Details have been revealed for the US$350m (273m euro, £232m) Zalal Wellness Destination Spa - set to open in Qatar in 2016. The resort will include 70 rooms and 10,000sq m (107,639sq ft) of spa and wellness amenities, 40 private residences and a 125-room family hotel on the 1.5m sq m (16m sq ft) site. Its target market will include domestic visitors and visitors from regional countries such as Saudi

Design consultancy WATG has opened an office in Istanbul, as it prepares for development in Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Lisya Sullam, who has been with the firm since 2007, has been appointed director of the new office. She has been involved in high-profile projects in country including Olivion Golf Resort and Missoni Hotel in Antalya Belek and Bodrum Viceroy. Raised in Istanbul, Sullam's focus is to

Hilton Worldwide has announced the expansion of its Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand into Latin America with the opening of its latest luxury property featuring a 2,000sq ft (186sq m) branded spa. The Waldorf Astoria Panama is located in the heart of Panama City and features 248 guest rooms, suites and luxury residences. Designed by the Miami-based firm ba-haus/KNF, the new hotel unveils a combination of fresh tones and

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has unveiled plans for a new development that includes a luxury hotel, spa and branded residences in Istanbul, Turkey that will open in 2016. The 210-room hotel will be joined by branded residences and is part of the Quasar Istanbul complex, a new mixed-use development in the Sisli district. The Quasar Istanbul complex will comprise of two 41-storey towers that will sit above a four-storey office

The Ritz-Carlton has officially opened a new luxury Middle East resort and spa - The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal - opposite the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Spanning 230,670 sq m (57 acres), the resort consists of ten buildings arranged in a crescent formation, that feature 447 guestrooms and suites, in addition to 85 private one and two-bedroom villas. The 2,000 sq m (21,500 sq ft) Abu Dhabi ESPA spa

The world's tallest hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai in the UAE, has been officially opened to guests. Soaring at 335m (1,099ft), the hotel is spread across two towers, which feature 1,608 guestrooms. The 72-story property houses a 4,000sq m (43,056sq ft) Saray Spa and Health Club featuring 16 treatment rooms. The spa draws inspiration from the caravanserai silk route across Arabia focussing on places of rest and recovery along

Nikki Beach has chosen Bodrum as the location of its first Turkish resort and spa – set to open in 2014 – due to the region’s popularity with Turkish holidaymakers and international jetsetters. The Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Bodrum will feature 57 suites and villas across 40,000sq m (430,556sq ft) of peninsula overlooking Torga Bay, the Mediterranean and nearby islands. The Nikki Spa – a feature of all the

A Brazilian spa backed by The Body Shop co-founder, AOL's former president and two local entrepreneurs has officially opened in the heart of the country's Atlantic Rainforest. The Botanique Hotel & Spa, said to be the first 100 per cent Brazilian spa, features indigenous treatments, essential oils, therapies and rituals and an all Brazilian staff. Designed by Sao Paulo architects Colletivo de Arquitetos the spa covers 10,000sq ft (929sq m)

A government grant for rural development has partially funded the conversion of a former Durham garage into a quintessentially English spa. The Garage, at Greta Bridge in rural Teesdale, draws on its heritage as a refuelling and repairing point for some of the country’s first motorcars with guests offered “Tune Up Treatments” at the Body Shop and manicure or pedicure treatments at the Paint Shop. An exclusive product line made

A luxury wellness spa inspired by Spanish themes has launched at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey in Los Angeles. Located on the waterfront, Spa Nautica features seven treatment rooms including separate rooms for couple's treatments and wet treatments, as well as a full service nail salon. In the warmer months the Southern California spa will offer treatments outside on the hotel's pool deck. Spa facilities include eucalyptus steamrooms, a heated

Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts is to launch a new hotel that will feature a Swahili-themed aqua park and spa in Egypt. Located at the southern end of Hurghada, Steigenberger Aqua Magic will house 688 guest rooms including family rooms, deluxe rooms and suites. The resort, which will open end of 2013 or early 2014, will feature a Splash-certified Aqua Park with a range of slides and attractions including a separate

Work has began on a spa in Leukerbad, in the heart of the Swiss Alps, where the Valasis mountains thermal waters have bubbled at 51 degrees since Roman times. Situated 1,402m above sea level, the 51 degrees Spa will have more than 200 treatments on the menu. The 800sq m (8,611 sq ft) spa – slated for a 2015 opening - will incorporate two rituals rooted in the cultures of

Song Saa, which translates as 'the sweethearts' in Khmer, is Cambodia's first private island resort. Located in the Koh Rong Archipelago, the resort spans the island of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong and is connected by a footbridge. Owned by entrepreneurs Rory and Melita Hunter, the resort features 27 villas, each with a private pool. A spa and wellness sanctuary, situated in the rainforest along the shore, features a large

Lancashire private fitness and leisure facility Crow Wood, Burnley, has opened its doors to around 1,200 people keen to get a preview of their new £4m spa development. The Woodland Spa is expected to open in the next couple of weeks but tours have been held to showcase the development. Treatments on offer include a hydrotherapy pool, serenity pool, sauna, hot tubs, Roman foot baths, ice fountain, experience showers, Rasul

