Luxury Hotels: This Week’s News, October 19, 2012

Taj Palace Marrakech

As compiled from Andrew Harper’s twitter feed, @HarperTravel. Please note that news about upcoming properties does not constitute endorsement from Andrew Harper.

Merger on the Orient-Express? @WSJ http://ow.ly/eCmBo

Gilt puts luxury site Jetsetter up for sale http://ow.ly/eCcpP

Alpina Gstaad, the first luxury hotel to open in Gstaad in 100 years http://goo.gl/ytxyE 

The city Napa green-lit a 351-room Ritz-Carlton four years ago, but the project may be licensed to another hotel group http://goo.gl/1qNQW

Hotel Casa San Augustin, a new opening in Cartagena http://goo.gl/dkdtU 

Taj Palace Marrakech opens this month http://goo.gl/quv6R 

Barclay brothers give Claridge’s hotel group reprieve over £660m debt http://goo.gl/Wz6WB 

London’s luxury hotels are defying the U.K.’s double-dip recession as wealthy visitors from abroad drive sales http://ow.ly/ewmZT 

St. Regis loses court case in Singapore over brand name dispute http://goo.gl/GGRVd 

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park partners with Harrods for the holidays http://goo.gl/CQwwq 

In inflation-adjusted dollars, the average US domestic airline fare is about half what it was in 1979 http://goo.gl/dlyvi 

Luxury Hotels: The September 2012 Harper Travel Office Top 20 http://goo.gl/VnwIb 

Four Seasons ends management of its Provence property http://goo.gl/SMqpP 

Napa Valley’s shifting dining scene http://goo.gl/HwVwE 

New Indonesian cruise onboard Amanresorts boat Amanikan launching next month http://goo.gl/wPhgS 

First Nobu hotel to launch in Las Vegas in January 2013, Riyadh & London later in the year http://goo.gl/C9rkr 

Grand Hotel de Bordeaux & Spa to relaunch its 19th century brasserie http://goo.gl/n3kbB 

Blackberry Farm releases second cookbook http://ow.ly/euqBx 

Edinburgh’s Balmoral hotel celebrates its 110th birthday http://goo.gl/NDxYI 

South African Rand running at exceptionally low rates against the Dollar http://goo.gl/OqZkL 

Rocco Forte feels payment pressure on Verdura, Augustine (reg. required) http://goo.gl/LZkAt 

Le Meurice updates its 5 presidential suites http://goo.gl/y2x2N 

Dorchester Collection refreshes spa offerings http://goo.gl/xsYmt 

Ritz-Carlton Kapalau celebrates 20th anniversary http://ow.ly/eqW4x 

Silversea strengthens trade policy against travel agent rebatinghttp://ow.ly/epCTl 

Amanresorts sale likely to close this quarter http://goo.gl/XdmMo 

Café Boulud, Daniel Boulud’s new casual fine-dining restaurant at the Four Seasons Toronto http://goo.gl/9XNUH 

The Carlyle announces fall dates for Madeline children’s tea series http://ow.ly/epBWC 

New York’s Setai is changing hands, but its excellent restaurant Ai Fiori  is staying put. http://goo.gl/cG74M