A quick roundup of global hospitality news.
$33.4M REFINANCING FOR SONDER, LUXURBAN HOTELS:Â BWE, a national commercial and multifamily mortgage banking firm, has closed a $33.4 million loan to refinance Sonder Georgetown and LuxUrban Georgetown, two apartment buildings in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C. which were converted into short-term stay hotels. Mark Remington and Alec Jenkins, senior vice president and vice president of BWE, originated the loan from a private credit fund on behalf of Varsity Investment Group. In 2021, Varsity acquired the former hotel, Georgetown Suites, and converted it into a luxury apartment complex. Varsity worked with Sonder and LuxUrban to master-lease the buildings to operate them as short-term rental properties.
MINOR SIGNS ANANTARA RESORT IN CHINA: Minor Hotels has signed Anantara Shaoxing Resort with its joint venture partner in China, Funyard Minor JV Co., (China) in northeastern Zhejiang Province. Located on the slopes of Mount Kuaiji, the hotel will be developed in partnership with Shaoxing Lan Ruo Lake Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. The design of the 120-key resort is inspired by a multi-deck yacht. The property will have groups of low-rise buildings cascading toward Lanruo Lake. The property will include an all-day restaurant, tearoom, specialty restaurant, 700 meters of banquet area, a hot spring-fed outdoor swimming pool, a spa, a special concert area, an art gallery and a library. The luxury resort is expected to open in 2024. The resort will become the core of the integrated mixed-use project, Taoyuanli Health and Wellness Town. The town will also feature communal dining, health and wellness facilities, landscaped courtyards, restaurants, playgrounds and supermarkets.
ASCEND HOTEL COLLECTION OPENS TWO HOTELS: Choice Hotels’ Ascend Hotel Collection has added two new properties — Hotel Around Takayama, Ascend Hotel Collection in Japan and First Light Mooloolaba in Australia. Located near the Takayama train station, Hotel Around Takayama offers 152 rooms, a restaurant, a bar and an onsen. The hotel marks the first Ascend Hotel Collection’s entry into Asia. First Light Mooloolaba is the 15th Ascend Hotel Collection in the Australia-New Zealand market to join the portfolio. The hotel is located on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and features 67 one- to three-bedroom apartments with resort-style living.
IHG SIGNS VOCO IN GOA, INDIA: IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Ginger Tree Goveia to open a new voco hotel in Goa, India. The 110-key voco Goa Arpora is scheduled to open in January 2025. Located in north Goa, the hotel will offer three dining venues, an outdoor pool, a spa, a gym, meeting rooms across two venues and banqueting space. The agreement is IHG’s next step in voco’s regional growth strategy. Earlier this year, IHG signed two voco hotels in India in Jim Corbett National Park and Gurugram. voco is IHG’s seventh brand in the country. Currently, IHG has 45 hotels under five brands in South West Asia.
YOTEL PARTNERS WITH JETBLUE: YOTEL has partnered with JetBlue to bring rewards and points accrual benefits to TrueBlue and Mosaic loyalty members. The partnership will benefit all members of JetBlue’s recently relaunched TrueBlue program, with members from all levels able to earn TrueBlue points on stays at YOTEL properties globally. TrueBlue members can avail of discounted room rates and receive a complimentary amenity upon arrival. TrueBlue Mosaic members can avail of complimentary room upgrades and late check-out. This is YOTEL’s first-ever collaboration with an airline.