Fairmont sells three properties and other international hotel news

Fairmont sells three properties
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has sold three properties to Goodman Hospitality Investments including the Fairmont Acapulco Princess and the Fairmont Pierre Marques in Mexico, and the Fairmont Hamilton Princess in Bermuda. The Fairmont Acapulco Princess and Fairmont Pierre Marques are luxury, full-service resorts located in Acapulco's Diamante neighbourhood, while the Fairmont Hamilton Princess is situated on the shores of the Hamilton Harbour next to Bermuda's financial and banking centre. The sale was arranged by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.

Sokotel to add five hotels in St Petersburg
Finnish hotel operator Sokotel plans to build five new properties in the Russian city of St. Petersburg over the next six years. The company said it is looking for land plots in the centre of the city to construct its new hotels, which will add around 1,000 new rooms to its books. Sokotel said the new hotels will be in the four-star category and will have between 200 and 300 rooms each. Construction of each hotel may take up to two years, while the entire project is expected to take six years. Sokotel estimated a total investment of $50m (£25m).

Marriott to build two hotels in Bogota
Marriott International is to build two hotels in the Colombian capital city of Bogota, extending its portfolio of South American hotels. The first property will be located in the Bogota Corporate Centre in the western parts of the city near the international airport Eldorado. The second hotel will be located in the northern parts of Bogota and will include 265 rooms, business facilities, swimming pools and restaurants.

Jumeirah to launch flagship hotel in Shanghai
Jumeirah is to launch its first flagship hotel in the Asia-Pacific region with the opening of a new property in Shanghai next summer. The Jumeirah Hantang Xintiandi will be invested and developed by Shanghai Lixing Hotel and will be operated and managed by Jumeira. It will have 338 standard apartments, 14 suites deluxe, one presidential suite, and a large number of meeting rooms and banquet rooms. The hotel will be designed by New York-based Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects and Japan Super Potato. Jumeira said it plans to open 13 in Asia-Pacific region by 2011, with locations likely to include Beijing, Macau, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

Hilton launches in Iceland
Hilton has entered into the Icelandic hotel market with the opening of its first property in the country' capital. The Hilton Reykjavik Nordica will be run by Flugleidahotel, a subsidiary of the Icelandair Hotels Group. The new 252-room hotel has 23 executive rooms and three suites, with rooms offering services including high-speed internet access and wireless connectivity and an executive level and lounge located on the hotel's top floor.

By Kerstin Kühn

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