FATTAL GROUP ACQUIRES GRAND HOTEL: Israel-based Fattal Group, the owner of Leonardo Hotels, has acquired the Grand Hotel in Brighton, U.K. The hotel was sold reportedly for up to £60 million ($72.19 million) by the Weston family, which owns Fortnum & Mason and Associated British Foods. The seven-story hotel has 201 rooms, a restaurant, a bar and conference and banquet facilities totaling 1,200 square meters across 13 rooms; and its rooms and amenities will be updated. The Grand was most recently refurbished in 2019 when its Victorian façade was restored. It first opened its doors in 1864 and was bombarded in 1984 by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
EMBASSY SUITES ADDS TO PORTFOLIO: Embassy Suites by Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort has opened in Virginia Beach, Va. Owned by Gold Key PHR and the Cavalier Resort Virginia Beach, the hotel is the latest addition to Embassy Suites properties across the U.S. with the ‘resort’ designation from Hilton. The hotel has 157 suites, a conference and event space, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center and two restaurants.
SEA CREST BEACH HOTEL SELLS: Investors Certares and HHM have partnered to acquire the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, Mass., for about $54 million. HHM will continue to operate the 263-room hotel, and the new owners plan to enhance the property. The independent resort sits on a private stretch of beach along Buzzards Bay and is part of the Independent Collection, HHM’s portfolio, comprising 27 properties. The property includes onsite dining, bars and event space. The hotel was earlier sold in 2016 when Delaware North acquired it for $26 million.
OYO TO DOUBLE PREMIUM HOTELS IN INDIA: India-based hospitality tech company Oyo has announced its plans to double its number of premium hotels in India. Its premium brands include Townhouse Oak, Collection O, Capital O and Oyo Townhouse. With about 1,800 premium hotels across India, the decision aims at capitalizing on the surge in business travel by increasing its presence in all the key business destinations like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. Oyo began focusing on premium hotels in Q4 2022 when it added over 400 premium properties between October and December.
FAERN AROSA ALTEIN OPENS: Faern Arosa Altein, the 137-room lifestyle resort, has opened in Graubünden, Switzerland. The hotel officially launched in December 2022. Located on a hillside, the hotel is situated alongside Faern Carns-Montana, which opened earlier this month. It will be joined by Faern Sils Maria and Faern Wengen later this year. Designed by design studio Run For The Hills, the hotel includes a restaurant on the top floor, a lounge, a brasserie, a wellness area and two meeting spaces. The hotel also offers two tennis courts, table tennis, mini golf, an outdoor pool and sunbathing area, a children’s playground and chess and e-bike rentals during the summer.