Following the end of hostilities in the Libyan capital, the Corinthia Hotel Tripoli is gradually returning to normal operations, the company said in an Interim Directors’ Statement.

The hotel had continued to operate on a reduced scale in accordance with demand throughout the seven-month conflict and the directors said they wished to place on record their appreciation of the staff in Tripoli for their loyalty and commitment.

Following the partial opening of the Corinthia Hotel London in April, the property is now nearing completion, with the seven penthouse suites scheduled for a commercial launch this month, bringing to an end the 30-month development project. It is expected that the apartments in Whitehall Place will be completed by the end of the year.

The operating results for the year under review have to be seen against a background of the room inventory being gradually handed over to operations. For most of the year, the hotel has been operating with reduced room stock, with the emphasis being on setting standards befitting its luxury rating. Next year will be the first full year of operation of the Corinthia Hotel London.

All other IHI-owned hotels have registered an improved performance over 2010, with significant progress recorded at Corinthia Hotel Lisbon and Corinthia Hotel Prague, despite the depressed economic environment in the hotels’ main feeder markets.

A new chief operating officer with extensive experience with the Oberoi and Mandarin Oriental hotel groups has been appointed to the company’s hotel management arm.