November marked the start of the expansion and renovation of the LAKEWAY INN CONFERENCE RESORT of Austin, Texas, after its re-flagging as a Dolce International property in 2005. Plans call for upgrading 168 guest rooms, which include 16 new spa guest rooms, and construction of a 5,200-square-foot ballroom and a 5,500-square-foot spa and fitness center. The project will be completed in May.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has entered into an agreement to manage THE PLAZA, New York. The Plaza, built in 1907, is undergoing a $350 million renovation that, when completed in early 2007, will feature 282 rooms, including 152 condo units.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in November announced the opening of FOUR SEASONS HOTEL DES BERGUES GENEVA, the only Four Seasons in Switzerland. The hotel has 83 bedrooms and 20 suites, and includes five function rooms and the historic Salle des Nations, created for the first meeting of the League of Nations in 1920.
In August, THE HUNTER MOUNTAIN RESORT, Hunter, N.Y., announced the grand opening of the $26 million, 109-room KAATSKILL MOUNTAIN CLUB. The resort offers both traditional hotel-style accommodations and condominiums. Amenities include a health club and spa, heated pool, hot tubs, and wireless Internet access.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. has announced plans to build a new St. Regis property in Atlanta. THE ST. REGIS, scheduled to open in early 2008 with 150 hotel rooms, will also feature 50 St. Regis Residences.
The WESTIN BOSTON WATERFRONT is slated to open in July less than 3 miles from Logan International Airport. The 790-room hotel will be connected to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, and will feature a spa, health club, and restaurant, as well as 32,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 15,000-square-foot ballroom and a 4,000-square-foot ballroom. A total of 22 meeting rooms, will be available.
In late December, The Registry Resort & Club in Naples, Fla., relaunched with a new name and redesign. The property is now NAPLES GRANDE RESORT & CLUB, featuring a new banquet facility as well as redesigned lobby, lounge, and bungalows, and enhancements to the 395 rooms and suites. A spa will be added in coming months.
ROSEN SHINGLE CREEK resort is on schedule for a September 2006 opening. The 1,500-room facility will be on 230 acres just 10 minutes from Orlando International Airport. All guest rooms will feature high-speed Internet access. The resort will have 250,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 95,000-square-foot ballroom, as well as a spa and an 18-hole championship golf course, which opened in 2003.