HOTELSMag.com - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 35

2 min

Choice Hotels expands extended stay portfolio with 17 new hotels in nine months

🏨 Choice Hotels International opened 17 MainStay Suites and Suburban Studios from January 1 to September 17, targeting extended stay segment. New hotels launched in Las Vegas, Moreno Valley, Calif.; Orlando, and Tampa, Fla. The company reports 16 out of 17 are brand conversions with an average turnaround of 120 days. Half of the 70 properties in the pipeline until March 2025 are also conversions. The "Kitchen-in-a-Box" concept streamlines the transition to extended stay properties, taking 3-4 months. MainStay Suites has over 125 locations while Suburban Studios has 100+ across the U.S., both offering full kitchens and participating in the Choice Privileges rewards program. Choice Hotels operates approximately 7,500 hotels with over 630,000 rooms globally.

5 min

People on the Move: JLL, Aethos, Andaz Prague, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok, Pendry Washington DC-The Wharf, Hilton

🏨 Daniel C. Peek has joined JLL as president of its Americas region, boasting nearly $60 billion in career transactions. Based in Tampa, he'll collaborate with CEO Mark Gibson and Kevin Davis to enhance client relations and financial strategies. Christophe Thomas is Aethos' new COO, aiming to refine the brand's strategic direction and operations. Andaz Prague makes two key appointments with Axel Ziegler as GM and Christopher Koleros as Director of Sales and Marketing. The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok gears up for its November opening with six executive hires, including Tina Liu as GM. Pendry Washington DC-The Wharf names Amanda Santiago as Director of Sales and Marketing. Nicole Di Maio-Kennedy joins EOS Hospitality as VP of Revenue Maximization, bringing over two decades of experience. Edmund Richardson advances at Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, aiming to enhance the resort's operations. Hilton appoints Antonio Bugarin as GM of Hilton Los Cabos, and Sabrina Graves takes the helm as GM at B Ocean Resort in Fort Lauderdale. Pedro Dias becomes GM of El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, and Mali Carow is announced as GM at Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale.

3 min

Briefs: District Hospitality snaps up Hilton Washington DC; The Luxury Collection to open in Macao

🏨 District Hospitality Partners acquired Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel; details undisclosed. The 315-room hotel, adjacent to Twinbrook Metro, Washington Metro Area, will undergo renovations of guestrooms, bathrooms, and corridors. It features a fitness center, business center, restaurant, café, bar, and 40,000 square feet of event space, including a 26-room conference center and a 10,000-square-foot ballroom. Marriott International and Sands China Ltd. are set to open The Luxury Collection in Macao in January 2025. The Londoner Grand will have 2,405 rooms and suites, five dining venues, and interiors by Peter Silling & Associates, located 4.9km from the airport on Cotai Strip. HEI Hotels & Resorts added Beacon Hotel & Corporate Quarters, Washington D.C., featuring 100 rooms (58 with kitchenettes), a restaurant, bar, and over 10,000 square feet of event space, to its portfolio. A multimillion-dollar renovation is planned. Hyatt Hotels will debut Andaz Gold Coast in Australia in mid-2025. Part of The Star Gold Coast development, the hotel will occupy floors 6-21 of a 65-story tower, offering 202 rooms and suites, fitness center, three dining areas, outdoor pool deck with cocktail bar, and beach club with cabanas and dining; designed by DBI Architects with interiors by Hachem.

2 min

YOTEL expands Europe presence with Belfast hotel

🏨 YOTEL to open new hotel in Belfast's historic Shaftesbury Square by late 2026, their 35th signed hotel, expanding key count to ~8,000. Partnering with Andras Hotels, YOTEL Belfast offers 165 rooms featuring space-saving design and smart technology. The £17 million investment will create jobs and boost tourism, with a planning process initiated and development starting in 2025. The brand, with 23 global properties, plans to expand in Ireland, U.K., Tokyo, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur.

4 min

Hyatt expands luxury, lifestyle portfolio in the Americas with entry into new markets

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corp. aims to open over 20 new luxury and lifestyle hotels in the Americas by 2025. Since 2017, Hyatt doubled luxury rooms, tripled resort rooms, and quintupled lifestyle rooms. 88% of Hyatt consumers intend to travel for leisure. Recent openings include The Legend Paracas Resort in Peru (June 18), Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas in California (September 9), and Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica (September 18). Upcoming openings feature Thompson Palm Springs (September 30), Andaz Miami Beach (December), and multiple properties in 2025, like Thompson Miami Beach and Secrets Baby Beach Aruba (February). Hyatt's World of Hyatt loyalty program will integrate Standard International's properties, expanding options for its 48 million members.