Work is now well underway on a luxury spa at Salcombe Harbour Hotel in Devon, set to open in summer this year, which will include a two-level spa excavated into the cliff. The multi-million pound refurbishment of the 50-bedroom property is being undertaken by Bristol-based construction group Galliford Try with interiors by DO Design. The first spa level will include the reception, five treatment rooms and a fitness suite, and

Vienna International is set to unveil a luxury hotel and wellness area in Shchyolkovo near Moscow, Russia at the end of 2013. Astrum Hotel Shelkovo is owned by Shelkowskij Holding and will be under the management of Vienna International Hotel Management (VIHM). Spanning 27-floors, a main feature of the hotel is the 3,6597sq ft (3,400sq m) Wellness and Medical Spa, which will be run as a conference and relaxation area.

A new luxury hotel – The Thief – has opened on Oslo’s famous ‘Thief Island’ (Tjuvholmen) where 18th century criminals were once brought to face justice. Leaving the past behind Tjuvholmen island today is home to a thriving urban centre for business, art and nightlife, which the hotel aims to capture. Designed by Norway-based Mellbye Architects,"The Thief" features 119 guestrooms and suites all with French balconies. Art is central to

US-based Hyatt Hotels is set to launch an Andaz-branded hotel in Tokyo, Japan in 2014. Andaz Tokyo is a joint partnership between Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Japanese property management firm Mori Building Company. Located in Toranomon, the hotel will occupy eight floors of a 52-story tower in a multi-use complex and feature 164 guestrooms including 64 suites Andaz Tokyo will also house a spa with a 65 sq ft indoor

Castle Hotel & Spa is set to open a US$9m (7m euro, £5.6m) Thann Sanctuary Spa in Westchester County, New York, US in May 2013. The 100-year-old resort, overlooking the Hudson River in Tarrytown, is owned and managed by Sankara Hospitality Group. Spanning 7,800sq ft (725sq m), the spa will be the first Thann Sanctuary-branded site to launch in the US. It will feature seven treatment rooms, hot pools, men

A new spa retreat, based in Texas and constructed using environmentally-friendly techniques and materials, will open its doors on Saturday (8 December). Deer Lake Lodge & Spa, nestled on 50-acres 40 minutes from Houston, will hold tours of the lodge, mini treatment demonstrations and a ribbon cutting ceremony as part of its grand opening. Co-founders Tracy Boulware and her sister Dr. T.C. Hughes have dedicated themselves to providing an all-natural

After opening an office in Shanghai, China, Blink Design Group has won three key design projects in the cities of Beijing, Benxi and Hefei. In less than a month, the design group was appointed to carry out the interior design of the new Sheraton Resort Beijing, work on the design of two new resorts at Benxi's hot springs in Liaoning Province and began designing a new spa-lifestyle clubhouse in Hefei.

The Caledonian, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland is set to launch the UK's first Guerlain Spa on 1 January, following a £24m (US$38m, 30m euro) redevelopment of the property. Managed by Hilton Worldwide, the hotel's spa will be operated as a beauty spa and be open to both hotel guests and non-guests. Facilities at the spa include three large treatment rooms, a swimming pool, steamroom, sauna, spa pool

Starwood Hotels and Resorts is set to launch W Bangkok hotel in December - its second W property in Thailand. Located on the North Sathorn Road, the hotel will feature 407 guestrooms including 32 suites. The hotel will also house an Away Spa and a Sweat Fitness Centre as well as a wet outdoor heated pool. W Bangkok will form part of the Golden Land's Sathorn Square, a mixed-use project

A new city is to be built in Dubai which will feature the world's largest mall, a theme park complex and 100 hotels. Plans for the new Mohammed bin Rashid city were revealed by prime minister and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. As well as the gigantic Mall of the World, the city will also house 100 hotels, a 455-acre park and an international family attraction in

The Alpina Gstaad hotel and spa is set to launch in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland next month. Located on a 20,000sq m (215,278sq ft) hill top area in Oberbort, the resort will feature 56 guestrooms and suites and 11 private apartments within the hotel. It will also house three private apartments within a chalet, and two private chalets. Designed by Swiss architectual firm Jaggi & Partner AG, the hotel features

Grand Hyatt hotel and Hyatt branded residences are set to open in Manila, Philippines in 2015. The new property is a joint venture between a Hyatt affiliate, property developer Federal Land Inc. and Japanese financial services group ORIX Corporation. Grand Hyatt Manila will be located on the top 14 floors of a 66-story office and hotel tower and will feature 438 guestrooms. Designed by China-based architects Wong + Ouyang, the

Anantara has launched Anantara Sanya Resort & Spa - the group's second resort in China. Located on Hainan Island, the resort features 122 rooms including suites and private pool villas. A signature of the resort are the Spa Pool Villas facing the ocean. The villas feature 500sq m (5,382sq ft) of living space including a pool oasis with private trails to the shoreline. Guests will also have use of a