International News

International News

Best Western completes acquisition of WorldHotels

Hotel News - Best Western Hotels & Resorts announced today it has acquired global hotel brand WorldHotels representing a collection of approximately 300 unique and special hotels and resorts in premier destinations around the world. “There is tremendous synergy between Best Western and WorldHotels. By joining forces in this new partnership, we will create competitive advantages for both companies,” said David Kong, President and CEO of Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “I have the utmost respect for WorldHotels and believe in its vast potential.” The acquisition of WorldHotels was completed last week. The WorldHotels brand will play a critical role in enhancing Best Western’s portfolio of offerings to include the upper-upscale and luxury segments. WorldHotels will maintain its distinctive personality and individuality while benefiting from Best Western’s robust and scalable e-commerce platform, strong partnerships, sales and marketing support and powerful revenue engines. WorldHotels _Collection“Best Western is one of the largest, most respected and trusted hotel brands,” said Geoff Andrew, CEO, WorldHotels. “As we join forces, the combined power of our brands sets the stage for a bright future for both Best Western and WorldHotels. Through its established senior leadership team and regional presence in each market, Best Western brings a new level of expertise that will undoubtedly help grow both Best Western and WorldHotels in key markets.” Best Western has been on a journey of transformation over the past several years. In the last year alone, Best Western was named one of the world’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, expanded its portfolio to 13 dynamic brands reaching new guests in new segments, and won a record number of industry awards and accolades. The acquisition is a testament to Best Western’s commitment to growth, modernization and continued progression, bolstering the company’s position as a trusted leader in the global hospitality industry. “In the coming months, our focus will be to unlock WorldHotels’ potential by improving revenue delivery to its hotels while protecting its independent identity. We truly believe our platform will build the WorldHotels brand and attract many more independence–minded, quality hotels to join. We are very pleased that Geoff Andrew will continue as CEO of WorldHotels for the foreseeable future.” concluded Kong.

Create: Feb 19, 2019 Edit: Feb 19, 2019

Campbell Gray Hotels makes its debut in the GCC with the opening of its much-anticipated boutique hotel,The Merchant House.

Hotel News - The property is the first boutique hotel in Bahrain to be awarded a five star rating. The luxurious, 46-suite hotel located at 150 Government Avenue, Manama is an exciting newcomer to the bustling Bab al-Bahrain Souk area and a unique addition to Bahrain’s hotel scene. As usual, being a Campbell Gray Hotel, the design is original and exciting with many pieces having been specially designed and commissioned for the hotel. It also benefits from a striking art collection and a beautiful library, which has been curated especially for The Merchant House.

Create: Feb 19, 2019 Edit: Feb 19, 2019

HYATT opens first branded hotel in Ethiopia

Hotel News - The Hyatt Regency brand is coming to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. This is Hyatt’s seventh property on the African continent, but the first in Ethiopia, and is located in the city’s centre on Meskel Square near many of the capital’s main attractions. Guest can choose from 188 rooms, including 12 luxury regency suites, two executive suites, one presidential suite and one royal presidential suite. Guests can also enjoy some of the private members clubs available in the hotel, as well as six incredible dining options, including a cafe, cocktail bar and some casual dining offerings. 1,700 sqm of meeting and conference facilities will cater to business travelers, and the regency ballroom can be used for functions or events. A state-of-the-art gym and spa will allow guests to relax and rejuvenate, and for those wishing to explore the city, some of the biggest attractions are located close to the hotel, including the National Palace, the Holy Trinity Church and Africa’s biggest open air market in the Mercato district.

Create: Feb 16, 2019 Edit: Feb 19, 2019

Hyatt making big moves in Middle East & Africa - HYATT continues expansion in Kuwait

HYATT CONTINUES EXPANSION IN KUWAIT Hyatt Regency makes a comeback in Kuwait with the opening of the Hyatt Regency Al Kout Mall. The property will be emblematic of Hyatt´s Regency brand, which aims to offer guests the convenience and ease of having all of the amenities they require under one roof. The Al Kout Mall will boast 200 guestrooms, which includes 53 junior suites, 67 regency suites and 14 premium suites, as well as 2,400 sqm of meeting and conference space which includes a regency ballroom for events and functions. One of the highlights of the hotel is the rooftop fitness centre, Club Olympus, which offers guests panoramic views out over sea and city. Here, guests can relax in the pool or keep fit in the gym. The hotel is also conveniently located close to the international airport and to the border with Saudi Arabia. Some of the most exciting sights in Kuwait are right at the hotel’s doorstep, including the Al Kout Mall, Souq Al Kout, Al Kout Marina, Al Kout Fisherman’s Wharf and the Al Kout promenade. “We are excited to welcome the Hyatt Regency brand back to Kuwait,” said Mohammed Jassim Khalid Al Marzouq, chairman of Tamdeen Group, Hyatt’s partner in the opening of the Regency Al Kout Mall, as well as the planned Grand Hyatt Kuwait. “We are certain that the Hyatt Regency brand, known for its superior facilities and seamless service, will resonate with business and leisure travelers visiting Kuwait, and look forward to our continued collaboration and future openings in this dynamic city,” he added.

