International News

International News

The UAE’s first Waldorf Astoria city hotel gears up for opening

Waldorf Astoria DIFC’s main entrance Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a 275-room property, is getting ready for a summer 2019 opening. The first Waldorf Astoria city hotel to open in the UAE comprises of 201 guest rooms, 46 suites and 28 residential apartments, and features views of the Dubai skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows in every room. Evoking an early 1960’s New York jet-set era style, Waldorf Astoria DIFC promises an urban retreat. Moreover, culinary experiences to be found within Waldorf Astoria DIFC will include three distinct dining options and bars. Bull and Bear restaurant is the hotel’s signature dining destination, while the rooftop lounge, St. Trop and the brand’s iconic Peacock Alley Lounge and Bar, will serve as meeting points for different occasions. In addition to a state-of-the-art spa and fitness centre facilities, the hotel offers meeting spaces, connected at lobby level for guest convenience. The hotel also features a dedicated business centre, ballroom and library. Waldorf Astoria DIFC is located at Burj Daman on Happiness Street, a stone’s throw from The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, and 12 minutes from Dubai International Airport.

Create: Jun 30, 2019 Edit: Jul 3, 2019

IHG to Open InterContinental Hayman Island Resort After AUD100 Million Renovation

UK-based hospitality company, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), will open InterContinental Hayman Island Resort on 1 July 2019. Hayman Island is the most northerly of the Whitsunday Islands, right on the Great Barrier Reef and part of the Cumberland Islands, which are located off the coast of Central Queensland, Australia. Located on a 988-acre private island, the 166-key luxury resort is the only property on the island and has undergone an AUD100 million-dollar refurbishment. Offering rooms, suites, and eight villas located right on the beach front, it also features five food and beverage outlets, a spa with 13 treatment rooms, a resort boutique, kids club, a fitness centre, meeting facilities for groups of up to 300, a variety of water sports, cruises to the Great Barrier Reef and a PADI SCUBA dive centre. The newly built Beach House, a new collection of luxury private residences, offers three more suites and multiple private pools. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,650 hotels and 543,775 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.

Create: Jun 15, 2019 Edit: Jun 22, 2019

Air Europa joins forces with Expedia to offer global accommodation deals

Air Europa, the airline of Globalia, the largest Spanish tourism conglomerate, is today announcing an exclusive agreement with Expedia Partner Solutions (EPS), the B2B brand within Expedia Group, to offer its travelers hotel bookings for the first time. Air Europa is now powered by EPS’s online template, Hotels.com for Partners, providing travelers with access to 500,000 accommodations in more than 25,000 destinations worldwide. Air Europa travelers who book flights via the co-branded website www.aireuropa.com also benefit from more than 650,000 promotional rates, saving an average of 15% when a hotel is bundled with a flight. Through the agreement, those travelers can also collect Air Europa SUMA loyalty ‘Miles’, with points for every euro spent on accommodation. For Air Europa, Expedia Partner Solutions has been the perfect travel partner to work with on this great project; it has enabled us to offer a more complete customer experience”.

Create: Jun 1, 2019 Edit: Jun 22, 2019

Marriott plans to grow the Fairfield brand even further in 2019 and beyond

Expansion is set to take place China, Mexico, India and the U.S., and there are further plans to become a presence in Japan, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Chile. To celebrate their 1000th property, as well as the brand’s future, Fairfield will be giving guests surprise treats upon arrival. Marriott said, “To celebrate our 1,000th hotel milestone, every Fairfield in the U.S. and Canada is offering guests complimentary brownies at check-in during the month of May, inspired by my mom’s famous brownie recipe.”

Create: May 29, 2019 Edit: Jun 22, 2019

Booking.com ready to buy more companies

High-growth companies slow down as they expand. Booking.com is hoping to defy that by investing into new markets like alternative accommodations. But progress has been slow. During the first-quarter, Booking Holdings saw its total revenues decline 3 percent, year-over-year, to $2.8 billion. One path to new growth could be more acquisitions, CEO Glenn Fogel suggested on an earnings call last week. During the call, Fogel said three times that he was considering opportunistic mergers and acquisitions. It wasn’t clear what size company or sector he had in mind. The inferred context was that the conglomerate has several opportunities to knit together an interlocking set of travel services to do a better job of cross-selling and upselling customers on an array of products throughout the life of a trip.

