nicolas75

The fashionable building of the W stands ready and proud, towering 29 stories over the premium West Bay area of the city. As the mid 2008 launch date of the W Doha Hotel & Residences draws closer, a clear picture is finally emerging about the enigma that is W. Owned by J&A Jaidah, principals of J&A Jaidah Holdings, one of the most well known and well respected private companies in the Middle East, the Starwood Group's first W Hotel in the Middle East promises to live up to all the hype and expectations that have surrounded it since the initial announcement.

Founded on the belief that "there are customers who seek a balance between style and substance", W, the fastest growing luxury brand in the world, is known for its characteristic high-energy interiors, lifestyle driven design and all-pervading technology. Like the other W hotels around the world, the W Doha will cater specifically to the tastes of the young & young at heart, but with a uniquely Qatari twist. "Starwood is out not only to bring the W to Qatar, but also to bring Qatar to the W," stated Safak Guvenc, General Manager, W Doha Hotel & Residences. "The local culture and flavor will be clearly evident in every aspect of the design, services and ambiance."

With its 291 innovative W guest rooms & suites and 154 W Luxury serviced apartments, "W Doha will give guests something they have never seen before in the region," said Safak Guvenc. It has been built to not just be a place to stay, but to enjoy a whole experience, inspiring and indulging guests with refreshing personal touches and whimsical environs. Plush 400-thread-count sheets and 100% goose down comforters are standard in every room, as are soft velour and microfiber bathrobes in rooms and suites respectively. Each room has access to an extensive choice of movies, music and video programs on demand, played back on the superb music system, DVD player and LCD screen televisions that every room features.

Also spoiling guests are the fully stocked MUNCHIE BOXES and variety of turndown amenities for every night of the week.

Technology is omnipresent, with all digital services but a mouse click away for guests to access. Guestrooms are fully wired, featuring the latest cutting-edge services such as WiFi internet access, high-speed laptop connectivity, iPod cradles and the most advanced in-room entertainment systems in the industry.

And the icing on the cake will be W's trademark Whatever/Whenever service - a concierge that will arrange for whatever a guest requests - from a flower bouquet at 2 am to a private hot air balloon trip over the desert - whenever it is requested, as long as it's legal." And there's also the W Insider, ensuring that guests are welcomed, wowed and delighted whenever they step into the living room (lobby).

And if you thought that the W was just another place to leave your luggage and return only to sleep at night, you'd miss out on so much the hotel has to offer. According to Safak Guvenc "guests will be spoiled for choice with ways to spend their time within the hotel". The fully equipped SWEAT gym will satisfy even the most dedicated fitness freaks. Those looking purely to wind down could head to the BLISS spa for a relaxing massage or chill out in the temperature controlled WET pool with its very own underwater music and multi-colour fibre-optical lighting. Aggressive retail therapy at the W store by Plum might be the calling of others. Two concept restaurants by world-famous chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten - Market by Jean-Georges and Spice Market will pamper guests' palates with exotic international cuisine, while the Crystal Lounge and Wahm will offer an opportunity to lighten up over a Shisha or a drink with friends.

Business travelers will find their every whim fulfilled before they even ask. With almost 1,000 square metres of meeting and event space, W Doha will be able to host business and social gatherings of up to 500 people. High speed WiFi internet access, plasma screens and state-of-the- art AV equipments will be available for use at the click of a button. The Sensory Set Up of the meeting rooms, a unique W concept, will stimulate all five senses with mood music and aromatherapy scents, thought-provoking place cards and creative catering, retro candies and inspiring games..

Standing right across from the popular City Center mall, the W Doha is only a 15-minute drive from the airport. Doha's beautiful Corniche, as well as beach and watersports facilities are just 5 minutes away by car, while the challenging greens of the Doha Golf Club are a quick 10 minute drive.

W has carved out a niche for itself in a crowded and often commoditized market. It is, before anything else, the hotel for the young at heart. Ross Klein, president of W Hotels worldwide, elaborates "W is about escaping from the routine and becoming part of all that is 'Now'. Everyone and everything at the W Doha will be geared towards making sure that guests have an unforgettable experience."

Being the first W in the Middle East, the W Doha will set the precedent for more W Hotels soon to be opened in Dubai, Amman and possibly other cities in the region. Meanwhile, the residents and tourists in Doha will have the W to cater to their every whim and desire.

nicolas75

Adding even more depth to its rapidly expanding portfolio in Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide today announced an agreement with Metacap Empire Square Pty. Ltd. to open a new-build Westin hotel and residences in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.

