Airbnb gets healthy. Airbnb on Tuesday launched the Office of Healthy Tourism, an initiative to drive local, authentic and sustainable tourism in countries and cities across the globe. Along with the launch of the Office, Airbnb is also releasing data that shows the benefits of healthy tourism for hosts, guests, and cities around the world, as well as announcing the creation of its new Tourism Advisory Board, which will be made up of travel industry leaders from around the world.
More bidders for LaSalle. Bloomberg has reported that private equity firms Blackstone, Starwood Capital Group and Brookfield, as well as REITs Park Hotels & Resorts and Sunstone Hotels Investor might join Pebblebrook Lodging Trust in the bidding war for LaSalle Hotel Properties. R.W. Baird’s Michael Bellisario put out a note Tuesday stating, “Our view remains that private equity interest is high and that the white-hot debt markets are supportive of a levered take-private transaction; we ascribe a higher probability than most investors to private equity ultimately acquiring LaSalle.”
Radisson Red expands. Radisson Hotel Group has signed a deal for a Radisson Red Mandaue in Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines. Scheduled to open in Q4 2021, the hotel will form part of Astra Centre, a major new mixed-use development of Cebu Landmasters, Inc.
Sunway leadership. Sunway Hotels & Resorts, Kuala Lumpur, the hospitality division of Malaysian conglomerate Sunway Group, has announced the appointment of André Scholl as CEO to lead the company’s growth strategy, drive operational efficiency and oversee the next phase of development for the 11-property hotel group. Scholl’s previous role was the group senior vice president of operations for Regent Hotels & Resorts.
Denver icon sold? The Brown Palace Hotel has sold for an undisclosed price to Crescent Real Estate Holdings LLC of Dallas, The Denver Business Journal has reported. Citing an internal email sent to employees, the new management company will be HEI Hotels & Resorts, which will take over in June. The hotel is expected to remain a part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection. It was last sold in 2014 to Dallas-based Crow Holdings for US$103 million.