Iberostar to expand worldwide and other international news

22 November 2006 by
Iberostar to expand worldwide and other international news

Iberostar to expand worldwide
Spanish hotel chain Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is planning to open nine new resorts in 2007. The expansion will include the opening of six new properties in Europe including two in Bulgaria and properties in Greece, Italy and Turkey, Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba and Tunisia. The openings will bring Iberostar's portfolio to 100 properties worldwide. Iberostar director of marketing Heike Genschow said: "With a new presence in some of the most popular destinations in the world and the opening of our 100th hotel, Iberostar is now firmly on the map as an international brand."

Sushi of the Year winner at Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo
Jeff Ramsey, head chef at the Tapas Molecular Bar at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Tokyo, has been given the "Sushi of the Year Award" at the first global sushi awards held in London last month. The competition invited seven sushi chefs representing Japan, the USA and the UK to fight for the title. Ramsey beat off competition with his "Electric Eel" dish, which drew its inspiration from the classic sushi dish featuring eel simmered in a thick, sweet stock but featured a modern twist through the addition of roast pineapple and sichuan buttons. Ramsey was praised for preserving the true Japanese aesthetic of harmony and balance while using ideas and flavours from modern gastronomy.

Shangri-La to open in Phuket
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has signed a management contract for the Shangri-La Phuket resort and spa in Thailand. The 315-room property, which is scheduled to open at the end of 2008, is located on Phuket's west coast and set on Bang Tao Bay beach. It will feature five restaurants as well cafés, retail outlets, a health club, tennis and squash courts and three swimming pools. Meeting and banqueting facilities will include ballroom catering for up to 400 people. The Chi spa will be positioned as a separate spa village within the resort and will include 13 single and couple treatment villas.

KFC rebranded
Yum! Brands has unveiled the redesigned logo of its KFC brand. The new logo has replaced the white suit jacket of the famous KFC founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, with a red cook's apron. It is part of the current worldwide redesign campaign of all KFC outlets. The logo has changed for the fourth time in 50 years and the colonel will keep his glasses, bow tie and beard but will now be shown in brighter colours against a background matching the red apron and with the KFC brand name in black thick lettering under his chin.

Mandarin Oriental to open in Marrakech
Mandarin Oriental is to manage a new resort and branded residence development in Marrakech. The Mandarin Oriental Jnan Rahma will be set in 53 hectares of palm grove in the Palmeraie region and is due to open in 2009. The development will include 45 luxury villas, and 145 guestrooms alongside a spa, two swimming pools and retail outlets.

Kempinski to open in Bahrain and Russia
Kempinski is to manage two new hotels in Bahrain and Russia. The 168-bedroom property in Bahrain's city centre development in the Seef district of Manama city, will open in 2008 in association with MAF hospitality LLC. The Russian property will be the first five star hotel in Nizhny Novgorod, will have 250 rooms in a contemporary style and is set to open at the end of 2009.

By Emily Manson

E-mail your comments to Emily Manson](mailto:emily.manson@rbi.co.uk?subject=World news) here.

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