VacantReady

Middle East business magazine AME Info recently announced five G.M. appointments for Ritz-Carlton hotels in Dubai, Bahrain and Sharm el Sheikh—with two appointments in Doha. Click over to the article for an insider peek at the hoteliers taking the helm in these hotels.

Not yet named is the G.M. for Cairo’s upcoming Ritz-Carlton property. The current Hilton Nile will be completely renovated and re-developed to become the Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo, expected to open in 2011.

“We are honored to have been selected by Misr Hotels to assume management of this iconic property. Our plans for The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo are extensive, and will include conversion to restore the hotel to its status as the leading property in the region,” commented Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

The Hilton Nile website reveals that operations at the 413 room hotel will cease January 1, 2009—to the delight of the Hilton’s local competitors, I’m sure.

The Ritz-Carlton brand joins other strong luxury brands also moving into the area, with Fairmont’s Nile City hotel currently under construction, and the new St. Regis, Cairo also opening in 2011.

Hotel mavens and the local jet set will have plenty of swank opening parties to attend. BTW - here’s how you can contact me!

Hilton Nile -> Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo

Check out an original rendition of the property before Hilton took over:

And here is a photo taken last month, thanks to flickr member keatl:

Finally...the souped-up version of the hotel after Ritz-Carlton completes the transition:

Interesting that the colourful murals (or mosaic?) surrounding the property are shown in all three images. Classy enough for Ritz-Carlton?

0 comments | Permalink | Middle East & Africa • Cairo • Development • Renovations

Yesterday I walked through the Four Seasons hotel lobby to check out its annual Christmas tree display in support of the B.C Children’s Hospital.

There were some hilarious and creative trees presented at the Four Seasons for the kids (like the Spiderman tree and the Pirate), and there were also trees decorated in a more traditional fashion.

The B.C. Children’s Hospital is a worthy cause, and many hospitality organizations champion fund raising efforts during the holiday season.

Here are some pictures of the Christmas tree display:

The Four Seasons has been undergoing a major renovation of its restaurant outlets and public areas for months. Although the reno is still on-going, things are looking great.

The entire front desk and concierge areas were completely re-vamped, and the result is a clean, elegant and more sophisticated ambiance. This was a welcome change at the property since the previous bland green motif (pic) was getting pretty tired.

The most exciting addition to the Four Seasons is their new restaurant and bar called ‘Yew’, whose name derives from a type of local tree. Rich wood tones, vaulted ceilings, and an open kitchen concept generate lots of excitement in the room, and the entire space looks awesome.

Even better than the look, however, was the service. The moment I straggled in to take a look, I was greeted warmly by the host and welcomed in to have a look. The manager on duty kindly offered to tour me around, and he was an excellent ambassador for the restaurant.

The employees at Yew seem genuinely happy to be there, and that’s a welcome change.

Check out some images of the new lobby at the Four Seasons Vancouver, and a few pics of the restaurant:

F&B maven Andrew Morrison of UrbanDiner.ca captured some video footage of the Yew Restaurant and Bar’s recent opening party:

Linkage
More about Yew [UrbanDiner]

3 comments | Permalink | Canada • Vancouver • Renovations

Although Vancouver’s luxury hotel building boom has generated much anticipation in the local hotel community, there are many exciting large-scale hotel renovations also currently underway in the city.

The Hyatt Regency recently completed their $40 million reno, and the Four Seasons has already relocated their lobby to the third floor conference foyer for their property revamp--which includes the re-branding of their infamous Chartwell restaurant.

The Westin Bayshore will soon be breaking ground for an intensive project to update their guestrooms and restaurant outlets, and in the next two years the property will be rolling out a new pool, spa, and health club facility. The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver will soon be renovating their popular Griffins Restaurant and 900 West Lounge, along with a new lobby concept.

Click on the Vancouver hotel industry map below to discover more about local Vancouver renovation projects:

Have we forgotten anyone? Drop us an and tell us what’s happening at your hotel property.

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Vancouver Hotel Industry Maps [Vacant Ready]

0 comments | Permalink | Canada • Vancouver • Renovations

Last month while heading out on vacation, I had to fly through the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Other than the prospect of seeing palm trees, LAX is usually a miserable experience for me. Transfers are confusing, late departures are the norm, and I always feel a general sense of unrest at LAX.

So when I was recently introduced to a new hotel development slated to open at LAX in November 2007, I wasn’t overly thrilled to feature it here at Vacant Ready. After some digging, however, it turns out that the hotel property named the Custom Hotel, will actually be pretty cool. It’s a quirky, interesting and affordable alternative.

The hotel will re-open as the only independently branded boutique hotel property at LAX--amidst a sea of dreary corporate hotel brands. Right off the bat, the Custom Hotel will be able to offer a unique guest experience that virtually no other hotel in the area can offer. 

The 250 room property will deliver “design and substance” at a modest price (a quick check for a pre-opening Oct. 22nd rate started as low as $89/night!). The Custom Hotel tower was originally designed by Welton Beckett, and is currently undergoing extensive renovations. You’ll know Beckett as the architect who designed some well-known L.A. buildings such as the Capitol Records Building, and the Theme Building at LAX. The Custom Hotel doesn’t quite have the same panache as those two buildings, but it is recognizably of the same genre.

Watch for property enhancements such as an outdoor fire pit(!?), a pool with stadium seating, vintage vending machines that deliver everything from socks to silly putty...and most importantly, “playfully themed rooms”.  The hotel plans to offer day-use “layover rooms”, and a DJ lounge.

Formerly known as the Furama Hotel the Custom Hotel is being re-branded by California real estate developer-turned hotelier Avi Brosh, President and CEO of the Palisades Development Group. Brosh is a man-about-town in the local development community, and he has generated some press for his transition from real estate developer to boutique hotelier.

I hope I don’t have to visit LAX any time soon, but if I do--I’ll look forward to checking out this interesting hotel.

Check out some guestroom images from the hotel’s mock-up rooms: flat screens and doggy duvets on a budget!

0 comments | Permalink | United States • Los Angeles • Development • Renovations

Yesterday one of our local readers asked us if we know anything about the construction going on at the Sutton Place Hotel on Burrard street.

So what’s happening at the Sutton? The luxury hotel is building the ”Sutton Place Wine Merchant” retail store at the adjacent hotel residences. Opening in the Fall, the Wine Merchant is an exclusive wine boutique.

The Sutton Place Vancouver is one of two five diamond hotels in Vancouver (along with the the Pan Pacific). The new Wine Merchant is anticipated to carry an exclusive array of wine selections, some only available in this retail outlet. Watch for cross promotions with the Hotel’s popular wine club events with Fleuri Restaurant Chef Raman Anand.

Nigel Walker and Associates are the interior designs for the project, and the building was designed by Robert Salikan Architecture.

Linkage
Get a Job at the Sutton Place Wine Merchant [Craigslist]

0 comments | Permalink | Canada • Vancouver • Renovations