International News

International News

Luxury Marriott hotel at Hong Kong's Ocean Park set to open in early 2019, developer Lai Sun says

HK $ 5 billion Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott will undergo testing and trials in the next two to three months before its grand opening Lawmakers hope the hotel will help boost visitor numbers at the 41-year-old loss-making theme park A luxury hotel at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park will receive its first guests in early 2019 after being delayed for about six months, according to its developer . eter Lam Kin-ngok, chairman of Lai Sun Group, which developed the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott, said on Monday the HK$5 billion (US$641 million) hotel would undergo testing and trials in the next two to three months before its grand opening . The 471-room hotel was meant to have opened in June but was delayed because of a number of reasons including its cash-strapped contractor, Lam said without elaborating . “ It would be a bit of a rush to launch it in December,” he said, adding that the hotel would be a handy option for those who wanted to visit Ocean Park and Admiralty, a four-minute train ride away . Rooms will cost about HK$2,100 on average . Contractor Hsin Chong Construction, which started work on the project in late 2014, faced financial problems early last year. It was also the contractor on the city’s visual art museum M+ in the West Kowloon Cultural District art hub until it was fired in August . The Ocean Park Marriott would help boost visitor numbers at the 41-year-old loss-making theme park, which was searching its soul for a new position in the increasingly competitive tourism sector in the “Greater Bay Area”, lawmaker Yiu Si-wing said .

Create: Nov 1, 2018 Edit: Nov 3, 2018

New Little Havana boutique hotel lets visitors live like locals — at a value price

When it opens Dec. 28, Life House Little Havana will be the neighborhood’s first boutique hotel. The launch is also the first for Life House, a start-up lodging brand based in New York and backed by California and London investors. The 33-room hotel — which offers private rooms and a handful of group rooms — will cater to “mature millennials” looking for more than fun in the sun at accessible prices. “It’s for people who are seeking substantial experiences,” said Life House co-founder and CEO Rami Zeidan. The brand, which offers affordable lodging with stylish amenities, is designed to connect people with the community around them. Life House has raised $70 million in funding from Silicon Valley-venture capital firms Global Founders Capital, Comcast Ventures and Trinity Ventures, and London-based real estate firm Henley Investments. They’re betting that young travelers will gravitate toward the company’s tech-savvy, upscale, design-focused and local approach to travel. It’s a niche that’s gaining traction. In 2013, Freehand opened an upscale hostel on Miami Beach. Just last month, the European hotel-hostel brand Generator opened in Miami Beach, with a mix of shared dorms and private rooms with large, comfortable common areas. Just a 15-minute walk from Life House Little Havana is the newly remodeled Tower Hotel Project, a 52-room hotel slated to open in February. (Construction delays pushed the opening back from its original September 2018 date.) For travelers drawn to these lodgings, “What’s most important to you is value, value, value,” said Deanna Ting, Senior Hospitality Editor for Skift, a travel trade publication that monitors trends. “It’s everything you need and nothing you don’t. They’re not skimping on everything, it’s not bare bones. But they’re being really careful about what they curate.” Life House embodies other key trends identified by Travel Market Report, a hospitality trade publication: connecting guests with the local community and making sure hotels tell stories. Unique to Life House is proprietary software that allows travelers to manage their trips though an app if they choose. Guests can reserve rooms, check in and out, get to know each other before arrival, and chat with a concierge throughout their stay. Forums on wellness, nature, food and nightlife allow guests to check out local happenings. And no more waiting in line — guests can stroll right to their room and use the app as a key

Create: Nov 1, 2018 Edit: Nov 3, 2018

AccorHotels launches RiiSE and renews its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness

