Another Jin Jiang bid: Reuters is reporting that a consortium led by China’s Jin Jiang International made an offer for Sweden’s Radisson Hospitality, it at 7 billion Swedish crowns (US$774.3 million). The consortium already owns a little more than half of the company.
Azerai in Vietnam: Adrian Zecha’s “affordable luxury” Azerai brand will open its second location, in Hue, Vietnam. An overhauled 1930s mansion with two wings will be known as Azerai La Residence; the 122-room hotel is scheduled to open in February. The brand intends to open more properties in and outside Vietnam.
US$4.4 billion for Travelport: Travel distribution tech firm Travelport is being taken over in a US$4.4 billion deal by two private-equity funds, Siris Capital Group and Evergreen Coast Capital, in an all-cash deal. The proposed buyout is expected to be completed by spring; Travelport will become privately held.
Scandic in Munich: Scandic Hotels signed a long-term lease agreement with developers Art-Invest Real Estate and Accumulata Real Estate to operate a new hotel, Scandic Munich Macherei. The 234-room hotel will be designed by HWKN Hollwich Kushner and is expected to open in 2021.
Delta in Cincinnati: After an US$8 million to US$10 million renovation, LDI Hospitality Management will re-brand a 230-room in Sharonville, Ohio, to Marriott International’s Delta Hotel. elta Hotels by Marriott in Ohio.
Read more in the Cincinnati Business Courier (subscription)
More strikes? Unite Here Local 11, the Southern California outpost of the national union behind strikes a few months ago, is considering another round. About 7,500 local workers in Los Angeles and Orange counties voted 96% in favor of striking after their contract ended on November 30; they work at properties including the Westin Bonaventure, the JW Marriott in the L.A. Live entertainment district, the Beverly Wilshire and the Hyatt Andaz.
Read the story in the Los Angeles Times
Not so fast, HotelQuickly: Thousands of would-be vacationers who used an Asia-based agency called HotelQuickly to book holidays appear to have been scammed, according to The Independent, claiming they were redirected to the site from TripAdvisor and Trivago, only to find their reservation canceled and a refund offered only in the form of a voucher.
Read the story in The Independent
Doing Well in Thailand: Hotel manager Well Hotels & Resorts signed the Phratamnak Well Resort Pattaya, an upscale resort set to open in late 2019. The 78-room hotel is owned by Kasetsinn Co. Ltd. and located in Phratamnak, Pattaya.
Wildfires spark hotel boom: According to STR, California’s Butte County and Oxnard/Ventura submarket saw jumps in hotel demand; both areas were affected by wildfire. Butte County, affected by the Camp Fire, has 94 hotels mostly in the midscale and economy segments, both more likely to accommodate longer-term, disaster-related demand. Oxnard has a higher percentage of luxury accommodation. For much of November, Butte County saw a 43.3% increase in demand, occupancy of 85.6% and ADR at US$102.49 – year over year increases of 43.4% and 3.6%, respectively. Oxford/Ventura saw a 12.4% lift in demand, occupancy of 81.9% and an 8.0% increase in ADR to US$145.05.
Tulum hotel development: Mexico’s Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe signed a strategic alliance with a group of private investors and Apple Leisure Group’s AMResorts to develop the Breathless Tulum Resort & Spa, a new 300-suite resort scheduled to open in 2021, in a total investment of about US$80 million. Grupo Hotelero will manage.
Apple bites in Virginia: Apple Hospitality REIT acquired the 127-room Hyatt Place Jacksonville Airport for about US$15.4 million, or $121,000 per key. Apple acquired the hotel from a subsidiary of BPR Properties.