The Marco Polo Hotel Group announces the signing of a long-term management contract to operate a five-star deluxe hotel in the Futian Central Business District of Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Developed and owned by China Tobacco Company (Shenzhen), in cooperation with their asset manager Shenzhen Europe America Business Services Company Ltd; the hotel is conveniently located in the city's prime commercial district of Futian and is in close proximity to the city's government office complex, the new Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Centre and Shenzhen Rapid Transit System (opened 2005). Opened in the winter of 2006, the dramatically designed 41-story building shows 375 guestrooms and suites including Marco Polo's signature Continental Club, the executive floor that provides the finest in luxurious accommodation and service for the discerning traveler.

The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong has opened on floors 102 to 188 of the city's newest building, the International Commerce Centre (ICC). Actually the 312-room Ritz Carlton Hong Kong is the highest hotel in the world. The Ballroom is very impressive - 930 square meters - and the most important suite is 365 square meters.

Accor has added the Fortune Hotel Bangkok hotel to its growing network of Mercure properties in Asia. The 400-room hotel is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar refurbishment programme to meet brand standards, and will be rebranded Grand Mercure Fortune Bangkok. Conveniently located on Bangkok’s Ratchadapisek Road, the hotel offers easy access to Bangkok International Airport and the recently open Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit (Rama 9 Station) underground system. It features seven food and beverage outlets, including Rim Suan Thai Restaurant and Art Gallery, Nan Yuen Chinese Restaurant and the Agehan Japanese Restaurant. The hotel is adjacent to Fortune Town, a major shopping plaza with over 500 outlets, restaurants and an IT Mall.

Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) announced that it has completed the acquisition of privately held, UK-based Gullivers Travel Associates, the trading name of Donvand Ltd., Travel Bound, Inc. and Octopus Travel Group Ltd. (together: Gullivers). Gullivers is a leading wholesaler and global online provider of hotels, destination services, travel packages and group tours. Our acquisition of Gullivers positions Cendant as a leading global travel intermediary + said Samuel L. Katz, chairman and CEO of Cendant’s Travel Distribution Services Division. Over time, we expect the acquisition to provide considerable cross-selling opportunities in our customer channels and facilitate our growth strategies in China and Japan + Actually Cendant also entered into an agreement to sell Travelport, Inc., the Company’s subsidiary that holds the assets and liabilities of its former Travel Distribution Services businesses, to an affiliate of The Blackstone Group for $4.3 billion in cash. Cendant Corporation is primarily a provider of travel and residential real estate services. With approximately 90,000 employees, New York City-based Cendant provides these services to businesses and consumers in over 100 countries. More information about Cendant, its companies, brands and current SEC filings may be obtained by visiting the Company's Web site at www.cendant.com.

Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced a partnership with Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) brands Guerlain and Acqua di Parma and with Spa Chakra to offer exclusive spa services and boutique products in many of its luxury and upscale hotels. The agreement impacts Waldorf Astoria Collection hotels, Conrad Hotels & Resorts and selected Hilton hotels in some of the world's top destinations and resort locations. Guerlain and Acqua di Parma, both wholly owned by LVMH, the world's largest luxury group, will be the first brands to create spa treatments, amenities and pampering products for selected hotels.

Donald Trump announced the creation of the Trump Hotel Collection during a press conference at the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York. Announced new sister properties: Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago and Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas . Several additional hotel projects are under development in locations ranging from downtown Manhattan, where the Trump SoHo Hotel Condominium New York is slated for a Spring 2010 opening, to Dubai. +++++ www.trumpintl.com

About 54 percent of Americans are sensitive to at least one allergen, according to the National Institutes of Health, and allergy rates are two to five times higher than in 1980. Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced this week the launch of allergy friendly rooms, the first major chain to offer hypoallergenic rooms across its brands relying on Pure Solutions, a privately held New York-based company that claims it can remove 98 percent of bacteria and viruses from hotel rooms. Hyatt said that between 3 and 5 percent of rooms at Hyatt Resort, Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt and Andaz properties across the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean will have hypoallergenic rooms available for a total of 2,000 rooms at 125 properties.

Taj Hotels has joined the internationally-recognised Green Globe benchmarking and certification system as an extension of its existing environmental policies. Taj Hotels has long recognised that as a leader it has an important contribution to make and a responsibility to demonstrate to others how they can be part of the fight against climate change. Having implemented the Environmental Awareness and Renewal (EARTH) programme, a project which began as a conscious effort to commit to energy conservation and other sustainability strategies, Taj Hotels was one of the first groups to join the tourism industry in its efforts. Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, today a global hospitality chain with 77 properties in over 60 locations is part of India’s premier business house, the Tata Group.

Also Gran Melia Salinas Lanzarote (Canary Islands) has an italian Director of Sales & Marketing. Daniela Pastorelli - 8 years in Melia Milan and Gran Melia Puertorico - is the actual Director of Sales and Marketing in this Botanical Cathedral situated in the north of the Lanzarote Island in close proximity to the historical capital of Teguise.Gran Meliá Salinas' accommodations are comprised of 197 double rooms, 18 Junior Suites and 30 Master Suites with Royal Service, 10 Garden Villas. Each guestroom is equipped with modern conveniences and exceptional services. Dining facilities for events up to 500 people and a comprehensive Convention Center accessed through an independent entrance can accomodate 10 to 400 people (theatre style) in 5 daylight meeting rooms

Golden Tulip Hospitality BV, the Swiss hotel company that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this year , was acquired by Starwood Capital Group. Starwood intends to grow the Golden Tulip brand by creating a strategic alliance with Louvre Hotels, which has a comparable price point. The brands' combined holdings total about 1,000 hotels across 40 countries, comprising approximately 82,000 hotel rooms.

MGM Mirage Hospitality has announced it will develop the 550-room MGM Grand New Giza in Egypt, in conjunction with New Giza for Real Estate Development. The property, to open in 2013, will be part of the New Giza master-planned community that will include luxury homes, restaurants, shopping malls, sports facilities, a golf course and two additional resort properties.

Ready to add 6 new Hotels in India in 2012 under Park Hyatt, Hyatt and Hyatt Place brands. The hotel chain currently has eight operational properties with 2,689 guest rooms under Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt.