Melview Developments

Managing Director Nigel McKenna. "Queenstown has a widespread

appeal that is shown in its proportion of international operators

and investors, and our intention for the Kawarau Falls Station

site is to appeal to that trend."

Industry Icons Create Yamu
PHUKET,

THAILAND Scheduled to open in late 2008 on

a private peninsula on Phuket, Thailand's dramatic east coast,

General Hotel Management (GHM) will manage The Yamu, a 5-star,

63- room boutique hotel.

This collaboration between industry visionaries Adrian Zecha

of GHM Hotels and Aman Resorts, French interior designer Philippe

Starck for yoo by Starck, and architect Jean-Michel Gathy

will include a 100-m (328-ft.) long swimming pool, spa concept

and restaurants overlooking the limestone islands of the Andaman

Sea.

Private investment opportunities on the development include

12 Villa Estates and 15 Club Villas.

Large outdoor living areas, interconnected open rooms, and

the functional relationship between internal and external

volumes will combine to create a tropical living environment.

In every instance, the spaces will be oriented to maximize

the stunning ocean views while nestling comfortably into the

existing topography.

The Yamu also will feature a 160-seat signature restaurant

serving Thai, Western, Chinese and other cuisines, while five

unique "glass cubes" located within the hotel grounds will

feature a wine room with a wine cave below, a cigar lounge,

a private kitchen, a chocolate room and patisserie and a designer

boutique.

Starwood Open Le Meridien In Kruger Park

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has executed a long-term

agreement with Meadow Star Investments 28 (Pty) Ltd of Sandton,

Johannesburg, to manage the newly named Le Méridien Kruger

Park Golf Resort & Spa near Hazyview in Mpumalanga province,

South Africa.

Scheduled to open in November 2009, in time for the Soccer

World Cup in 2010, the property is planned to be part of an

estimated US$172 million (ZAR1.2 Billion) tourism project.

The hotel will feature 180 luxury rooms, suites and a presidential

suite, a selection of themed dining outlets, state of the

art meeting and business facilities, a health spa centre,

solar heated indoor and outdoor pools and a gymnasium. An

18-hole championship golf course designed by the Johannesburg-based

DDV Golf Course Design is also part of the plan, as well as

a residential component with approximately 400 upscale homes

on individual stands of 1,000 sq. m (10, 674 sq. ft.) each.

Design management will be provided by Boogertman and Partners,

Johannesburg. As this tourism project is situated within fruit

farming and nature belts, the hotel and housing part will

be designed to fit into an eco environment and will represent

a modern version of the surrounding farming architecture.

Hilton

Signs First Conrad In South America

BUENOS AIRES Hilton Hotels Corp. has signed

a deal to operate the Conrad Buenos Aires in Puerto Madero.

Construction of a hotel and residence is planned to begin

at the end of 2008 and completion scheduled for late 2010.

The 196-guestroom Conrad Buenos Aires and 350-unit +5411 Residences

at the Conrad Buenos Aires will be developed by G&D Developers

and Grupo Farallón as part of a mixed-use complex called +5411

Juana Manso Blvd. Hilton will operate the hotel under the

terms of a multiyear management agreement.

The contemporary hotel will feature 430-sq. ft. (40 sq. m)

guestrooms, a signature restaurant, a stylish lobby bar, fitness

facilities including a swimming pool, and close to 7,000 sq.

ft. (650 sq. m) of meeting space. Both the hotel and residences

will form part of a diverse development project offering office

space, retail space, as well as underground parking for 1,100

cars.