EMERALD STAY’S THIRD ACQUISITION: Emerald Stay, a Franco-Swiss scale-up operating in the high-end short-term rental market, has acquired its third property in less than a year. The company has added Cotswolds, the U.K.-based Ski Verbier Exclusive, following the acquisitions of Esteva Group and Morgan and Morgan, the Mallorca, Spain-based rental operators. The acquisition will help Emerald Stay strengthen its ultra-luxury unit, which will be led by Ski Verbier Exclusive CEO and founder Tom Avery from the U.K. Emerald Stay currently manages more than 200 chalets, villas and apartments in the Alps, Spain and Morocco.
FIRST TOMMY BAHAMA RESORT: Tommy Bahama, the lifestyle resort concept, will open its first property in Indian Wells, Calif., on November 1. The clothing and gear brand has reinvented the former Miramonte Resort & Spa, which has undergone an extensive $20 million renovation and redesign to open as Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa. Located against the Santa Rosa Mountains, the reimagined resort offers 215 rooms (including five villa suites) with garden and mountain views featuring a custom tropical design with 11 acres of olive trees, flower gardens and citrus groves. The property includes 35,000 square feet of meeting and event space, three saltwater swimming pools with cabanas, a new signature restaurant and bar, a 12,000-square-foot spa with 11 treatment rooms and a boutique.
SPARK BY HILTON ADDS TO PORTFOLIO: Hilton has expanded its new premium economy brand, Spark by Hilton, with the opening of Spark by Hilton Germantown Washington DC North in Germantown, Md. This is the second Spark by Hilton to open within a year of Hilton launching the brand. The property is the first to open in the Washington Region and the next in Hilton’s pipeline of over 400 expansion opportunities across the U.S. Spark by Hilton Germantown has 176 rooms and suites, a fitness center, a 24-hour retail market and public space with multi-functional communal tables.
ALPINE FALLS RANCH OPENS SECOND LOCATION: Alpine Falls Ranch has announced its second and sister property with the opening of Black Bear at Alpine Falls Ranch, located next to the original Alpine Falls Ranch in Mineral County, Mont. Set against the Lolo National Forest, Black Bear will open in November and offer luxury chains, a range of winter activities, customized experiences and for the first time, all-inclusive packages. Guests can avail of the all-inclusive packages for at least four nights and can access several onsite and off-site activities, up to three daily meals and luxury accommodations. The dual-ranch retreat has added new snowmobiles to its fleet of snow machines.
CLUB MED RESORT IN CHINA: Club Med has opened its first urban oasis resort, Club Med Urban Oasis Xianlin Nanjing Resort, in Nanjing, China. Located close to downtown Nanjing and the Nanjing South Railway Station, the new resort comprises a 1,200-square-meter indoor heated water park, an outdoor water screen light show, an outdoor explore park, sports activities and a bar.