The new 1,608-bedroom JW Marriott Marquis Dubai will become one of the world's tallest hotels at a height of 355m (1,164ft) when it opens this year in the United Arab Emirates. Due to launch during the fourth quarter, the new property is just 26m (85ft) shorter when compared with the Empire State Building in New York, US, and will open in two phases. Facilities will include the 1,500sq m (16,146sq

Construction work has started on a £7.5m refurbishment and extension of a 1940s property in Greenwich, London, which will house a new 145-bedroom hotel when complete. Assael Architecture have designed the project, which involves the transformation of Maurice Drummond House - once used for residential, Metropolitan Police and student purposes. Work will protect and upgrade the existing base building and will also preserve the Catherine Grove portico, as well as

Talon International Development has opened the Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto in Canada today (31 January). Facilities at the hotel include the 15,000sq ft Quartz Crystal Spa which will be located on the 31st floor of the hotel, featuring 10 treatment rooms. The spa has two couples suites, infrared saunas; an indoor heated, salt-water infinity pool and a movement studio; as well as a health club and group exercise

Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group has revealed plans to create one of the Middle East's most luxurious hotels & entertainment developments. To be located on the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, the new 1 million sq ft (92,000sq m) complex will be built opposite Al Safa Park. Plans include the building of three luxury hotels with a combined of capacity of more than 1,600 bedrooms. The cost of the complex is

A new one-bedroom, maritime-themed 'hotel' installation, which forms part of the London 2012 Festival, has opened at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. Located on the roof of the venue, A Room for London has been designed by David Kohn Architects in conjunction with Fiona Banner following a global design contest. The winning boat-shape design offers panoramic views of the River Thames from Big Ben to St Paul's

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has opened a 297-bedroom hotel under its St. Regis brand in Shenzhen, China - the fourth St. Regis to open in Asia in the past six months. Designed by architect Sir Terry Farrell, The St. Regis Shenzhen occupies the top 28 floors of the 100-story Kingkey 100 landmark building. The hotel features a sprawling Iridium Spa, a collection of restaurants and lounges and will offer

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (HHC) and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) have announced the opening of Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The new 189-bedroom property has been developed on floors 18 to 33 of the iconic Capital Gate building, which features an 18-degree tilt and is located close to the Embassy District. Facilities comprise the 1,169sq m (12,583sq ft) Rayana Spa and fitness centre located

Rezidor Hotel Group (RHG) has announced that its luxury lifestyle brand, Hotel Missioni, is to open a new 80-suite property overlooking the Indian Ocean in Mauritius in 2014. The hotel will be owned by Bouigue Développement and will include the brand's signature dining concept, Cucina; a Choco Café; a fitness area; and a 900sq m (9,688sq ft) spa. Hotel Missoni Mauritius, which will join the brand's existing properties in Edinburgh,

Old Edwards Inn and Spa, a mountain resort located in North Carolina, US, has commenced work on an expansion scheme that will add an outdoor heated mineral pool to its facilities. Due for completion in the first quarter of 2013, the mineral pool will be the third to be added to the resort. A further 22 guestrooms are also planned, taking the total number to 90. The extra guestrooms will

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has announced the 296-bedroom Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11, located in the city's entertainment district, is the brand's first property in Thailand. The Rockwell Group is behind the design of the Aloft concept, which features an "urban-inspired" experience and is targeted at "modern and tech-savvy" travellers. Facilities include the w xyz bar; the re:fuel by Aloft grab-and-go food pantry; the re:charge gym; and the re:mix lounge, in addition

Hotel and Spa do Vinho in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is set to become the latest property to join Marriott International's Autograph Collection early next year. The 128-bedroom property will join the collection under a franchise agreement with Harvest Administração d Bens Ltda and is located in the Bento Conçalves wine-making region. Facilities include the Spa do Vinho Caudalie, which offers wine- and vine- inspired therapies

Ukrainian vice prime minister and minister of infrastructure Borys Kolesnikov has unveiled plans to develop a new "tourist city" near Yevpatoria over the next three-and-a-half years. Addressing delegates at the recent Inside Ukraine conference, Kolesnikov said the project is part of a national programme to transform the Crimean peninsula into a visitor destination. It is expected the development will be built from scratch and will offer hotel accommodation and opportunities

Boringdon Hall Hotel director James Nettleton has announced plans for a new multi-million pound development to include a spa and a 60-bedroom expansion of the Devon property. Further details of the project are expected to be announced in the New Year, with Plymouth-based ADG chosen as architects and Ward Williams Associates named as project manager. The planned scheme follows the announcement earlier this year that the Nettleton Group had taken

UK-based Extreme Hotels has agreed a 10-year management deal for a 209-bedroom hotel in Sochi, Russia, with Rosa Khutor Ski Resort Development Company (RKSR). Scheduled to open in early 2015, Extreme Hotel Sochi will be located close to the city’s Alpine Ski slopes and the Snow Board Park - venues that will host downhill events at the 2014 Winter Olympics. The property is the seventh to be added to Extreme

