A quick roundup of global hospitality news.
HYATT ENTERS MONTENEGRO: Hyatt Hotels Corp. has announced the first phase of opening for Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort in Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. Set against the backdrop of the Adriatic Sea and cliffs, the upscale resort is Hyatt’s first hotel in Montenegro. The newly transformed hotel is currently undergoing extensive refurbishments and enhancements. The property was earlier known as Blue Kotor Bay Premium Spa Resort and owned by Montenegro’s Krolbay. Once the upgrades are completed, the hotel will offer 205 rooms, two outdoor pools, an indoor pool, private waterfront access, a fitness center, dedicated space for pilates and yoga and a spa. The hotel will also feature six dining venues and event spaces, which can accommodate up to 160 persons.
SCANDIC GO TO LAUNCH IN SEPTEMBER: Scandic Go, Scandic’s new economy brand, will open its first-ever hotel in Stockholm on September 5. Located in Upplandsgatan, the hotel will focus on double rooms and will include a lounge bar that will double up as the breakfast bar and café. Future Scandic Go hotels will offer rooms with bunk beds for guests traveling in groups and laundry facilities. The brand aims to provide an environmentally-friendly hotel experience and will feature chairs made from coffee grounds and table tops made from recycled textiles. An existing Scandic hotel is presently undergoing renovations to open under the new brand in September. The new concept will be tested at this hotel before being rolled out in more hotels and markets. Scandic aims to increase its presence in the Nordic countries and outside of the region as well. Scandic’s portfolio currently includes 280 hotels with 58,000 rooms in operation or construction throughout 130 destinations.
RADISSON BLU OPENS IN TURKEY: Radisson Hotel Group has opened Radisson Blu Hotel, Kas, in Turkey. This marks Radisson’s first property in the Antalya region and a step towards increasing its presence in Turkey to more than 45 properties. Located on the Mediterranean coast, the hotel has 50 rooms and suites offering garden or sea views and a balcony or a private pool. The hotel also features multiple dining options and a wellness center.
PALIHOTEL EXPANDS IN LOS ANGELES: Avi Brosh’s Palisociety has announced its latest expansion in Los Angeles with the opening of Palihotel Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard. The 76-room hotel is spread across two floors. The building housing the hotel is a former motor lodge from 1958 and has been restored and reimagined. The hotel features a bar, pool, coffee bar and a restaurant. Palihotel Hollywood is the brand’s 16th property.
LARK ADDS FOUR HOTELS TO MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO: Lark Hotels, the U.S.-based hotel development and management company, has expanded its Lark Independents portfolio into the southeast with four hotels along North Carolina’s southern shore. The four independently-owned boutique hotels include The Beach House and The Starlite Inn at Carolina Beach and The Admiral’s Quarters Motel and The Sand Dunes at Kure Beach. These properties will now be managed and operated by Lark, growing its Lark Independents collection to 18 properties across the U.S. Lark Independents, launched in 2020, recently added three properties around Asheville, N.C.