Where to Stay: New hotels in Thailand, China, UAE and more…

Grand Mercure Zhengzhou West

Location: Overlooking Donglin Lake, a scenic area close to the Zhengzhou, the capital of central China’s Henan province
Grade: Upscale
Keys: 180
Facilities: Two restaurants, bar, gym, heated swimming pool, eco-farm, natural hot springs
Meeting space: Two meeting rooms and two ballrooms
They say: “The [hotel] captures the cultural touchstone of Henan by combining rich local traditions with French touches. In addition, this is the first international hotel in the city that features an ecological farm and private hot springs”
We say: Using Mercure’s Chinese brand, Mei Jue, the new hotel will be specifically targeted at the Chinese market. MICE facilities will make it especially popular for out-of-town events and incentives
Opening: Already open

Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Airport

Location: Part In the Diegem district of Belgium’s capital city, 5km from Brussels Airport
Grade: Lower-midscale
Keys: 162
Facilities: Restaurant, bar, laundry, 24-hour fitness centre, business centre, 24-hour snack kiosk, free airport shuttle bus
Meeting space: Nine meeting spaces, the largest of which covers 133 m²
They say: “Smart and simple, trendy and traditional, colourful and captivating; Park Inn by Radisson combines them for an on-the-go lifestyle that seeks comfort on a sensible budget”
We say: A welcome vote of confidence in Brussels Airport following last year’s terrorist attacks. This new hotel should prove popular with business travellers on a budget
Opening: Already open

Eastin Thana City Golf Resort Bangkok

Location: Within the Thana City development, 25 minutes from central Bangkok and 10 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport
Grade: Upscale
Keys: 194
Facilities: Unspecified, but the hotel will have access to the Thana City Golf and Sport Club, which includes an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course
Meeting space: Unspecified
They say: “We look forward to welcoming a whole new guest base as well as existing loyal Eastin customers to our latest venture”
We say: Thailand-based hotel group likely to attract the local market with its new golf resort. The Greg Norman-designed course will be a strong selling point
Opening: Early 2018

Avani Al Marjan Island Ras Al Khaimah Resort

Location: On Al Marjan, a collection of four manmade islands in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Grade: Upscale
Keys: 225
Facilities: Restaurants, kids’ club, spa, outdoor swimming pool, direct beach access
Meeting space: Event space with a capacity of 200 people
They say: “We see a lot of potential in the emirate, both for our upscale Avani brand and in the luxury segment, where we already have an Anantara resort under development”
We say: Ras Al Khaimah is an up-and-coming destination in the Middle East, and the UAE is a key area of growth for Minor Hotels. This project is a natural fit and joins a significant pipeline of Avani and Anantara properties in the region
Opening: Late 2019