A new Fairmont Hotel has been opened inside Azerbaijan's tallest building complex. Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers, is also the luxury brand's first development in the emerging destination of Azerbaijan. The incredible building, designed by HOK, cost $350m (£226.1m, €263.2m) and is completely covered with LED screens that display the movement of a fire visible from the farthest points of Baku. The hotel, located in one of the building's three towers,

Chinese billionaire Tony Fung’s A$4.2bn (US$3.75bn, £2.4bn) mega leisure development in Cairns, Australia has moved to the next stage, having been declared a ‘co-ordinated project’ – the first step in the Australian government’s planning approval process. The Aquis Resort at the Great Barrier Reef project would include nine luxury hotels, a 25,000-seater sports stadium, a casino and high-end retail space. The resort would offer 3,750 hotel rooms, 1,180 apartments and

Parts of the New York City skyline will be transformed over the next 30 years by the Hudson Yards development, a 26-acre, US$32.9bn (£21.5bn, €24.8bn) scheme, which has been in the planning stages since 2001. The overall development is being driven by the Hudson Yards Development Corporation, with New York City-based property firm Related Companies selected to work on the redevelopment. The centrepiece for the project is a mixed-use real

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is accelerating its presence in Africa with the signing of a new management agreement for a luxury retreat in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company signed the long-term agreement with the owners of what was previously The Westcliff hotel in Johannesburg. The retreat, set on a cliffside garden estate in the northern suburbs, was closed on 30 June this year to undergo renovations and new construction.

English lifestyle brand, Laura Ashley, has opened the doors to its first luxury boutique hotel. The new venture comes as the company celebrates its 60th anniversary. Located in the Hertfordshire countryside, Laura Ashley The Manor, Elstree is set in a Tudor revival property, surrounded by 10-acres of woodland. The hotel features 49 guestrooms and suites, each individually designed using the current Laura Ashley Home collections. The Cavendish Restaurant & Terrace

The island of St Helena is undergoing a historical change as it attempts to kick-start its tourism industry following the recent announcement that the island's first airport will be operational by 2016. The 47sq m (121sq km) island has seen major reforms to its immigration, investment, land development and tax regulations in an attempt to attract foreign investors to the island. Plans have already been announced for a £70m hotel,

The QE2 is set to leave Dubai and travel to Asia to begin its transformation into a 400-room floating hotel on 18 October. Launched more than 40 years ago by Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the QE2 was sold to the UAE real estate developer Nakheel and left Southampton for the last time on 11 November, 2008. The ship’s ownership is now being transferred to a consortium of investors under a Dubai-based

A new luxury spa, influenced by its historic country house surroundings, is to open its doors in Newmarket, UK next month. Situated adjacent to the Bedford Lodge Hotel, The Spa at Bedford Lodge is housed in a Victorian-era property which once formed part of the estate of the sixth Duke of Bedford. Designed by Trevillion Interiors, the spa is themed around the fragrance of traditional English lavender and every aspect

Global destination design firm, WATG, has relocated its CEO to London in order to be closer to the company's expansion plans in the Middle East and Africa. Following an announcement from the company's board to extend his leadership term for another five years, Mike Seyle will move to London which is one of WATG's fastest growing operations. Commenting on the move, Seyle said the company had ambitious growth plans for

A luxury, multi-million dollar underwater resort will be built off the tropical island of Kuredhivaru in the Maldives, instead of Dubai as originally planned. Backed by Swiss investors, the US$50m (€38m, £32m) project is the brainchild of Polish company Deep Ocean Technology. The Water Discus Hotel, which has the go-ahead from the National Ministry of Tourism, will feature 21 rooms in the heart of coral reefs. It will comprise two

The AYANA Resort and Spa Bali is preparing for the opening of sister hotel RIMBA Jimbaran Bali, offering another guest experience within the cliff-top property. Under the same management of Capella Hotel Group, RIMBA Jimbaran Bali will open in September 2013 with 297 rooms and suites to expand on AYANA’s 368 rooms and villas. The eight hectare (20 acre) resort is located within AYANA’s 77-hectare (190 acre) grounds overlooking Jimbaran

The five-star, 361-room Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort and Spa located on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah Island in the United Arab Emirates, is preparing for its grand opening next month. The resort will have a 2,500sq m (26,909sq ft) So SPA, which will encompass a sauna, steam room, 28 treatment rooms and a unisex hair salon. Personalised treatments will include a sauna, hammam, solarium and massage. A high tech So FIT

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts is continuing its expansion at the crossroads of Southwest Asia and Europe with a new deluxe hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan. Scheduled to open in 2015, Swissôtel Baku is currently under construction and will open in time for the first European Olympic Games. Designed by architectural firm Kreatif Mimarlik, the mixed use complex consists of two towers set upon a shared podium which will accommodate businesses, retail

