hospitalitystyle.com

(March 2009) posted on Mon Mar 30, 2009 EDT

Industry news for the week of March 30, 2009.

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MANAGEMENT CHANGES:

Ambassadors International Inc. announced that Joseph Ueberroth has resigned as president and ceo. Ueberroth had planned to retired this fall, but since the company has substantially completed moving its headquarters to Seattle to concentrate on its cruise business, Ueberroth decided to exit the firm as of April 1.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts announced that ceo Thomas Hewitt has been named chairman of the board, succeeding Paul Whetsell.

OPENINGS/RENOVATIONS:

The 155-room Palm Springs Travelodge has reopened after undergoing a $3 million renovation undertaken by owner Palm Canyon Hotels Inc.

InterContinental Hotels Group Asia Pacific has launched of two new co-branded resorts in Okinawa, Japan: the 399-room ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort and the 255-room ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort.

The Doubletree Hotel Collinsville/St. Louis has reopened after undergoing a $12 million renovation. The 236-room hotel was formerly a Holiday Inn.

A 78-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson has opened in Harrisburg, Pa.

The Seascape Golf & Beach Resort in Destin, Fla., has renovated its 4,000-square-foot conference center.

Miami-based Tecton Hospitality has agreed to manage two sister properties on Bermuda's South Shore: the 24-room Grape Bay Beach Hotel and the Surfside Beach Club, which has 38 cottages and suits.

AWARDS:

The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) announced the following projects are winners in its 36th Annual Interior Design Competition:

• Greenhouse nightclub, New York, by Bluarch Architecture + Interiors, New York.
• Nishimura restaurant, Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing, by CL3 Architects Ltd., Hong Kong.
• Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles, by Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design, Los Angeles.
• Fornari headquarters, Milan, Italy, by Giorgio Borruso Design, Marina Del Rey, Calif.
• Wing Luke Asian Museum, Seattle, by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, Seattle.
• Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, Calif., by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, San Francisco.

In addition, Gallery More North, New York, by KOKO Architecture + Design, New York, won the 17th Annual Will Ching Design Competition, which honors outstanding commercial design by firms of five or fewer individuals.