SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-Marriott International's luxury JW Marriott brand plans to open a 131-room hotel here in 2014, marking the brand's debut in the Caribbean.

The property will be operated by Marriott under a long-term agreement with Grupo Velutini, a Panamanian subsidiary of Fondo de Valores Inmobiliarios.

According to Mitzi Gaskins, VP for JW Marriott brand management, the hotel will be located on the first seven floors of a 15-story mixed-use tower being built over an existing luxury shopping mall that opened in 2010. Marriott International currently has two other hotels in Santo Domingo, so the Marriott name is already established here.

The hotel will feature a destination restaurant, lobby bar and lounge, meeting and event space, including a ballroom, as well as a fitness center and swimming pool.

According to Gaskins, there are presently 53 JW Marriott hotels open in 22 countries. By 2015, the portfolio... Full Story

FelCor Q1 RevPAR Increased 3.6 Percent
IRVING, TX-FelCor Lodging Trust reported that first quarter 2012 RevPAR rose 3.6 percent, compared to the same period in 2011.

Homewood Enters Atlantic City Market
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ-Homewood Suites by Hilton has opened a 120-suite property here, owned and managed by The Briad Group.

Viceroy Group Plans Istanbul Debut
ISTANBUL, TURKEY-The Viceroy Hotel Group has been named to manage a new 58-room hotel currently under development in Istanbul.

Fairmont To Expand Further In The Middle East
AJMAN, UAE-Fairmont Hotels & Resorts plans to open a 252-room resort here in early-2013.