Mazda is to launch a limited-edition model of its popular MX-5 sportscar at the Chicago Auto Show next week.

The Japanese brand said that only 450 Special Edition variants of the MX-5 will be produced, boasting an upgraded roof and new interior.

Since its launch in 1989, the MX-5 Miata has become the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster and is a popular — and much cheaper — alternative to high-end models from the likes of Porsche and BMW.

InterContinental-owned boutique chain Hotel Indigo has opened its first property in continental Europe.

The Hotel Indigo Berlin opened its doors February 3, marking the brand’s first entry into Europe outside of the United Kingdom.

Designed with Hotel Indigo’s trademark ’boutique’ feel, the property contains 81 rooms, which are finished in light wood and white but have been individualized with color to give them the feel of an ‘artist’s studio’.

International hotel chain Starwood has unveiled a major revamp of its Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program, targeting elite travelers with a host of new benefits.

The chain, which operates Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, Le Meridien and St Regis, says that it’s responding to the global uptick in travel to target the ‘sophisticated’ market, which it believes has become ‘jaded’ about traditional schemes.

Among the most notable aspects of the change is a new service called Your24, which will let frequent travelers pick their own check-in and check-out times within a 24-hour timeframe — so if you check in at one property at 10 PM, you won’t have to check out until 10PM the next day.

With the opening of the first Louis Vuitton Maison in Italy on 29th January 2012, the world renowned trunk and luggage-maker marks a major achievement in its history.

Louis Vuitton’s 14th Maison is called Roma Etoile. It was designed by the architect Peter Marino who renovated this former Cinema Corso in a modern artistic way.

The heart of the shop is structured around a monumental staircase, a tribute to Rome’s Baroque architecture.

Alexander McQueen has just released several photos from its Spring/Summer 2012 Ad Campaign featuring Zuzanna Bijoch photographed by David Sims.

Even before Facebook goes public, Silicon Valley is buzzing in anticipation of the “instant millionaires” that may soon be looking for ways to spend their wealth.

Eight years after Mark Zuckerberg founded the company in Harvard, the stock market debut is expected to value the social media giant at as much as $100 billion.

While Zuckerberg and other longtime staffers stand to benefit the most, the initial public offering, which is expected as early as Wednesday, could also make millionaires out of much of the company’s rank-and-file.