The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will offer 306 rooms and a sophisticated, refreshing atmosphere in a convenient downtown location. The new Westin hotel will share a 66-story tower with The Residences at The Westin Brisbane Empire Square – the first internationally branded residential development in Australia. Both the hotel and residences will open in early 2012, marking the return of the Westin brand to this dynamic Australian city.

(...)

The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will offer a prime location on Elizabeth Street, close to Central Station, the Convention and Exhibition Center and Brisbane Casino. The hotel and residences will be part of a premier mixed-use development comprised of the hotel, residences and grade A commercial office space. The third largest city in Australia and most populous city of Queensland, Brisbane is a modern, cosmopolitan city offering an appealing blend of historic buildings, beautiful landscapes and waterways. Popular attractions include the Botanic Gardens, King George Square and Queen Street Mall – the entertainment hub of Brisbane.

The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will be the brand’s third hotel to open in Australia, joining the Westins in Sydney and Melbourne. Westin is also present in Auckland and Fiji and has a hotel scheduled to open in Queenstown in late 2009. Starwood had experienced phenomenal growth in Asia Pacific, where it currently has 136 hotels in its portfolio an additional 80 hotels under development.

(...)

The Residences at The Westin Brisbane Empire Square will include 98 luxury apartments and six penthouses overlooking South Bank on one side, and the city and ocean on the other. The units will occupy more than 47,000 square feet of residential space from the 47(th) to the 62(nd) floor. Residents will enjoy all the benefits of ownership in this premier development, including access to hotel services and certain hotel facilities.

Metacap Empire Square Pty. Ltd. is a private property company established by Newell Palmer Securities, a Sydney base financial advisory firm and Alex Jimenez, a local Brisbane property developer. The company’s focus is on prime sites located in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

nicolas75

Starwood Hotels & Resorts (...) recently welcomed its first guests and owners to its third vacation ownership resort in Hawai‘i, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. The resort will join Starwood’s other resorts on Kaua‘i, the Sheraton Kaua‘i and Princeville Resort, continuing Starwood’s 60-year tradition in the Hawaiian Islands.

Located within the community of Princeville on Kaua‘i’s North Shore, the oceanfront property comprises 18.5 acres dramatically perched 200 feet above Hawai‘i’s famous Anini Beach. The resort features 173 two-bedroom villas, four pools, three whirlpools, a two-story clubhouse, a restaurant, and general store. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas adds another key location to SVO’s growing portfolio of vacation ownership resorts. While the resort’s guests will primarily be owners, when not is use by owners the villas will also be offered as nightly rentals for visitors seeking larger accommodations for family travel or longer stays.

(...)

The resort’s classic Hawaiian plantation style blends with the surrounding Princeville community. The resort’s villas are located within seven two-and-three-story buildings. The luxury villas are well-appointed, featuring the signature Westin Heavenly Bed®, a sofa bed, a Heavenly Bath® with a separate whirlpool tub, and plush bathrobes and towels. Guests will also enjoy the LCD flat-screen TV, DVD player, Bose® Wave® radio, two dual-line phones with voicemail and data ports, and high-speed wired and wireless Internet connectivity. The spacious guest rooms provide all of the comforts of home including a fully-equipped kitchen with microwave/convection oven, full-size refrigerator with icemaker, dishwasher, coffee maker, toaster, blender, cookware and dinnerware, and washer and dryer. Each room will also feature a private lanai with outdoor furniture and blackout-lined drapery.

Nanea (translated from Hawaiian means “tranquility, relaxed, to pass the time in ease and pleasure”) Restaurant and Bar will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests wishing to take advantage of the poolside barbecue grills or in-room kitchen/kitchenette may pick up fresh produce or gourmet deli items from the resort’s general store, Princeville Market.

Princeville’s world-acclaimed champion golf courses, The Prince and The Makai, border the resort. A world-class WestinWorkout® fitness center, steam room and sauna will also be available to guests seeking to maintain their health and exercise routines while on the road. Vacationers can choose to relax at the main swimming pool or seek serenity at one of the two plunge pools. The resort also features three whirlpools, and a keiki (translated from Hawaiian means “child”) pool for those traveling with small children.

