Author: Katharine Jordan

Hotel Lutetia is re-opening in the Spring.  Located on the Left Bank, it will have 184 bedrooms, 5 meeting rooms and a ballroom for 300 people.

Hotel de Berri, a Luxury Collection Hotel from Starwood is due to open in April and will have one meeting room for 70 people and 75 bedrooms.

Maison Astor Paris, Curio Collection by Hilton, is also opening in April and is located close to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.  There are two meeting rooms, one for 25 people and one for 8 people or the restaurant space can be used for a more informal event for up to 60.

Brach Paris, designed by Philippe Starck, doesn’t have a definite opening date yet.  It will be 5* with 59 bedrooms, 2 swimming pools, 3 bars and restaurants.  Details of the event space is not yet available, but the hotel will have a rooftop garden.  The hotel is located close to the Eiffel Tower.

Also in the pipeline, but without opening dates are Fauchon L’Hôtel, JK Place Paris: and Cheval Blanc Samaritaine. The numbers of bedrooms and meeting space information hasn’t been released yet.

The Dorchester Collection is set to expand into the Middle East for the first time with the signing of a contract to manage a hotel in Dubai.

Details of the project are yet to be announced, but the five-star hotel is located on the banks of the Dubai Canal in the Marasi community, as well as the exclusive One Palm development of 90 residential apartments on the Palm Jumeirah.

The Dubai hotel will become the 10th in the Dorchester Collection and will join the group’s three UK properties (the Dorchester, 45 Park Lane and Coworth Park), alongside Le Meurice and Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris, Hotel Eden in Rome and the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles.

The name and design of the Dubai hotel will be announced at “an exclusive gala event” in March.

The Fontenay is set to open on the waterfront in Hamburg in the middle of March.  It is a 20 minute drive from the airport and a 5 minute walk to the city centre.  The hotel will have four restaurants and bars, 130 bedrooms and a spa.

The Fontenay function and events area has a round foyer with the greenery and natural light of the accessible patio are reflected by a large mirror wall. There are four meeting rooms, two of which can be combined and a boardroom.  All meeting rooms have natural day light and the larges has capacity for 120 in theatre style.

IHG have opened their first Hotel Indigo in The Netherlands, Hotel Indigo The Hague – Palace Noordeinde. There are currently 24 Hotel Indigo properties open in Europe with 20 due to open over the next three to five years.

The property is the former Dutch National Bank building situated in the centre of the Hague, close to the Royal Palace, amongst the city’s most prestigious shopping avenue.

The 63-room boutique hotel’s design takes its cues from the building’s unique past with thoughtful details including pop art-style portraits of the Royal family, luxe fabrics and colours, and motifs inspired by The Netherland’s historic currency, the Dutch guilder.

The Hotel Indigo brand is set to expand in 2018 with upcoming openings also including Hotel Indigo London – 1 Leicester Square, Hotel Indigo London – Aldgate, Hotel Indigo Milan – Corso Monforte, Hotel Indigo Bath and Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon.

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Barcelo Hotel Group have expanded into the UAE with Barcelo Residences Dubai Marina and Occidental Sharjah Grand Hotel. The UAE is renowned for the grand luxury hotels and therefore serves as the perfect destination for the group’s expansion.

Barcelo Residences Dubai Marina is located in the south of Palm Jumeriah, at the heart of Dubai Marina and is a perfect choice for families, couples and friends. The hotel’s modern and elegant apartments provide a fantastic base for travellers, with a range of amenities and stunning views of the city and seafront.

Dubai’s neighbour, the emirate of Sharjah, is a perfect destination for travellers wanting to explore the luxurious culture of the East. The Sharjah Grand Hotel (pictured) features a variety of stunning rooms that all provide panoramic views of the sea and city of Sharjah, a gym and wellness area and extensive room-service options.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced an agreement to brand and manage 34 luxurious Residences by Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona. The Residences are scheduled for completion in 2020 and will be located in a 20-storey tower at the crossing of Passeig de Gràcia and Avinguda Diagonal. 

The apartments will be designed in a contemporary style and will provide panoramic views of the city’s landmarks and will feature a private, serviced lobby, a club lounge, a variety of meeting and entertaining spaces, fitness facilities and a luxury spa suite.