| Le Meridien opens new resort in Jaipur India | Return to Headlines |
| 15 December 2003 - Le Meridien announced the opening of its first resort hotel in India. Owned by Mr. S.S. Sharma, an investor who owns two other hotels in Jaipur and Goa, the Le Meridien Jaipur covers a land area of 13 acres and comprises 120 rooms, 2 food and beverage outlets as well as recreational and meeting facilities. | |
| Dusit Thani repurchased company shares | Return to Headlines |
| 15 December 2003 - Dusit Thani said it repurchased 1,500 shares at THB40.75 each, totalling THB61,125 on December 11. Cumulative shares repurchased to date total 2,760,500 or 3.25% of paid-up capital. | |
| Best Western adds two in Australia | Return to Headlines |
| 15 December 2003 - Best Western has added two properties to its portfolio in Australia. The two hotels are located in Merimbula, New South Wales. The Best Western Fairway Motor Inn and the Best Western Sea Spray Hotel comprise respectively 20 and 19 rooms. | |
| New bridge to help tourism between Thailand and Laos | Return to Headlines |
| 15 December 2003 - Thailand and Laos will have started to build a bridge across the Heuang River between Thailand’s Loei province and Laos’ Sayaboury province to facilitate trading activities and tourist movements between the two countries. The 110-metre long bridge is part of the Thai government’s ‘Economic Cooperation Strategy’ policy and is scheduled to be completed within six month. | |
| Accor to manage two hotels in Pattaya, Thailand | Return to Headlines |
| 16 December 2003 - Accor signed two contracts to manage two hotels in Pattaya, Thailand, the Novotel Garden Cliff and the Mercure Pattaya. The Novotel Garden Cliff Resort, located close to the Palm Beach, is scheduled to open in September 2004. The hotel will comprise 234 rooms, 4 food & beverage outlets and recreational facilities. The Mercure Pattaya, located in the city centre, is due to open in January 2005 and will comprise 253 rooms and 2 food & beverage outlets. | |
| Marriott to expand Courtyard brand in India | Return to Headlines |
| 16 December 2003 - According to the Hotelier & Caterer, India’s K Raheja Corporation, signed an agreement with Marriott International to develop three hotels under the Courtyard brand. Two hotels will be located in Mumbai and one hotel in Hyderabad. One of the Mumbai properties will be located in Goregaon and the construction is expected to begin in 2004. Another Mumbai property will be located in Vashi, an upcoming commercial zone in the satellite township of Navi Mumbai. | |
| Oriental Press Group to convert headquarter into hotel | Return to Headlines |
| 16 December 2003 - Hong Kong publishing firm Oriental Press Group Ltd. has plans to convert its existing headquarters into a three-star hotel when its new head office is completed next year. Alternatively, the group will also consider leasing or selling the building located in Kowloon Bay. | |
| Sino-Cuban joint-venture to develop a hotel in Shanghai | Return to Headlines |
| 17 December 2003 - A Sino-Cuban joint-venture to develop a five-star hotel in Shanghai was offcially launched yesterday by representatives of both governments. The hotel will be located next to the TV tower in the Pudong district, and comprise 685 rooms when completed in 2006. | |
| Indian Hotel to develop spa division | Return to Headlines |
| 17 December 2003 - Indian Hotels Co. Ltd plans to launch 12 new spas in the next three years. In 2004, the company will open new spas at its luxury service apartments Wellington Mews and at its resort in Mauritius. Currently the company has 39 spas under its umbrella. | |
| Accor opens first resort hotel in Beijing | Return to Headlines |
| 18 December 2003 - Accor announced the opening of a resort hotel in Beijing, China. The Novotel Oasis, located in the Tongzhou District, comprises 154 suites, 4 food & beverage outlets and meeting and recreational facilities. Furthermore, the hotel will open in April a 10,000 square metre recreational sports complex, which will include tennis, basketball and badminton courts. | |
| Nongkhai Grand Hotel re-branded under Mercure brand | Return to Headlines |
| 18 December 2003 - Accor signed an agreement to manage a 130-room hotel in the northeast of Thailand. The Nongkhai Grand Hotel is located close to the Thai-Laos border, 15 kilometres south of Vientiane. The hotel will be re-branded under Accor’s Mercure brand following the completion of a renovation programme, including an upgrade of the hotel’s recreational and meeting facilities as well as food & beverage outlets. | |
| Millennium and Copthorne to mangae Seoul Hilton under Hilton franchise | Return to Headlines |
| 18 December 2003 - Hilton International and Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (M&C) have formed a partnership for the Seoul Hilton on a franchise basis after the management contract expires on 31 December 2003. The hotel will be re-branded the Millennium Seoul Hilton effective 1, January 2004. M&C will operate the hotel under the Hilton. | |