Rack rates for an Island View Studio will start at $600 per night, with rates at $800 per night for a one-bedroom and $1,400 per night for a two-bedroom villa.

ETManning

This property was a former Holiday Inn( and not one of the real fancy ones). Since I work at ASU, I drive by it frequently. If you're coming to Tempe for a visit to campus it probably wouldn't be a bad choice, but let me assure you, it's more than a tad more prosaic than its CofC description above

ETM

nicolas75

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced that Westin will manage a new residential development in Brisbane, its third in Australia, to include hotel and residences, to open in 2012.

The Westin Brisbane Empire Square is being developed by Metacap.

nicolas75

The Westin is the first full-service hotel (defined in the industry as a hotel with a restaurant) in the Mount Laurel/Cherry Hill region in 15 years. The last one of its genre to open was the DoubleTree Guest Suites hotel down the road in 1993, which Wurzak considers a chief competitor.

The Westin is perhaps the most ambitious of a wave of new hotels planned for the Mount Laurel area. Experts say location and demographics make it prime for hotel development.

There are currently 1,751 rooms in the active pipeline for South Jersey, meaning under construction, in final planning or the planning stage, according to Smith Travel Research, which tracks the U.S. hospitality industry.

"For Mount Laurel, compared to the rest of South Jersey, it's been pretty consistent [hotel-room] growth over the last several years, averaging about 3 percent a year," said Duane Vinson at Smith Travel Research.

The Westin, which will add 180 rooms to the market, is at 555 Fellowship Rd., just off Route 73, and at the epicenter of most of the hotel activity in South Jersey, dubbed "Hotel Row."

"In the last 10 years, that market has absolutely mushroomed" in terms of new hotels, said Pete Tyson, vice president of PKF Consulting, of Philadelphia. "There's been virtually no development - just hotel shrinkage - in what was orginally the prime growth area for hotels, which was Cherry Hill. It's all shifted to the Mount Laurel area."

Tyson said the closing of the Garden State racetrack in 2001 was a prime reason for Cherry Hill's not remaining a hub for new hotels in South Jersey.

Since January 1998, 11 hotels - none with a restaurant attached to it - sprang up in Mount Laurel, adding 1,220 rooms to the current 2,800-room supply in the township.

The Westin is next to a Marriott, which is undergoing a renovation and adding a water park. On the other side is a Laurel Inn that's being demolished and converted into an Aloft hotel, an ultra, high-end brand under Westin Hotels & Resorts, according to Mount Laurel Township Mayor John Drinkard.

Drinkard said the 20-or-so hotels and motels in Mount Laurel produced about $1.5 million in property tax revenue last year. Of that, he said $1.2 million would go toward operational services, including funding police, libraries and recreation centers in the township's 2008 fiscal year budget.

Wurzak is relying on weddings, charity balls and bar mitzvahs to sustain the Westin. He said a typical bar mitzvah or wedding could generate $25,000 to $50,000 in revenue. He already has bar mitvahs booked into 2010.

Food and beverage has always been high on Wurzak's radar, ever since he began working at age 14 as a dishwasher for a major New York City catering company that mostly did bar mitzvahs and weddings.

Wurzak said building a new $42 million hotel was the only way his company, Wurzak Hotel Group, could partner with Westin Hotels.

Westin is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., which also owns, operates and franchises the St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, W, and Le Méridien brands.

He said that as the only Starwood property in the immediate area, customers at the Westin could earn points on their Starwood cards and apply them toward free stays at one of Westin/Starwood's vacation properties - similar to a frequent-flyer airline card.

Still, experts say, the Westin is debuting in a weakened economy in which corporate travel has taken a hit and, in turn, has cut significantly into Mount Laurel's hotel occupancy this year.

Room demand was down 13.7 percent in Mount Laurel for the first quarter of the year, compared with last year, according to Smith Travel Research.

By comparison, South Jersey as a whole was down 4.9 percent, while room demand overall nationally was down less than 1 percent.

"For Mount Laurel to be down 13.7 percent, that is significant," Vinson said. "It's much deeper than what we are seeing in other similar type areas."

But demographics and location are in Mount Laurel's favor, and the region should rebound faster than other areas.

Burlington County's population grew 6.4 percent between 2000 and 2006, almost double the state average. Mount Laurel is at the nexus of three major highways - Interstate 295, Route 73 and Exit 4 of the New Jersey Turnpike - and offers easy access to Philadelphia's Center City.