Six years after the creation of WAAG (Women At AccorHotels Generation), AccorHotels is giving fresh impetus to its international network promoting diversity, which already has more than 14,000 members globally, with the launch of 'RiiSE '. Last night, AccorHotels unveiled the new identity of the Group's international network to promote diversity, with a double "ii" symbolizing the men and women who are committed to sharing knowledge, solidarity and stereotypes . Six years after its creation, the WAAG network is taking a new step by improving the Group's commitment to gender equality with a new goal: diversity, as a key factor in collective performance . This action is based on the sharing of knowledge through a mentoring program with 900 pairs in some 20 countries. This network is active across five continents through the mobilization of strong regional communities. in 2018, is the promotion of especially female talent to positions of responsibility, and in the fight against all forms of discrimination . Maud Bailly, Chief Digital Officer of AccorHotels, and John Ozinga, CEO of AccorInvest, the Joint Ambassadors of the network, reaffirmed the RiiSE ambition by emphasizing the extent to which "diversity is a powerful driver of collective performance: it is important to involve men, women , and to set up an example for managers at the highest level. Promoting gender diversity is everyone's duty regardless of their own gender . " Another of RiiSE's core beliefs is that no progress can be made in terms of gender equality, fairness and diversity without the support of men, who currently represent 42% of the network's members . Furthermore, in line with the commitment made by Sébastien Bazin to the United Nations in 2015 as part of the #HeForShe program, RiiSE will pursue the Group’s objective of combatting pay inequalities and actively promote the recognition of all talents. In this way, AccorHotels, which has already made tangible progress in relation to equal pay and female representation, has set itself the goal of having more than 35% female hotel managers by 2020 within its network of more than 4,600 hotels .

Create: Oct 31, 2018 Edit: Oct 31, 2018

Rosewood plans to open Shanghai property in 2024

This latest international jewel in the collection’s crown will signify a key milestone for the group: the opening firmly solidifies Rosewood’s foothold and trademark ultra-luxury hospitality in China, joining Rosewood Beijing, the recently opened Rosewood Sanya, Rosewood Hong Kong opening in Winter this year, and Rosewood Chengdu which will open in 2023 . Owned by Hopson Commercial Property Management Company, Rosewood Shanghai will feature dramatic views from the top floors of a new skyscraper in the centrally located Suhe Creek area. In one of the most exciting and dynamic neighborhoods of Shanghai, the hotel’s central location will provide stunning views of Shanghai’s Huangpu River and iconic skyline, and easy access to the famous Bund promenade, Nanjing Road commercial area, People’s Square, Jing’an Temple and the Shanghai Exhibition Center . Rosewood Shanghai will play a key role in the revitalization of an area that is home to beautifully preserved and restored historic buildings dating from the city’s Art Deco design period combined with strikingly contemporary architecture – mirroring the evolution of Shanghai itself, a blend of exotic history and cutting-edge modernity. Home to the city’s dynamic local art scene with galleries and studios, the area has also witnessed the arrival of exciting new retail and dining concepts. The hotel will be a centerpiece of the Hopson One Suhewan development that will include grade-A offices, residences, upscale shopping center, educational institutions and galleries, located in the Jing’an commercial, retail and entertainment district . Kohn Pedersen Fox architects have been appointed designers of the 220-room hotel which will also include 83 luxury Rosewood Residences; all accommodations will showcase spectacular views of Shanghai’s skyline. The Manor Club, Rosewood’s hallmark luxury executive lounge, will be featured at Rosewood Shanghai, offering a wide range of exclusive privileges to guests .

Create: Oct 29, 2018 Edit: Oct 29, 2018

Mulpha Group Acquires Waldorf Stadium Apartment Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand

The Waldorf Stadium Apartment Hotel in Auckland s Central Business District (CBD) has been sold to Australia-based Mulpha Group ( Mulpha ), a subsidiary of Malaysia-based real estate developer and hospitality giant, Mulpha International Bhd, at an undisclosed sum. Built in 2008, the 178-unit strata-title development was sold subject to a new 11-year performance lease underpinned by Japan-based serviced apartment conglomerate, Daiwa House Group ( Daiwa ). The hotel comprises a mix of studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments. Other facilities include a breakfast restaurant and a business centre. Located in downtown Auckland, it is in close proximity to major attractions including the 12,000-capacity Spark Arena, the Britomart precinct, Auckland Waterfront and Queen Street; the city s main commercial and retail thoroughfare. Dean Humphries, National Director of Hotels at Colliers International, stated that the transaction is the first major hotel sale and the largest hotel transaction in Auckland for the past 12 years. Insiders valued the deal to be at between NZD60 million to NZD70 million (about AUD55 million to AUD63 million ).

