InterContinental opened its much-anticipated New York property in the heart of Manhattan July 12, the latest in a string of high-profile openings for the city.

The firm says that along with being the largest new-build hotel to open in the city since 2002, the 607-room InterContinental is also one of the most environmentally responsible hotels in the city.

It will be the largest new hotel in the city to receive the LEED green building certification from the US Green Building Council.

After a tumultuous few years, Regent Hotels and Resorts is looking to return to its roots, the company has announced, opening more properties in Asia.

The brand was the first to introduce concepts such as the five-fixture bathroom, hotel shopping malls and villa resorts which have now become standard in luxury hotels.

The brand is now looking to revive its glory days since being purchased by Formosa International Hotels from Carlson, which owns Radisson and Park Plaza.

2010 has seen a flurry of new hotels opening in Shanghai ahead of the start of the World Expo, which runs for six months from May 1.

Marriott, Peninsula, InterContinental and Fairmont are amongst the brands joining Shanghai’s luxury market.

InterContinental has opened the new Shanghai Expo hotel as the city completes its final preparations for Expo 2010 which begins on May 1.

It opened April 19 as the only luxury hotel on the Shanghai Expo site, offering 400 rooms with views of the pavilions, the Huangpu river and Shanghai skyline.

Luxury hotel chain InterContinental is to trial iPad devices for its concierge staff from next week.

InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, which owns 166 high-end properties, will roll out the devices to trial hotels in four cities as part of a global program.

A spokesman for the brand confirmed to Relaxnews that if the trial was successful, the chain will consider rolling the scheme out globally.

Using the devices, hotel staff will be able to provide high-resolution satellite maps, close-up street views and short video clips of local attractions to guests.

The InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa on Natadola Beach, one of the world’s best beaches, is to open on 1 June 2009.

Spread across 35 acres of tropical gardens, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is the sole destination resort on Natadola Beach – the only stretch of natural, white sand beach on the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu.

Protected by a reef to create an aqua-blue ocean facing lagoon, Natadola Beach was voted by Forbes Magazine in 2008 as one of the 25 best beaches in the world.

The Hong Kong InterContinental Hotel is internationally acclaimed as one of the world’s top hotels.

Managing Director Jean-Jacque Reibel gives an intensive tour of this prestigious hotel that also over looks the Hong Kong harbour on this video.