A quick roundup of global hospitality news.
HYATT PLACE OPENS IN LINYI, CHINA: Hyatt Hotels has opened Hyatt Place Linyi People’s Square in Linyi, China. The new hotel is the first Hyatt Place property to open in Linyi. The 109-room hotel is owned by a joint venture led by Linyi Xuan Yue Hotel Co., Ltd. and is operated by Minyoun Hospitality. Located in the Lanshan District, the hotel offers a restaurant, a bar, a 24×7 grab-and-go station, event spaces totaling 120 square feet and a fitness center. Cliff Yue has been appointed as the hotel’s general manager, with Sky Sun being appointed as director of operations.
LE MERIDIEN RESORT IN PHUKET: Narai Hospitality Group has signed an agreement to open Le Meridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort in Thailand. An existing resort will be operated under a franchise agreement with Marriott International and reopen this September following refurbishments. Narai Hospitality is investing in the resort’s enhancements, which include plans to install solar panels on the roofs of eight buildings to reduce the property’s emissions by at least 370 tons. The resort will have 244 rooms and suites, overlooking the Andaman Sea and surrounded by the Sirinat National Park. All the rooms will have a balcony or terrace with views of the gardens, pool or sea. The property will add new pool access rooms, private cabana rooms, private pool suites and two-bedroom suites. Upgrades also include an outdoor lagoon pool, a children’s pool, a kid’s club, outdoor activities, a casual café and a signature Mediterranean restaurant.
JULY 4TH TRAVEL NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON FAA, SAYS USTA: The record-setting July 4 holiday weekend mandates an urgent need for Congress to address staffing at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and funding shortages through the agency’s reauthorization bill, the U.S. Travel Association (USTA) has said. Despite hiring over 55,000 new workers since 2022 to help deal with delays, an act of Congress and FAA policy changes are needed to hire 1,800 air traffic controllers every year and ensure they are well staffed, USTA Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes said in a statement. The anticipated unprecedented air travel this weekend, which will help boost travel spending across the U.S., “should spur Congress to work quickly to finalize an FAA reauthorization bill” which will make the air travel system efficient. Modern and secure in the future, Barnes said.
SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE NAMES PANDOX AS AFFILIATE MEMBER: The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance has announced Pandox as an affiliate member to work towards achieving Net Positive Hospitality. Pandox will work with the Alliance to boost collaborations between the real estate industry and hotel operations to tackle challenges in sustainability. Pandox aims to develop resource-efficient properties and operations to lower its climate footprint. Pandox currently has 158 hotels totaling 35,500 rooms operating across 15 markets throughout Europe and Canada under leading hotel brands. Currently, the Alliance has more than 40 donor and affiliate members with a reach of 7 million rooms.