Create: Oct 29, 2018 Edit: Oct 31, 2018

16-story hotel is built in downtown Tucson

A 16-story hotel development coming to downtown Tucson will tower over the Rialto Theatre, temporarily displacing the nearly 100-year-old performance and concert venue. Element Hotel and Moxy Hotel, which are both Marriott brands, will share a new building on the south lot of the Rialto Theatre block on the corner of South Fifth Avenue and East Broadway. The Dabdoub and Stiteler families, who built the AC Marriott, which opened last year across the street, are again teaming up on this $88 million project. The 16-story building will house both hotels, with 109 rooms in the Moxy, a millennial-focused brand, and 140 rooms in Element, an extended-stay hotel for business travelers. During construction, which is expected to begin next year and last about two years, the Rialto Theatre will move to the historic Corbett Building on South Sixth Avenue and East Seventh Street. Developer Scott Stiteler, who bought the Corbett Building in 1999, said Rialto at the Corbett will “retain the soul of a Tucson story.” “Anywhere we could have been and still continue to work would have been satisfactory, but wow, that’s perfect location-wise,” said Curtis McCray, executive director of the Rialto Theatre. “It’s definitely going to be a big adjustment and we’re going to be displaced and that’s never easy.” Improvements to the existing theatre will include increased seating and viewing capacity; new concessions, dressing and green rooms; and bus parking. In a letter to donors of the Rialto’s capital campaign, McCray stressed that the Rialto Theatre Foundation will continue to operate autonomously when the upgrades are completed. “In important respects, the combined project will function as a partnership that will integrate certain functions of both properties in interesting ways,” the letter reads. “Performers will want to stay at the hotel. Event planners and organizations will want to rent newly reconfigured spaces in the theatre. Visitors will want to dine, enjoy libations, maybe play some basketball. Everyone will want to share in the fun, and that is our collective aim.” Source: tucson.com

Create: Oct 21, 2018 Edit: Oct 21, 2018

New hotel group Maribel launches in Europe

The Scandinavian hotel company First Hotels has joined forces with global hotel management company Belvar to conquer Europe. Together, the companies are trading over 200 million euros in turnover, a figure set to double in just two years. The new Group has been named Maribel and has a threefold and equal ownership between the two owners of Belvar, Mads Jacobsen and Rune Firing, and the founder of First Hotels and the Flying Elephant Group, Asmund Haare. “The portfolios are very well suited to each other and this is one of the cases where the total value exceeds that of the individual contributing elements,” says CEO of Belvar, Mads Jacobsen. Maribel will initially have more than 11,500 rooms in their portfolio, covering a total of 11 countries. Currently, the hotels operate under the trademarks First Hotels, Moxy Hotels and Courtyard by Marriott. In the UK alone, Belvar has opened 5 new UK Moxy hotels since December 2016. Major expansion plans Over the past few years, Belvar has become a significant European partner for the world’s largest hotel group, Marriott. The company has signed operational agreements for over 9,000 new rooms in a total of 45 hotels set to open over the next two years. The new Group will mean that they are represented in 17 countries. Equally, revenues will rise from two to four billion Norwegian kroner with a clear ambition of continued growth. Asmund Haare becomes Chairman of the board in Maribel, whilst Mads Jacobsen, Rune Firing and Simen Haare will become board members. Mads Jacobsen has been announced as CEO in both Maribel and Belvar, whilst Rune Firing continues as Chairman of the board of Belvar. Next-generation operating company The European hotel industry is characterised by large and heavy international players. Belvar, which is the Group’s operating company, will enter the top league of European hotel operators after the merger, but will maintain today’s effective organisation. With increased volume, there is also increased relevance and attractiveness for tomorrow’s hotel guests and for portfolio development. Source: ehotelier.com

Create: Oct 21, 2018 Edit: Oct 21, 2018

Raj Patel Hospitality to Open Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Tyler, Texas

