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Corina Duma

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HotelREZ Appoints Gary Torres as Vice President of Platform Strategy to Enhance Global Partner Ecosystem

💻 HotelREZ appoints Gary Torres as vice president of platform strategy to manage its global partner ecosystem. Torres, with 20+ years of experience, will oversee REZswitch development, a two-way API for property and reservation systems. His hire marks the fourth leadership addition since December, joining John Seaton, Hadley O’Dwyer, and Frank Fuentes. Sharon Rubin highlights Torres' expertise to strengthen the platform's global expansion, focusing on connectivity, consistency, and security.
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Buzzworks Opens Booking for Seven New Boutique Rooms at The Mill House in Stewarton, Scotland

🏠 Scottish hospitality operator Buzzworks has opened bookings for seven new boutique bedrooms at The Mill House in Stewarton, available from mid-June. This expansion is part of their pub, restaurant, and rooms concept in Ayrshire. Buzzworks, operating the venue since 2015, offers four room types and plans to expand across Scotland. They recently acquired The Bonnie Badger in Gullane and The Nether Abbey in North Berwick, and operate 22 venues in total, holding a B Corp certification.
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Moxy Hotels Debuts in Hungary with 281-Room Moxy Budapest Downtown, Featuring BREEAM Certification and Urban Revitalization

🏨 Moxy Hotels opened its first Hungarian property on Kazinczy Street in Budapest. The 281-room hotel, developed by Forestay Group, occupies a former dance institution with design inspired by ballet and Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Facilities include a fitness center, two meeting spaces, and a rooftop bar. The building achieved BREEAM Excellent certification, featuring solar panels and 81 EV charging stations, part of a central Budapest urban revitalization scheme.
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BGAM Hotels to Manage Three Marriott-Branded UK Country Clubs After Acquisition by Dubai's Select Group

🏨 BGAM Hotels manages three Marriott hotels in the UK, acquired by Select Group. Locations: Tudor Park (Kent), St Pierre (Chepstow), Breadsall Priory (Derbyshire). The resorts total over 370 rooms, boosting BGAM's UK portfolio to 10 hotels with 1,000+ rooms and 900 staff. Select Group has delivered 10,000+ units since 2002, also owns The Mere and Old Thorns in the UK. BGAM aims for long-term performance and enhanced guest experience.
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HQ Hotels to Open $100M Flagship Resort in Saint Lucia This November, Creating 300 Permanent Jobs

🏨 HQ Hotels and Residences will open a $100m (£74.5m) property in Saint Lucia this November in partnership with Wellington Estates and Wyndham Hotels. The HQ Cas En Bas Resort includes 96 studios and apartments, 90% sold, creating 300 jobs. Located at Cap Estate, it features restaurants by Katsuya and Umami Burger. Preliminary planning allows an additional 82 residences. Founder Sam Nazarian and Marc Anthony plan three more resorts by 2026, totaling seven global properties.
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Donnington Grove Hotel and Country Club Near Newbury Listed for Sale at £8 Million, Includes Expansion Plans

🏨 Donnington Grove Hotel and Country Club, near Newbury in Berkshire, is up for sale at £8 million. The 18th-century estate covers 283 acres, featuring a Grade II-listed manor and 40 en suite bedrooms. Planning permission exists for 26 additional aparthotel rooms. Operated by the current owners since 2005, the decision to sell follows the passing of two directors. The property is expected to attract buyers seeking premium hotel and golf opportunities within 90 minutes of London.
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UK Hospitality Industry Sees 100,000 Payroll Reduction in April Amid Rising Youth Unemployment and Fiscal Pressures

🏨 UK unemployment reached 5% from January to March, while youth unemployment hit 14.7%, the highest since 2014, according to the ONS. Hospitality payrolls dropped by 100,000 in April. UKHospitality blames job cuts on increased business costs, including a £5bn burden from recent budgets, national minimum wage hikes, and higher business rates. Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality urges government to reduce VAT and business rates to counteract job losses and support economic growth.
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Burgh Island Hotel Leverages Rich History and Famous Guests to Offer Immersive Experiences in the Experience Economy

🏖 Burgh Island Hotel in the UK has been hosting guests since 1929, attracting figures like Agatha Christie and R.J. Mitchell. Each of the hotel’s 25 rooms is named after historical figures linked to its past. In line with the "experience economy," over 70% of travelers prioritize experiences over traditional luxury. Events at the hotel include an upcoming visit from author Clare Mackintosh and later Monty Halls, enhancing its cultural connection and appeal.
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Starhotels Expands Portfolio with Hermitage Hotel and Resort in Forte dei Marmi, Featuring 59 Rooms and Suites

🏨 Starhotels has added the Hermitage Hotel and Resort in Forte dei Marmi to its portfolio, officially opening on May 28, with 59 rooms and suites featuring private terraces and 1.5 hectares of private gardens. The resort includes Cabana Beach, an organic kitchen garden, Orto all’Hermitage Restaurant, children's areas, and the Cabana Lounge Bar. Elisabetta Fabri, CEO, describes it as a nature-filled retreat offering an elegant, tranquil experience reminiscent of classic Italian summer holidays.
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Strand Palace Hotel in London Appoints Jill van Rest as First Female GM Since 1998 After £57m Refurbishment

🏨 Jill van Rest has been appointed the new general manager of the Strand Palace Hotel in London, the first woman in this role since 1998. During the pandemic, she transitioned the hotel to accommodate military key workers, later enhancing its standings on TripAdvisor. The hotel recently underwent a £57 million refurbishment, redesigning 788 rooms and adding a gym. In November, 12 new event spaces were introduced, totaling 16 venues for up to 250 guests.
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