Wyndham Hotel Group today introduced The Wyndham Grand Collection, an ensemble of elegant, one-of-a-kind hotels within the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand aimed at guests looking for unique experiences in distinctive destinations around the world.

The Wyndham Grand Collection locations feature regionalized design reflecting local surroundings, culinary experiences featuring local and international cuisine, expertise in regional events and attractions, well-appointed spa and wellness services and facilities and attentive service.

“Properties flying The Wyndham Grand Collection flag are luxury or upscale properties with special features that offer guests world-class service, elegant surroundings and thoughtful touches on a grand scale,” said Peter Strebel, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts president.  “With luxurious amenities, flexible spaces and sophisticated entertainment and presentation capabilities, these high-end properties are the ideal choice for both business and social events.”

Properties in The Wyndham Grand Collection are the Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour, London; Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico; Grand Bay Hotel, Isla Navidad Resort, Manzanillo, Mexico; Corinthia Towers Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic; Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, Budapest, Hungary; Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa, San Anton, Malta; Corinthia San Gorg Hotel, St. Julians, Malta; Corinthia Lisboa Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal; Corinthia Nevskij Palace Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia; Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel, Tripoli, Libya; and Veneto, Panama City, Panama.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is proudly celebrating its legacy as the first truly international luxury hotel brand in the world with the opening of its 150th hotel - InterContinental Dubai Festival City.

This milestone will be followed days later when the brand opens its first hotel in Vietnam - the 359-room InterContinental Hanoi Westlake. Following three years of aggressive development activity and brand expansion, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts celebrated its soft launch on November 7th and is the first of three InterContinental Hotels Group properties to open at Festival City, with Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City and InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City to open in December 2007. These magnificent properties have gone from concept to completion in just three years, becoming iconic landmarks on the city skyline. The project is the largest in the history of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), and three properties opening simultaneously within the same location is also a first for the group. The 36 floor InterContinental Dubai Festival City managed by Dieter Franke has a total of 500 ultra stylish rooms, including 121 Suites, three Presidential Suites and one Royal Suite.

The rooms consist of a series of interlocking zones for maximum flexibility and privacy and each contains a large bathroom with a wet zone and splash area. All have stunning views of either the historic Dubai Creek, the city skyline or the world-class shopping centre, the Festival Waterfront Centre. John Bamsey, Chief Operating Officer, IHG, Middle East and Africa said, <blockquote>'InterContinental Hotels and Resorts has been in the region catering for sophisticated business and leisure travellers for over 40 years and the opening of our latest flagship property represents how we continue to lead in the upscale travel market. The launch of InterContinental Dubai Festival City marks an era of significant growth and development for the brand as we look to open 10 properties by the end of 2009, including InterContinental Kuwait and InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort.'</blockquote> Area General Manager Tom Meyer, who oversees the entire project, said, 'It is an absolute pleasure to be a part of such a monumental project at Dubai Festival City, especially as InterContinental Dubai Festival City is such a landmark property as the 150th hotel in the brand's global portfolio. I have the pleasure to lead a super team and every measure has been taken to ensure we deliver the highest quality services and amenities in an excellent destination.' The hotel offers sports and recreational facilities dedicated to fulfil the needs of any traveller, whether they desire a full work-out session, or simply to unwind and enjoy themselves. The leisure deck includes an outdoor 25 metre pool, children's splash pool and three outdoor spa pools, and the state of the art gym sports the latest fitness equipment including the Kinesis 'free weights' range. After opening in December, Spa InterContinental will feature 700 square metres of wellness facilities including eight treatment suites and two VIP couples spa suites. A variety of treatments will be available from experienced therapists, including holistic therapies infusing unique Arabic and Asian techniques. Opening with the hotel are two splendid food and beverage outlets. 'Anise' is a world-food restaurant catering to a total sensory experience, integrating the diner into the kitchen. Cuisine from all over the world is prepared and served from live cooking stations around the restaurant, keeping diners on the edge of their seat with excitement. The Vista lobby lounge and bar is a large and luxurious venue that curves the Creek, framing stunning views across the water, and also the striking silhouette of the towers and skyscrapers of 'Sheikh Zayed Road' in the centre of Dubai. Vista Lounge will be a place to sit and enjoy exquisite décor and the impeccable views, and to sample delicious and funky beverages at the bar which appears to be floating above the promenade at the edge of the infinity pool. Once fully operational, the hotel will feature eight superb restaurants and eateries, including the much anticipated 'Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire'. Set to be the sixth and sexiest restaurant in the three star Michelin chef's repertoire, 'Reflets' will be an example of exceptional taste in every fashion. Contemporary and stylish furnishings will accompany modern French cuisine, encapsulating a culinary art of flavours. Both InterContinental and Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City are internally connected to the Festival Waterfront Centre, the 550 retail outlets and 90 restaurants and cafés are just a minutes' walk away. Two 18-hole championship golf courses are also close to hand, as is a scenic stroll along the waterfront promenade, connecting to the 100 berth Festival Marina.

