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Briefs: New Wynn lawsuit | U.S. Q3 pipeline

Wynn sues gaming board: Steve Wynn filed a lawsuit to stop the public release of a report addressing alleged sexual misconduct, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission investigation was prompted by media reports of the misconduct while Wynn was running Wynn Resorts, the company he founded. According to the suit, the report contains or relies on privileged attorney-client communications.

Read more in the Las Vegas Review-Journal

U.S. Q3 pipeline: According to Lodging Econometrics, the U.S. Q3 2018 pipeline stands at 5,376 projects/650,576 rooms, up 7% from 2017’s 5,011 projects/608,837 rooms. The total pipeline is expected to continue to increase at least into the Q1 2019. However, pipeline totals are still distant from the all-time high of 5,883 projects/785,547 in Q2 2008, the company says, and they are not expected to reach those records again this cycle. Other stats:

  • Projects in early planning stage: 1,594 projects/ 84,031 rooms, up significantly, 31% by projects and 23% by rooms year-over-year (YOY).
  • Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months: 2,144 projects/253,102 rooms, are near even YOY.
  • Projects under construction: 1,638 projects/213,443 rooms, while the highest count for this cycle, they are up only modestly YOY.  
  • Franchise companies with the largest U.S. pipelines are Marriott International (1,380 projects/181,907 rooms), Hilton (1,350 projects/150,698 rooms) and IHG (939 projects/95,312 rooms); the three comprise 68% of the total construction pipeline projects.

California fires: Authorities are tackling fast-moving blazes in Southern California’s Ventura County, where several thousand acres are affected, and in Northern California the city of Paradise has been engulfed; in both places, thousands are being evacuated amid fast-moving blazes.

Fairmont luxury report: Affluent travelers perceive hotels and resorts as established authorities and trusted travel guides, according to Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury Insights Report. It’s based on Fairmont’s 2018 Global Luxury Traveler Insights Study, an online survey of 2,725 luxury travelers from France, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, China, and United Arab Emirates. Some findings: Travelers prioritize experiences over brands, with two out of three considering it important to have experiences not readily available to everyone (65%); 89% surveyed said the best hotels have colleagues that are familiar with the area and can provide a local scoop; 93% consider the hotel an important part of the vacation experience; and 84% consider it important that the hotel provides recommendations of experiences that are not detrimental to the local community.

Read the report

Aston in Indonesia: Archipelago International of Indonesia announced the signing of Aston Sumenep City Hotel in Madura. Anticipated to open in 2021, it will be the first Aston-branded hotel in Sumenep Regency. 

Scandic in Lapland: Scandic signed an agreement to open a new hotel in the city center of Kiruna, in Swedish Lapland, which will be moved about 3 kilometers from the existing city center, which is jeopardized by continued mining. The 230-room property will be owned by Swedish mining concern LKAB and built by Skanska, and it is expected to be complete by year-end 2021.

Marriott expands Culture Day: Marriott International is expanding its Culture Day program, founded in 2014 to increase multicultural understanding for its hotel employees, to include 13 countries and cultures, and includes curriculum around Jewish, LGBTQ and Native American cultures. Programs are informed by real scenarios at hotel properties and address appropriate cultural terms, business and social protocols, traditions, trends, cuisine and clothing.

Como names Americas MD: Singapore-based Como Group named Tapa Tibble managing director of the Americas, based in the Turks and Caicos, overseeing the Northern Caribbean’s pre-eminent private island resort Como Parrot Cay and sister property Como Metropolitan Miami Beach in Florida. Most recently, he was regional director of Europe at Aman Resorts.

Marriott names Europe MD: Marriott International announced that Liam Brown, president of select brands and owner and franchise services, North America, will become president and managing director of Europe. He replaces Amy McPherson, who will retire in early 2019.

Disney results: Walt Disney Company reported increases in attendance at its theme park division and a total revenue increase of 10% to US$20.3 billion, credited to increases in ticket prices, F&B, merchandise spending and average daily room rates.

Read more at Travel Pulse 

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