Up to now, HQ Hotels & Residences, the brainchild of lifestyle and nightlife whiz and sbe founder Sam Nazarian, was much talked about but had nothing to show. Until now.
The brand has announced the opening of its debut resort: Hodges Bay Resort and Spa, a HQ Luxury Resort and Residences, on the coast of Northern Antigua. This first opening is part of a plan to open 50 hotels globally by 2031, half of which will be in the U.S.
Through its alliance with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the hotel, and HQs to follow, will be part of the Registry Collection Hotels brand, where travelers will be able to earn and burn points through Wyndham Rewards. Representatives for HQ Hotels said that the switch of Hodges Bay Resort and Spa, a HQ Luxury Resort and Residences into the Wyndham system will come within 90 days.
Previous to this announcement, HQ had confirmed two deals for projects in Detroit and Montreux, Switzerland, the latter a resort town on Lake Geneva. Both of which will be conversions of existing hotels, similar to the Hodges Bay deal. In Montreux, The Royal Plaza & Villa Toscane, originally built in 1905 by Swiss architect Louis Villard, with the two villas merged in 1989, will be transformed into a 155-room hotel with 42 residences and is slated to open in 2025. Post-renovation, it will be known as The HQ Montreux Hotel & Spa and include two signature restaurants from SBE’s Disruptive Restaurant Group.
In the U.S., The Park Avenue House in Detroit will be revamped into HQ Detroit Hotel & Spa with 174 guestrooms.
“As it begins its new chapter, Hodges Bay Resort and Spa will be transformed into a global beacon, attracting a new generation of aspirational travelers through an unrivaled social hub, unbeatable atmosphere and memorable vacation experiences, particularly for Wyndham’s over 110 million enrolled loyalty members,” said Sam Nazarian, founder & CEO of sbe. “Expect the best of what sbe is known for: world-acclaimed dining concepts, unmatched wellness and longevity offerings, best-in-class entertainment, and of course vibrant nightlife.”
The hotel will undergo product improvements, systems upgrades and new concepts coming from the HQ Hotels team for the property restaurants, bars and beach club.
The 79-room Hodges Bay Resort and Spa is located within eight acres of tropical garden and up against coral sand beaches. HQ Hotels brings to each property an array of dining and nightlife options made popular through sbe subsidiaries Disruptive Restaurant Group and Everybody Eats. Concepts will include Katsuya Beach by Chef Katsuya Uechi and Hecho Libre by Chef Wes Avila, as well as the day-nightlife and dining establishment XIV Beach Club.
Part of the conceit of HQ is that it can be a turn-key option for owners who want to tap into and leverage sbe’s nightlife and F&B. “Owners today are looking for turn-key solutions and that’s exactly what HQ Hotels offers, combining sbe’s legendary lifestyle experiences with the unmatched scale and resources of Wyndham, the world’s largest hotel franchisor. It’s a one-of-a-kind offering and one we believe has the potential to dramatically change the luxury lifestyle landscape,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Jeff Wellemeyer, chairman of Hodges Bay Resort and Spa, opened the $100-Million Hodges Bay Resort and Spa in 2019 and promptly, through JSN Development Group, terminated its agreement with Elegant Hotels Group, which later in the year was acquired by Marriott International, and took over management.
“We are thrilled to bring sbe’s energy, imagination, and expertise to Hodges Bay,” Wellemeyer said. “Antigua and Barbuda is on the cusp of becoming a premier destination in the Caribbean, and we are excited to combine sbe’s operational excellence, world-class restaurant concepts, and unparalleled service to establish Hodges Bay as one of the most sought-after destinations in the region.”
Hodges Bay also offers one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury residences for sale. The resort is known for its private island beach club and distinction as one of the most “Instagrammed Hotels in the World.”
