DOUBLETREE BY HILTON OPENS IN MOROCCO: Hilton has launched its DoubleTree by Hilton brand in Morocco and opened DoubleTree by Hilton Ben Guerir Hotel & Residences. Located in Ben Guerir near Marrakech, the new hotel offers 215 rooms, comprising deluxe to one-bedroom apartments. The hotel includes two restaurants, a pool bar, an outdoor pool, a fitness center and five meeting rooms. DoubleTree by Hilton Ben Guerir joins Hilton’s six other hotels in Morocco. Hilton plans to open nine more properties in the country, including debuting the Waldorf Astoria brand in 2025. DoubleTree is the second fastest-growing Hilton brand across Africa, with 20 properties either operating or under development, said Hilton.
SONESTA EXECUTES 65 NEW AGREEMENTS: Sonesta International Hotels Corp. has executed 65 new franchise agreements distributed across 12 of the company’s 17 brands in 2023. These new agreements have added 5,697 new rooms to Sonesta’s global franchising portfolio. Sonesta Franchising launched in the U.S. at the end of 2021 with a platform of franchise services, hotel operations and franchise support. The company saw considerable growth in 2022 and 2023 and recently established The James lifestyle brand, Sonesta Essential focus service brand and two soft brands (Mod, A Sonesta Collection and Classico, A Sonesta Collection). Sonesta said it anticipates a turnaround from application to execution within 30 days.
ONYX’S SHAMA EXPANDS INTO MALAYSIA: ONYX Hospitality Group has signed its first Shama property in Malaysia with the Shama Suasana Johor Bahru. With this hotel, Malaysia is the first country outside Thailand to have all three ONYX brands — Amari, OZO, and Shama. Scheduled to open in Q1 2024, the hotel is next to the Zenith Lifestyle Centre in Johor Bahru. The expansion of the Shama brand into Malaysia is part of ONYX’s strategy to further grow its hotel, resort and serviced apartment business in Southeast Asia. ONYX’s future openings include OZO Medini in Q2 2024 and Shama Medini in Q1 2025.
FIRST HOSPITALITY’S PORTFOLIO UP 40%: First Hospitality has seen considerable growth in 2023, increasing its hotels and restaurants under management by 40%, the company said in a release. First Hospitality has also continued its focus on upscale, lifestyle and soft brand properties, which constitute around 40% of its portfolio. The company ventured into five new markets in 2023, bringing its portfolio to over 70 independent and branded hotels totaling 10,000 keys and 3,500 associates. The hotel operating and development company has expanded into California, Texas, Florida and other southern states, including a new property under development in Oklahoma. The company is also increasing its presence in the Midwest.
CANADA’S ADR OUTPERFORMS INFLATION: Canada’s ADR and RevPAR touched new records and outperformed inflation in 2023, according to CoStar’s data.
- Occupancy: 65.7% (+7.7%)
- ADR: CA$200.08/US$148.95 (+9.7%)
- RevPAR: CA$131.48/US$97.88 (+18.3%)
This year, occupancy is projected to reduce by 1.4% in Q1 and remain flat in the second quarter while returning to positive territory in the latter half of the year. Drive by inflation, ADR will grow through each quarter, CoStar said. Overall, the hotel sector will continue to outpace the economy but will not be totally immune to weakening business and consumer demand. Limited supply-side pressures, however, will support top-line hotel metrics as the overall economy faces challenges. Among the provinces and territories, Manitoba saw the highest occupancy level (72.2%) in 2023, which was 10.8% above 2022. Among the major markets, Vancouver posted the highest occupancy (78.5%), up 7.8% over 2022. The lowest occupancy among provinces was reported in Saskatchewan (58%), up 4.8% from 2022. At the market level, the lowest occupancy was witnessed in Edmonton (+9.4% to 56.6%).