The Dedica Anthology

The Dedica Anthology is a brand in contemporary luxury hôtellerie, launched on 21 April 2018. The brand encompasses five 5-star hotel properties and four 4-star associate properties, located in Italy and across Europe. The properties, previously part of Boscolo Hotels, were acquired by US-based private equity group Värde Partners, in association with Deutsche Bank, in 2017. The brand is led by the hotelier Stephen Alden as CEO In 1978 the Boscolo Family opened its first Hotel in Sottomarina. During the following 40 years the business grew under the Boscolo Hotels brand and further openings and acquisition were made, including hotels in the main italian art cities (Rome, Florence, Milan), Nice, Lyon, Budapest and Prague. In 2017 nine of the hotels were acquired by Värde Partners. In 2018 five of the hotels were rebranded as The Dedica Anthology, with four initially becoming associate properties of the new brand It is a collective of places where people want to be – and return. It is a vibrant haven of world-class hospitality with a subtly Italian attitude – for the inspired and the inspiring. Underpinned by values of authenticity, curiosity and open-mindedness, The Dedica Anthology is a vibrant part of a city, an upbeat blend of details and rituals and a charming storyteller, powered by people with a mastery of hospitality and a human touch. It is the promise of curated, contemporary hôtellerie. CONTACT  TheDedicaAnthology  TheDedicaanthology  DaHotels.com

Banyan Tree Holdings

Banyan Tree Holdings Limited is an international hospitality brand that manages and develops resorts, hotels and spas in Asia, America, Africa and Middle East. The brand was established since 1994, with its roots in Singapore. As of 2014, there are 36 resorts and hotels. 2015 will see one addition to the list in Morocco and two more in China. Under their management are also 70 spas, 77 retail galleries, and 3 championship golf courses in 28 countries. It has been 20 years since the first Banyan Tree resort opened in Phuket. The group has 3 brands, Banyan Tree, an all villa concept which pioneered pool villas and tropical garden spa. Angsana, which provides a range of recreational activities and suited for families and friends, as well as Cassia, a holiday apartment concept with first property to launch in 2017. CONTACT  BanyanTreeHotels  Banyan_Tree  BanyanTreeHotels  BanyanTree.com

Helia Hotels Group

The owner of Helia Hotel Group was born in 1956 on Mashhad. During his college, he was doing trade and commercial activities. From 1987 along with doing commercial activities, he commenced constructing residential units and buildings for tourism intentions, simultaneously he steps into tourism, hotel construction, and hospitality fields that constructing 8 hotels in Mashhad and Kish is the result of his 30 years continuous activity in this industry. From 2010, along with especial activities in hospitality development, such as branding, codification, and programming, Helia Hotel Group have done activities as follow. Helia Hotel Group centralized its activities in three sections; construction and development, management leadership and sale & reservation. Helia Hotel Group has its own independent management under the supervision of managing director, operating structure for support department and services for purchase, equip and provision of necessities. In strategic management, the section has centralized managements in pilgrimage-tourism section in Mashhad and recreational tourism at Kish hotels. Also in this regards in sale and marketing sections. Subsidiary companies; Atrin and Sobhan Web Reserve Kish are centrally managing the reservation office. Also deliver services in customer club that is active in 3 sections; companies, agencies and faithful customers CONTACT  HeliaGroup.ir  ReservasionDOTIR  Reservasion  Reservasion.ir  HeliaGroup.com  Info@HeliaGroup.com    076 444 248 60  Moj & Darya Blve, Kish

Parsian International Hotels

History of Activity Parsian International Hotels is a holding company specialized in hotel management, owning 21 three-, four-, and five-star hotels across Iran, and owned by Parsian Tourism and Recreational Center Holding Company. This company was registered on 30 November 1999 as Azadi International Hotels, and once again on 11 November 2001 with the title and brand of Parsian International Hotels. Activity Parsian International Hotels is the first and largest hotel group in Iran. Parsian hotels are located in many cities significant for tourism, pilgrimage, and commerce, such as Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, Bam, Chalus, and Ramsar. In response to the increasing demand of the tourism market, Parsian International Hotels plays a determining role in the Iranian hotel management industry by providing residence, entertainment, sports, and recreational services meeting international standards. Market share A major share of the Iranian hotel management industry market belongs to Parsian International Hotels. In recent years, based on human resources education, innovation, creativity, and scientific management, this company has found a distinguished status in the Iranian hotel management and its target market. Parsian International Hotels attempts to play a major role in enhancing the Iranian tourism industry based on international hotel management standards and recreation of the Iranian-Islamic hospitality. CONTACT  Parsian.Hotels  PIH.ir  Info@PIH.ir    0212720    021 886 70 608    Before Africa BLVD, Resalat Highway.  

