Corinthia Hotels International has announced plans to extend and refurbish the Nevskij Palace Hotel in St Petersburg, Russia.

Previously the Sheraton, Corinthia has taken over managing the hotel on behalf of the new owners, International Hotel Investments of Malta.

GA Design International has been appointed alongside Z-K Architects to completely revamp the site and turn it into a landmark hotel for Northern Europe.

Three adjoining buildings adjacent to the hotel will be gutted behind their listed facades and rebuilt to increase the number of guestrooms from 280 to more than 500. An additional 50,000sq m of new buildings will also be added to the site.

The seven-storey Corinthia Nevskij Palace will feature five restaurants including a Viennese Café, Far Eastern restaurant, brasserie and bier stübe. There will also be an executive lounge bar and a private bar.

A major convention centre is planned for the site, as well as a 700sq m health club and spa complete with pool, sundeck and treatment rooms.

Work on the hotel is expected to start towards the end of 2002, with completion scheduled for summer 2004.

Corinthia currently operates more than 20 four and five star hotels in countries worldwide including the Czech Republic, Libya, Tunisia, Malta, The Gambia and Hungary.

Details: www.corinthia.com or +44 (0)20 8943 4194