Langham opens first hotel in California and other international hotel news

Langham opens first hotel in CaliforniaLangham Hotels International (LHI) has secured its first property in the Western United States with the purchase of the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena, California. The 380-room hotel, which will be rebranded as The Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa in January, is set in 23 acres of grounds. It includes a spa and four restaurants as well as more than 30,000sq ft of meeting and event space, including three ballrooms, 15 meeting rooms, and three boardrooms. LHI said it plans to invest $25m (£12.5m) to renovate the property.

Starwood to add three Westin hotels in IndiaStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is to manage three new Westin hotels in India. The hotels include the 428-room Westin Hyderabad, Mindspace to open in 2008; the 277-room Westin Pune, Koregaon Park, which will open in 2009; and the 323-room Westin Kolkata, Rajarhat set to open in 2010. Miguel Ko, president of Starwood Asia Pacific, said: "Westin's new hotels in Hyderabad, Pune and Kolkata further accelerate our plans to become one of the most recognizable brands in India, both in gateway cities and emerging commercial centres."

Rezidor plans Eastern European expansionRezidor Hotel Group is to expand into Eastern Europe with the opening of 50 hotels in Russia, former Soviet Union countries and the Baltics in the next few years. Kurt Riter, managing director of Rezidor said: "We can see great potential in Russia and CIS countries and we have been making investments for the development of our activities in that area over several years." Rezidor plans to add 20,000 hotel rooms in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in the next two years will soon open a showroom in Moscow.

Accor adds boutique hotel in New Zealand French hotel group Accor is to expand its portfolio in New Zealand and will take over the management of the 110-year-old Princes Gate Hotel in Rotorua in January. The 34- room boutique hotel, which also features 16 one and two bedroom apartments with full kitchens, includes a restaurant and bar, heated pool, sauna, tennis court and laundry facilities. It also features two conference rooms and a boardroom. Built in Waihi in 1897 by E.Morgan, the hotel originally had 75 rooms and was named the New Central Hotel. It was re-named Princes Gate Hotel in 1921.

By Kerstin Kühn

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