Hampton scores big Mideast deal: Hilton and Kuwait-based Alshaya Group have signed a master development agreement to rapidly launch and develop 70 Hampton by Hilton hotels in nine countries, with the majority of these in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Russia. With the first hotel expected to open in Kuwait in 2021, Alshaya Group will deliver 50 hotels in the next eight years, with another 20 in the development pipeline, significantly expanding Hampton by Hilton’s presence in the region.
Joie de Vivre debuts in Asia: Hyatt Hotels Corp. has announced that its Joie de Vivre Hotels brand will debut in Asia with a property housed in the Sanlitun shopping, bar and entertainment area in Beijing’s Chaoyang District. Expected to open in Q4 2019 for BEI Capital, the 202-room BEI Zhaolong Hotel will be managed by Hyatt as a rebirth of the Zhaolong Hotel, which opened in 1985.
Memphis dreams: Dream Hotel Group has announced plans to bring its Dream Hotels brand to Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, with a property set to open in 2022. In partnership with Memphis real estate developer 18Main, the 178-room Dream Memphis will mark the second Dream Hotels location in Tennessee, following the opening of Dream Nashville earlier this year.
Dusit reopens in Nairobi: Kenya on Wednesday reopened the luxury hotel complex in Nairobi that al-Shabab attacked in January, killing 21 people. The development includes the dusitD2 hotel, whose management tweeted on Wednesday after months of renovation, “We have received immense support and love from Kenyans during this period.” Kenyan tourism officials attended Wednesday’s reopening.