Qatar, which will be hosting the FIFA 2022 Football World Cup, has expressed its interest in developing floating hotels as part of its accommodation solutions for the tournament. The luxury floating hotels developed by Finnish architectural firm, Sigge and partners Global Accommodation Management (GAM)/Almaco Group of Finland, will provide the same services and amenities available in hotels constructed on land. According to GAM, a floating hotel's design can be tailored

The latest Edition hotel is set to open in London, under the management of renowned hotelier Ian Schrager. The London Edition, conceived in partnership with Marriott International, looks to preserve the historical aspects of the former Berners Hotel – a Georgian building made up of five town houses. The hotel's ethos is to combine the historical aspects with modern touches and the 173-room hotel features a dance club, two bars,

Not content to fall behind its neighbouring countries in the race to build the world's tallest skyscrapers, Indonesia is planning to construct a US$2bn (£1,27bn €1,49bn) tower in Jakarta's Sudirman Central Business District. Designed by Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart Architects (SRSSA), the tower - to be called Signature Tower - will have a height of 638m (2,093 ft) encompassing 111 storeys. The project includes a 300-room luxury hotel occupying 25

Two separate construction projects, one in Australia and another in South Africa, have made claims to become the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. The projects, which are proposals at present, have received provisional backing from their respective government authorities. The city of Melbourne in the State of Victoria, Australia hopes to build a 388m (1,272 ft) tower rising 108 stories, while the South African project - to be constructed

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai has announced that a new district will be created in Dubai, dedicated to developing the Emirate’s fashion, design and luxury sectors. The “Dubai Design District” will be adjacent to the Business Bay area of Dubai. The district is expected to become a full service commercial hub for design industry-related organizations, brands, and supporting enterprises within the value chain. It will feature a

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is to unveil a new property in August in the centre of Qufu in southwestern China. Shangri-La Hotel, Qufu will pay homage to philosopher Confucius and will be within walking distance of the Temple of Confucius, the Mansion of Confucius and the Cemetery of Confucius, all three are UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites. Located in Shandong Province, the resort will feature 211 guestrooms with

Indian conglomerate, The Krrish Group, plans to build a US$650m (£418m, €491m) mixed use development in the colonial district of Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo. The company has enlisted the help of French architect Edouard Francois to design the project, called Krrish Square. It will cover an area of 450,000sqm (4,8m sq ft) surrounding a historic British colonial building in the heart of the city. The design includes three towers rising

Following its announcement earlier this year that it will create 50 Hollywood-themed hotels over the next few years, Paramount Hotels has teamed up with consultancy GOCO to create a new wellness brand to be featured at each property. Paramount Hotels & Resorts CEO Thomas van Vliet said: "We'll have our own wellness and fitness concepts and our own food and beverage concepts, which will be a mix between our Paramount-themed

Engineering and design company Atkins has drawn up plans for a new mixed-use resort project in Vietnam, which will include both residential and hotel properties. Situated in the east of of the country, in Vung Ro, the plans for development include a marina, hotel resort and luxury villas. Three areas have been identified for construction: The Marina for direct ocean views, the Village occupying the valley plain and the Bai

A £100m (US$151.3m, €117.7m) development in Yorkshire is set to be built on the existing Flaxby Park Golf Course and will feature a 27-hole course and a 303 room hotel. York-based property firm, Skelwith Leisure, will begin work on the new site at the end of May, which will also feature a floodlit driving range, conference centre, four helipads, three restaurants, and an 18,000sq ft (1,672sq m) spa, gym and

The newly opened PARKROYAL on Pickering, Singapore's development that's based on a 'hotel-in-a-garden concept', has unveiled its spa and wellness facilities. The eco-inspired, 16-storey hotel, which will be operated by Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG), has an entire 44,000 sq ft (4,085sq m) floor dedicated to wellness. A large proportion of the floor has been set aside for green outdoor space and features a two-storey descent waterfall, a 300m garden

Real estate company Silverstein Properties has secured financing to construct an 82-storey tower in Manhattan, New York, US that will include a Four Seasons hotel and private residences. At 926ft (282m) the property will be one of the tallest residential towers in Downtown Manhattan offering visitors panoramic views of the Midtown skyline and New York Harbor. Located at Park Place and Church Street in Tribeca, Four Seasons Hotel and Private

Istanbul has welcomed the opening of the new Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul featuring Europe's first CHI, The Spa. Inspired by traditional Asian healing philosophies, all treatments are based upon the principles of restoring balance and harmony to mind and body. The spa contains eight large private spa suites offering Asian and Turkish treatments, customized massages and organic products. The extensive hammam facilities cater to both private groups and individuals. Both the

Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced it will open its five-star Grand-branded hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, in August, with a spa to open at the property in December. Centara Grand Phraramnak Resort Pattaya will be the third Centara Grand in upmarket Pattaya and will include 165 rooms and suites over eight storeys. Designed by Model 1to1 and Gooodlux Design Consultants, the hotel features marble and granite public areas and Fendi