More luxury in Moscow
An upmarket Ritz-Carlton is scheduled to open in Moscow by the end of the year. The 332-room, 5-star property, within walking distance of the Kremlin, will offer the largest guest rooms in the city, plus 76 suites. Two exclusive Club Level floors at the top of the 11-storey building will have impressive views of Red Square and will offer dedicated butler/concierge services. Palatial Hilton opens in Jeddah
Hilton International's first palace hotel has opened in Saudi Arabia, offering some of the largest guest rooms in the region and what is described as a unique personalised butler service. Located adjacent to the existing Jeddah Hilton, the 46 all-suite property is aimed primarily at the Saudi market. Qasr Al Sharq comprises two palace suites – each covering half a floor with two master bedrooms, a private sitting room, a large formal majlis, large dining room and kitchen, and a private health club that includes a gym, sauna and Jacuzzi – in addition to eight Royal suites, 12 Executive suites and 24 Junior suites. All are fully equipped with state-of-the-art audio visual technology, wi-fi internet access and automated controls for lighting, curtains, temperature control and refreshment centres.
Hilton has also announced plans for a 240-room hotel in Ulaabaatar, the Mongolian capital, opening in the spring of 2008. Shilla sets its sights on China
Shilla, one of South Korea's leading hotel groups, is extending its operations into China. An affiliate of the Samsung conglomerate, the group is managing a 308-room property that opened at the end of April in Suzhou, approximately 76km from Shanghai's Hong Qiao airport. With six restaurants, conference hall, nine function rooms and a banqueting suite accommodating up to 400, it is the first 5-star business hotel in the city, conveniently located for the Suzhou International EXPO complex. The Shilla group operates two upmarket properties in Korea – one in the capital, Seoul, and the other on the island of Jeju (Cheju) Mandarin Oriental is to manage a 120-room luxury hotel and 90 branded residences opening in Dallas in 2009. This is in addition to projects already announced in Boston, Chicago and Las Vegas. As part of a revamp of its Business Class and Royal Club room concept, Radisson SAS is instaling advanced Nespresso coffee machines in more than 180 properties in 45 countries. easyHotels, the new low-cost budget chain launched by the founder of easyJet, is to open a second London property and has eight planned for major cities in India over the next four years.
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