El Cid Resorts will open its sixth hotel this December as part of the company´s new, $200 million complex bordering Puerto Morelos National Reef Park in the Cancun Riviera Maya. The oceanfront resort, Hotel Marina El Cid Cancun Riviera Maya, will be located 12 miles south of the Cancun International Airport, halfway between the city of Cancun and the town of Playa del Carmen. El Cid´s new, 617-acre complex boasts a state-of-the-art marina, now in operation a block away from the resort site. In the near future, the complex also will house boutiques, restaurants and luxury condominiums.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces the grand opening of the Sheraton Salta, the first international hotel in the historic city of Salta, Argentina. The newly built hotel is located in the city´s upscale residential area of Monumento, just a few blocks away from the district´s main square. The Sheraton Salta is Starwood´s eighth property to open in Argentina and further strengthens the hotel giant´s presence in South America. The hotel is owned by Complejo Monumento Guemes S.A. and will be managed by Starwood.

Grace Bay Club will officially open its 38 new family-friendly villas on November 1, representing a $45 million expansion project at the resort in Turks & Caicos. The Villas at Grace Bay Club are set in four five-story, Mediterranean-style buildings. Each building houses two suites per floor. The 38 units include four penthouse villas, 14 two-bedroom villas and 20 three-bedroom villas. Each villa includes oceanfront balconies and nine-foot ceilings; open kitchens with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances; and bathrooms with walk-in showers and double vanities.

Hyatt has just unveiled the prototype of Hyatt Place, the hotel chain´s entry in the upscale, select-service lodging segment. Designed to create “a larger than home” experience, Hyatt Place will combine a contemporary look with state-of-the-art technology to create “a different type of guest experience not yet seen in the industry,” according to Jim Abrahamson, senior vice president of Hyatt Corp.

The third Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Puerto Rico will open in 2007 in Aguadilla under a franchise agreement with Hotel Punta Borinquen, Inc., which is owned by the prominent Puerto Rican businessman Jesus Ruiz. “We´re delighted with the continued growth of our portfolio in Puerto Rico and the expansion of our Courtyard brand on the island,” said Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. “Our moderately priced Courtyard lodging brand has been well-received in San Juan and we are pleased to be able to introduce it in another Puerto Rican city.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced last week plans to build the first St. Regis Hotel in Latin America. Scheduled to open in 2007, the St. Regis Hotel, Mexico City is owned by Grupo 1818, a group of several prominent Mexican real estate investors and developers clustered under the name Ideurban Consultores, one of the largest real estate development companies in Mexico. Following its grand opening of the St. Regis Hotel, Mexico City will boast the city´s most luxurious accommodations, targeting discriminating travelers and locals alike with 189 luxuriously appointed guestrooms and suites, as well as approximately 100 stunning private residences.