Marriott signs in Jeddah: Marriott International has signed three deals in Jeddah with the Al Murjan Group. The projects will add over 500 rooms in the country and will feature the Middle East’s first Delta Hotel by Marriott along with Jeddah’s first Marriott Executive Apartments and Four Points by Sheraton.
An Andaz rebrand: Hyatt Hotels Corporation will rebrand Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi to Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi, turning the ‘Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi’ into the first Andaz branded hotel in the Middle East. The hotel is owned by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) and is expected to be rebranded in late 2018.
Margaritaville Fort Myers: TPI Hospitality and Margaritaville Holdings have entered into a partnership to develop a new 254-room Margaritaville Resort at the entrance to Fort Myers Beach, Florida in the popular Times Square district. Designed with a clear focus on maintaining the authenticity and charm of the local area, the ‘casual-luxe’ resort will sit on seven acres of beachfront land, with direct access to the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. The property will boast low-lying open-air buildings that protect neighboring views, a walkable assortment of signature Margaritaville food and beverage concepts, entertainment venues and more.
Hilton franchise in Milan: Hilton has signed a franchise agreement with GdF Hotel Srl to open Grand Hotel Villa Torretta Milan Sesto, Curio Collection by Hilton. The 77-room hotel will open later this year and joins two Curio Collection by Hilton hotels in Italy, including properties already operating in Rome and Tuscany. Before opening later this year, the hotel will undergo further refurbishments, including guest room enhancements and the addition of a fitness center.
Singer managing: The Singer Group has taken over management of Aquarius Luxury Suites, on the Blouberg promenade in Cape Town. Located near the beaches of Bloubergstrand, theproperty opened its doors in October 2010 and has 58 fully equipped luxury serviced apartments.
Tivoli in Portugal: Tivoli Hotels & Resorts is opening a property in the Alentejo region of Portugal in the city of Évora, which marks the brand’s eleventh in the country. Scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2018, Tivoli Évora Ecoresort will be a nature retreat with unique cultural experiences. Options will include nature hiking, skydiving, sunset hot air balloon rides and dining options.
Middle East/Africa pipelines: According to data from Lodging Econometrics, the top countries in the Middle East construction pipeline are: Saudi Arabia with 209 projects/72,680 rooms, United Arab Emirates with 208 projects/58,930 rooms and Qatar with 58 projects/13,667 rooms. Cities in the Middle East with the largest pipelines are: Dubai, UAE with 161 projects/46,420 rooms, Provincial, Saudi Arabia with 60 projects/10,859 rooms and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with 58 projects/10,885 rooms.
The top countries in the Africa construction pipeline are: Nigeria with 38 projects/6,561 rooms, Ethopia with 30 projects/5,319 rooms and Morocco with 29 projects/4,315 rooms. Cities in Africa with the largest pipelines are: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with 24 projects/4,347 rooms, Nairobi, Kenya with 17 projects/2,641 rooms and Lagos, Nigeria with 16 projects/2,604 rooms.