Worldwide briefing

Essential news from around the world…

Holiday Inn to open in Nigeria
Intercontinental Hotel Group is to join forces with Juanita Hotel Ltd to open a Holiday Inn hotel in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Juanita Hotel is owned by Princess Boma Ozobia and her husband, Chief Kingsley Ozobia. The 80-bedroom hotel is scheduled for completion in 2006.

New name for Los Angeles hotel
The Hyatt Regency Los Angeles was renamed the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown on 20 May. The 485-bedroom hotel is due to have a $10m renovation which will include modifications to guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas.

Starwood to manage another hotel in China
In a deal with Xinjiang Haotai Industry Development, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide is to manage the Sheraton Urumqi Hotel in Urumqi, China. The 410-bedroom hotel, in the capital city of the Xianjiang Province, is scheduled to open in early 2007.

Kempinski announces third Bulgarian Hotel
Kempinski Hotels is to open its largest hotel yet this summer, the Kempinski Hotel Grand Hermitage in Bulgaria. Kempinski has signed an agreement with Sunny Travel to manage the hotel, which will be the first five-star hotel at the Golden Sands Resort, Varna. The property will feature a two-level presidential suite, an in-house brewery, and a two-level spa featuring a Turkish Hammam and a Finnish sauna.

Work starts on Rocco Forte hotel in Munich
Sir Rocco Forte last week helped lay the foundation stone for the Lenbach Garten site in Munich, which will be home to a new luxury Rocco Forte Hotels (RFH) property. The eight-storey, €71.5m (£49m) hotel will have 160 bedrooms, including 28 suites, a restaurant with two private dining rooms, a health centre and eight meeting rooms. Frankonia Eurobau is funding and managing the construction, which will then be leased to RFH.