Hotel Operations

🏨 Aqua-Aston Hospitality, founded in 1948 with 25 properties in Hawaii, expands into Tempe, Arizona, with dual-branded Fairfield Inn & Suites and TownePlace Suites. Hotel Equities enters U.S. Virgin Islands with a new Hampton by Hilton, the first development there in 30+ years. Hyatt introduces Hyatt Studios in the upper-midscale, extended-stay category. Hilton enters five new markets, including Bermuda and Paraguay. Coury Hospitality's Vin hotels launch in Grapevine, Texas, and Rogers, Ark. Hotel Equities grew from two to over 40 hotels in Canada since 2018, with a plan for similar expansion in the Caribbean and Latin America.

📢 Aqua-Aston Hospitality, established in Hawaii since 1948 with 25 properties, expanded to Tempe, Arizona, opening a dual-branded Fairfield Inn & Suites and TownePlace Suites. Hotel Equities, based in Atlanta, recently took on a new Hampton by Hilton hotel in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, marking the first development there in over 30 years. Hilton entered five new markets including Bermuda and Nepal. Key factors for entering new markets include demand, area renaissance, and historical performance. Aqua-Aston Hospitality's managing director Andrea Mue emphasizes targeting locations with growth potential. Hotel Equities only commits to new markets after extensive research, exemplified by over a year of study before expanding into Canada and the Caribbean/Latin America. Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels, and Coury Hospitality also employ strategic analyses for expansion, focusing on guest demand, infrastructure, and differentiating their brand in the market.

🍴 The Braywood, a contemporary restaurant, is set to open in November on the historic site of Royal Oak in Paley Street, near Bray. It will feature a 70-cover dining area and a cocktail bar, with Sam Brennan as head chef. WSH Restaurants expands its portfolio to six with this opening and another in London's Fitzrovia. The company, known for its high training standards, celebrates over a decade of career development for its talent.

🍽 Spanish chef José Pizarro plans to open an all-day dining restaurant named Lolo on Bermondsey Street in London. Revealed in April, Lolo reflects Pizarro's love for the UK and Spain. The menu includes a ‘bikini’ sandwich, pastries, eggs with PX sherry-cured salmon, fresh salads, tinned fish like Anchoa Catalina Gran Reserva, and a variety of Bloody Marys. The Mediterranean-inspired venue transforms from café to wine bar and will feature local art, with 46 covers and counter seating at the bar.

🍴 Created by Alan Yau, Yamabahçe in Central London serves Turkish street food with an average lunch spend of

📚 Danielle Brustman designed the interiors of Harbour Early Learning Centre in Sydney's Vaucluse suburb, focusing on themes of the sea and sky to connect children with nature and the community. The project spans three levels and features graphic elements inspired by the seaside, with rooms named Sky, Sunset, Rainbow, Under the Sea, and Boat. Collaborating with SJB, Supercontext, Fiona Robbe, and Citizen, Brustman emphasized sustainable materials and a robust furniture selection from Australian designers. The design also references Piet Mondrian's work and incorporates a vibrant blue staircase reminiscent of Sydney Harbour.

🍴 Heritage restaurant in West Sussex, launched in 2019 after a successful crowdfunding campaign by Matt Gillan, is set for a transformation. The venue, formerly a pub in Slaugham, will become an events-led space offering unique dining experiences such as high-end garden dining, masterclasses, gourmet retreats, and private parties. Heritage's final service under its current guise will be on 5 August. Gillan, a Michelin-starred chef, plans to continue the ethos of hospitality at the transformed venue.

✈️ Air connectivity in Europe is 14% down from 2019 levels, with EU connectivity 13% down and non-EU Europe 20% down. The UK's connectivity has decreased by 12%, outperforming Germany's 24% drop, France's 15%, and Heathrow's near full recovery at just 2% down. Turkey's air connectivity increased by 24%, Greece by 22%, and Albania by 55%. Spain is 2% down, while Portugal is up by 4%. Istanbul Airport leads in connectivity, up 9% from 2019, followed by Amsterdam Schiphol and Heathrow. Frankfurt is the top-connected hub globally, despite a 23% decrease from pre-pandemic levels.

📈 New travel jobs in June dropped 20% year-on-year and 26% from June 2023, with a further 2% decrease from the previous month. Candidate searches in the travel industry decreased by 22% in June after a high in May, showing an 11% fall from June 2023. Placements in new travel jobs also fell by 27% monthly and 35% year-on-year. C&M Travel Recruitment attributes the decline to seasonal slowdowns and events like the Euros, Wimbledon, and the Olympics, plus the effect of a general election.

📝 Inspire My Holiday launched a trade-only website to fill a "gap in the market," facilitating agents to match destinations with client needs. Partnerships include Gold Medal, Riviera Travel, Wendy Wu Tours, Fred Holidays, Windstar Cruises, and Latin Routes. The consumer brand started in September 2019, but the trade platform was always planned. Registration is free, with early sign-ups possibly winning part of a £1,000 prize pot.