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| The Patina, Capitol Singapore’s Patina Suite includes a lavish balcony and a massage room. |
Here are some of the latest developments you need to know about to advise your clients where to go this summer and fall, as well as next year and beyond.
The Patina, Capitol Singapore Set to Open This Summer
Singapore’s treasured architectural gem, the Capitol Building, and its stately Victorian neighbor, Stamford House, will be unveiled in the third quarter of this year as a new ultra-luxury hotel, The Patina, Capitol Singapore. Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Richard Meier rejuvenated the two iconic buildings to function as a bridge between past and present. In addition to being within walking distance of the National Gallery and the Singapore Art Museum, The Patina will have a world-class art collection of its own. It will also have a 250-seat Peruvian-Japanese fusion restaurant, Eru, and a South American chocolatier, Pure & Co. At Erubar, guests can sip the specialty Peruvian brandy, Pisco, and a range of signature cocktails, as well as sample Peruvian-style tapas.
All 157 rooms and suites provide Wi-Fi, minibar refreshments (including still and sparkling water, soft drinks and juices), Aesop bath amenities, Nespresso coffee and a TWG tea collection. Guests can also enjoy the facilities of the onsite saltwater relaxation pool, spa and fitness suite. The Patina 360° Concierge will provide bespoke one-to-one intuitive service. The Patina, Capitol Singapore is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
IHG Makes Chandigarh Debut
InterContinental Hotels Group has opened the Holiday Inn Chandigarh Panchkula. This is the group’s 10th Holiday Inn hotel in India and first in Chandigarh. The property occupies a site along the Kalka-Shimla highway, providing access to a number of tourist attractions as well as commercial hubs. The hotel has eight meeting rooms.
DoubleTree Coming to Penang
Hilton Worldwide will be opening in another Malaysian location in 2016. DoubleTree by Hilton Penang resort will be located near the UNESCO World Heritage site of George Town. The company expects to renovate the existing building’s exterior, as well as rooms, suites and public facilities. The Penang site will have 318 ocean-and-courtyard-view rooms, complete with private balconies. Guests will be able to choose from three onsite gourmet restaurants and bars, including an all-day restaurant, a lobby bar and a café. The new resort will also have meeting and event spaces, an outdoor pool and a children’s recreational area. The hotel is next to Jalan Batu Ferringhi, a popular destination for nightlife, dining, shopping and walking along the beach.
New Melia and Sheraton Planned for Yangon, Myanmar
Melia Hotels International has announced the addition of its newest resort in Southeast Asia, the Melia Yangon Myanmar. The hotel, which will be built next to the former capital’s Inya Lake, will include 400 guest rooms, a spa, meeting rooms and facilities and gourmet restaurants. The property will join 23 other Melia hotels in the South East Asia region. It is expected to open in 2016.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has targeted a 2017 opening for its first Myanmar hotel. The Sheraton Yangon Hotel, a new-build property in Tamwe Township, near Kandawgyi Lake, will have 375 guest rooms, a Shine Spa, three dining venues, a swimming pool, a fitness center and other recreation facilities, plus more than 20,000 square feet of function space.
Sheraton Lake Como Debuts
The Sheraton Lake Como Hotel has opened in northern Italy as the first internationally branded upscale property in Como. A makeover of the Grand Hotel di Como, the hotel’s interior was renovated by Italian architect Ruggeri Venally and incorporates natural materials, neutral colors and custom handcrafted furniture from well-known local designers. Along with redesigned guest rooms, the property has four new suites, a fitness center, two outdoor swimming pools, a private park and a “futuristically designed” multifunctional conference space. The property also has two new dining venues: Gusto Restaurant, which serves traditional Italian cuisine with a modern twist, and Kincho Restaurant, offering a variety of South American dishes. Guests can also dine at the Bar Fresco and Sheraton Club lounge. Sheraton Lake Como offers views of the Alps, and is near two key international airports in Milan.
Belfast Days to Be Holiday Inn
Belfast, Ireland’s Days Hotel is to undergo a nearly $4 million upgrade and will be rebranded as the Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre later this summer. The building is owned and operated by Andras Hotels, which also owns the Holiday Inn hotel near Queen’s University. The first phase of the refit will be completed in mid-August with the work due to be finished next year.
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| Kincho Restaurant Terrace at the new Sheraton Lake Como. |
Armenia Gets Its Second Hyatt
The Hyatt Place Jermuk has opened in Armenia, becoming the second Hyatt-branded hotel in that country and the third Hyatt Place hotel in Europe, joining Hyatt Place Yerevan and Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport. The hotel is near the mountains of Vayots Dzor, the 1,000-year-old Gndevank monastery, Tatev monastery and Wings of Tatev, the world’s longest reversible aerial tramway system.
Less than three hours away from the Armenian capital Yerevan, Jermuk regularly hosts international chess events, including the World Chess Federation Grand Prix tournaments. The 92-room hotel offers free Wi-Fi, a free breakfast, a full-service restaurant, 24-hour gym, six meeting rooms and an open-air terrace.
New ‘Eco-Suites’ Added at Parador Combate Beach
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company recently announced the opening of 12 new “Eco-Suites” at Parador Combate Beach, located at El Combate Beach in Cabo Rojo. This brings the Parador’s room total to 48 rooms in configurations to accommodate two to six people. This expansion was completed with recycled materials, sustainable technologies and equipment designed to save energy, and a substantial reduction in costs and construction time.
AMResorts Breaks Ground On Onyx Punta Cana
Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina, and other government officials joined AMResorts and Apple Leisure Group executives for Now Onyx Punta Cana’s symbolic groundbreaking ceremony last month. Scheduled to open in November of 2016, the 500-room resort will be sited in the Uvero Alto region of Punta Cana. Catering to multigenerational families, especially those with children in the pre-teen and teenager range, the Now brand is a collection of resorts designed for guests who are looking for an active vacation experience.