The Orient-Express group, owner of the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, has spent 20 million dollars on a massive renovation of this luxury Brazilian hotel.

The luxurious hotel Le Cheval Blanc at upscale ski resort Courchevel is adding eight new suites this winter, all decorated by interior designer Sybille de Margerie.

At the end of this month, the Ritz Hotel is to close for an unprecedented renovation program due to last two years.

The refurbishment, to be unveiled in 2014 and estimated to cost around 200 million euros, follows the five-star hotel’s missing out on the rank of “palace” in 2011.

Anyone who wants to experience the legendary hotel in its current incarnation has until July 31 to spend the night in one of the rooms (priced at 850 euros per night)!

A Renaissance palace grafted onto the top of an ancient Roman theatre is up for sale in Rome for €32 million ($42 million).

Its asking price is thought to make it the most expensive property currently on sale in the Italian capital, and one of the most expensive in Europe.

The 11,000 sq ft property has frescoed staterooms, a ballroom, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a library, a dining room, a terrace, a separate penthouse and cellars.

Queen Elizabeth II has given her approval to rent out state apartments at St. James’s Palace as party venues during the 2012 London Olympics.

Companies with long-standing ties to the royal family that hold royal warrants can now have a chance to throw a bash in the royal palace.

The palace is in a prime spot for a number of the Olympic events which will take place in London next year, including beach volleyball, which will be held in nearby Horse Guards Parade, and the marathon, which will start and finish in The Mall.

The Mandarin Oriental opened its doors in Paris on Tuesday, becoming the third top-end Asian hotel brand in less than a year to put out its shingle and woo rich visitors to the French capital.

Newly built behind a 1930s facade, the eight-story property on fashionable Rue Saint Honore boasts 99 rooms and 39 suites going for an average of 950 euros a night.

“We absolutely wanted to be in the best arrondissement, the best location for leisure travellers,” said Christoph Mares, director of operations for Europe.