Dan Hotels to debut in India – and other international hotel news

Dan Hotels to debut in India
Dan Hotels, Israel's oldest chain, is about to debut in India, catering primarily for corporate travellers and filling a niche wide open in that market. The first Dan Hotel will open in Bangalore in under two years and will herald the first in a chain in and around India's corporate centres and cities. Vice-president of marketing and sales, Rafi Baeri, said the recent terrorist attack on Mumbai had done nothing to dispel Dan Hotels' plans or belief in India's potential. "India has a shortage of hotel rooms," he said. "Business and corporate travellers battle to find accommodation. Israelis have had experience of attacks but never concentrated incidents on tourism. This (Mumbai) is an isolated event. If it turns out to be a continuing pattern - and I doubt it will - then tourism and visits to India could be affected." Founded in 1947 by the Federmann family - the year before the state of Israel was formalised - Dan Hotels has latterly specialised in the luxury market with clusters of hotels in the country's major cities.

650-bedroom hotel due for Sweden's Airport City Sweden's first airport city, the state-of-the-art Stockholm Airport City, is currently being built in the Stockholm region. The project includes a 650-room hotel, congress centre, and offices. Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is Sweden's largest international airport, and serves 18 million passengers every year. It is Sweden's most important portal to the world and serves as a hub for the entire Nordic and Baltic Region. The airport is expanding quickly, and Stockholm Airport City aims to further increase the opportunity to hold conferences and events in Sweden and Scandinavia. During the coming decade, some €1.46 billion (£1.3b) is being invested in the project by LFV/Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, Arlandastad Holding, and the municipality of Sigtuna.

Trianon Palace Versailles to join Hilton's Waldorf Astoria Collection in 2009
Hilton Hotels is set to open the Trianon Palace Versailles as a Waldorf Astoria Collection hotel early next year, signalling the French debut of the luxury brand. The 199-room Trianon, which is home to Ramsay's Trianon restaurant, will be the second European hotel to join the company's Waldorf Astoria Collection. In September this year, the former Rome Cavalieri Hilton was relaunched as the Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Collection, marking the debut of HHC's luxury brand in the region. The company has also unveiled plans for its opening of The Palace Jerusalem in 2010 and has recently revealed it is set to launch The Bentley Waldorf Astoria Collection in London next year. In addition to the Trianon Palace Versailles, The Waldorf Astoria Collection also operates six other properties - four in the United States, comprising the New York Astoria, Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona; Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui, Hawaii; and La Quinta Resort & Club in Southern California. Internationally it operates the 46-suite Qasr Al Sharq in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the Rome Cavalieri.

Les Amis Group postpones opening of Hong Kong restaurant
The Singapore-based fine dining group Les Amis may be unable to use its name for future fine dining restaurants due to legal complications. This complication has arisen due to an unforeseen dispute with a similarly named restaurant and bar operator in Hong Kong. The Les Amis Group is currently in negotiations to determine whether a new name for the Hong Kong restaurant will be needed. As a result, the restaurant's opening which was scheduled for later this month will now be delayed.

By Gemma Sharkey

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