In early August, the new Four Seasons Resort Aviara opened on 180 acres in Carlsbad, CA, with 331 rooms and suites. Part of the 1,000-acre Aviara master-planned community, the 331-room luxury property is Four Seasons' first oceanview golf and tennis resort on the U.S. mainland. In addition to an 18-hole golf course (which has been operating since 1991), six tennis courts, and spa, the resort offers 29,000 square feet of function space, including a 12,000-square-foot ballroom.

The Wyndham Old San Juan (PR) Hotel and Casino opened in August. The new $41 million waterfront property has 240 rooms and 6,200 square feet of meeting space.

The $98 million, 403-room Westin Savannah (GA) Harbor Resort broke ground in July overlooking the Savannah River. When it opens in 1999, it will be the centerpiece of a 700-acre, mixed-use development that will include the Georgia International Maritime & Trade Center. The hotel will have five meeting rooms and a 12,000-square-foot ballroom divisible into eight.

Construction has begun on The Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, a complement to the 18-hole golf course and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park already in place at the La Cantera development. The 500-room property will sit on 60 acres with more than 38,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 17,000-square-foot ballroom, when it opens in 1999.

Also that year, Westin will open on San Antonio's Riverwalk. Breaking ground later this year, The Westin Riverwalk will offer more than 18,000 square feet of meeting space as well as river views in 60 percent of its 453 rooms.