The 88-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Tyler, Texas is set to open on Monday, October 22, 2018 with a new décor that provides guests with a feeling of warmth and calm while traveling. Located at 309 West Heritage Drive, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Tyler South will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Raj Patel Hospitality and managed by Hotel Equities of Atlanta, Georgia. General Manager Peter Wagner and Director of Sales Heather Trammell lead the management team at the property. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Tyler South offers guests convenient access to The Village at Cumberland Park, Kiepersol Winery and Faulkner Park Sports Facility. “Delivering both function and comfort, our new design and décor elevate the Fairfield brand, setting a new standard in the moderate tier category,” said Callette Nielsen, vice president and global brand manager, Fairfield Inn & Suites. “At Fairfield Inn & Suites, we provide an easy, positive and productive travel experience, as well as the promise of consistent and reliable service at an exceptional value. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Tyler South is a truly stunning example of the brand’s contemporary look and feel, and we are pleased to introduce Fairfield Inn & Suites hotels in the Tyler area.” The new décor package is warm, timeless, forward-thinking, and inviting with simple nods back to the brand’s heritage. Specific elements meant to evoke feelings from the Fairfield Farm include a farmhouse table in the lobby for gathering and connecting, photography from the Fairfield Farm serving as artwork in the lobby and guest rooms, natural materials and unique textures featured throughout, and a history wall in every property showcasing the brand’s roots. The new guestroom design is impactful, unique and addresses the functional needs of the Fairfield guest for a seamless experience. The room was designed with the modern traveler’s needs to stay productive on the road in mind without overcomplicating the guestroom. Each room features a modern lounge chair, serving as both functional and comfortable to either work or relax in. The artwork in the room takes center stage with the window treatment acting as a focal point, displaying photography taken at the Fairfield Farm. The material is sheer and allows light to pass through the photography, warming up the room and creating a comfortable environment. The guestrooms also feature a mobile desk, a comfortable couch, refrigerator, coffeemaker and microwave. Source: hotel-online

Create: Oct 20, 2018 Edit: Oct 20, 2018

Orbis will manage a new ibis Styles hotel in Bucharest, scheduled to open in 2020

Orbis Hotel Group, leading hotel operator in Eastern Europe and strategic partner of AccorHotels, further strengthens its leading position in the Romanian capital by signing a management contract for a new ibis Styles hotel in the city center. “Eastern Europe offers new, exciting destinations for both – corporate and leisure travelers from around the globe. On top of it, economies of countries in this part of the world are on the rise along with the domestic purchasing power. Definitely, we see the potential and that is why we are dynamically expanding our network of hotels in this region under AccorHotels’ brands. We offer currently 129 hotels in 12 countries and have more than 40 projects secured, ” Gilles Clavie, president of the management board & CEO of Orbis, commented. The newly-built ibis Styles Bucharest City Center, expected to be open in Q 1 2020, is developed in partnership with Romanian owner and investor – Dentotal Hospitality, and will be managed by Orbis. “With 11 hotels today and another 10 in the pipeline, Romania is a key market for us and we’re proud that in partnership with Dentotal Hospitality, we are further strengthening our leading position by opening ibis Styles City Center that will be one of the most upbeat and stylish hotels in Bucharest. We do not hide that we actively continue to look for further developing opportunities on the market, having a strong potential for hotels under AccorHotels’ world leading brands, ”adds Frank Reul, head of Development of Orbis & AccorHotels Eastern Europe Source : Business Review

