Andy Mannhart AG
MAY 2012 VOL . 46 , NO . 4
® about the cover
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces soft opened the unique Vivanta by Taj – Bekal spa resort in December 2011 in the northern part of India ’ s Kerala state . Australian design firm Grounds Kent Architects designed the resort using inspiration from the local culture and specifically the Kettuvallam houseboat native to the area . The resort ’ s guestrooms feature carved timber screens , fabric motifs , individually designed lantern lights , daybed swings , and 16.4-ft ( 5-m ) vaulted ceilings . Read more in Design starting on p . 34 .
departments
3 Editor ’ s Diary Social Hotel Awards
6 Global Update Brands expand in Turkey Hyatt ’ s bold F & B shift
Rhombus takes shape in new markets
28 The Interview
Auberge Resorts CEO Mark Harmon
52 Technology Mobile gains critical mass
58 SupplyLine
60 Products
Security , technology and more
72 Lagniappe
2 HOTELS May 2012 www . hotelsmag . com