Downtown Disney set for makeover
Disney World plans to transform its Downtown Disney shopping and dining district into Disney Springs, a collection of "neighborhoods" with an expanded array of dining and entertainment options. Construction is to begin next month, with new areas opening in phases; completion is set for 2016.
Norwegian Getaway gets magical venue
Norwegian Cruise Line's next newbuild, the Norwegian Getaway, will have a magic-themed dinner theater called Illusionarium when it enters service early next year. Designed for the space occupied by Cirque Dreams on the Norwegian Epic and Breakaway, the venue will feature a domed video screen 30 feet in diameter.
Princess lays out 2014 deployments
Princess released its 2014 deployments, confirming that the year's newbuild, the 141,000-gross-ton Regal Princess, will spend its inaugural season in the Med offering 12-day cruises between Venice and Barcelona. For Alaska, the line will deploy seven ships on Gulf of Alaska and Inside Passage itineraries, including the Alaska debut of the Crown Princess.
Priceline-Kayak faces U.K. review
Priceline's acquisition of Kayak will be delayed by a review from U.K. antitrust regulators. Priceline said it was informed that the U.K. Office of Fair Trading will review the proposed acquisition in May. Priceline agreed last November to buy Kayak for $1.8 billion and had initially planned to close the deal in the first quarter.
Ritz-Carlton makes debut in Abu Dhabi
The Ritz-Carlton brand made its debut in Abu Dhabi with the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal. The 532-room hotel, built out of a series of 10 buildings, includes 10 restaurants and bars and a 17,000-square-foot ballroom.
Four Seasons joins Madrid project
Four Seasons will bring its brand to Madrid for the first time in 2017 when it plans to open a 215-room hotel, plus luxury residences, in a series of historical buildings near Madrid's centrally located Puerta del Sol. The multiuse complex will include the hotel, managed residences, an exclusive shopping center and a 500-space parking garage.
Fairmont expands to Istanbul
Fairmont struck a deal to open its first hotel in Turkey, a 210-room hotel with branded residences that will open in the Sisli district of Istanbul in 2016 as the Fairmont Quasar, Istanbul. The hotel and residences will be housed in two 41-story towers that will be part of a mixed-use redevelopment of a former distillery.
Venetian island is JW Marriott site
Marriott plans to bring its JW Marriott brand to Italy for the first time next year with the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, a 266-room property on the 40-acre island of Sacca Sessola, south of the city in the Venetian lagoon. Resort amenities will include a health club, spa and indoor, outdoor and rooftop swimming pools, plus 13,000 square feet of meeting space.
Friends & Colleagues
Hyatt Hotels Corp. has named Alex Zoghlin its first global head of technology. Zoghlin was one of the founders of Orbitz in 2000 and in 2004 founded G2 SwitchWorks, a travel distribution company that went on to sell most of its assets to Travelport in 2008. He joins Hyatt after serving as CEO at VHT, a provider of technology and visual marketing solutions for the real estate industry. • • • The Global Sustainable Tourism Council appointed Mauro Marrocu as its new CEO, effective immediately. Marrocu will lead the organization through its next phase of growth and extended global partnerships, which includes its official relocation within the offices of the World Tourism Organization in Madrid. Marrocu previously served as president and COO of the Valeria Catullo Aiport in Verona, Italy; general manager of Alitalia in South Africa and Southern Brazil; and CEO of the tour operator ItaliaTour. Most recently, he led an independent management consulting business in Brazil. • • • Four Seasons Nevis named Sven Wiedenhaupt as general manager, replacing Andrew Humphries. Wiedenhaupt, who joined Four Seasons in 2004, most recently served as general manager of the Four Seasons Damascus in Syria.