The Residence Mauritius has announced the unveiling of its new-look Sanctuary Spa, which has undergone an extensive EUR700,000 (£597,000, US$939,000) refurbishment. Facilities at the 600sq m (6,458sq ft) spa include 11 treatment rooms, including two couples' rooms, which feature an Asian-influenced design with pebbled floors and lattice furniture. Beauty and haircare treatments have been designed by France-based brand Carita, which has developed the Haute Beauté concept in reference to the

Hotel and resort operator Four Seasons has opened its newest property in Baltimore, US. The 256-bedroom Four Seasons Baltimore boasts a 10,00sq ft (950sq m) spa with eleven treatment rooms including several suites with private soaking tubs - and separate men's and women's relaxation areas, sauna and steamrooms. Featuring products and treatments by ESPA, the spa also has a large relaxation zone with two pools - including a year-round heated

Two properties in the Playa del Carmen enclave on Mexico's eastern Caribbean coast have become the latest additions to Mélia Hotels International's (MHI) Paradisus resort brand. Paradisus La Perla, the brand's first adults-only resort, and Paradisus La Esmeralda share a common area called El Zocalo, which contains the Palapa activities centre and a theatre. A 20,000sq ft (1,858sq m) YHI Spa and Health Club also features as part of El

Park Hyatt Sydney, the 155-bedroom hotel overlooking the Australian city's iconic harbour, is to reopen in December following the completion of an extensive transformation project. The refurbishment has included a complete redesign of the hotel's facilities, such as the spa, restaurants and bars. Three rooftop suites have also been created on a new fourth level. Following its relaunch, Park Hyatt Sydney will provide a new-look spa designed to deliver a

New York, US-based Pryor Cashman LLP has confirmed its client, Castillo Grand, has been awarded US$44m (£28.1m, EUR32.9m) in its legal case against Sheraton Operating Corp. The New York State Supreme Court found Sheraton - part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts - breached a contract with the owner and developer of the former St Regis Hotels and Resorts. Castillo Grand's claim focused on a lack of "St Regis-style" in the

A new spa comprising seven secluded over-water bungalows, which is due to open early next year, is to form part of the Viceroy Hotel Group's newest resort in the Maldives. Viceroy Maldives overlooks the Indian Ocean and offers 61 villas around a lagoon, with The Spa at Viceroy Maldives to help reduce stress and renew the body, mind and soul. The seven bungalows are to feature five multi-purpose spaces, such

Marriott International has announced a new European design concept for the Courtyard by Marriott brand, as well as "significant" continental expansion plans for the business. Scotland's 194-bedroom Courtyard by Marriott Aberdeen and the 230-bedroom Courtyard by Marriott Cologne, Germany, are to be the first properties to debut the design in 2013. The Courtyard by Marriott European prototype model is based on a 170-bedroom, six-level property, which can be increased or

Vacation Villas at Fantasy World in Kissimmee, Florida, US, has unveiled its new US$6.2m (£4m, EUR4.6m) amenity area, which has been built by Winter Park Construction (WPC). The project included a 14,000sq ft (1,301sq m) activity building, which includes a fitness area with sauna and steamroom; banquet facilities; a game room; and a business centre. L2 Studios designed the new amenity area, which also comprises an outdoor zero-entry pool with

Nashville's historic 125-bedroom Union Street Hotel in Tennessee, US, is set to become the 27th property to join Marriott International's Autograph Collection in January 2012. The hotel, which will be the state's first to be incorporated into the Autograph Collection, is housed in the city's former L&N Railroad train station following a conversion in 1986. Real estate developers Turnberry Associates and Corner Partnership undertook an US$11m (EUR8.2m, £7m) revamp and

Jordan's Wadi Rum Resort and China's Zhang Da Qian Museum have been named among the second batch of winners at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards 2011. The second day of the three-day event saw four completed buildings and nine future projects pick up awards, which also included the Glacier Discovery Walk in Canada. Wadi Rum Resort, which has been designed US-based Oppenheim Architecture and Design, was named as the

Shore Hotel, owned and operated by the Farzam family, has opened its doors on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, California, US. The 164-bedroom hotel was designed by Gensler Architecture and includes a number of eco-friendly solutions, resulting in the property being awarded a Silver LEED certification. Energy and resource conservation programmes included the Southern California Edison Auto Demand Response system, roof mounted solar panels, INNCOM occupancy sensor system, storm-water management

St Regis Hotels and Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, is to open a new Yabu Pushelberg-designed property in Bal Harbour, Florida, US, on 19 January 2012. Housed in three 27-storey all-glass towers, the new St Regis Bal Harbour Resort will boast 214 bedrooms and suites and 307 residences overlooking an expansive section of beach. Yabu Pushelberg was responsible for the interior design of the guestrooms, with South

UK sports and cultural schemes have missed out at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards 2011, following the announcement of the first 12 winners from this year's event. The Pods (Andrew Wright with S&P Architects) and the Silverstone Wing (Populous) had been shortlisted in the sport category, but were held off by Germany's Max Aicher Arena. Built for this year's World Single Distant Speed Skating Championships and designed by Behnisch