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HOTELSMag.com

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  • 3 min

Hilton projects 2025 to be year of ‘travel maximizer’

🏖 In Hilton's annual Trends Report, 2025 is dubbed the 'Year of the Travel Maximizer,' with travelers seeking to balance relaxation with high-impact adventures. Key findings include: 70% of travelers are active on vacations; 58% revisit childhood destinations with their children; 63% value digital room keys; 25% of solo travelers bring pets; 30% travel with 'frolleagues'; 70% of parents consider children's preferences in vacation planning; 50% book restaurants before flights; 25% are sober-curious; revenue from Hilton Worldwide Sport Sales tripled from 2019 to 2024, with youth sports driving 80% of the growth.
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  • 2 min

Briefs: Tivoli Hotels expands Portugal footprint; Graduate by Hilton in Alabama

🏠 Tivoli Hotels & Resorts to open Tivoli Kopke Porto Gaia Hotel in Porto, Portugal in 2025 with 150 rooms, including 10 suites, two restaurants, three bars, two pools, a fitness center, six meeting rooms, and a 9,000 square meter garden. Graduate by Hilton Auburn spans 140,000 square feet with 177 rooms in Alabama, featuring two dining venues, rooftop bar, and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Omni Hotels breaks ground on Omni Pontoque Resort in Punta de Mita, Mexico, set to open late 2026 with 244 rooms and suites, two villas, and over 27,000 square feet of event space. Extended Stay America opens 124-room hotel in Pueblo, Colorado, marking the brand's 45th Premier Suites, with over 700 properties in the U.S.
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  • 4 min

Holiday shoppers embracing tech innovations and in-store experiences, finds PwC survey

🎄 Despite 59% of consumers expecting inflation to impact their holiday spending, average spending is set to rise 7% to $1,638 in the 2024 holiday season. Gen Z and Millennials prioritize sustainable shopping, while Gen X and Baby Boomers opt for convenience. 29% plan to spend less, averaging $776, while 26% will spend more, around $3,076. Millennials lead overall spending, with Gen Z's budget increasing by 59%. Over half (52%) will finish shopping post-Thanksgiving. Gen Z's average spend is $1,752, with 35% increasing their budgets. Holiday travelers in the U.S. (46%) lean towards staying with family/friends, with 56% preferring this to reduce costs. Men are projected to spend 13% more on tech and travel. Tech innovations are key for retailers combating economic pressures, aiming to offer value and personalized experiences.
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  • 2 min

Rocco Forte Hotels to open third hotel in Sicily

🏠 Rocco Forte Hotels, based in London, is expanding in Sicily with a new luxury hotel in Noto, transforming an 18th-century palace, Palazzo Castelluccio, built in 1782. The 31-key hotel will encompass 50,000 square feet, joining Villa Igiea in Palermo and Verdura Resort in Sciacca. The property will feature a restaurant, bar, spa, gym, and event space. Rocco Forte plans to open four new properties in Italy and has ventures in Dubai and Spain. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund acquired a 49% stake in the group in December 2023, with The Financial Times reporting a transaction value of £1.2 billion.
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  • 3 min

Briefs: easyHotel adds location in France; Alila checks into Shanghai

📌 easyHotel to open a new low-carbon hotel in Ferney-Voltaire, France, near Geneva, in early 2027. The hotel will have 141 rooms, offer continental breakfast, and provide parking for 60 cars with EV charging. It's financed by a €8.6 million loan from BRED Banque Populaire, adding to a previous €6.75 million for a Marseille property. This expansion includes six new properties in Europe. Alila Shanghai opens in Shanghai's Jing'an, featuring 189 rooms and a 2,626-square-foot penthouse. IHG's Vignette Collection debuts in Egypt with a 140-room hotel in Port Said, opening December 2027. Pan Pacific Hotels Group expands in Bangkok, managing Pan Pacific Siam Bangkok, a 220-room hotel set to open by 2027 after retrofitting an office building.
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  • 6 min

People on the Move: OTO Development, BWH Hotels, Peachtree Group, Nina Hospitality, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve

📆 Rob Rain joins OTO Development as CEO, replacing the late Corry Oakes and recently retired Todd Turner. Rain, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Bronze Star recipient, will drive growth and efficiency from Spartanburg, S.C. headquarters. Bill Ryan is now BWH Hotels' SVP and CTO, contributing 15 years of retail brand experience, reporting to President and CEO Larry Cuculic. Brent LeBlanc becomes EVP of Peachtree Group, bringing nearly 30 years of hospitality real estate experience. Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau adds four sales team members: Antonecia Sweeting-Monroe, Beverley Maycock, Felicia Joseph, and Sabrina Stubbs. Nina Hospitality appoints Julian Ding as Group Director of Finance and Michelle Chung as Group Head of Internal Control and Compliance. Other key appointments include Abigail Seanez at Caption by Hyatt Nashville, David Kopasz as Chief Hospitality Officer at Delaware North, Laurent Ebzant promoted within Park Hyatt New York, and Juliette Granon as Director of Communications at Rosewood São Paulo. New GMs announced: Ana Gorjão Henriques for Nekajui, Naowarat Arunkong for NH Bangkok Sukhumvit Boulevard, Rod Lapasin for Hotel Westland at Railspur, Brian Koenitzer for Hilton Richmond Downtown, Aaron Osborne for Hyatt Centric French Quarter, Brian Kent for Caption by Hyatt Nashville, and Liz Martinez
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  • 2 min

Hyatt adds to Saudi Arabia portfolio with two hotels in NEOM

🏕 Hyatt is expanding in Saudi Arabia with two new hotels in NEOM, set to open in 2027. Park Hyatt Jaumur and Andaz Jaumur Marina will offer a total of 350 luxury rooms and suites in the coastal destination of Magna. Jaumur's 300-berth marina will feature a sculptural landmark and entertainment options, including a deep-sea diving research center. Park Hyatt Jaumur will have 125 keys, while Andaz Jaumur Marina will offer 225 rooms and suites. The properties will join Hyatt's portfolio and World of Hyatt loyalty program, which has over 48 million members.
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  • 2 min

Briefs: Dusit Thani Bangkok reopens; Waldorf Astoria to open in Abu Dhabi

🏚 Dusit Thani Bangkok reopened, featuring a massive ballroom and panoramic views of Lumpini Park. The hotel, part of the THB46 million Dusit Central Park project, will introduce four new dining venues, including a rooftop bar, and a spa. The full project, including luxury residences, an office tower, a retail center, and a Roof Park, will open by 2025. Waldorf Astoria Abu Dhabi, near Mangrove National Park, will offer 167 luxurious rooms and suites. In Ocala, Fla., BridgeInvest funded a $24.5 million loan for the purchase and renovation of two Marriott hotels, expecting to complete renovations by 2025. IHG's Garner hotel will open in Turkey in 2025, following the brand's success since its August 2023 launch, with 79 properties signed and four opened.
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  • 4 min

SPONSORED CONTENT: How Cutting-Edge HR Innovation Addresses Team Member Needs

💸 In the hospitality industry, engaged workers significantly improve profitability and productivity, with a 50% decrease in turnover risk and 75% reduction in sick days. Major hotel chains like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott partner with Great Place to Work, with Encore earning certification for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Encore invested over $200 million in two years in benefits, training, and technology. They introduced the U.S.'s first overtime savings program with a matching incentive and launched financial wellness initiatives, including a Seasonal Leave of Absence program, service excellence, and profit-sharing incentives.
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