New Hotel in Mexico

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation announced its first hotel in Mexico, the 16-story, 460-room Sonesta Gran Posada Resort, scheduled to open in 2009. This spectacular destination resort is located on the beach in San Carlos, less than 10 miles from Guaymas International Airport and an hour from Hermosillo International Airport, in Sonora, Mexico. San Carlos is just a 5-hour drive south of Tucson, Arizona. A condo-hotel, the resort is being developed by Playa de San Carlos, LLC and will be managed by Sonesta.

Istithmar takes 80 per cent share in USD 130 million Bangkok hotel development

The new luxury hotel will form a major part of Golden Land's 'Sathorn Square' mixed-use development, which is centred on the historic landmark Russian Embassy complex and will also include a 70,000 square metre Grade A office tower with retail shops.

Kronos Hotels Acquires 16 Properties

Kronos Hotels, LLC, an Atlanta-based hotel investment group, has acquired a portfolio of 16 hotels with approximately 3,100 rooms and annual sales approaching $60 million from Lodgian, Inc. (AMEX: LGN), one of the nation�s largest independent owners and operators of full-service hotels. In addition, Kronos has signed an agreement to purchase one additional Lodgian-owned hotel in a deal which is expected to close later this year.

Equity Inns Agrees to Be Acquired by Whitehall

Equity Inns, Inc. (NYSE: ENN), the third largest hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) based on the number of hotels owned, today announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which an affiliate of Whitehall Street Global Real Estate Limited Partnership 2007 (“Whitehall”) will acquire Equity Inns, Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion, including debt.

IHG opens Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Medellin, Colombia

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Medellin located at Carrera 43 A #1 Sur 124, El Poblado, La Strada, Medellín, Colombia. The hotel will be owned by Grupo Suites S.A. de CV, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.