With more than 16 years of culinary experience, Chef Samson comes to the Florida resort from the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel.

His 30 year career has covered many Asian countries and destinations such as Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia in ‘on property’ and regional roles.

A new independent hotel with 100 rooms, the boutique property, with its island ambiance, Cuban-themed dining and drinking, and splashy pool deck scene, will bring the Key West lifestyle to life.

The hotel will have 350 rooms, conference facilities with15 meeting rooms and a roof-top terrace with stunning views over the Stavanger harbour.

The family owned and operated hotel group has invested nearly $20 million in the new 70,000 square foot, 62-room state-of-the-art, luxurious city center hotel.

Video: Warren Baverstock, Aquarium Operations Manager at Burj Al Arab, details the hotel’s commitment to marine research and its support of the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project.

By Bärbel Pfeiffer: OTAs have been crucial and valuable marketing channels over the past decade, but developing technologies and online user habits have cleared the path for hotels to take back the reins.

The PVC-free biodegradable key cards, made from certified sustainable Nordic birch wood, help reduce oil-based plastic waste which is part of the hotel’s Zero Waste initiative.

All of its 79 villas will feature private outdoor areas and plunge pools as well as superlative views of the limestone cliffs that dot Phang Nga Bay.