Union in the U.S.: Frankfurt, Germany-based Union Investment has acquired a further hotel property in the US. Opened in 2015, the property is located on King Street in the historical city center of Charleston, South Carolina. The property has a modern Hyatt House apartment-style hotel, designed for extended-stay guests, and a Hyatt Place hotel, a brand in the premium segment. The two brands offer 304 rooms in total. The property’s vendor is Regent/BN Charleston Holdings. The hotels are leased for 30 years to the operator, the Pyramid Hotel Group. The purchase price was not disclosed. Union Investment is adding the hotel property to the portfolio of its open-ended real estate fund UniImmo: Global.
Michael hits hard: Hurricane Michael made landfall Wednesday near Mexico Beach, Florida as a massive Category 4 hurricane, annihilating homes and buildings across the state’s panhandle with 155-mph winds.
Hilton released this statement around the disaster:
“The safety and security of our guests and team members is our top priority. Hilton properties located in the mandatory evacuation zone in Florida have evacuated to meet local requirements. Other properties within the storm’s projected path that remain open and operational have implemented emergency preparedness plans. We are in regular contact with local authorities and our tourism partners as we continue to monitor the impact of the hurricane. For guests whose travel plans may be impacted by Hurricane Michael, modification and cancellation penalties may be waived for stays with arrivals Tuesday, October 9, through Friday, October 12.”
Disney Anaheim abandoned: Disney officials informed Anaheim Wednesday that they have canceled plans for a 700-room luxury hotel at Disneyland Resort in light of the city’s decision to scrub tax-incentive deals for the project. The Anaheim City Council voted in late August to cancel the tax-incentive deals because the project had changed over time, including a new location. Council members also said they were concerned the new location would shutter businesses, costing jobs. Disney officials at the time denied making substantive changes to the project. The hotel was expected to open in 2021 and be the company’s fourth at the Disneyland Resort.
RED in India: Radisson Hotel Group has recently signed on management rights for a new 350-room Radisson RED hotel at a marquee location in Noida, India’s planned city. The hotel will have an all-day dining restaurant, swimming pool and fitness center and communal hangouts. The broader project development will feature a collection of F&B outlets.
IHG jumps on the straw ban: InterContinental Hotels Group will remove plastic straws from our global estate by the end of 2019, representing more than 5,400 hotels in nearly 100 countries. Plastic straws have already been removed from nearly 1,000 hotels in our Europe, Middle East, Asia & Africa (EMEAA) region and the company plans to introduce bulk-size bathroom amenities to several hotel brands in the Americas as part of broader efforts to reduce waste.
A good get for the Caribbean: The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) have unveiled a new marketing video for the region. Supported by a select group of destinations and private sector partners, the video presentation targets social media, including Facebook, Instagram and Google Display. It features the electronic dance music of “Lean On” by Major Lazer x DJ Snake (feat. MØ), one of the most-streamed songs of all time on Spotify.