"If a [Center City] convention hits 5,000-room nights, you'll see overflow go to West Philly, City Line and South Jersey hotels, like Mount Laurel's," said Ed Grose of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association.

Computer Sciences Corp., Oki Data Americas Inc., NFL Films and Lockheed Martin Corp. are among the major companies with offices within a mile of the Westin.

Wurzak is aggressively going after the corporate market Monday through Thursday. He said Computer Sciences alone generated 6,000 to 8,000 hotel stays a year.

nicolas75

An upscale 136-room Aloft Hotel and Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant are part of a $20 million development proposed for John Nolen Drive near Rimrock Road.

Most hotel rooms and the restaurant will have views of Lake Monona, said Jay Supple, chief executive of Supple Group, the project developer.

He said the restaurant may open late this year or in early 2009. Hotel construction could begin next year.

Rooms in Aloft Hotels are designed like New York City loft apartments with nine-foot ceilings, large windows and flat-screen TVs in each room that can connect to gadgets including PDAs, laptops and MP3 players.

The hotels also feature a 24-hour snack table, free car wash and vacuum in the parking lot and wireless printing from anywhere in the hotel. They also provide plenty of public seating space for people to mingle.

Aloft Hotel rates are determined by the market, but in other cities are expected to range from $139 to $219 a night.

Supple said the Starwood Hotel Group plans to open 18 Aloft hotels this year and more than 30 more in 2009.

Fratellos, which has restaurants in Appleton, Green Bay, Milwaukee and Oshkosh, features what Supple called modern American cuisine. Sandwiches and dinner entrees can be ordered throughout the day.

"We take traditional items and put our twist to it," Supple said.

An outdoor patio with seating for 100 people and an outdoor bar also are included in the plans.

The restaurants also brew their own beer. Supple said a brewery could be included at the Madison restaurant if there is enough space.

Minx

SCOTTSDALE - W Scottsdale Hotel & Residences has again pushed back its opening, now targeted for Aug. 1.

The much-anticipated W in downtown Scottsdale has had several targeted opening dates that have been pushed back from spring to summer.

General Manager Leon Young said the administrative and sales staff was set to move into the hotel this week and guest rooms are being completed.
Triyar Hospitality LLC started construction of the 224-room W with 18 condominiums in November 2005.

It will include a Bliss Spa and Sushi Roku, a Japanese restaurant that started in Hollywood a decade ago.

A second-level pool deck will be a focal point of the seven-story hotel, southeast of Camelback and Scottsdale roads.

The pool juts out at the front edge of the building and it include four large portholes that will allow arriving guests to look up at the swimmers in the water.

W Scottsdale Hotel is hiring about 100 employees at its recruitment center, just outside the food court at Scottsdale Fashion Square.

nicolas75

Simon Property Group, the country's largest owner, developer and manager of high quality retail real estate, announced today a second phase of its Domain project, a tremendously successful mixed-use shopping center which opened in March 2007 and has since garnered much acclaim as Austin's most-desirable address to shop, live and work.

Construction on The Domain II will start next month with completion slated for November 2009.

The first phase of this 57-acre, mixed-use project opened in March 2007. Designed as an upscale Main Street center, The Domain features Austin's first Neiman Marcus, Macy's, an unequalled array of the world's most renowned retailers, 10 first-class restaurants, 90,000 square feet of Class A office space and 400 high-end apartments.

The ultimate collection of luxury retail, The Domain includes Apple, Barneys New York Co-Op, Borders Books & Music, Burberry, Cole Haan, David Yurman, Intermix, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Sony Style, Stuart Weitzman, Sur La Table, Tiffany & Co. and more.

(...)

Set within an architectural framework of contemporary, colorful artistic loft buildings, Domain II will feature a pedestrian esplanade with parks, vibrant landscape beds and intimate passageways that encourage exploration. Opportunities abound for tenants to express their individual identities and brand presentations which will undoubtedly enhance The Domain as one of Austin's top attractions.

The second phase of the project will include a three-level Dillard's, a Village Road Show theatre that will be unique to central Texas and a Dick's Sporting Goods store. A four-star, full-service hotel will also break ground this summer, adding 340 guest rooms, conference facilities and a ballroom to this first-class mixed-use project.

