InterContinental adds two Indigo hotels in St. Louis and other international news

IHG adds two Indigo hotels in St. LouisInterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced plans for two Hotel Indigo developments in St. Louis, Missouri, in the USA. The two properties will be located in the Central West End and downtown areas of the city and are being developed by Roberts Hotels Group. The Central West End property, which is scheduled to open in October 2007, will be a 120-room hotel, while the downtown hotel is scheduled to open in spring 2008. Both St. Louis properties will feature Indigo's signature renewable elements such as vivid murals, area rugs, plush duvets and slip covers that will change periodically. Public spaces will be transformed seasonally through changing artwork, music, flora, murals and directional signage. The hotels will also feature fitness studios, dining outlets and meeting facilities.

South Africa introduces minimum wage for hospitality workers In South Africa the department of labour has announced the first-ever minimum wage for employees in the hospitality sector. The country's 500,000 hospitality workers including waiters, barmen, kitchen staff and hotel cleaners, will now be eligible for a minimum wage of between R1,480 and R1,650 (£107 and £120) per month. One rate will apply across the country as from 1 July.

Hyatt plans to reach 120 hotels by end of year The Global Hyatt Corporation's Hyatt Place hotel brand has reached a total of 29 hotels operating in 13 US states and plans to have opened 120 properties by the end of the year. "These hotel openings are a milestone for both Global Hyatt Corporation and Hyatt Place and we're on track to open our 50th hotel in May and will reach our projection of 120 by December," said Jim Abrahamson, senior vice president, Hyatt Corporation. Hyatt Place offers an atmosphere of casual hospitality with a balanced mix of comfortable and functional amenities including coffee and wine cafés and bakeries, as well as free Wi-Fi access, high-definition TVs and an e-room with free access to public computers and a printer.

Luxury hotel and wine spa to open in Portugal The Fladgate Partnership is to launch a new five-star hotel and wine spa in the historic city of Vila Nova de Gaia in Northern Portugal. The Yeatman hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2009, will be a 84-room property including an infinity pool, two restaurants and a wine spa. Adrian Bridge, managing director of the Fladgate Partnership, said: "With wine tourism increasing globally, it is important for Vila Nova de Gaia to be part of this growing trend without losing the beauty and heritage of this magnificent site. Our involvement will ensure that we are at the forefront of this project which enriches the overall Port experience for our visitors."

Carlson Hotels adds nine hotels Carlson Hotels Worldwide has added nine new properties to its worldwide portfolio of since the beginning of the year. The new hotels include two Radisson SAS properties in Kazakhstan and Norway, two Radisson hotels & resorts properties in California and Arizona, USA, a new spa hotel in Chile developed by Radisson Hotels Latin America, two Park Inn hotels in Michigan, USA, and Russia, as well as two Park Plaza hotels & resorts properties in India and China. The two newest Radisson hotels are the 181-room Radisson SAS Hotel Astana in Kazakhstan, and the Radisson SAS Hotel, Fredrikstad in Norway, both hotels are managed by Rezidor Hotel Group. The 50-room Radisson Acqua hotel & spa is located in the Chilean city of Con Con on the Pacific coast north of Viña del Mar. The hotel features a spa and two restaurants.

By Kerstin Kühn

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