Radisson aims to double portfolio in francophone Africa by 2022

Radisson Hotel Group, which today has 96 hotels and more than 18,500 rooms in operation or under development across 31 countries in Africa, is now seeking to double its portfolio there by the year 2022. If all goes according to plan, the hotel company will operate more than 130 hotels with 23,000 rooms by that time, putting it at the forefront of hospitality growth in French-speaking Africa over the next five years. The group currently has 28 hotels in operation and under development in francophone Africa across 13 countries. This includes six hotel deals signed during 2018 in markets such as Morocco, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Niger and Republic of Guinea. Key people for a key team In order to drive the rapid growth of its African portfolio, Radisson Hotel Group has reinforced its development team, doing so via the introduction of Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President, Development, Middle East, Turkey & French Speaking Africa. Rankoussi has been with Radisson Hotel Group for over 5 years, initially overseeing the growth of the company in the Middle East & Turkey and now leading development activities across French-speaking Africa. He is supported by Erwan Garnier, Director, Development French & Portuguese Speaking Africa. Together, they seek to accelerate the introduction of all Radisson brands in the region with a focus on key capital and economic cities. The new organizational structure follows the recent appointment of Frederic Feijs, who leads operations as Regional Director Africa – French Speaking Countries for Radisson Hotel Group, and who will play a significant role in strengthening the group’s network in the region and increasing operational synergies, for the greater benefit of owners. Rankoussi in a statement said: “I am thrilled to be expanding my geographical focus, to include French-speaking Africa. We have ambitious plans for this important market and it is imperative that we have the right resources in place to support our growth. This means communicating effectively with owners and investors, as well as providing first class levels of expertise as we establish long-term relationships with our business partners in this market. We are proud that each of our development team members fits this criterion for success.” “We are rapidly growing our francophone Africa portfolio with hotel deals strategically aligned to deliver our five-year development plan across the continent, the introduction of new brands and a scaled growth in Africa’s key destinations. We plan to continue this accelerated growth through further expansion in our focus markets across this flourishing continent. With our new brand architecture, countries like Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Mauritius have the potential for a critical mass strategy across all our brands to be implemented with,” he added.

InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) acquires Six Senses for $300 million

IHG buys luxury hotel operator Six Senses Hotels Resorts & Spas from Pegasus Capital Advisors for $300 million. Revealing a move which increases IHG’s global presence and adds a hefty number of luxurious properties in some of the world’s most desirable and exotic destinations, the purchase of Six Senses by the hospitality goliath has been announced. Huge acquisitions are always a hot topic in the hospitality industry, and the latest news that industry giant InterContinental Hotel Group has bought luxury hotel group Six Senses from  Pegasus Capital Advisors certainly falls into that category. For the cool price of $300m, IHG now takes control of all of Six Senses’ 16 hotels, 18 management contracts in the pipeline and more than 50 deals currently in negotiation. The move reflects IHG’s ambition to expand further into the luxury market, and Six Senses’ portfolio of idyllic properties in the Maldives, Thailand, Oman and Portugal, to name but a few, fully cements this intention. Six Senses will sit above IHG’s other luxury acquisitions of late, including Regent Hotels and Kimpton Hotels. Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer of IHG, said, “Six Senses is an outstanding brand in the top-tier of luxury and one we’ve admired for some time. You only have to look at its iconic hotels and resorts to see how this acquisition will further round out our luxury offer. With a focus on wellness and sustainability, Six Senses has been voted the world’s top hotel brand for the past two years, which is a testament to its impressive management team who bring deep experience to IHG’s luxury operations.” The acquisition was conducted for $300m in cash and involves the sale of the Six Senses brand and its management business. While Six Senses has been operating as an asset-light business, IHG intends to grow Six Senses substantially over the next 10 years to reach a total of approximately 60 properties. The purchase does not include any real estate assets, but focuses on incorporating Six Senses spas, which total 37 under the Six Senses and LivNordic brands. The process of acquisition is a complex one, further complicated by the spa element, so no doubt both IHG and Six Senses were grateful that consultancy firm Horwath HTL Health and Wellness were on hand to advise. The company’s experience in wellness undoubtedly proved invaluable, and Ingo Schweder, Managing Director of Horwath HTL Health and Wellness, spoke of the trajectory of the wellness industry, saying, “With IHG’s acquisition of Six Senses, we see yet another major hospitality group making a large, strategic investment in wellness, signalling that wellness is not a fad but, in fact, the new reality and a necessary component of the hospitality business. People are becoming increasingly concerned about their health and wellbeing and investing in themselves to ensure an optimal status of health whether at home or while traveling.”