Create: Feb 16, 2019 Edit: Feb 19, 2019

Intour Summit comes to Azerbaijan in June

Hotel News - Azerbaijan will host the Intour Summit on June 4 and 5 this year, which is the region’s foremost travel summit, drawing attendees from all corners of the hospitality industry. Over the course of two days, delegates will network with over 1,000 other industry professionals, and listen to over 70 speakers dive deep into the current market trends. We find out more. AZERBAIJAN MAKES ITS MARK Azerbaijan is one of the most important countries in Central Asia, and boasts the frontier of the meeting of East and West, making it a melting pot of different cultures. It is an ideal place, then, for the Intour Summit, the country’s and the region’s most prominent hospitality conference. Delegates and industry professionals will make their way from all corners of the globe to attend this two-day event, which promises to be full of inspiring and engaging talks, presentations and networking sessions. It will also gives attendees the chance to discover the amazing city of Baku, the country’s historic city and capital, which has be central to Azerbaijan’s strategy to make the country a player on the world commercial stage. RICH IN CONTENT The Intour Summit will guide participants through developments and opportunities in the region. Some of the confirmed speakers at the event include Adrian D`Amico, VP of Booking.com EMEA; Alexis Feuillat, Director of Development IHG for Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, CIS and Baltics; David Jenkins, Vice President Business Development for Russia, CIS, Georgia, Ukraine, Baltics, Balkans and Israel at Radisson Hotel Group; and Sergey Egorov, Director of Development for Russia and CIS at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Speakers will present information, research and data around current developments in the industry as well as future trends and projections. A diverse array of sectors will be in attendance, from tech startups, media groups, hotels, airlines, investors and tour operators, and networking will be encouraged in the B2B meeting zone, as well as through pre-arranged meetings, coffee breaks and drinks receptions. With the Central Asian market growing quickly, the Intour Summit promises to be a great opportunity to find out about the region’s pipeline and meet potential partners in the area. More information available here.

Create: Feb 16, 2019 Edit: Feb 19, 2019

HILTON SIGNS FIRST HOTEL IN EUROPE TO LUXURY COLLECTION

Hotel News - Hilton recently signed a deal with Millennium & Copthorne Hotels to include The Biltmore, Mayfair as part of Hilton’s LXR Hotels and Resorts collection. The signing will mark the first European property to come under the brand’s umbrella, and will open in spring of 2019 after an extensive renovation over the past six months. The London hotel will now operate under the name The Biltmore, Mayfair – LXR Hotels and Resorts, and boasts 257 guest rooms and 51 curated suites, the design reflecting the property’s iconic heritage status on Grosvenor Square. The hotel is ideal for intimate functions, such as weddings in the 500-person ballroom or the 100-person Waterloo or Manhattan Suite.

Create: Feb 5, 2019 Edit: Feb 13, 2019

Myanmar to London to Dubai: Hilton making great strides across the globe

HILTON EXPANDS IN MYANMAR Hilton is to add another property to its portfolio in Myanmar with a new signing of 308-room hotel in downtown Yangon. The Hilton Times City Yangon will form part of Hilton’s flagship Hotels and Resorts brand, and is easily accessible from both the airport and the city’s business district, and is part of a mixed-use complex. The new hotel will cater to Myanmar’s increasing tourism industry, with numbers of tourists visiting the country expected to reach 7.5 million by 2020. The hotel will cater to both business and leisure travelers, and offers 1250 sqm of meeting and conference space, as well as a business centre, fitness centre and spa, and five dining areas. This property will be Hilton’s fourth in Myanmar, and it is set to open in 2022.

Create: Feb 5, 2019 Edit: Feb 13, 2019

Myrtle Garden Hotel by Graft Lab & Penda

Hotel News - The hotel is located in the outskirts of Xiangyang / Hubei and sits on a small hill within the largest Myrtle Flower Garden throughout Asia. The design of the hotel was primarily focused on providing a soothing harmony between architecture and its natural environment. Designed to blend into its surrounding typography, the hotel is partially inserted into the slope of the hill and offers a varying appearance depending on ones point of view. Where else the hotel is read from the north as low to the ground and has a continuity to its surrounding landscape, the complex opens up towards the South introducing the business area to a nearby already existing restaurant by the lake. A dropoff lane wind itself through and underneath the circular volumnes and offers a certain level of urbanity to the hotel’s natural surrounding. Being situated within Myrtle Tree Park, the layer of balkonies serves as a connecting element between the Interior of the Hotel and the vegetation of the park. Smaller Trees growing on and within the facade layer underline the relation between the articial balcony structure and its natural environment. Every room throughout the hotel is surrounded by the Myrtle Garden on one side and a courtyard on the other, which provides natural air ventilation when needed. Rainwater gets collected on the hotels roof and passed on to the 3 courtyards, where it is stored in tanks and can be used for flushing and irrigating plants.