Create: Oct 16, 2018 Edit: Oct 16, 2018

Rosewood recognized by Condé Nast Traveler 2018

Condé Nast Traveler announced the results of its 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards, recognizing sixteen of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ properties with top honors in each of their respective categories. This year, the awarded properties include Rosewood Phnom Penh (Phnom Penh, Cambodia), Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel (Paris, France), The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (New York, NY), Rosewood CordeValle (San Martin, CA), Rosewood Sand Hill (Menlo Park, CA), Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi (Santa Fe, NM), Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (Dallas, TX), Rosewood London (London, UK), Rosewood Hotel Georgia (Vancouver, BC), Rosewood San Miguel de Allende (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico), Rosewood Beijing (Beijing, China), Rosewood Mayakoba (Riviera Maya, Mexico), Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort (Los Cabos, Mexico), Rosewood Bermuda (Bermuda), Rosewood Phuket (Phuket, Thailand), and Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco (Tuscany, Italy). Rosewood properties had an outstanding performance this year with Rosewood CordeValle ranking first in the “Top Resorts in Northern California” category for the second year in a row, and an additional nine properties ranking fifth in their respective categories. Rosewood San Miguel de Allende placed third in the “Top Hotels in Mexico” list, while both Rosewood Mayakoba and Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi ranked fourth in the “Top Resorts in Eastern Mexico” and “Top Hotels in the Southwest U.S.” categories, respectively. Six properties received a fifth-place ranking in their categories, including Rosewood Hotel Georgia in the “Top Hotels in Canada” category, Rosewood Beijing in the “Top Hotels in China” category, Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in the “Top Hotels in Paris” category, Rosewood Sand Hill in the “Top Hotels in Northern California” category, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in the “Top Resorts in Europe” category, and Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort in the “Top Reports in Western Mexico” category. Source : Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Create: Oct 15, 2018 Edit: Oct 15, 2018

Louvre Hotels launches Hlab, a new ecosystem of start-ups

The world’s 5th largest hotel group presents its new platform: HLab, the purpose of this open, flexible ecosystem is to bring the Group’s strategic focus into contact more quickly with the innovative ideas of its start-up partners. Communicating and working with external innovation pioneers is a veritable challenge for a major group. Louvre Hotels Group has stepped up to the plate with a solid, open approach to innovation. For over a year, their dedicated team has provided clear strategic focus and a pragmatic collaboration method leading very quickly to shared success with the start-ups. HLab is the name of this platform 100% dedicated to new intelligent businesses. We had a threefold objective when we launched HLab a year ago: Reach outside of the company for skills that could be valuable for the Group Prove that we were capable of testing, rolling out and scaling an innovative solution developed in collaboration with an external partner. Generate an innovative spririt internally " HLab is the first building block of our long-term innovation strategy. Today, we can be proud of what we have accomplished because we are in line with the stated objectives and ready to enter the next, ambitious phase of the adventure." Quang Thai, Vice President Strategy and Innovation Source : Louvre Hotels Group

Create: Oct 15, 2018 Edit: Oct 15, 2018

Shin's return jumpstarts Hotel Lotte IPO

Lotte Group appears to be accelerating its plan to list the shares of Hotel Lotte, which holds considerable stakes in Lotte Property and Development and other key group units, since Chairman Shin Dong-bin was released from jail on Oct. 5, industry analysts said Friday. Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate has been trying to create a holding company structure for the past few years, with Lotte Corp. at the top holding majority stakes in shopping, chemical, construction and other subsidiaries. Then, Chairman Shin, who has a 10.5 percent stake in Lotte Corp., will control all the group's units. Taking public Hotel Lotte, which Lotte Holdings in Japan currently controls, has been the key to completing the holding company structure in Korea because it reduces Lotte Holdings' stake in the nation's largest hotel chain. After the shares of Hotel Lotte are floated on the local bourse, the group reportedly plans to combine it with Lotte Corp. to create a new holding firm. To jumpstart the largely stalled process to take Hotel Lotte public, Lotte Corp. on Oct. 10 decided to acquire a 23.24 percent stake in Lotte Chemical from two affiliates of Lotte Property and Development (11.27 percent) and Hotel Lotte (11.98 percent) in separate block deals. The deals were worth 2.23 trillion won ($1.96 billion). Under the deal, the holding firm said its stake investment in Lotte Chemical will help diversify its business portfolio, which currently focuses on retail, food and beverage s. The deals came just five days after Shin was freed from detention as an appellate court suspended his sentence of corruption charges. He had been in jail since February for involvement in a corruption scandal of the impeached former President Park Geun-hye. Upon his release, Shin said: "I will make enhanced efforts on the improvement of the group's ownership structure, which has been delayed so far." Over the move, analysts said Lotte will increase momentum in addressing remaining tasks for ownership restructuring, such as embracing Lotte Chemical into the holding firm structure and the IPO of Hotel Lotte.

Create: Oct 15, 2018 Edit: Oct 15, 2018