Divan Hotels adds two properties in Turkey and other international hotel news

Divan Hotels adds two properties in Turkey
Turkish hotel group Divan Hotels, has signed two new property agreements, bringing its portfolio to a total of eight hotels. The new hotels, which are scheduled to open in late 2008, are located in Gaziantep in south eastern Anatolia, and in Turkey's capital city of Istanbul. Both hotels will be the largest first five-star city hotels in their respective regions and will introduce Divan's "genuine business class" concept, catering for business travellers. Divan Hotels' strategic expansion targets consist of reaching 21 Divan Hotels by 2012 and a total of 58 hotels by 2017. Among the target cities are Berlin, Moscow, St. Petersburg and a number of cities in Turkey.

Jumeirah appoints chief sales and marketing officerJumeirah Group has appointed Apo Demirtas as chief sales and marketing officer. Demirtas joins the company from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) where he most recently held the position of vice-president of market strategy for the Americas. He will be based in the Jumeirah's corporate office in Dubai and will report to chief executive officer Guy Crawford. Prior to his time with IHG, Demirtas worked in several senior sales, marketing and revenue management positions with high-profile international hospitality businesses, including Hilton Hotels Corporation and the Cendant Corporation.

Hilton to launch Doubletree hotel in Milan Hilton Hotels Corporation is to extend its upscale Doubletree hotel collection in Europe with the launch of the Doubletree by Hilton Milan in October 2008. The new development, which will mark the second Hilton property in the Italian city, will offer 240 guestrooms as well as a 225-seat restaurant with a covered terrace, and a lobby bar. The hotel will also include a fitness centre and feature extensive meeting facilities comprising more than 450sq m. Hilton currently operates 17 properties across Italy, located in destinations including Rome, Venice, Florence, Palermo, Portorosa in Sicily, and Siracusa in Sorrento.

Corinthia Towers Prague appoints executive chef The five-star Corinthia Towers hotel in Prague in the Czech Republic has appointed Roman Dolejš as executive chef. Dolejš joins the hotel fom Marriott Beach Resort Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, where he was chef de cuisine. Prior to that, he worked at Westin Casuarina resort, also in Grand Cayman, and at the luxury Peter Island resort in the British Virgin Islands. His experience also includes work with the Mandarin Oriental Group in Bermuda as well as various hotels in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.

By Kerstin Kühn

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