The new Dillard's will contain 200,000 square feet on three levels and will feature a broad selection of merchandise including the latest in fashion excitement for women, men, juniors and children as well as cosmetics and selections for the home. The tone of the new store, both in building design and in merchandise assortment, will reflect the company's renewed focus on upscale and contemporary fashion.

Dick's Sporting Goods will bring an 80,000 square foot, two-level store to The Domain. Pittsburgh-based Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. is an authentic full-line sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel, and footwear in a specialty store environment. As of February 2, 2008, the Company operated 340 Dick's Sporting

Goods stores, 79 Golf Galaxy stores and 15 Chick's Sporting Goods stores in Southern California.

The Village Road Show Gold Class Cinema will offer movie fans an intimate atmosphere to watch films with an extraordinary level of personal service. There will be eight auditoriums with approximately 40 seats in each auditorium. Food and alcohol service will be available. This product will be unlike anything else offered in Austin.

World-class dining is another element of the mix that has made The Domain a favorite for residents and tourists alike anxious to experience new concepts and dishes in a cosmopolitan setting. Domain II will continue the tradition of these unique culinary experiences. Maggiano's will be bringing its high-level Italian cuisine and banquet facilities to the second phase of The Domain. BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse will be coming as well, offering fun and casual fare for the discerning Domain guest. Another exciting addition to the great dining options at The Domain will be Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar which will open across from Daily Grill.

(...)
White Lodging, a fully integrated owner, developer and manager of premium brand hotels, based in Merrillville, Indiana, has partnered with Simon Property Group to add The Westin at The Domain. This will be a 340-room full-service Westin Hotel which will add yet another feature to this prestigious lifestyle and residential center. The Westin at The Domain is scheduled to break ground this summer and promises to be a truly unforgettable and inspiring guest experience which will include thoughtfully designed guestrooms and over 14,000 square feet of meeting space, perfect for any event or occasion.

The mixed-use elements that have made the first phase of The Domain so successful will be duplicated in the second phase. Plans call for 75,000 square feet of Class A office space and another 411 residential units where residents can take advantage on an everyday basis of all The Domain has to offer.

nicolas75

The Westin Verasa Napa Residences is preparing to become the epitome of the Napa Valley lifestyle when it opens in late September. The luxury condominium-hotel will bring to downtown Napa a distinctive level of service and amenities that will include one of America’s most highly acclaimed restaurants. A limited number of resort residences are still available starting from the mid $400,000s and sales are being managed by pre-eminent Bay area realtor Alain Pinel Realty.

Located a block away from the new Oxbow Market and COPIA, The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts, The Westin is destined to become the focal point of Downtown Napa. The property will represent everything visitors enjoy about Napa, including the food, wine, regional architecture and outdoor lifestyle.

The 180-suite condo-hotel’s design is based on historic regional precedents, recalling the many influences evident in Napa and Bay Area architecture. It utilizes details and materials from this historic style, which include well-articulated windows, window bays, timbered elements, and wood, stone, and concrete accents. The building embraces the river with an expansive pool courtyard and south wing opening up to the river.

The Westin Verasa, Napa, the first full-service, luxury property to be built in the area in nearly five years, will offer a degree of service that symbolizes the elegant yet relaxed lifestyle of the Napa Valley. Guests will have access to concierges that will help them make the most of their stay in the wine country, giving them easy access to wine tastings, culinary attractions, spas and the area’s abundant recreation. Other Amenities will include a pool, hot tub, conference space, fitness center, easy access to river walking paths, valet, Westin Sensory Welcome, comprised of signature music, scent, botanicals and lighting in the lobby, the Westin Heavenly Bed® and around the clock tech assistance in the form of Westin Technical Concierge®.

The property will become known not only for Westin’s service and signature touches, but also is set to establish itself as the “go-to” culinary destination of Napa Valley thanks to Chef Ken Frank, who is moving his award-winning restaurant La Toque from its Rutherford location to The Westin Verasa, Napa. Since becoming a chef in the mid-1970s, Ken Frank has become known for his personalized style of cooking grounded in the French cuisine he grew to know and love while living in France as a teenager. Named one of “Best Restaurants in America” by The Wine Spectator, La Toque will find a new home with a warm and luxurious atmosphere and a comfortable patio as luxurious as the interior dining room.

(...)

