PLAYA TO LAUNCH WYNDHAM ALLTRA IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V., the owner, operator and developer of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean, has added a new Wyndham Alltra resort in the Dominican Republic to its management portfolio. Playa will manage an existing 404-room resort in Samaná, which will be renovated and rebranded as Wyndham Alltra Samaná. The resort is expected to open in the third quarter of this year. This will be the fourth Wyndham Alltra resort managed by Playa since the brand was launched in late 2021. Playa currently owns and/or manages a portfolio of 24 resorts totaling 9,097 rooms.
WALDORF ASTORIA DEBUTS IN THE SEYCHELLES: Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, Hilton’s luxury hotel brand, has announced its debut in Seychelles with Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island. Located over 130 kilometers south of Mahé, the resort will comprise 50 seafront villas featuring up to five-bedroom units, each with its own private pool and personal concierge. The resort, scheduled to open later this year, will offer six restaurants and bars, a spa with six treatment rooms, a spa suite, a beauty salon and a hammam. Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island will bring Hilton’s Seychelles portfolio to five hotels.
BORGATA HOTEL CASINO ANNOUNCES $55M REDESIGN: Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has announced a $55 million redesign and rebranding of The Water Club in Atlantic City, N.J. Renamed the MGM Tower, the new offerings include more than 700 reimagined rooms and a new collection of suites located at the tower’s corners with wraparound views of the city’s skyline. The suites will have two bathrooms, a large dining area, a private bedroom, and a large living area. The project is anticipated to be finished by Memorial Day weekend, with the newly renovated rooms becoming available in April. The MGM Tower is being reimagined in partnership with MGM Resorts International Design Group and interior design company RVD Associates. The Water Club currently features 757 rooms and suites, 27,000 square feet of event space, two indoor and outdoor pools and five boutique retail shops.
LOCALE HOSPITALITY ADDS IN CALIFORNIA: Locale Hospitality, a brand and manager of apartment-style accommodations for short and extended stays, has expanded into California with the opening of Locale Menlo Park in Presidio Bay’s Springline, the mixed-use development in Bay Area. The hospitality company will manage 15 one-bedroom and two-bedroom residences at Springline, a community of hotel-like rent. The residences will feature a fully-equipped kitchen, in-unit washer and dryer, self-check-in services and 24/7 customer service. Guests of Locale Menlo Park will get access to the community’s indoor and outdoor spaces, including a pool, golf simulator, co-working style lounge and a wine bar.
ACCOR EXPANDS IN THE PHILIPPINES: Continuing its expansion in the Philippines, Accor has announced its second MGallery property in the country with the signing of South Palms Resort Panglao Bohol – MGallery. The locally-inspired luxury resort is located on the island of Panglao and will join a pipeline of 16 projects in the country. Scheduled to open in 2024, the 188-key resort will feature four restaurants, a pool, a pool bar, a fitness center and a spa. Alturas Group of Companies is developing the property with assistance from Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks, the Asian hospitality consulting firm. The property will be developed from the ground up, keeping sustainability in mind. Currently, Accor has 10 hotels, resorts and branded residences operating and a pipeline of 16 hotels expected to open in the next five years.