IMEX 2008 has introduced a number of Green initiatives, making it the greenest IMEX to date. Initiatives include the use of hydroelectric Green Energy for all electricity needs during the exhibition, the use of recycled and recyclable badges using corn-starch laminate (the badges are completely compostable in water), the use of bio-diesel fuel for 90% of hosted buyer buses, etc. Germans are leaders in environmental issues and we can all learn from them.

Many of my Fairmont colleagues from all around the world will showcase at IMEX: our Global Sales offices from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Moscow as well as Fairmont hotels from The Quebec Region, Singapore, Monte-Carlo, The Canadian Rockies, etc. Click here to learn about The Fairmont Green Partnership.

Have a great show my fellow hoteliers and we look forward to hearing about the success of IMEX 2008!

The Plaza is owned by Elad Properties. The hotel was bought for $675 million in 2004 and $400 million were injected to return The Legend to its original glory. Some details I was able to find on the net: 30 million dollars were spent for the roof and 4.5 million for the Grand Ballroom restored to its 1929 opulence.

Since opening in 1907, the Plaza has been bought and sold eight times, once by the Hilton family in 1943 and once by Trump in his Ivana- infuenced ’80s.

The Plaza hotel will offer 282 distinctive Louis XV style guestrooms (including of 152 pied-à-terres) and is the first hotel in the world to have 24-carat gold plated Sherle Wagner designed sinks and fixtures in every guest room and suite. I guess only the megawealthy community can really appreciate 24-carat gold plated sinks, I’d be happy with a regular marble sink and brushed nickel faucet…

Another interesting part of this project is the conversion of guestrooms to private residences. Sales for the 19-story Beaux Arts building went better than expected. From floor plans alone, 75% of the 182 residences were sold. Twothirds of the buyers were American, with 66% of those from the metropolitan area. The biggest buyer, real estate developer Harry Macklowe, bought an entire floor of the Plaza for around $60 million. New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft also purchased in the building, as did several international billionaires.

The restoration of The Plaza, Henry Janeway Hardenbergh’s Beaux Arts masterpiece, has been overseen by an award-winning design team including Gal Nauer Architects, Costas Kondylis and Partners, Walter B. Melvin Architects and Rani Ziss Architects.

Square-foot prices started in the $5,000 range and increased to an apex of $6,500. A one-bedroom with a view of Central Park costs around $7 million. A three-bedroom is on the market for $20 million.

You must go on the Elad page and and click on the video and dream you were a guest of The Plaza for a few minutes…

Cairo is the largest city in Africa (built in 969 A.D.) – a unique fusion of millennial remains and contemporary vibrancy. On one side, you’ll find a citadel dating from medieval times; on the other, office buildings sporting cutting-edge architecture – while in the middle, the timeless Nile flows round the islands of Roda, Abu El-Dahab and Gezira.

Egypt has alway been a popular destination … Prince Andrew was in Luxor with his daughter last month, Nicolas Sarkozy spent Christmas there (with Carla) and so did Tony Blair with his son a few days later. Even Charles Aznavour gave two concerts in January in Cairo. Tourism is one of Egypt’s four key foreign currency earners and despite the unfortunate but frequent ‘’incidents’’ tourism is doing very well.

Today, my company announced the official opening of The Fairmont Towers, Heliopolis, a contemporary new hotel with 247 luxurious guestrooms, extensive conference facilities, a spa, atrium garden and dining outlets.

The property is located in the central Heliopolis area (Greek, for city of the sun), five minutes from Cairo International Airport and a perfect base from which to explore popular attractions such as the Mohamed Ali citadel, the Egyptian Museum and pyramids.

A second property located adjacent, the Fairmont Heliopolis, will embark upon a renovation program beginning first quarter of 2008, whose design will result in a relaxed and inviting space complementing the elegant Towers.

And it’s not over, there is another project that will be completed in June 2008…The Fairmont Cairo, Nile City, located on a prime site overlooking the Nile and just 30 minutes from the Sphinx and great Pyramids at Giza. Stay tuned!

The move marks Fairmont’s first entry into the Palm Springs market, and gives the region an iconic luxury brand favored by discerning business and leisure travelers across the globe. Initially, the hotel development will offer 300 rooms and 125 Fairmont Residences, Fairmont Gold concierge rooms and lounge, a variety of dining outlets, 26,000 square feet of indoor function space including a 7,000 square foot ballroom as well as outdoor event areas, and a 45,000 square foot Willow Stream Spa. In phase two Avanterra will also feature Fairmont Heritage Place, the company’s private residence club homes, as well as additional Fairmont Residences.

Already drawing international attention from golf buffs, the Classic Club golf course is only the beginning of the $2.5 billion billion environmentally progressive, master-planned community designed by the internationally-renown hospitality architectural firm, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo.

When completed, The Fairmont Avanterra will include close to one million square feet of experiential retail space, integrated work lofts, LEED certified office buildings, condominiums, amphitheater, park space, planetarium, walking trails and more.

This is a great beginning of the year for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts… I see lots of new acquisitions and busines development for 2008…