Choice Hotels adds two hotels in New Zealand and other international hotel news

Choice Hotels adds two hotels in New ZealandChoice Hotels Australasia

Radisson sells Swedish property
European property investor, Norgani Hotels has acquired the Radisson SAS hotel Linkoping in Sweden. The company has signed a 15-year lease agreement with the Rezidor Hotel Group for the 91-room property located in the city centre of Linkoping. The hotel, which will retain its current branding, is set to be extended with the addition of more rooms.

Wyndham Group to expand in India
The Wyndham Hotel Group is to expand its economy brands in Asia with the construction of 38 of the group's Days Inn and Super 8 brands in India. Construction firm Gammon has signed a seven-year agreement to build and open at least 12 hotels in 2009, 13 in 2010 and 13 in 2011. Gammon will own and manage the hotels, while the Wyndham Hotel Group will provide operational, sales, marketing, training, quality assurance and design support.

Rotana to add hotel in Iraq
Lebanese holding group Malia Holding has signed a partnership agreement with Middle East hotel management company Rotana Hotels for the management of a new five-star hotel in Iraq. The 205-room Erbil Rotana hotel will be located in the Kurdistan region between the city's convention centre and Exhibition Fair. It will include a number of restaurants, a health and fitness club and a swimming pool. Rotana currently manages 25 properties in the Middle East and plans to double this with 29 new projects.

Shangri-La to manage hotel in Mumbai
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has signed a management agreement for the Shangri-La Hotel in Mumbai, India, set to open in 2009. The fifth Shangri-La hotel in India will be located in the corporate hub of Lower Patel, between the city's main business districts of Nariman Point and Bandra-Kurla, and 13 km from the airport. It will have 400 rooms, many overlooking Mumbai Racecourse and the Arabian Sea, as well as restaurants, a business centre and conference facilities.

Carlson expands by sixCarlson Hotels Worldwide has added six hotels to its portfolio. The Radisson Resort Fiji Denarau Island encompasses 10 acres of land and has 270 guestrooms and suites. The Park Inn in Canada is located on the banks of the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, and has 65 rooms. Under Carlson's Country Inns & Suites brand are four new properties including an 84-room hotel in Iron Mountain, Michigan; a 100-room hotel in Woodbridge, Virginia; a 72-room hotel in Lima, Ohio and 97-room hotel in Miami. The company is also set to expand its Regent Hotels & Resorts brand in the United Arab Emirates with the opening of The Regent Emirates Pearl Abu Dhabi in 2010.

By Dee Rossi

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