Create: May 28, 2019 Edit: Jun 22, 2019

Canopy by Hilton Venice City Centre Announced for 2021

Hilton is set to introduce its upscale lifestyle brand, Canopy by Hilton, to Italy with the arrival of a new hotel planned in Venice. The news follows a management agreement between Hilton and Marseglia Group, owners of Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President, Development, EMEA, Hilton, said, "Hilton has enjoyed a presence in Venice for more than a decade with Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. During that time, we have been focused on delivering exceptional guest experiences, creating meaningful employment and making a sustainable contribution to the local economy - a legacy that is set to continue with the arrival of Canopy by Hilton. The new hotel will contribute to the ongoing urban regeneration of the local neighbourhood of Cannaregio and create a vibrant meeting place for guests and local residents alike." Gary Steffen, Global Head, Canopy by Hilton, Hilton, said, "Canopy by Hilton is rooted in the local neighbourhood, and we're particularly excited to incorporate and celebrate the unique cultural, culinary and artistic influences of Cannaregio area in Venice. Canopy by Hilton Venice City Centre will be a stunning addition to our growing lifestyle portfolio in Europe, which already includes trading hotels in Reykjavik and Zagreb." Leonardo Marseglia, President of Marseglia Group said, "This is an important project for the relaunch of the historical city centre of Venice, revitalising a part of the city currently in a state of neglect and degradation and unlocking a new and vibrant neighbourhood where local residents and visitors can enjoy the best of Venetian hospitality in the new Botanical Gardens. We are proud to be continuing our partnership with Hilton on this spectacular new project." Canopy by Hilton Venice City Centre will join more than 30 Hilton hotels trading or under development across Italy when it opens in 2021. The hotel will be incorporated within the redevelopment of the existing buildings of the Venetian Botanical Gardens which date back to the 19th century. Canopy by Hilton hotels are thoughtfully curated to appeal to travellers seeking a locally inspired experience, with unique interiors that are influenced by the culture and history of the neighbourhood. Guests are welcomed by friendly Enthusiasts with expert local knowledge and recommendations and are invited to immerse themselves with local food and drink tastings and use of the complimentary Canopy by Hilton bicycles to explore the city. The introduction of Canopy by Hilton in Italy follows plans announced earlier this year to welcome guests at two new hotels in France, in Bordeaux and Paris. The new Canopy hotels join spectacular European properties in Reykjavik and Zagreb, with a further hotel under construction in London.

Create: May 13, 2019 Edit: May 14, 2019

New DACH-focused conglomerate makes maiden hotel purchase in Hamburg

In a bid to create solid long-term investments, the Bayerische Versorgungskammer (BVK) has partnered with GBI AG, a German project development company, to invest in and manage hotel properties in Europe’s Germany (D), Austria (A), and Switzerland (CH) — or DACH — region via a fund created by Frankfurt-based Universal-Investment. The new fund’s strategy is to build a high-value, long-term portfolio. An initial investment of €500 million ($560 million) will go towards this goal. With about €77 billion ($98 billion) of managed funds, the BVK is one of Germany’s most important institutional investors. BUILDING A NEW PORTFOLIO The collaboration between GBI and BVK officially began in early 2019 when the purchase of the fund’s first hotel property, the Lindner Hotel Am Michel in Hamburg, was decided. “Set in a perfect downtown location in one of Germany’s most dynamic hospitality markets, this 4-star hotel is a fitting first step for the fund,” says Simon Behr, Director of Fund Management & Transaction at GBI AG. Opened in 2008, the 4-star hotel set in Neanderstreet has 259 modern rooms and comes with a large events and conference space with seven meeting rooms. After being run by Lloyd Fonds AG for over 10 years, it has now been sold to BVK’s new fund.

Create: May 12, 2019 Edit: May 14, 2019

African hospitality market booming

Radisson is not alone in these efforts to grow in the African continent. Global hotel chains, including Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels have been increasing investments in Africa, which has some of the world’s fastest growing economies and a rising middle class. Radisson Hotel Group plans to open a further five hotels across Africa in 2019, four of which are located in the Francophone market, pushing the African portfolio to more than 50 hotels in operation before year-end. These openings include the first Radisson Blu hotel in Casablanca, which is the Group’s second hotel in Morocco, scheduled to open within the next six months, as well as their first hotel, and the countries first internationally branded hotel in Niger, with the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel Niamey in Q2 this year. “Our strategy will most certainly reinforce our presence in key markets not only in the Francophone markets, but across Africa, as we continue to focus on delivering on our expanding pipeline,” Rankoussi said.

