IKEA to build 100 hotels across Europe

Ikea is looking to build 100 budget hotels across Europe — but no, you won’t have to build your own bed.

The Swedish furniture giant is launching its biggest real estate development yet with the “budget design” hotels, which could be located in Germany, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Britain and Poland.

But travelers expecting to stack souvenirs on Billy bookcases or rest their heads on Malm beds may be disappointed. The hotels will not feature the Ikea name or its signature build-it-yourself furniture.

The company is identifying and buying sites in countries where it already owns hotels while launching its first major push into Germany.   The first new hotel will likely open in Germany in 2014, he said.

Read more: IKEA to build 100 hotels across Europe 

Real Estate: Qatar fund snaps up hotels on Italy's Sardinia

Qatar signed a deal Monday to buy the operator of four luxury resorts and other properties on the island of Sardinia as the wealthy Gulf emirate looks to bolster ties with Italy.

The purchase coincided with a visit to Rome by the country's emir. It is the latest deal in a European shopping spree that has given the natural-gas rich state a stake in European banks, energy companies and some of the continent's best known brands.

State-owned Qatar Holding, an arm of the country's sovereign wealth fund, said it will acquire resort operator Smeralda Holding from Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm Colony Capital.

Qatar fund snaps up hotels on Italy's Sardinia - CBS News

Marriott to Double Properties in Europe - by Alexandra Berzon

Marriott International plans to more than double the number of its properties in Europe in the next few years.

If successful, that would mean 40,000 more hotel rooms on the Continent would have Marriott brand names. The company now has 174 hotels in 24 countries in Europe that operate under the Marriott, Ritz Carlton and Renaissance brands, among others.

Marriott is to announce its new target Tuesday at the Hotel Investment Forum, a conference in Berlin. The company's first hotel in Europe opened 35 years ago in Amsterdam.

For more: Marriott to Double - WSJ.com

Earth Times: Global Traveler Announces Reader Survey Award Winners

For the complete report from the Earth Times click on this link

For the sixth year, Global Traveler readers have spoken, and the results are in! More than 25,000 people responded to the magazine's annual survey. This year, Global Traveler's distinguished readers recognized airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in 60 categories. This year's roster of highly regarded winners includes Singapore Airlines (Best Airline in the World), British Airways (Best Airline for Business Class) and Lufthansa (Best Trans-Atlantic Airline). Other top winners are Etihad (Best Airline in the Middle East), Asiana Airlines (Best Airline in North Asia), Air China (Best Airline in China), Park Hyatt (Best International Hotel Chain), Spain (Best International Tourism Destination), AT&T Wireless (Best Wireless Service in the World) and American Express Membership Rewards (Best Credit Card Rewards Program).

Bangor Daily News: The inn place - Holland in Camden Maine - by Emily Burnham

For the complete report from the Bangor Daily News click on this link

The inn place - Holland in Camden Maine - by Emily Burnham

Raymond Brunyanszki and Oscar Verest knew they wanted to move to New England. After years spent working in the hotel and pharmaceutical industries, respectively, in their home country of the Netherlands, they were ready for a slower pace. The natural beauty and small-town living of the region appealed to them. The answer: Camden Maine.