AVANI EXPANDS INTO THE NETHERLANDS: Avani Hotels & Resorts, the upscale lifestyle brand of Minor Hotels, has widened its footprint in Europe and opened its first hotel in the Netherlands. NH Amsterdam Museum Quarter will rebrand to open as the Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam. The hotel is housed within a renovated mid-century building in Amsterdam’s museum district. The 163-key, canalside hotel is inspired by Stedelijk Museum’s collection and combines avant-garde with traditional design elements. The hotel features a lobby lounge, a grab-and-go dining concept, a fitness center, an outdoor terrace overlooking an interior courtyard and meeting space.
WARAMAUG ACQUIRES IN TEXAS: Waramaug Hospitality, in a joint venture with Franklin Real Asset Advisors, has acquired the Austin Marriott North for an undisclosed price. The 295-room full-service hotel is located in Round Rock, Texas and sits close to downtown Austin. Other details of the sale were not disclosed.
THE HOTEL GROUP OPENS TRU BY HILTON IN YAKIMA: The Hotel Group, an affiliate of Hotel Equities, has partnered with Hogback Development to open Tru by Hilton Yakima in Yakima, Wash. The Hotel Group and Hogback Development are co-owners of the hotel. Located alongside the Home2 Suites by Hilton in Rainier Square, the Tru by Hilton is The Hotel Group’s fourth collaborative venture with Hogback Development. Situated a mile from the Yakima Air Terminal YKM, the hotel features a breakfast bar, an outdoor patio with grills, a 24×7 market, fitness center and 640 square feet of meeting space.
IHG SIGNS TWO CROWNE PLAZA HOTELS IN EGYPT: IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Urbnlanes Development to add two new Crowne Plaza hotels – Crowne Plaza Cairo New Administrative Capital and the Crowne Plaza New Cairo Yellow – in Egypt. The two new-build properties are scheduled to open in 2028. Located in the Level Towers in the New Administrative Capital, Crowne Plaza Cairo New Administrative Capital will be situated close to government ministries, administrative institutions and finance houses. The hotel will have three dining venues and five meeting spaces. Located in New Cairo, Crowne Plaza New Cairo Yellow is part of the ‘Yellow’ mixed-use development. The hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant, club lounge and five meeting venues. Currently, IHG operates seven hotels under four brands across Egypt, with 17 more hotels in the pipeline.
QT HOTELS ENTERS ASIA: QT Hotels & Resorts, the Australia-based hotel brand, is preparing for its Asian debut with the upcoming opening of its hotel in Singapore. QT Singapore will be the group’s first hotel beyond Australia and New Zealand. The hotel building was built in 1927 and housed the former headquarters of the Cable and Wireless Eastern Extension Telegraph Co. It was converted into the Telegraph Hotel in 2000. The hotel is undergoing renovations, led by interior designer Nic Graham, to reopen as QT Singapore. Slated to open in September, the hotel will offer 134 rooms and suites, a rooftop pool and bar and multiple dining options. Doron Whaite, who has two decades of experience with QT Hotels and its parent company EVT, has been named general manager of the hotel.