Third Marriott Property Opens in Seoul

Marriott International has opened the 103-room luxury hotel Yeouido Park Centre, Seoul - Marriott Executive Apartments in Seoul, South Korea under a management agreement with re-plus corporation, based in Tokyo.

The general manager is Ty Collins. Chung-Ki Kim is the director of sales and marketing.

Yeouido Park Centre, Seoul - Marriott Executive Apartments is located in the burgeoning financial and economic area of Yeouido, located on the Han River. The area is home to numerous international companies such as 3M and LG electronics. In distinct contrast to the lively metropolitan location, the hotel is situated next to the Yeouido National Park, offering running and bicycle trails amid the delicate Japanese cherry blossoms.

The hotel offers 103 elegantly furnished studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments offering stunning, technologically enhanced apartments with unexpected pleasures like heated floors, blissful rainfall showers, gourmet restaurant and wine bar and a luxurious full-service spa. Other amenities include a fully equipped kitchen with microwave and dishwasher and separate dining area. Each apartment features a home entertainment system with large LCD television in both the living room and master bedroom. In addition, each apartment is equipped with its own washer and dryer.
 
Yeouido Park Centre, Seoul - Marriott Executive Apartments will entice guests with delectable cuisine at the hotel's restaurant, Park Café. Park Café will offer a full menu throughout the day with tantalizing offers from the grill. A lounge bar completes the dining experience with a festive glass wine bar offering an impressive list of vintages.

To complete this luxurious experience, the hotel will feature an incredible SOO Spa. The nine treatment room SOO spa will treat guests to lavish spa treatments featuring Elemis and Pure Fiji spa products. The hotel's fitness center 6600 square meter fitness center will boast a five-lane pool, equipped with an underwater sound system enabling guests to listen to soothing music as they swim laps.

'We are thrilled by the continued expansion of our Marriott Executive Apartments brand and to introduce the brand to Seoul,' said Paul Toner, regional vice president of sales and marketing for Asia-Pacific. 'This property offers a true haven to business travelers who have a need to be in a market for an extended period of time and expect the unsurpassed amenities this hotel offers.'

Mr. Hirofumi Kang, chief executive officer and representative director of re-plus corporation said, 'It is our great pleasure to introduce this new hotel and we are delighted to work together with Marriott International on this remarkable property.'

Marriott Executive Apartments are upscale apartments designed to meet the needs of business and leisure travelers planning to stay for an extended period of time. Offering studio to three-bedroom furnished apartments, Marriott Executive Apartments offer the privacy and comfort of a residential environment with the convenience of hotel services and amenities. Each property is influenced by local design elements and feature state-of-the-art facilities and technology.

Currently there are 15 Marriott Executive Apartment hotels throughout the world. They are located in Hong Kong, Mumbai, Prague, Budapest, Brussels, Dubai, Tokyo, Bangkok, Shanghai London, Sao Paulo, Jakarta, Seoul and Beijing. Nine future openings are scheduled including the 95-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Bahrain (2007) and the 120-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Doha, Qatar (2007).

Yeouido Park Centre, Seoul - Marriott Executive Apartments, along with over 2,500 Marriott-affiliated hotels worldwide, participates in Marriott Rewards, the guest reward program that allows members to earn their choice of points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay.

Vail Resorts has announced more detailed plans for making the $1 billion Ever Vail the largest LEED-certified, multi-use resort development project in the nation.

"The mission of Vail Resorts is to provide exceptional experiences at our extraordinary resorts," said Rob Katz, chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. "What we are announcing with the Ever Vail development is completely aligned with two of our most important stakeholders -- the spectacular natural environment that serves as the backdrop of Vail Mountain and the local community in which we operate."

Vail Resorts is now several steps closer to making the 9.5-acre Ever Vail project at the base of Vail Mountain a reality. This past June, Ever Vail was accepted into the pilot program for LEED's new "Neighborhood Development" certification program, putting it on the path to becoming the largest LEED-certified project for resort use in the U.S. In addition, Vail Resorts has clarified a number of aspects of the project, which will be presented to the Town of Vail staff as part of its approval process. After conducting extensive research and consulting with various green building sources, the Company plans to undertake the following innovative eco-sensitive measures to ensure that the project can be an icon for the town and a source of pride for the entire Vail Valley community.

