Italian designer Michele Puzzolante of MPD Designs has designed a new concept resort called the Solar Floating Island (SFI) – a totally self sufficient energy generator, which will use solar energy as its sole source of power. The entire resort, constructed of floating pontoons, includes a five-star, 54-bedroom luxury hotel consisting of a 410sq m (4,413sq ft) spa and wellness centre offering a range of massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, body

A new US$750m (£451m, €539.5m) 1,100-bedroom destination resort with spa facilities in Sullivan County, New York, US, has been revealed by developer EPR Properties. Located 90 miles from New York City, the four-season Adelaar resort will sit on 1,700 acres (2.6sq m, 6.8sq km) of land at the site of the former Concord Resort and golf course, which closed in 2009. Master planned by architectural firm Hart Howerton, the resort

Plans to redevelop Two Bunch Palms in California, US, are soon to enter a second development phase following an investment plan designed to raise up to US$11m (£6.5m, €7.9m) as part of a US$24m (£14.3m, €17.4m) project. 22 investors are being sought to invest US$500,000 (£300,000, €363,000) into the redevelopment which will transform the property into a world-class wellness hotel, spa and tourist destination. The resort currently consists of 52

Hotel developer and pioneer Ian Schrager was today awarded a lifetime achievement award at the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin, and attributed his success to being a “social scientist.” Schrager, who is chair, CEO and founder of his eponymous Ian Schrager Company, started his career opening nightclubs, developing New York’s Palladium and the legendary Studio 54 before turning his unique vision to hotels. He is associated with the

Paul Scialla, founder of real estate wellness company Delos, has insisted the company’s developments are not just for celebrities and the high-end luxury market. Delos made waves in November when Golden Globe award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio become an investor in the project and purchased one of its homes in Greenwich Village, New York, US, boasting more than 500 wellness and health features. The company is already connected to a string

Chinese firm Sinohydro is to conclude negotiations for the financing and equity investment of the US$2.5bn (£1.5bn, €1.8bn) Harmony Cove Development project in Telawny, Jamaica later this month. The 2,300-acre (9.3sq km, 3.6sq m) property on Jamaica’s north coast, is to be developed into a resort to include three PGA golf courses, a luxury health spa, marina facilities, commercial developments, luxury hotels, private residences, a hotel, casino, convention and entertainment

The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui in Hawaii has officially opened its new 13-treatment room Willow Stream Spa, following an US$8m (£4.8m, €5.9m) redevelopment. In addition to the existing three outdoor spa cabanas already at the resort, the renovation has more than doubled the spa in size from around 4,000sq ft (371sq m) to 9,000sq ft (836sq m) of retail space, manicure and pedicure stations, treatment rooms and facilities. The Nalu

Spa Opportunities can exclusively reveal plans for an ambitious US$3m (€2.22, £1.84m) wellness retreat in the foothills of India’s Himalayan mountains, combining ancient Ayurvedic methods and integrative medicine with modern healthcare to tackle chronic disorders such as heart disease. Under the working title ‘Total Health Centre’, the project is the brainchild of Dr Robert Schneider, a leading physician and researcher into the science behind Ayurvedic methods and author of Total

German hotelier Michael Schlösser has launched the appealingly eccentric BaseCamp Bonn, an ‘indoor campground hostel’ in a former storage facility in Bonn, Germany. The indoor campsite features 15 vintage caravans, two railway sleeper coaches and four US airstream trailers, as well as a former GDR train and several VW camper vans, providing a total of 120 beds. The caravans were designed by German tv and film set designer Marion Seul,

The Trump Hotel Collection has announced the opening of its first property in South America with the Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Located in the Jardim Oceanico district of the city and overlooking the beach, the 171-bedroom Trump Rio will be the only luxury hotel in the vicinity when it opens in 2016. Brazilian developer LSH Barra SA is building the R$200m (£50.8m, US$83m, €61.4m) project with the

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to continue its push into the Southeast Asia market by opening a 62-storey luxury hotel and spa in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) development in 2017. Fairmont’s parent company, FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI), has signed a deal with CITITOWER SDN BHD (a joint venture between Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and KLCC Holdings Sdn Bhd) to launch its first property

Plans to construct a hotel and spa complex on a former naval battery outpost in Plymouth, UK, have been resurrected by Rotolok Holdings. The £10m ($16.4, €12m) scheme designed by LHC Architecture - featuring a 3,322sq.m (10,899ft) luxury hotel boasting 43 rooms and a spa overlooking Plymouth waterfront - was originally thrown out by local councillors last year, amid concerns over Drake Island’s wildlife and a Grade II-listed building. The

Velaa Private Island has opened in the Maldives, with a Spa My Blend By Clarins. Located north from Malé, in the Noonu Atoll, the island is the vision of owner Jiri Smejc. The Czech billionaire wanted a Maldivian resort that met his standards for what a luxurious private resort should be and intends to “bring new meaning to private moments” in the Maldives. The resort, designed by architect Petr Kolar,

Ritz-Carlton is set to continue its expansion into china and throughout the Asia Pacific region with the opening of a new hotel in the former Chinese capital of Nanjing in 2015. Featuring 297 bedrooms and 32 suites, the agreement with Nanjing New Universe Real Estate Development will see the Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing open in the central business district of Xiejiekou. Included in the hotel development will be a luxury spa by