The Westin Verasa Napa Residences is be located approximately two blocks west of Downtown Napa and is conveniently located near all of Napa Valley’s attractions, including the wine train, wineries, COPIA, and the Oxbow Public Market.

nicolas75

Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced today that the Sheraton Universal Hotel is undergoing a massive renovation to be completed by mid-summer 2008. The property is managed by Starwood Hotels and owned by Destination Hotels & Resorts, which owns or manages more than 30 properties in the United States.

For nearly 40 years, the Sheraton Universal, located in the Hollywood Hills, has been a central location for guests in the entertainment business and those seeking a welcoming retreat near Universal Studios, CityWalk and countless other diversions.

Come mid-summer 2008, guests will have more reasons to pay a visit as the hotel completes more than $30 million in renovations –The remake will be worth the price of admission and will include upgrades all guest rooms and certain public spaces, including the new Sheraton park like lobby experience and the Link @ Sheraton (...).

(...)
Since its opening in 1969, Sheraton Universal has become known as the “Hotel of the Stars,” due to its warm, friendly, discreet staff, and close proximity to Universal and other Hollywood studios. The hotel has also served as a base camp for hundreds of film, television and music entertainers.

Once the revitalization is complete this summer, the property will offer 451 guest rooms, several specialty suites, beautiful poolside Lanai rooms, California’s restaurant, private dining rooms and two bars, semi-private cabanas in the lobby bar and refreshed pool area allow guests to connect socially with friends and colleagues. More than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and a more extensive pool renovation are slated for 2009.

nicolas75

Irish developer Ballymore Properties is strengthening its presence in Liverpool, Birmingham and London in the UK.

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In Birmingham, Ballymore's€650m Snowhill developmenthas been shortlisted for three awards in the Property Week 2008 Midlands Property Awards in the UK. In addition, Ballymore has signed up one of the UK's largest law firms, Wragge & Co, as a tenant in the largest ever pre-let deal seen in Birmingham's city centre.

Wragge is to take 23,225sqm of office accommodation at Two Snowhill, a 14-storey building with 29,728sqm of office space.

Once completed, Snowhill will create a new city centre business district, boasting Birmingham's tallest residential tower, the city's first five-star hotel, a new Westin hotel and spa, which is to be operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, together with the two office buildings at One and Two Snowhill, which together will provide some 55,740sqm of prime commercial space.

One Snowhill has already signed up accountancy firm KPMG in a pre-let of some 11,148sqm of office space. A range of restaurants, bars and quality retail arranged around landscaped squares, tree-lined boulevards and piazzas will also be created within the development.

Ballymore has been shortlisted as a finalist for Developer of the Year in the awards. Snowhill has been shortlisted for both the Commercial Development of the Year award and the Design-led project of the Year award.

nicolas75

Following on the success of the opening of the Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Dubai, the brand is proud to offer its guests even more reason to smile; another Four Points by Sheraton hotel located on the well known Sheikh Zayed Road which opened earlier this month.

This exciting new property towers 43 stories above the prominent Sheikh Zayed Road, it not only offers panoramic views of the Jumeriah Coastline and Sheikh Zayed Road, but also has a central location near the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and the Dubai International Convention Center (DICC). For those guests who also wish to do a spot of shopping, the hotel is also near several fabulous shopping malls.

The Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road features 390 spacious guestrooms and suites comprising of Classic rooms, Preferred rooms, Business Suites as well as modern one, two and three bed room suites. These Suites feature fully equipped kitchens & laundry facilities that are ideal for long staying guests and families. All the guest rooms and suites feature the signature “Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed”, 32” Interactive LCD Televisions, high speed internet access as well as in-room Tea & Coffee making facilities to name a few.

The hotel is also introducing the “At Home” dining area that is located on the Mezzanine level and will feature an authentic Moroccan Dinning Room and Lounge, a Mediterranean Dining Room and a Wine and Beer room.

(...)

For the more energetic, the rooftop gymnasium features state of the art training equipment together with professional fitness instructors. For those seeking some of the mild Arabian sun, they can lounge around the rooftop swimming pool.

nicolas75

Two years after one big condo tower got the green light in Tempe, the site remains a fenced-off dirt lot.

Just down University Drive from that site, a larger cluster of towers has yet to rise more than a year after the city signed off on that ritzy development.

Yet developers opened the sales office Thursday on a 26-story lakefront condo tower they plan to start building this summer.

