news update
Virgin Hotels to open very first site in Chicago in 2013
Virgin Hotels is expected to launch its first property by the end of 2013 in Chicago, US, following the acquisition of the Old Dearborn Bank Building in the downtown area of the city in late 2011. Formerly an office complex, the 27-sto-
rey building will be converted by Virgin Hotels into a 250-bedroom hotel, which will comprise a spa spanning between 4,000- 5,000sq ſt (372-465sq m). Further details about the composition of
the spa are yet to be announced, although the hotel will also incorporate meeting space; restaurants; lounges; and other areas reflecting the Virgin brand. Launched in September 2010, the new
Virgin Hotels business aims to develop and operate hotels offering 150-400 bedrooms in gateway cities across the world.
Avani brand launches in Sri Lanka
Asian-based Minor Hotel Group (MHG) has unveiled a new luxury brand – complete with a signature in-house spa concept – for markets in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Avani Hotels & Resorts will
be upscale and contemporary with a “simple sense of style”. Minor will offer the brand to third-party hotel operators as well as look for opportunities to own and operate sites itself. The inaugural Avani has
Te concept will rollout across Asia, Australia and the Middle East
just opened in the south of Sri Lanka. Te 75-bedroom Avani Bentota Resort and Spa – formerly known as Hotel Serendib Bentota – is owned by local hotel firm Serendib Leisure. Te resort has benefited from an extensive
lkr650m (us$5.7m, €4.4m, £3.6m) refurbish- ment as part of a rebranding process which includes adding a more “modern and chic ambiance”. Facilities include an Avani-branded spa with four treatment rooms – one of which
is a double – and a sauna. Products are sup- plied by Sri Lanka-based brand, Spa Ceylon. MHG CEO Dillip Rajakarier said: “With Sri
Lanka poised for a boom in tourism, this well- appointed property will offer the experience that discerning travellers are seeking.” It is the first of two properties announced
by MHG under the new Avani brand, with the second due to open in Sri Lanka in 2012. ‘Avani’ comes from the Sanskrit word for ‘earth’.
Therapist training academy for Chuan Spa Dusseau will be president of TSV
Dusseau takes strategic role at Trilogy Spa Ventures
Trilogy Spa Ventures (TSV) has confirmed that Richard Dusseau, founder and CEO of the Spa Strategy consultancy, started in his new role as president of TSV on 1 January. Te news that Dusseau, also a founding
member of the board of directors for the Global Spa Summit, would join TSV was first announced in November. Based in New York, USA, TSV is a spa man-
agement company that creates and operates branded spas in the hospitality industry. In his new role, Dusseau will be responsi-
ble for day-to-day management as well as for the development, supervision and operation of additional international branded spas. He is also an equity partner in the firm. While his full-time focus will be on TSV,
Dusseau will remain a partner in Spa Strategy (see sb08/1 p22). Elaine Fenard, also a part- ner at Spa Strategy, will continue to manage the consultancy.
The Langham Hospitality Group (LHG) has announced plans to launch a therapist training academy, for employ- ees in its signature Chuan Spas (see sb06/1 p42), in the third quarter of 2012. LHG will partner with an
undisclosed international training organisation to offer accredited qualifications. Speaking to Spa Business,
LHG director of spa operations Barry White said the academy will offer a pipeline of qualified staff through a three-pronged approach. It will provide training to therapists who do
Tere are currently eight Chuan Spas, with three more planned for 2012
planning to offer management training in con- junction with education institutions. White said: “Te academy will enable our stu-
not currently have an international qualifica- tion, with an initial focus on massage and beauty treatments. It will also enable qualified staff to gain training in particular disciplines within a recognised programme. And at a later stage, it is
dents to train within a spa environment to gain some really good hands-on knowledge.” Tere are currently eight Chuan Spas open –
five in Asia, one in the UK and two in the US – and three are due to launch in China in 2012.
Kerzner shifts from owning to managing sites
Kerzner International is shiſting its strategy from owning hotels to managing them. As part of the move, Brookfield Asset
Management has taken on three Kerzner sites in a us175m (€130m, £111m) debt for equity swap. Te properties include Kerzner’s flagship
16 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital
Atlantis resort and One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas and One&Only Palmilla in Mexico. CEO Sol Kerzner said: “Kerzner will con-
tinue to own the Atlantis and One&Only brand names and retains the right to develop addi- tional resort properties under these names.”
SPA BUSINESS 1 2012 ©Cybertrek 2012
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