Hotel, industry and travel news from around the EMEA region; this week: Regent's alliance with Rezidor, a Waldorf for Edinburgh, Swissotel debuts in Dubai and more...

Orbis To Sell A Mercure Hotel In Poland

Warsaw-based hotel group Orbis has signed an initial sale and purchase agreement that will see it sell the 288-room Mercure Zakopane Kasprowy, in the southern Polish mountain resort of Zakopane, to Bachleda Grupa Inwestycyjna for PLN52 million (US$16.5 million). Once the final agreement for the hotel has been signed, Orbis will receive 80% of the purchase price; the remaining 20% will be paid in three instalments by the end of 2019. The deal is expected to be finalised by the end of the year and is subject to approval by the group's shareholders and supervisory board and the forming of a franchise agreement with the new owner, in order for the hotel to remain operating under the Mercure brand.

The Return Of A Regency Era At Rezidor

Regent Hotels and Resorts and Rezidor Hotel Group have signed a strategic alliance agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Rezidor will develop and operate new Regent hotels in Russia, the CIS countries, the Baltic region, the Middle East and Africa, and Rezidor and Regent will jointly develop Regent properties in the rest of Europe. The Regent brand was previously part of Carlson and Rezidor before it was acquired by Formosa International Hotels Corporation a couple of years ago. "The acquisition of the Regent brand and business by Formosa in 2010 allowed us to focus on our core brands Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson, and to strengthen our network in 70 countries across EMEA," said Kurt Ritter, Rezidor's president and chief executive officer. "A luxury brand was however never off our agenda, and we are delighted to complement our portfolio with Regent now," he added.

Waldorf Astoria Opens In Edinburgh

Hilton Worldwide has launched a new Waldorf Astoria hotel this week. After a £24 million renovation and refurbishment, the 254-room Caledonian Hilton Edinburgh hotel, in Scotland's capital, has reopened as the 241-room Caledonian, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The hotel, which is more than 100 years old, has been operated by Hilton since 2000. It has become the group's second Waldorf Astoria property in the UK, alongside Syon Park in London.

Ten In Turkey, A Debut In Paris And Three New Signings In Europe

It's been a busy week for Marriott International! The group announced plans to open its tenth hotel in Turkey, in the city of Izmir, on the Aegean coast. The Renaissance Izmir Hotel is due to open at the end of the year. Once open, the 110-room hotel will become Marriott's first hotel in Izmir and its fifth Renaissance property in the country. Additionally, Marriott has signed a franchise agreement with SHEPI SNC for its first AC Hotel by Marriott property in Paris. When it opens in 2014, the 166-room AC Hotel Paris Port Maillot will be Marriott's 14th hotel in the French capital and the third AC Hotel by Marriott in France. Marriott also revealed plans to open three new Autograph Collection properties in Europe by the end of the year. The Collection will make its debut in Portugal with the 72-room Fontecruz hotel in Lisbon, and France is to welcome two new Autograph Collection hotels: the 78-room Hotel De Bourgtheroulde in Rouen and the 72-room Hotel L'Hermitage Gantois in Lille; the buildings of both hotels, in the north of France, date back to the 15th century.

Starwood Brings A New Element To Europe

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with German real estate and investment company Bari Gruppe that will see the group's environmentally friendly, extended stay brand, Element, make its debut in Europe. The new-build Element Frankfurt Airport is expected to open in 2014 at the Gateway Gardens area in Frankfurt, Germany, with 133 studios and one-bedroom suites. "This is the beginning of what we anticipate will be a long-term relationship with Starwood as we introduce Element Hotels to Europe and establish it as the continent's most eco and guest-friendly extended stay brand," said Marco Bari from Bari Gruppe. Starwood currently operates Element hotels across the USA, but also has properties in the pipeline for Canada and the Middle East due to open in the next few years.

Swissôtel To Debut In Dubai

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts has got together with real estate, management and investment company Aabar Properties to develop its second hotel in the Middle East. The Swissôtel Jadaf Dubai, in the UAE, is scheduled to open at the beginning of 2016. The 280-room hotel will be part of a mixed-use project in Dubai's Jadaf district containing three hotels, serviced apartments and retail and leisure facilities.

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