Sophie Weir

🥃 Shelley Sandzer secured debut space for whiskey lounge bar and restaurant, Odyssey, at 1 Hoxton Square, London. Spanning 3,000 sq ft, Odyssey features a two-floor layout with 190 covers, over 600 bourbon varieties—the largest collection outside the U.S.—and a vegan ‘Whiskey Sour’ on draft. The venue aims to sell its branded whiskey aged onsite and complements Shoreditch's diverse night-time economy. Recent Shelley Sandzer deals include Wingstop UK and Heavenly Desserts' new units in Ealing.

🏖️ The View Agadir, located along Morocco's Atlantic coast, offers guests over 22°C temperatures for winter getaways with culinary excellence, entertainment, and relaxation. New Year's Eve features gourmet menus at Mima Kitchen and Le Sensya, a Michelin-starred chef's Italian and Neapolitan specialities, and a Gala Dinner under the stars. Buddha-Bar hosts events on December 18th, 26th, and 31st with DJs and live performances. Kids enjoy a Black & White Gala Dinner and activities like surf competitions. Reservations: reservations@theviewhotels.com.

📍 IHG Hotels & Resorts launched Garner in August 2023, a midscale conversion brand, signing 76 properties in the first half of 2024, 58 in Europe. Globally, 41% of IHG's openings and 55% of signings in early 2024 were conversions. Garner Hotel Reading Centre (53 rooms) and Garner Hotel Preston Samlesbury (80 rooms) in the UK are set to open by late 2024. Garner is expanding in Germany with over 50 hotels, including in Hamburg, Mannheim, Berlin, and a new 245-room property in Hamburg's Usedomstrasse. In Austria and the Netherlands, Garner debuts with a 106-room hotel in Vienna and a 165-room hotel in Maastricht, respectively. A 126-room Garner property will open in Istanbul, Türkiye, in 2025. As of June 30, 2024, Garner has 79 properties globally with four operational.