Situation of the Tourism Industry in Iran in last two years

Red Planet Japan steps up Asian expansion with $59.5 million acquisition

Hotel News - Red Planet Japan announces the $59.5 million acquisition of the Thailand-based hotel arm of its parent company Red Planet Hotels Limited on the back of a series of expansion announcements in the Asia Pacific region. Red Planet Japan has announced that it is acquiring the Thailand-based hotel arm of its parent company Red Planet Hotels Limited. Industry experts say the acquisition is likely to be completed by the end of the first quarter of the financial year 2019. Red Planet Japan will acquire a half dozen hotel-owning companies in Thailand, all of them from its parent company. This will make for a total acquisition consideration of 6.5 billion Japanese yen or $59.5 million. The acquisition includes five operating hotels, located in Surawong (Bangkok), Patong (Phuket), Asoke (Bangkok), Pattaya, and Hat Yai. It also includes a sixth property that is currently under development in Sukhumvit Soi 8 (Bangkok). The operating hotels being acquired in Thailand have a recorded sales that totals 692 million Japanese yen ($6 million) in 2017 and 787 million Japanese yen ($7.1 million) in 2018. As a result of this acquisition, Red Planet Japan’s portfolio will increase to a total of 15 hotels in Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines, including five hotels under development. EXPANSION OF JAPANESE TOURISM Japan, like many markets with easy access to Southeast Asia, has undergone a tourism boom in recent years. Factors such as the expansion of low-cost carrier routes, the loosening of visa requirements, and a growing affinity for Japanese culture, has fueled a substantial increase in the number of tourists travelling from Southeast Asia to Japan in recent years, especially from Thailand.

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.

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. 

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.

Charlotta Olsson Appointed as General Manager At Radisson Collection Hotel, Strand Stockholm, Sweden

Hotel News - Twelve years ago she kicked off her career at Radisson SAS Strand Hotel at Blasieholmen - now she is back at the same hotel, today's Radisson Collection Strand Hotel Stockholm, as the hotel's new General Manager, according to a press release. Charlotta Olsson already decided there and then 12 years ago that "One day I will come back here and run this hotel". After studying in France, Boston and Italy, she landed at Linköping University. Something that turned out to be completely wrong for Charlotta. She interrupted her studies, once again packed her bag and moved to Caux (Montreux) in Switzerland and studied at the Swiss Hotel Management School. In the hotel industry, she was able to combine her passion for travel, language and the meeting with new people with her drive and talent for development work. She started as Meeting & Events Executive at the Radisson SAS Strand Hotel. Since then, she has successfully climbed within organization with steady steps, a process possibly accelerated by a certain restlessness transformed into a superpower. Most recently, Charlotta has been running the Park Inn by Radisson Stockholm Solna for two years as General Manager. Before that, she opened the Park Inn by Radisson Lund in the same role. A hotel that has now been refined into a Radisson Blu. When Charlotta talks about the new role at Radisson Collection Strand Hotel, it is an admirable enthusiasm that emerges. As a leader, Charlotta is described as purposeful, straight and clear - a person that people know where they are. But also as a caring person who cares on a personal level. Outside the hotel walls, Charlotta is a person with a food and wine interest who likes to travel and then preferably to Italy. She is the oldest in the sibling with two brothers and has strong family ties. She is found frequently in the jogging track or in the hot yoga room if she did not pick up her tennis racket or a golf club.