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

The opening of the Shangri-La, The Shard in London has been delayed with the hotel now set to open in September rather than summer. The five-star 202-room property will be London's first elevated luxury hotel, occupying levels 34 to 52 of the landmark skyscraper. Room features will include custom-made beds, iPod docking stations, complimentary high-speed internet access, coffee machines, heated floors, washlet toilets, and a butler service in all suites.

A new development featuring Europe's tallest hotel is underway on a man-made island that will be connected through a glideway and overseas walkway with the city of Barcelona, Spain. The Barcelona Island project has entered the next phase following an agreement between investment company Apogee Investors and Mobilona LLC to manage the financing. With the initial investment projected at €1.5bn (US$2bn, £1.3bn), Mobilona plans to construct the first of its

Vivanta by Taj has reopened its Bentota resort in Sri Lanka following an US$12.5m (9.5m euro, £8m) redevelopment of the property. The resort's new look, by Malaysia-based interior designer Nic Proud, has been described as a "blend of contemporary style with colonial charm". The centrepiece of the redesigned resort is the 7,500sq ft (700sq m) Jiva Spa, which houses six treatment rooms. Located adjacent to the main resort, the free-standing,

Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa will open in Kuwait on 7 May - the first Jumeirah hotel in the Gulf region outside the United Arab Emirates. Designed by New York's Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the luxury beachfront development includes 316 rooms and suites, 80 residential suites and 12 villas with views of the hotel gardens. The 3,500sq m (37,674sq ft) Talise Spa includes 17 treatment rooms and two private

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has officially opened its new Shanghai resort in China. Located on the banks of Huangpu River, Mandarin Oriental Pudong is housed within Harbour City, a new 62-acre waterfront destination developed by Shanghai Rui Ming real estate company. The resort, which occupies 111,000sq m (1,195,000 sq ft), features 318 guestrooms and 44 suites along with 210 executive apartments, designed by architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia of Arquitectonica. Presidential suites

Hyatt has announced a Grand Hyatt hotel is planned for Changsha, Hunan Province in central China. The 324-room hotel will include a spa, as well as fitness facilities, pool, meeting and banquet facilities, and restaurants and bars. It will occupy the upper floors of a 268m-tall skyscraper, located in a mixed-use complex – The Central – and expected to become the new landmark of Changsha. The hotel is currently being

Restaurant group Nobu has officially opened the first Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, US. The 181-bedroom property – a collaboration between Caesars Palace, chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Nobu Hospitality primary shareholders, actor Robert De Niro and film producer Meir Teper – has been designed by New York-based David Rockwell, who has fused Japanese and Asian traditions with Western influences. Guests staying at the hotel can take advantage

COMO Hotels and Resorts is to open a secluded island retreat - Maalifushi by COMO - in the Maldives next October. The resort will be located on a 20-acre private island in south Thaa Atoll and will be the company's second resort in the Maldives. Designed by Japanese architect Koichiro Ikebuchi, the 66-room property will be the first luxury resort on the unspoilt Thaa Atoll and will offer a range

Sofitel Hotel Group has entered Uruguay with the opening of its latest resort - Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco and Spa - in Carrasco. Located on a national heritage site, the building is inspired by French 'art de vivre' and local culture and features 93 rooms and 23 suites. The company's signature So Spa will span 5,382 sq ft (500 sq m) and promises to provide a relaxing atmosphere for the

UK-based design and engineering group Atkins has been appointed to draw up plans for a five star hotel and residential complex with sea-side views and private beach in the Chinese city of Sanya. Atkins' scope of work consists of concept design development, schematic design and landscaping. The masterplan is centred on seashell-like curvaceous buildings and strategically placed landscaped platforms that terrace towards the sea, optimising beach views for the hotel

Legoland has officially opened its new hotel at its California resort in Carlsbad. The 250-room, three-storey hotel has been developed in response to guest feedback that it takes more than one day to explore the resort. Construction began in 2011 and the hotel opened on 5 April ahead of its summer 2013 schedule. The hotel, which caters to children aged two to 12 and their families, offers kingdom, adventure and