Stein Group adds French hotel… and other International hotel news

Stein Group adds French hotel
The Stein Group

New chairman for SLH
Small Luxury Hotels of the World](Small Luxury Hotels of the World) (SLH) has appointed Patrick Burke as chairman. Burke, who is managing director of the Atlantic Hotel in Jersey succeeds Jonathan Slater, general manager of the Chester Grosvenor and Spa, who will remain on the board. Burke has been a member of SLH since 1993. SLH is a non-profit organisation made up of more than 370 independent luxury hotels in 60 countries.

Platinum five-star ranking awarded to hotels in China
Four Chinese hotels have been named the country's first platinum five-star hotels by the National Tourism Administration of China (NTAC). The highest possible rating was given to the Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, the Garden hotel, Guangzhou, the Shandong Plaza in Jinan and the Shangri-La China World, Beijing.

Global travel summit returns to Portugal
Portugal will host next year's Global Travel and Tourism Summit, the World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) annual conference. This year's event, held in Washington DC, attracted more than 700 travel industry leaders, as well as US politicians including Condoleeza Rice and Michael Chertoff. Jean-Claude Baumgarten, WTTC president said: "Lisbon will provide the ideal platform to encourage global leaders to broadcast a message of strength and unity for the travel and tourism industry." The summit has been in held Vilamoura, Portugal in 1997, 2000 and 2003.

Starwood to keep two Fijian hotels
Starwood Hotels and Resorts will retain ownership of two hotels it was going to sell to Host as part of a 35-hotel package earlier this year. The deal to sell the two properties in Fiji was not finalised because certain notice periods and consents had not been received in time. Both parties have now agreed to stop pursuing the permits and allow the Sheraton Fiji Resort and the Westin Royal Denarau Island Resort and Spa to remain with Starwood.

New Delhi introduces Slum Tours
Providing a new experience for avid travellers, slum tours around New Delhi have been created by the Salam Balak Trust. The two-hour tours through shanty towns start at the railway station and guides explain the backgrounds and lives of children they meet. Former slum dweller Javed conducts the tours and insists they create awareness abou poverty, rather than showcase it. However, human rights organisations are strongly against the tours.

By Alix Young

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