And builders are all but falling over themselves to construct hotels on the lake and downtown.

The mix of stalled projects and bullish approaches to other developments in Tempe has left city officials and builders struggling to grasp just how the volatile economy is affecting the community.

The consensus is some of the planned luxury condo towers won't sell in today's economy and will have to wait years for demand to rebound. But the demand for office space, hotel rooms and certain condos is strong enough to still draw massive investment to the community.

Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, who holds an economics degree, expressed exasperation at the idea that some delays could jeopardize the larger vision for a denser, more cosmopolitan community.

"The real story is: My God! -- people are still investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Tempe," Hallman said.

Builders would have backed out long ago if they didn't have confidence, he said.

Some city-approved projects won't ever happen, Hallman acknowledged, but only because some "bottom-feeders" structured unrealistic transactions that unfairly tarnish the reputation of other projects.

"The silly deals are going to shake out," Hallman said.

City officials and developers will only privately speculate at what deals they consider silly or realistic. But they say some condo projects will have to wait to break ground.

"You can't sugarcoat it," said Chris Salamone, Tempe's community development manager. "We're in for a rough year, but I think Tempe will rebound sooner than others."

One of the earliest plans to get approval but not rise from the ground is Mosaic, a condo tower with a Whole Foods slated for University Drive and Ash Avenue.

The construction permit was about to expire two years after it won approval, but the city granted a one-year extension recently.

The developer hopes to begin work soon, zoning attorney Charles Huellmantel said, adding the city needs to review more building plans before construction can begin. Various city officials have considered that project solid despite delays.

Work on one of Tempe's grandest projects is far enough away that Tempe will pave the site this summer to provide temporary parking. The University Square project won approval in 2006 for three towers of condos, hotels and offices, but the developer will let the city park cars there until it makes a go of it. A representative for the project did not return a call for comment.

Developers are revamping some major projects. The developer of an Apache Boulevard project called Campus Edge has delayed construction while converting it to apartments for college students. The building will move ahead despite economic woes, said Chris Anaradian, Tempe's development services manager.

"By no means are we having people withdraw their interest from Tempe," he said.

Some developers deny the economy has triggered any significant delays. But some acknowledge financial considerations.

The Lumina Tempe condo and hotel project was supposed to begin early this year but will wait until fall or winter. The later start should mean new condos will go up for sale by the time demand improves, said Brian Sciutto, a sales director.

"It puts us out farther in the correction of the market," he said.

About 25 percent of 245 condos are sold, and owner Constellation Property Group doesn't see the need to lower prices in the two-tower project, Sciutto said.

Two major condo projects are open now or about to open, Bridgeview and Centerpoint Condominiums.

Bridgeview at Hayden Ferry Lakeside opened in February and still needs to sell 56 of 104 condos. That's below expectations, said sales manager Bob Normile, who added that only 10 units would remain now in a normal economy.

Several forces have collided at once and hurt the condo market, said Randy Levin, the project manager for Hayden Ferry Lakeside. The credit crisis has left some buyers unable to get loans. Others can't sell their existing homes. And the supply of condos has surged past demand.

"What's going on now is kind of a cleansing process," Levin said. "You have to ask yourself, were there really too many condos that were put on the board here? Was that too much all at one time?"

Levin doesn't see any fatal flaws in other condo projects and figures buyers will pay to live in Tempe, even if it takes longer than bullish developers had expected.

Woes in the condo market delayed a hotel/condo project at Hayden Ferry Lakeside. A Le Méridien hotel with some condos was supposed to open by year's end but hasn't broken ground.

Lenders demanded a hotelonly project, Levin said, which forced a new design. A new plan and new hotel operator will come forth in a few weeks and construction should start soon, he said.

nicolas75

Arlington's half-billion dollar answer to Victory Park has been put on hold because of the troubled financial and retail markets, billionaire Tom Hicks said Wednesday.

Mr. Hicks, owner of the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars, said Hicks Holdings has been unable to secure financing for the 1.2 million-square- foot Glorypark. The giant mixed-use development was scheduled to open in March 2010.


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A previously announced 310-room Westin Hotel developed by Mr. Hicks and Gatehouse Capital should still open in time for the 2011 Super Bowl at the new Cowboys stadium. A 140-room Aloft hotel, which was announced at the same time as the Westin, has been cut from the project, at least for now, Mr. Hicks said.