News: major hotel group and two large hotel booking engines accused of price fixing - 1 August 2012

Interesting article in today's FT:

Europe's tallest building inaugurated tomorrow

The Shard, next to London Bridge train station, and moments from the Thames, will be inaugurated tomorrow. It marks the near completion of the exterior, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. Standing at 1,016 ft tall the building has 72 occupiable floors but we're most interested in the Shangri-La Hotel, opening next year, on floors 34-52. Views will be unique and spectacular. Guest rooms look as opulent as you'd expect from this luxury hotel group.

A laser show will be projected from the Shard shortly after 10pm tomorrow. Guests at the event include the prime minister of Qatar, whose state partly-owns the skyscraper, and The Duke of York.

French fashion house launches jewellery boutique in Paris

Louis Vuitton has just opened its first 'high jewellery' boutique store on Place Vendome, Paris. Expect to be dazzled by American architect Peter Marino's interior - his other work includes boutique stores for Dior, Chanel and LV. No expense spared then.

News - Qatari's buy French luxury hotel portfolio from Starwood

Starwood Capital will shortly sell a portfolio of French luxury hotels to Katara Hospitality, a Qatari state owned hotels group.

The portfolio will include the art deco Martinez in Cannes

The transaction will help Katara move towards its goal of owning 30 international hotels by 2016

News - fate of iconic QE2 ship sealed

Ending years of uncertainty, it has been announced that the QE2 will become a 300 room luxury floating hotel. It will be permanently moored at Port Rashid in Dubai. It is anticipated to open within 18 months, after refurbishment, and will again display the ships collection of art works and other historical items collected during around four decades as a world leading ocean liner.

News - American film director opens new palazzo

Francis Ford Coppola has recently expanded his hotel empire to include Palazzo Margherita in Italy

Designed by world renown French interior designer, Jacques Grange, this 19th century palazzo has been transformed in to an elegant and whimsical Italian country house.

Www.palazzomargherita.com

We can't wait to visit!

News: Starwood doubling footprint in China

Starwood has now opened more than 100 hotels in China. A further 100 signed deals are in the pipeline. Starwood commented "with more high end hotels in China today than any of our competitors, our long lead will be enhanced by the record number of new hotels we have in our pipeline". Regarding strategy "...we are seeing a change in luxury consumption as travellers become more connected... luxury is no longer a one-size-fits-all proposition. What once was prescribed is now personalised with less formality and more fun"

Sounds like progress to us!

News - Sheraton getting more sociable

In an effort to recognise the more sociable world we live in, Sheraton has just launched "Sheraton Social Hour in the Asia Pacific Region", which enables guests to mingle and share in wine tastings (a good hook to drive participation!). The event is spearheaded out of Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Bangkok but will be rolled out to other hotels in the group.