DESIGN HOTELS™ NEW OFFICE DOWN UNDER

Design Hotels™ opens its eighth global office in Perth, Australia and also welcomes its first Australian member: Limes Hotel in Brisbane.

With this new office in Perth, Design Hotels™ will further strengthen its presence on the Australian continent and in the entire Oceania region. Australia is a popular destination for independent globetrotters but it is also an interesting source market for outbound business and leisure travellers.

“We feel that it is time to approach this continent,” says Iain Ainsworth, Executive Vice President of Design Hotels AG. “The opening of this additional office within the region demonstrates our clear development strategy and marks our commitment to building stronger relations within the marketplace, with new hotels, press and the travel trade.”

Malene Bertelsen has recently joined Design Hotels AG and will head the Perth office as Director of Business Development Oceania. Bertelsen has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry ranging from design-led properties like The Metropolitan in London to traditional grand hotels. “Malene Bertelsen is a hands-on hotel professional with entrepreneurial skills”, says Ainsworth. “She is exactly the person we need to build up our operations in Australia.”

Complementing the new regional office, Design Hotels™ also announces the upcoming opening of Limes Hotel, the group’s first Australian member hotel. Limes Hotel in Brisbane is set to open its doors on 13 June 2008. With its modern aesthetic, hip interiors, fashionable bar and in-house designer cinema, the 21-room Limes Hotel fits right into the happening neighbourhood of Fortitude Valley.

Design Hotels™ represents and markets a hand-picked collection of more than 170 hotels in over 40 countries across the globe. Established in 1993, as the first of its kind, the company offers unparalleled specialist knowledge from conceptual branding through to market trend consultancy and international representation.

The member hotels are independently owned but united by a commitment to individuality, progressive design and cultural authenticity. Design Hotels™ embody the most advanced ideas in the hospitality industry and offer cosmopolitan travellers new options for both travel and inspiration.

Design Hotels™ provides services ranging from public relations and marketing to global sales and revenue & distribution management. As of 2007 the company has an expanded service portfolio to include consultation in hotel development.

The company has its headquarters in Berlin and branches in London, Barcelona, New York, Singapore, Bali, Tokyo and Perth.

Design Hotels™ is a registered trademark of Design Hotels AG (a German Joint Stock Company).