Create: May 12, 2019 Edit: May 14, 2019

Five-star luxury hotel Lucknam Park invests £250k in six-week spa refresh

Luxury five-star country house hotel Lucknam Park has recently invested £250k into refreshing its spa facilities as part of a six-week project. The hotel has given its ESPA spa a facelift, relining and refurbishing the main pool and hydro pools, as well as introducing a new sauna featuring a Himalayan salt feature. The sauna and steam rooms within the changing rooms have been revamped and a new ice feature installed. The gym now boasts a new mural wall with an image of Lucknam Park’s driveway, to ‘bring the outdoors in’. In December, it was revealed that managing director Claire Randall was to leave her position as managing director to take up a role at The Idle Rocks and St Mawes Hotel in Truro in March. During her time at Lucknam Park, she was been an integral part of the property’s development and evolution, overseeing a £20m investment project and the launch of the spa in 2008. The 42-bedroom hotel is set in 500 acres of grounds and is home to the Michelin-star Restaurant Hywel Jones, the luxury ESPA spa and cookery school.

Create: May 12, 2019 Edit: May 14, 2019

AB Hotels reclaims Crowne Plaza Colchester Hotel back as independent

AB Hotels, headed up the Bejerano family, has moved its Essex hotel back to independent status after seven years operating under the Crowne Plaza brand. The four-star Crowne Plaza Colchester Five Lakes hotel, which was acquired by AB Hotels in 1994, has also reclaimed its original name and will now be known as Five Lakes Resort. AB Hotels director, Rafi Bejerano said that the decision was made to ‘move away from the corporate approach of a branded hotel’ and restore the ‘personal touch and family feel’ associated with AB Hotels. “Being independent again gives us the opportunity to be more flexible, dynamic and respond quickly to the needs of the market,” he said. “The response has been tremendous so far and we are looking forward to re-establishing direct personal relationships with our agents, suppliers and loyal customers.” The news comes just a few months after the family decided to sell their London property, The Arch, to StayWell Holdings, a hotel and leisure company in Japan. AB Hotels also owns Sopwell House in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Create: May 11, 2019 Edit: May 14, 2019

Vienna House buys 17 city hotels from arcona

In addition to eight arcona Living and four arcona Hotels, the purchase also concerns the five Steigenberger operations of franchisor Deutsche Hospitality as well as two projects in Greifswald and Mannheim. "The arcona city hotels fit perfectly into the portfolio of Vienna House. Here two partners have found each other who are focusing on their brand positioning, who want to grow meaningfully from it and who also get along splendidly," said Rupert Simoner, CEO of Vienna House. All employees of the affected arcona city hotels will be taken over by Vienna House. The hotels will be managed as lease operations under the umbrella brand Vienna House. Vinenna House, the largest Austrian hotel group, currently operates and is developing more than 40 hotels in Europe with a focus on city hotels under the brands Vienna House, Vienna House Easy and Vienna House R.evo. In contrast, arcona managing director Alexander Winter is looking to the holiday hotel sector. Remaining in the arcona portfolio are six hotels in destinations such as Sylt, Kitzbühel and Rügen as well as the Hotel Elephant in Weimar and the Romantik Hotel at Wartburg Castle in Eisenach. An important growth driver in the future will be Barefoot Hotels, as arcona recently signed a long-term agreement with Barefoot founder Til Schweiger for the worldwide implementation of the concept as a licensee. "With the remaining houses and the Barefoot concept, we will now be concentrating fully on the growing holiday hotel market and successfully embarking on the future together with our employees," said arcona founder Alexander Winter. A total of 20 Barefoot hotels are to be opened over the next ten years.

Create: May 7, 2019 Edit: May 14, 2019

Croatian hotel and spa opens its doors

Described as "a new ultraluxe hospitality project created by renowned Croatian entrepreneur Pavo Zubak" the spa element has been created by international spa consultants Illyria Wellness. "Two thousand years ago, a water springs goddess named Ika was revered all along this coastline. Today, Ika's springs still rise up through the salty Adriatic in the place that bears her name," said Liz Ugrin, co-founder of Illyria Wellness. "The Amber Road of the ancients also passed through this place, so as I set out to define the spa concept and develop wellness rituals, the stories began pouring out from the abundance of antiquity - just like Ika's springs." Pavo Zubak, founder of Zubak Grupa, said: "The Opatija Riviera has long been a place of inspiration for musicians, intellectuals, and writers. But at Ikalia Spa, we are tapping into why so many artists - from Puccini to Isadora Duncan - felt called here for renewal. There is a mystery in Ika, just below the surface, that has attracted seekers not just for hundreds of years, but thousands." Ikalia Spa sources artisan natural ingredients for its treatments, such as pure Baltic Amber powder, local olive crush, organic distilled plant oils, and premium plant-based skin care featuring Croatian spring waters.

Create: May 6, 2019 Edit: May 6, 2019