3 min

International tourism almost back to pre-pandemic levels, finds UN Tourism study

📅 International tourism nearly reached pre-pandemic levels with 96% recovery seven months through July 2024, driven by demand in Europe and reopened Asian-Pacific markets. About 790 million tourists traveled internationally by July 2024, an 11% increase from 2023 and a mere 4% shy of 2019's figures. Europe and the Americas saw 99% and 97% recovery, while the Middle East led with a 26% increase over 2019. The Asia-Pacific region rallied to 86% of its pre-pandemic levels. Out of 120 destinations, 67 matched their 2019 arrival numbers. Top performers included Qatar (+147% vs. 2019), Albania (+93%), Saudi Arabia (+73%). International tourism receipts saw Albania (+128%) and Serbia (+126%) more than double compared to 2019. Outbound travel expenditure surged in the U.S. (+32%), Germany (+38%), and the U.K. (+40%). Export revenues from tourism hit $1.8 trillion, equating 3% of global GDP, with direct tourism GDP at $3.4 trillion in 2023. The UN Tourism Confidence Index for September-December 2024 scored 120 points, slightly below the May-August 2024 score of 130.

2 min

Briefs: Kimpton’s first all-inclusive resort; Bricton Group expands managemnt portfolio

🏖 Playa Hotels & Resorts opens reservations for the 355-room Kimpton Tres Rios, the first all-inclusive resort by Kimpton, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, scheduled for early 2025 in Mexico's Riviera Maya. Spanning 326 acres with three ecosystems, the resort underwent a transformation since early 2023, featuring over 20 room categories, seven dining venues, five bars, four pools, a spa, wellness programs, and a kids' club. Kimpton's global presence includes over 75 hotels and 100+ dining venues.

3 min

IHG expands Spain portfolio, signs four new hotels

🏛 IHG Hotels & Resorts expanded in Spain with four new hotel signings: Vignette Collection Mallorca – Finca Banyols, Vignette Collection Jerez, Hotel Indigo Gandia – Beach, and Holiday Inn Express San Sebastian – Errenteria. These add to the existing 500 rooms, bringing the total to approximately 13,000 rooms across Spain. The Vignette Collection Mallorca and Jerez are set to open in the first and second half of 2025, respectively, while Hotel Indigo Gandia – Beach will also open in mid-2025. Holiday Inn Express San Sebastian – Errenteria is expected to begin welcoming guests in mid-2026. In the first nine months of the year, IHG signed around 700 rooms in Spain. Currently, IHG operates 55 hotels with 22 Iberostar properties open and 12 more planned, under eight different brands.

2 min

Briefs: Hyatt widens footprint in California; $153M financing for five-hotel portfolio

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corp. adds 6th Hyatt Centric in California, marking the state's 101st Hyatt hotel with the opening of Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica. A $16 million refurbishment will modernize 315 rooms, update meeting spaces and add a restaurant. Renovations start this fall, managed by Viceroy Hotel Group. JLL secures $153 million financing for a 1,140-key hotel portfolio across California, Arizona, Atlanta, and Colorado. The Ann Savannah joins Sage Hospitality's portfolio, converting to Marriott Bonvoy by early 2025 with 157 serviced apartments. Sandos Cancun transitions to adults-only from January 1, 2025, enhancing entertainment and F&B offerings in its Mexican beachfront location.

3 min

Blackstone selling Motel 6 to India’s Oyo

🏨 Blackstone sold Motel 6 and Studio 6 to India's Oyo for $525 million, exiting its 12-year ownership since buying from Accor for $1.9 billion in 2012. Motel 6, founded in 1962 in California, has nearly 1,500 properties in the US and Canada. The deal, closing in Q4, aligns with Oyo's plan to add over 250 US hotels in 2024. Oyo, with 43,000+ properties globally, entered the US market in 2019 and currently lists 282 locations on Google. Motel 6 generates $1.7 billion in gross room revenues.

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