InterContinental to open seven Express by Holiday Inn… and other International hotel news

InterContinental to open seven Express by Holiday Inn
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is set to open seven new Express by Holiday Inn hotels in Portugal and Northern Spain over the next five years. The move will see the addition of more than 900 rooms in the area. Two projects are already underway, with a 134-room hotel in Porto and a 119-room hotel at Lisbon airport, which are due to open in 2008. Other developments will include properties in Lisbon, Porto, Faro and the area of Leiria/Coimbra in Portugal, and one hotel in Vigo in Galicia in Northern Spain.

Savoy Suites in Dubai reopens
The Savoy Group of Hotel Apartments in Dubai has reopened the Savoy Suites following an extensive revamp. The hotel, which was previously called Savoy Apartments, is now an all suites hotel with 98 fully furnished studio suites and 14 deluxe suites each featuring plasma televisions and high-speed internet access. The property also includes a restaurant as well as a swimming pool with Jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms and a gym.

Celadon Collection launched for independent hotel owners Asian hotel management company Celadon International is launching a new brand called Celadon Collection, which gives independent hotel owners the chance to make use of its global marketing network. The company will provide hotel sales and marketing concepts, recruitment and training for sales and marketing personnel, marketing plan and budget assessments as well as guidance on the development of sales and promotional material.

Melbourne Marriott hotel gets new GM
The Melbourne Marriott hotel has appointed Antony Page as its general manager. Page joins the hotel from the Sydney Harbour Marriott hotel, where he was director of operations. He first entered the hospitality industry as an apprentice chef at the Café Florentino and in 1979 left Australia to work in the UK and Europe. He replaces James Ferguson, who has been transferred to Queensland where he is now general manager of the Brisbane Marriott Hotel.

US hotel telephone revenue falls
US hotel telephone revenue has declined in the last six years, research has revealed. While many US hotels have continued to levy or increase various fees such as telephone call surcharges, since 2000 the telecommunications revenue per occupied room has dropped by 16% according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. During the same period wireless subscription in the USA has continued to increase click here for more].

Further information

Savoy to put refurb budget up to £90m? >>

InterContinental signs hotel deal with Japanese airline >>

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to [Kerstin Kühn](mailto:kerstin.kuhn@rbi.co.uk?subject=World news) here.

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