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m.carisetti

38 posts

Wyndham Hotels Launches Dolce Nova Targeting Upper-Upscale Lifestyle Segment in EMEA with €250-€300 Room Rates

🏨 Dimitris Manikis, EMEA president of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, announced Dolce Nova on September 14 at Manchester Central Convention Complex. The boutique brand, targeting properties starting at 50 rooms, aims for rates of €250 to €300. Wyndham, with 25 brands, focuses on franchising rather than acquisitions. In Q2 2026, the group reported $102 million in net income, a 17% increase, while its pipeline includes 261,000 rooms across 2,200 hotels, 69% midscale and above.
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Louvre Hotels Group Rebrands Bloom Hostel in Bordeaux as HOSHO, Expanding Capsule Bed Concept in France

🏢 Located 600 meters from Place de la Victoire, the 1905 building in the Nansouty neighborhood was renovated in 2023. The property, now known as HOSHO Bordeaux Victoire, offers 3 to 8-bed rooms, a 250 sqm garden, and a bar. Unlike the 2021 Paris model with 240 capsule beds, Bordeaux hosts fewer beds for a more communal experience. Competing in a saturated market, it joins others like Eklo and Jost, targeting an older clientele than typical hostels.
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Luxury Yacht Hospitality Expands: Aman Group and Cruise Saudi's 183-Meter Yacht Launching in 2027

🛳 The Aman group and Cruise Saudi will launch a 183-meter yacht on May 7, 2027, between Palma de Mallorca and Nice, accommodating 94 guests in 47 suites. The luxury cruise market is expanding, with 98 ships projected by 2025, up from 28 in 2010, and 1.7 million passengers by 2029. Disney plans 13 ships by 2030, with cruising generating $3 billion last year. European ports are restricting large ships, and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection reports a 51% occupancy rate.
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Ryman Hospitality Acquires JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Orlando for $867,000 Per Room, Following $118M Renovation

🏠 JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes and Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, acquired on August 10, 2023, with 1,592 rooms at $867,000 per room, span 165 hectares. Trinity Investments sold the property for $1.38 billion, a $510 million profit since their $870 million purchase in 2018. The Ritz-Carlton was renovated for $118 million, earning a Michelin Key in 2024. Orlando saw a record 76.7 million visitors in 2025, though international visits declined.
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Saudi Fund Completes $55 Billion Acquisition of Electronic Arts, Expanding Control Over European Gaming Studios

💰 In May 2025, Yasir Al-Rumayyan of the fund announced a $904.5 billion asset target. By 2026, international investment is set to reduce to 20%. Key holdings include a 15% stake in Heathrow acquired in December 2024 and an 85% stake in Newcastle United since July 2024. They purchased 49% of Rocco Forte Hotels for £590 million in December 2023. The fund also completed a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts in August 2026.
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Emmy Stoel Named Europe's Best Hotel GM in 2023 Amidst Amsterdam's Rising Tourism Taxes and Market Challenges

📍 Emmy Stoel was named Europe's best hotel general manager by EHMA in 2023, as the second Dutch national and woman to achieve this. She led InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest since September 2025 and previously managed Okura Amsterdam from January 1, 2013, and Sofitel Legend The Grand until 2024. The Amsterdam tourist tax increased from 7% to 12.5% in 2024, with VAT rising to 21% in 2026. City-center RevPAR is 13% below 2019 levels, with a further decline expected.
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Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch Suspends Guest Services Amid Complex Sanctions and Insolvency Proceedings Affecting Ownership.

🏠 Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch, under 'Notbetrieb' since August 13, 2026, was taken over in October 2024 from Kempinski. Sanctions against owner Ali Ansari, linked to Mojtaba Khamenei, prompted Hilton to exit by August 9, 2026. The European Union sanctioned Ansari on July 30. Insolvency proceedings have frozen accounts, risking 140 jobs. Hilton planned exit was evident as bookings stopped by August's end. Future ownership of both Hilton Frankfurt hotels is unclear.
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Japan Sets Ambitious 2030 Tourism Goals with $97 Billion Revenue Target, Visa Fee Increases by July 2026

🗺 Japan's international tourism spending surged by 16.4% to $61 billion in 2025, with a 15.8% growth in visitors. The target is 60 million visitors and $97 billion by 2030. Visa fees increased on July 1, 2026, but focus remains on high-value travelers spending over $6,450 per trip. U.S. international arrivals fell 5.5% in 2025, with visa costs rising to $442. Italy earned $6.23 million from day trippers in Venice but faces RevPAR declines.
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French Riviera Hotel Rates Surge Nearly 66% in June 2026 Due to Rescheduled Monaco Grand Prix

📈 Between Menton and Monaco, June rates soared nearly two-thirds due to the shifted Monaco Grand Prix. With a RevPAR increase of 12% on 2025 and 30% on 2024, occupancy exceeded 90%. In Paris, the Esports World Cup boosted 15th arrondissement hotels' occupancy by 4.3 points, increasing RevPAR by over 10% in July. On 21 July, the Gros Bessillon fire in Pontevès burned 6,300 hectares, the largest in Var's history, affecting Gulf traveler sentiment.
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