Europe braces for new curbs: Countries in Europe are planning to implement new curbs on movement, after German scientists urged immediate and maximum restrictions on social contacts as the Omicron variant keeps multiplying across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland and South Korea have imposed partial or full lockdowns or other social distancing procedures, while New Zealand is delaying the start of a staggered reopening of its border until February-end. Sweden will urge all employees to work from home and impose stricter norms for social distancing.
Trinity takes half of Omni San Diego: Trinity Real Estate Investments, Honolulu, Hawaii, has acquired a 50% interest in the Omni San Diego Hotel from JMI Realty, who originally developed the hotel in conjunction with Petco Park in 2004. Omni Hotels owns the remaining 50% and will continue to manage it. The acquisition also includes more than 13,000 square feet of fully leased, street-level retail space, located across the street from the hotel. Following the acquisition, Trinity and Omni plan to take advantage of strategic opportunities, including a multimillion-dollar capital improvement plan involving a comprehensive renovation of guest rooms, a re-imagination of the food and beverage offerings, and the enhancement of the hotel’s rooftop pool deck, fitness center and other amenities. The Omni San Diego Hotel represents Trinity’s third acquisition on behalf of Trinity GP Fund I L.P., Trinity’s inaugural U.S. commingled hospitality fund, following its acquisitions of the 352-key EAST Miami and the 305-key W Hollywood, earlier this year.
Indigo for Saudi Arabia: IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Dallah Real Estate Co. for a Hotel Indigo Resort in Durrat Al Arus in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The hotel will feature 271 rooms and 50 private pool villas. Slated to open in early 2026, the hotel will be part of a mixed-use development project comprising an upcoming residential community, water frontage and man-made lagoons along the coast of the Red Sea. This is the second Hotel Indigo in Saudi Arabia this year, after debuting the brand in Riyadh earlier this year. IHG currently operates 37 hotels in Saudi Arabia across five brands, with 23 more in the development pipeline which will open in the next three to five years.
MCR acquires third hotel in Minneapolis: MCR Hotels, New York, has acquired the 229-key DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Downtown, the 12-story hotel located across the street from Target Corp.’s headquarters. This is MCR’s third hotel acquisition in the Minneapolis metropolitan area in the past 12 months, after The Chambers Hotel and the Hilton Garden Inn Minneapolis University Area. MCR has a US$4 billion of 140 premium-branded hotels and currently operates eight Marriott brands, six Hilton brands and several unflagged independent hotels.
Standard loses second hotel in LA: The Standard hotel in downtown Los Angeles will close indefinitely on January 22, according to multiple reports. The hotel is owned by Spain-based Ferrado Group and is reportedly already shuttered. The news comes exactly a year after the Standard West Hollywood in L.A. closed.
Blue Flag acquires The Beachside: Blue Flag Development, Boston, Massachusetts, has acquired The Beachside in Nantucket, Massachusetts, for US$38.07 million. The hotel, assessed at US$9.4 million, is one of the bigger hotels on the island, with most of its rooms surrounding an open area an inground heated pool. Blue Flag’s addition follows a series of acquisitions by the company over the year — acquisition of The Boarding House and The Pearl restaurants for US$7.2 million, The Summer House’s downtown properties, including the former Woodbox for US$13.3 million and the former Star of the Sea hostel for US$3.5 million.
Staff shortages in Australia: Pubs and restaurants across Australia are being forced to close during the busy holiday season amid canceled reservations and staff shortages. New South Wales recorded 2,501 new cases, with experts reconsidering the mandate on masks and social gatherings. Hoteliers say they are finding it difficult to find staff who aren’t considered close contacts and forced into isolation. With the rising cases of COVID-19 forcing people to stay at home, rapid antigen tests are being seen as a successful solution to minimize the spread of the virus. Approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the test’s results are obtained within 20 minutes and are highly accurate and cost-effective. Employees in the hospitality industry are asked to complete and submit their results within the system, under the assistance of a telehealth professional. The owner of the restaurant/hotel can access results and find out the vaccination status of all employees.
AHLA lauds 20,000 additional H-2B visas: The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) lauded the decision of the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor to make available additional 20,000 H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker visas for the fiscal year 2022. Calling it a “welcome news as the lodging industry continues to grapple with the tightest labor market in decades,” AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers said in a statement: “Filling open jobs is the hotel industry’s top priority, and the H-2B visa program helps hotels and other industries with strong seasonal business and workforce needs to do just that. While our members always look first to the U.S. workforce to fill critical job functions during peak seasons, the H-2B program serves as an important and necessary tool for these small businesses to bridge the employment gap.”