New York just fine with Airbnb. New York City’s council passed a bill requiring home-sharing companies – read: Airbnb – to hand over the names and addresses of their hosts or face fines of US$1,500 per listing. Airbnb has fought the measure, claiming it violates hosts’ privacy. One Airbnb owner, Stanley “Skip” Karol, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in New York against the city, claiming he was targeted after speaking out about the legislation. “Today the New York City Council passed an industry-setting measure to force greater transparency and responsibility for short-term rentals while helping to protect the fabric of New York neighborhoods and preserve residents’ access to affordable housing,” American Hotel & Lodging Association President and CEO Katherine Lugar said in a statement. “It’s time for Airbnb to be held to the same standards, rules and regulations as every other American company – large and small.” The law will take effect in six months.
New Castle in partnership: Shelton, Connecticut-based owner and operator New Castle Hotels and Resorts Inc. announced a strategic partnership with Full-G Capital, a Toronto-based hospitality real estate investment and advisory firm, to expand New Castle’s footprint in the Canada. It currently has seven hotels and two in the pipeline.
Kimpton in Japan: IHG and Japanese owner Tsukada Global Holdings Inc. signed an agreement to open the Kimpton Tokyo Shinjuku, in 2020. The 162-room hotel will have three restaurants and be located in the city’s skyscraper district, is the first Kimpton of the brand in the country.
U.S. June hotel results: According to STR, here are the year-over-year results for U.S. hotel performance in June 2018: occupancy: +1.7% to 74.5%; ADR +2.8% to US$132.66; RevPAR +4.6% to US$98.85. It’s 100 consecutive months of YOY RevPAR growth. Additionally, each of the key performance metrics are at record highs on a 12-month moving average. “The industry’s 117 million room nights sold were the most we have ever recorded for a June,” said Jan Freitag, STR’s senior VP of lodging insights.
K Club Hotel for sale: The freehold K Club Hotel, Spa and Golf Club in County Kildare, Ireland, has been put on the market for €80 million (US$93.1 million) by its owner, Michael Smurfit. The resort, which hosted the Ryder Cup in 2006, comprises 550 acres, a 134-room hotel and two 18-hole golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer.