The 251-room, 5-star Movenpick Hotel Saigon in Vietnam - closed since the beginning of March - is to reopen on 1 August following the completion of extensive redevelopment work.

Redesigned engineering systems will cut power consumption; recycled rainwater from the hotel roof will be used in the chiller cooling system; outdated boilers have been being replaced by heat pumps and instantaneous gas-fired equipment; and a new, 'smart' building-management control system will monitor and regulate the use of mechanical systems. The hotel's exterior surfaces will help to save on air-conditioning costs thanks to double-glazed windows that provide improved insulation while repelling sunlight and ultraviolet rays. Non-glass areas of the exterior will be painted with solar-reflective paints.

A reallocation of space throughout the property will also facilitate the improvement of various guest services.