  -- Use only woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and local
     area beetle-kill Lodgepole pine trees in building construction. A Vail
     Valley company is currently working with the U.S. Forest Service to
     establish a procedure for reclaiming the dying trees to be used in the
     project. Wherever possible, the Company will purchase and incorporate
     local and regional "green" materials for construction.
  -- Incorporate a geothermal process (ground source heat pumps) to harness
     energy that would be used for snowmelt. Coils of durable material are
     embedded deep into the earth below. A fluid within the coil collects
     heat from the earth and distributes it through surface streets and
     sidewalks to melt the snow.
  -- Install small hydro micro-turbines in Gore Creek to power the outdoor
     streetscape lighting in public areas.
  -- Preserve and enhance existing wetlands and Red Sandstone Creek through
     a new storm water runoff management system.
  -- Include significant affordable housing on-site (see below), helping to
     meet many of the diversity requirements of the LEED program.
  -- Use reclaimed water from snowmelt for use as "gray water" in the
     toilets, rather than using potable water. Create a "closed-loop" gray
     water system for washing all mountain operations vehicles, such as
     snowcats and snowmobiles at the site of the new mountain operations
     maintenance yard. Finally, use a large amount of reclaimed water from
     the snowmelt system to augment flows in Red Sandstone Creek.
  -- Orient all buildings to maximize the natural light, thereby creating
     greater energy efficiency.
  -- Incorporate green, living roofs on several of the buildings within the
     project. A "green" roof is a system in which natural materials such as
     soil and indigenous grasses cover the roof structure to help reduce
     solar heat accumulation and storm water runoff.
  -- Implement an erosion control program so as to mitigate any potential
     erosion during construction.
  -- Establish a "flex car" program to minimize vehicle emissions on the
     I-70 corridor between Denver International Airport and Vail. Vail
     Resorts would provide a fleet of cars for owners of properties in Ever
     Vail to use while in town, thereby reducing the total number of cars
     in the valley and encouraging owners to use shuttle service and public
     transportation to and from the valley.

Ever Vail is located on a true "Brownfield" site at the base of Vail Mountain, currently known as West LionsHead, and will consist of over one million square feet of mixed-use space including residences, a hotel, offices, retail shops and restaurants, mountain operations facilities, a public parking garage, a new gondola and related skier portal and a public park. The LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system, established February 2007, integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design.

"Our announcement today is just the beginning of many more to come about our efforts to make sure Ever Vail is on the cutting edge of green building," said Katz. "We hope it will become a symbol of our intrinsic relationship with the spectacular mountain environment in which we operate."

As an important piece in creating a vibrant, year-round community in Ever Vail, Vail Resorts is proposing to include 123 beds within the project in what will likely be the most desirable affordable, deed-restricted housing available for purchase in the Vail Valley. The studio, one- and two-bedroom units will range in size from approximately 900 to 1,600 square feet and will be designed to attract singles, couples and families interested in living in a sustainable, pedestrian-friendly community with a mix of retail, restaurants and public amenities all within walking distance at the base of Vail Mountain. "We believe this is the most significant on-site affordable housing commitment ever proposed for a real estate project in Vail," said Katz. "In addition to the affordable housing, our decision to include over 50 percent of our employee housing requirement on site is the right decision for both Ever Vail and the community."

A message from Rocco Forte:

Every hotel which joins my Collection has to have a special appeal. This is certainly true of the two newest additions, Le Richemond in Geneva and The Charles Hotel in Munich.

We now have eleven hotels in the Collection. Although each is unique, they are all united with a common philosophy which ensures the highest standards wherever you stay. But I hope in each one you will find a special and different experience.

Rocco Forte, Chairman
The Rocco Forte Collection

Two September incentives:

Sophistication in the heart of Geneva
Reopening after a major refurbishment on 21st September, Le Richemond is one of Geneva's most prestigious hotels with stunning views of the Alps and Lake Geneva. The interior design combines the city's rich heritage with a light, contemporary style.

Sweet Deal Package ›› Relax instantly with a private limousine from the airport, a bottle of champagne and access to Le Spa. Book by 31/12/2007.

Munich's gateway to tranquillity
Located by the old Botanical Gardens in the centre of the city, The Charles Hotel opens on 4th October. It combines contemporary interiors and hi-tech facilities with historical touches inspired by the Bavarian capital.

Munich Discovery Package ›› Discover Munich with a limousine city tour, a foot massage in the spa and an aperitif in the bar. Book by 31/12/2007.