AMResorts broke ground on the latest Secrets Resorts & Spas property, Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun, which is expected to open in fall 2008. This opening represents the second Unlimited-Luxury concept resort in the Secret brand’s expansion plans.

On July 15, Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa will unveil a new, all-suite Mediterranean Village, a $70 million expansion to the resort’s existing 193-room Caribbean Village. The Mediterranean Village will feature 180 suites in six room categories, all with ocean views and a Mediterranean flair, plus more dining options, an expanded Red Lane spa, and a sixth pool -the largest in the Eastern Caribbean.

Hilton Hotels Corporation entered into a definitive merger agreement with The Blackstone Group’s real estate and corporate private equity funds in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $26 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Blackstone will acquire all the outstanding common stock of Hilton for $47.50 per share.

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino will begin a $40 million enhancement program, scheduled for completion by December 2007.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts is expected to acquire a portion of the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore in what appears to be the beginning of a sell-off of individual parcels of the resort by the Kuilima Resort Co., the property’s owner since 1988, according to reports in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and the Honolulu Advertiser.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts which recently announced that its second property in the Caribbean will open in 2010 -the 100-room Raffles Tortola in the British Virgin Islands- also will debut the Raffles St. Lucia on the northern end of the island at the same time.