Worldwide briefing

Shangri-La goes to Miami
Hong Kong-based hotel chain Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is to open in Miami, Florida. The 147-room hotel, which will be developed by Flagstone Property Group, is the chain's second venture in the US. The property is due to open in 2008 and will be part of the $480m (£274m) mixed-use Island Gardens project, by Biscayne Bay. The project also includes a yacht harbour, shops and restaurants as well as gardens and galleries. The hotel will include 105 fractional residences on the top floor of the tower as well as a spa, a business centre and three restaurants.

Le Meridien opens in Malta
Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts is to open its second hotel in Malta. The 276-bedroom Le Meridien St Julians is scheduled to open in March 2006 and will be located in the grounds of a 19th century villa in Balluta Bay. The hotel will feature a 1,600sq m conference centre with 14 meeting rooms and a fixed seat amphitheatre, a health spa and five restaurants.

Park Plaza Hotels Europe is to open two new hotels on London's south bank
County Hall Park Plaza, set to open in 2008, will be located in Addington Street opposite County Hall. It will feature 395 guestrooms, suites and penthouses as well as a café, bar and restaurant, a gymnasium and meeting rooms. Westminster Bridge Park Plaza will open in 2010 and will be the biggest hotel in the group's worldwide portfolio, comprising 930 guestrooms and conference facilities for up to 1,000 delegates.

Marriott announces two more hotels in Dubai
Marriott International is to open two new properties in Dubai. The hotels will be situated on the city's RiverWalk and are set to open in 2008. They will comprise the 300-room Courtyard by Marriott RiverWalk and the 120-room Marriott Executive Apartments RiverWalk. Both hotels will be within a $1b (£571m) mixed use development in Dubai Internet City and offer shared dining and recreational amenities.

Thompson hotels extends in Los Angeles
Thompson Hotels is to extend its US portfolio with the opening of a second hotel in Los Angeles, California. The 110-room Thompson Beverly Hills will feature interiors by Dodd Mitchell and include a restaurant, lounge and a rooftop swimming pool. Stephen Brandman, chief operating officer at Thompson Hotels, said: "Thompson Hotel Beverly Hills is a perfect addition to the portfolio. We see this hotel as the West coast counterpart to New York's 60 Thompson."

Portuguese hotel chain goes to Brazil
Portuguese hotel chain Pousadas de Portugal has launched its first international venture with the opening of a hotel in Brazil. The 69-room hotel is in the former Brazilian capital and UNESCO world heritage site of Salvador da Bahia. The 13,000sq m property includes a restaurant, coffee shop and bar, a gym and spa, auditorium and meeting rooms and ten suites.

Starwood continues expansion in South America
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide continues its expansion in South America with the opening of a new Sheraton hotel in Argentina. The 145-room Sheraton Salta is the group's eighth property in Argentina and features nine suites, two restaurants and bars as well as a spa and fitness centre. Osvaldo Librizzi, president of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Latin America, said: "Salta is one of Argentina's most scenic and historic cities and attracts an average of 700,000 visitors per year. We are thrilled to have a Sheraton hotel in this key city."

By Emily Manson

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