Kempinski expands in China: Kempinski Hotels signed an agreement with Shanghai Suncuba Co. Ltd to take over the management of the 678-room Gran Meliá Hotel Shanghai. Opened in February 2010, the hotel was rebranded as Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai on May 15.
Read more at Kempinski’s website
White Lodging expands in Houston: White Lodging announced signed an agreement with RLJ Lodging Trust to manage the 191-room Courtyard Houston Downtown Convention Center and 171-room Residence Inn Houston Downtown Convention Center.
Read more at White Lodging’s website
Boston municipal authorities approve 2 hotel development: The Boston Redevelopment Authority board approved the US$137 million construction of a 330-room Aloft and 180-room Element branded hotels, both to be managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
$200 million upstate New York resort development approved: New York state officials approved a US$200 million development by Hudson River Valley Resorts to build a resort complex that will include a 130-room hotel, to be located in Rosendale.
Read more at The Wall Street Journal
Starwood to open customer care center in Kansas: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced that it is opening a customer contact center in Wichita. The average salary for workers will be US$29,000, according to Kansas’ secretary of commerce, and the facility will employ 150 to 200 people by the end of this year.
Read more at The Wichita Eagle