Create: Feb 3, 2019 Edit: Feb 13, 2019

Four Seasons Hotels Announces Nine Planned New Property Openings in 2019

Hotel News - The coming year will mark several significant new openings for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts with the debut of nine new hotels and resorts around the world, plus the continued expansion of its residential portfolio. “Four Seasons is well positioned for continued success in 2019 with the steady and strategic growth of our global portfolio,” says Christian Clerc, President, Worldwide Hotel Operations, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “Our portfolio continues to grow at a healthy pace, as we focus on projects of the highest quality, in the destinations where our guests want to be. We remain committed to offering the very highest standards of hospitality as we expand with a diverse collection of properties, including our entry in Greece and Spain, our first resort set within a world class vineyard in Napa Valley, and the opening of our first standalone residences in London.” Clerc continues, “With a continued focus on our residential portfolio, we are solidifying our market position as the world leader in luxury branded residential offerings. Eight of the nine new anticipated openings this year include a residential component, affirming the growing importance of branded residences to Four Seasons growth strategy as well as luxury consumers who want to live with our brand and make Four Seasons their home.” Now numbering 111 hotels and resorts in 47 countries – including recent openings in Desroches Island, Seychelles; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and São Paulo, Brazil – Four Seasons is planning to open the following new hotels, resorts and private residences in 2019:

Create: Feb 3, 2019 Edit: Feb 13, 2019

AURORA: THE LUXURY SPACE HOTEL WILL ORBIT EARTH BY 2021

Hotel News - The Orion Span start-up has unveiled images of Aurora Station, its future space station designed to accommodate tourists from 2022 onwards, with the launch of the station programmed for 2021. It promises and incredible experience to its future customers. On the menu: 12 days of an unusual vacation at an altitude of about 320 kilometers. The program of activities includes the observation of 16 sunrises and sunsets in one day, flying over the hometown of travelers, games of ping-pong in the state of weightlessness. Guests will also be able to take part in experiments like growing food while in orbit. They will be able to take samples home as a “souvenir”. In order to be eligible for this stay, however, guests will have to undergo a specific training. But its duration, which is usually two years for a trip in space, has been shortened to three months for the Aurora Station. Orion Space has, therefore, opted for luxurious services, in order to differentiate itself from the competition. Because the start-up faces rivals who also seek to offer space tourism, such as the Texas company Axiom Space or Virgin Galactic, founded by billionaire Richard Branson. To support itself, Orion Space launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised about $230 thousand as of now. The goal of Orion Space is to “make space accessible to all”. However, by “accessible to all”, one should understand “all very wealthy clients”. Indeed, as the price of a 12-day stay in the Aurora Station space hotel is expected to be 9.5 million dollars.

Create: Jan 30, 2019 Edit: Feb 13, 2019

Worldwide Hotels Group Wins Club Street Hotel Site Bid with SGD562 Million in Singapore

Hotel News - Singapore-based hotel owner and operator, Worldwide Hotels Group (“Worldwide Hotels”), has acquired a 99-year leasehold hotel site along Club Street in Singapore’s Central Business District. The bid of SGD562.2 million (SGD2,148.50 per square foot per plot ratio) was made through Worldwide Hotels’ subsidiary, Midtown Development, and is a record price for a 99-year leasehold land at a state tender. The bid was also 22% higher than the hotel site sale at the Singtel site on Hill Street in February 2018. With an expected investment of more than SGD700 million, Worldwide Hotels envisages a four-star property that will become the group’s landmark hotel. Worldwide Hotels currently owns and manages six hotel brands in Singapore.

Create: Jan 30, 2019 Edit: Feb 13, 2019

Central, Eastern Europe to get 242 new hotels in coming years

Hotel News - The coming years will be eventful in Central and Eastern Europe, with a host of new hotel projects in the pipeline, according to the TOPHOTELCONSTRUCTION database. The region, which includes countries such as Lithuania, Romania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Albania and Macedonia, will see substantial investment over the course of the next few years, which will result in a total of 242 new hotel projects across the region, Schmidt said. This will bring an additional key count of 49,583 guest rooms to the region, with the projects being split between luxury (98) and first-class (144) categories. The lion’s share of the projects (88) are set to open this year, while 58 will welcome guests in 2020, 32 in 2021, five in 2022, and 59 from 2023 onwards. Currently, a hefty percentage of the projects (44%) are in the planning stage, with 38% under construction and 10% in the pre-opening stages. Hilton, Radisson and Holiday Inn are the biggest brands to feature in CEE, with Radisson Blu and Red, as well as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express set to be some of the biggest hitters in the region. Austria, Poland and Croatia will see some of the highest volumes of hotel openings. There are 68 projects planned for Austria, with 22 openings in 2019 mostly situated in the capital Vienna. Poland will welcome 53 projects to give a total key count of 9,719, with 21 opening this year. Croatia will benefit from 25 hotel projects, bringing 9,842 additional rooms to the country, with six projects welcoming guests in 2019. Germany and Russia will also see significant investment in the coming years, with 373 new projects in the German pipeline and 77 in the works in Russia.

Create: Jan 29, 2019 Edit: Jan 30, 2019