In San Francisco, for instance, the 100-year-old historic building on Nob Hill has been redesigned and expanded to add 17 new suites for $14 million. Hotel Arts, Barcelona completed a $30-million renovation of all guestrooms and suites, and also opened a Six Senses Spa with ocean views.

At the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, on the Southern California coastline, $40 million was spent to completely renovate the rooms and public spaces, as well as add a spa, ocean front fitness center and new fine dining restaurant. At the Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai, both the Summer Pavilion and Tea Garden restaurants have been renovated, the fitness center modernized, and guestrooms redesigned, for a total of $25 million.

Other renovations include a $40-million facelift at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, which among other developments added several presidential suites overlooking the Caribbean and the Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach's $60-million renovation, which included a 28,000-sf spa. The next resort to begin its renovation process is the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, in Hawaii, which will investment in excess of $75 million, commencing in 2007. In other hotels amenities like flat screen televisions and wireless technology have been upgraded.