Golden Globe award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio has purchased a multi-million dollar unit in Greenwich Village, New York, US, boasting more than 50 wellness and health features. The property, designed wellness property developers Delos Living, is housed inside a converted factory originally built in 1987 and is described as ‘the world’s first WELL-Certified residences.” While hotels and spas have increasingly marketed wellness environments to guests, Delos is pushing the idea into

The founder of Ace Hotels, Alex Calderwood, died suddenly and unexpectedly on 14 November at the company’s Shoreditch hotel, in London. A day after his body was discovered, Ace Hotels posted a short message on its website, stating: “Yesterday Alex Calderwood passed away. Alex was our teacher, mentor, guru and most importantly our dear friend. We will miss him.” The cause of his death has not been specified. Ace Hotel’s

The man associated with the formation of the boutique hotel concept, cheap chic and lobby socialising, Ian Schrager, is being honoured with a lifetime achievement award at The International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin. Schrager’s initial ventures were in nightclubs: he created the hip New York nightclubs, Studio 54 and Palladium, before turning his unique vision to hotels. He opened Morgans Hotel in 1984, before creating the Ian Schrager

Plans are in progress to transform the historic Melville building in Plymouth’s Royal William Yard into a destination boutique hotel, aimed at both leisure and business travellers. This will be the second site for hoteliers, the Ashworth family, who own the Watergate Bay Hotel in north Cornwall, which aims to offer a ski resort by the sea feel, with its own beach, ‘active relaxation’ spa and varied food offering, including

Ritz-Carlton has opened it first hotel in Bangalore, India complete with a fitness club and an ESPA spa. The property, located on Residency Road in the heart of Bangalore, has 277-bedrooms and combines intricate Jaali design native to the land with natural foliage, fresh water and the elemental characteristics of fire and stone to evoke India’s vibrant landscape. 26 global design firms worked on the property, with the principal architects

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has launched a new luxury hotel and spa in Holborn, London – marking the groups’ entry into Europe. Following an extensive renovation to transform the 1914 Edwardian Belle Epoque building, the original architectural features have been restored including the Grade II-listed street frontage and dome, and the grand Pavonazzo marble staircase. Rosewood London features 262 guestrooms and 44 suites, public areas are filled with artwork and

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva in Switzerland has launched the inaugural Spa Mont Blanc, which opened today (15 Oct) following a three-year renovation. The 1,200sq m (12,916sq ft) spa, designed by Turkey-based architectural firm Metex Design Group, features seven treatment rooms, including a double suite with private hammam. Also included is a fitness centre, rooftop terrace, Japanese-fusion restaurant, infinity pool, male and female-only hammams, a hairdresser, silent vitality pool

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva in Switzerland has launched the inaugural Spa Mont Blanc, which opened today (15 Oct) following a three-year renovation. The 1,200sq m (12,916sq ft) spa, designed by Turkey-based architectural firm Metex Design Group, features seven treatment rooms, including a double suite with private hammam. Also included is a fitness centre, rooftop terrace, Japanese-fusion restaurant, infinity pool, male and female-only hammams, a hairdresser, silent vitality pool

Mirbeau will be adding its second location with the opening of its new Inn & Spa at Pinehills, New England, US in 2014. The Mirbeau Inn & Spa will feature a distinctive design and décor, recreating the look of a French country estate. The 50-bedroom destination retreat has been designed by Boston-based firm Arrowstreet, with interior designs by Mirbeau Companies co-owner Linda Dower and Desson Design’s Westley Spruill. The hotel’s

Interior designers, design worldwide partnership (dwp) has had its skills endorsed for designing hotel restaurants by scooping two awards at the 2013 Design & Architecture Awards in London. Both awards were for Restaurants with a Hotel. The Horizon Restaurant & Skybar at the Hilton Pattaya, Thailand designed by the Thailand office, won the International Hotel & Property Award. The Belon Oyster Bar & Grill at the Banyan Tree, Macau, designed

Two new luxury hotels by Four Seasons are set to open next year in Dubai and Bahrain. The Bahrain hotel will be Four Seasons' first venture in the kingdom and will be part of the $2.5bn (£1.56bn, €1.87bn) Bahrain Bay waterfront community - a rapidly developing area on the north coast of Manama. Included will be 263 bedrooms, a spa, conference centre and ballroom, business centre and restaurants. The spa

The Shangdong area of Qingdao will soon be home to its first Westin Hotel, when it opens at the end of 2013. The Westin Qingdao will be one of the tallest buildings in the central business district of the city, overlooking the Olympic Sailing Centre. The new hotel will feature 321 bedrooms, a Heavenly Spa by Westin and a WestinWORKOUT fitness centre, in addition to 2,000sq m (21,500 sq ft)

The lavish JW Marriott Resort & Spa on the island of Sacca Sessola in Italy, which is set to open end of 2014, has announced details of its wellness offerings. The resort is situated 15 minutes by speedboat from Piazza San Marco in Venice. The Sacca Sessola is a 40-acre man-made island, is one of 118 islands in the Venetian lagoon. Spa consultant and management company GOCO, is developing a