Find ‘em all: Trump Hotels says it’s signed letters of intent for 39 different locations – Media outlets ProPublica and Forbes are now on a mission to find all 39, via recruiting local reporters and civically engaged citizens across the U.S. The two media outlets are even including a playbook of sorts, with strategies and tips for amateur Trump Hotels sleuths in the making.
Dream New Delhi: Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal signed an agreement to expand business to India with the opening of a luxury hotel in New Delhi in 2019. The Chatwal-led Dream Hotel Group signed the hotel management agreement in New York yesterday with Viiking Ventures chairman Sachiin Joshi. Dream New Delhi will have 187 guest rooms and suites and other hi-end amenities.
Tasmania cliff resort: Tasmania’s getting an A$90 million (US$70.3 million) luxury clifftop resort, unanimously approved by a local council Monday. Funded by the local Ransley family, the Table Cape Development will overlook one of northern Tasmania’s coastal regions and has been designed by Sydney-based architecture and interior design studio Silvester Fuller in collaboration with landscape architects Aspect Studios.
Global Travel Forecast 2018: According to the 2018 Global Travel Forecast, travel prices are expected to rise sharply in the coming year, reaching nearly 4% increases in some sectors. Global airfares are expected to rise 3.5% in 2018; hotel prices are expected to be 3.7% higher; and ground transportation such as taxis, trains and buses are expected to rise only 0.6% – significantly less than the 3% inflation forecast for 2018.
Dalata Dublin: Dalata Hotel Group submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of the Tara Towers Hotel site in Dublin. Tara Towers, which was acquired by Dalata in 2016, will be demolished and replaced by a mixed used development including a 4-star 140-room Maldron hotel with a restaurant, bar and meeting facilities and 70 residential units. Dalata is still in the process of finding a development partner for the project’s residential component.
Condor in Texas: The REIT Condor Hospitality Trust will purchase a portfolio of three Marriott-branded hotels in Texas for US$59.6 million. The hotels include: the Fairfield Inn & Suites El Paso Airport, the TownePlace Suites Austin North Tech Ridge, and the Residence Inn Austin Airport. The hotels will continue to be managed by Aimbridge Hospitality.
STUDY, business travel impact on U.S.: A new report issued by the GBTA Foundation in partnership with American Express Global Business Travel shows the economic impact business travel has on the nation’s economy. The study, titled “The U.S. Business Travel Economic Impact Report,” reveals business travel was responsible for about 3% (US$547 billion) of U.S. GDP in 2016. Additionally, the research found that for every 1% change in business travel spending, the U.S. economy gained or lost 74,000 jobs, US$5.5 billion in GDP, US$3.3 billion in wages and US$1.3 billion in taxes.
Liberty acquires Hampton Inn: Tampa, Florida-based Liberty Group acquired the first hotel through its most recent private-equity real estate investment vehicle, Liberty Hospitality Fund II, LP – the 120-room Hampton Inn by Hilton in Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia. The hotel will be managed by Liberty Hospitality Management and undergo significant capital improvements as part of the investment strategy.
The Travel Experience Incubator: Accenture Interactive, Marriott International, and incubator 1776 launched the Travel Experience Incubator, a new program to discover and foster startups with the main goal of improving travel experiences. Through the program, startups will develop, validate, and test travel solutions using data and technology, with the goal to increase customer connectedness and enhance travel experiences.