Grebstad Hicks Communications (GHC), a specialist in the promotion of luxury lifestyle, hospitality and travel, has been appointed PR partner in Asia for ultra-luxurious travel organisation, The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW).

Internationally recognized as the definitive mark of excellence in hospitality, LHW began as a network of 38 hotels and 9,000 rooms and suites in Europe and Egypt in 1928 and now has some 450 Member Hotels and 80,000 rooms in 80 countries across the globe.

Despite the economy, the South Beach W Hotel has opened their doors with much fanfare.

Developers pumped more than $500 million into the 408-unit condo-hotel that features an oceanfront balcony and marble bathrooms in each guest room, as well as contemporary art in public spaces from such masters as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and photographer Danny Clinch.

Some facilities will open later this summer, including the first Florida outlet of Mr. Chow restaurant and a unit of New York-based Bliss Spa.

New York design firm Leeser Architecture have won a competition to design a hotel in the Zayed Bay district of Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Called the Helix for its spiraling floors, the hotel is located in the bay and sits partially over the water.

The building includes a glass-bottomed swimming pool on the roof, visible eight floors below, and a running track on the fifth floor.

For over four decades, the Byblos has been the reigning address in Saint-Tropez and is certainly unique in its architecture compared to the hotels of Cannes and Monaco.

Created as a Mediterranean village in the heart of Saint-Tropez, the Byblos is an oasis of flower-filled gardens and enchanting patios.

Rooms are individually decorated to impart tranquillity and elegance to all those who visit, in keeping with the spirit of fine Provencal living.

Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, will open Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa Male, Maldives, on July 26, 2009.

Located in Addu Atoll, the resort is surrounded by nearly 2 kilometres of beautiful white-sandy beach and more than 6 kilometres of breathtaking white sandy beach.

The landscape of Villingili is dominated by 17,000 coconut trees and 45 plant species, including the noni plant.

Hurun Report, renowned for its annual “China Rich List” of tycoons, has recently hosted Shanghai’s Best Presidential Suites Awards.

The awards ceremony was held on 15 June, timed to coincide with the opening of the Asia Luxury Travel Market, the region’s leading showcase for the luxury travel industry.

“Before now China’s luxury consumers have had little idea of Shanghai’s top suites and executive club lounges, despite the fact that hotels spend so much money on them,” says Rupert Hoogewerf, founder of Hurun Report

“We created a scorecard to assess and rank the top Presidential Suites and Executive Club Lounges, many of which are truly outstanding.”