IHG SIGNS VIGNETTE COLLECTION IN DUBAI’S WORLD ISLANDS: IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a franchise agreement to open its second Vignette Collection hotel in Dubai, in collaboration with The Heart of Europe, the flagship project under Kleidienst Group. Marbella Resort Hotel, Vignette Collection The Worlds Islands Dubai is expected to open in January 2026. The property will establish IHG’s presence in The World Islands, an archipelago consisting of man-made islands on the Arabian Gulf off the coast of Dubai. Located in The Heart of Europe, a self-sustaining destination comprising six islands, the 150-room hotel will feature Andalusian-inspired design with contemporary furniture. The hotel is currently under construction. Presently, IHG operates 108 hotels under eight brands in the Middle East.
SIX SENSES RED SEA OPENS: Six Senses has announced the opening of its hotel near the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea offers 36 rooms and 40 pool villas with views of the dunes and wadi. The property was designed by British architectural company Foster + Partners and constructed using locally sourced materials. Aiming to be the first LEED Platinum resort in Saudi Arabia, the property will be powered by its own solar farm, and still and sparkling water will be bottled at the onsite water plant following plastic-free guidelines. Guests can attend workshops at the Earth Lab, which focuses on conservation. The resort offers four restaurants, including a cooking school and private chef’s table, several activities and experiences, a spa, a fitness center and multiple pools. The resort is one of two inland locations that comprise The Red Sea Development Project along with coastal and marine initiatives, which spans 10,800 square miles along the West Coast of Saudi Arabia.
U.S. PERFORMANCE UPDATE: Hotel performance in the U.S. slipped from last week but showed improved YOY comparisons, according to CoStar’s data through October 28.
- Occupancy: 66% (+0.7%)
- ADR: $160.89 (+3.9%)
- RevPAR:S$106.16 (+4.6%)
Among the top 25 markets, Minneapolis posted the highest YOY gains in occupancy (+12.7% to 64.5%). New York City saw the highest ADR rise (+12.7% to $365.05). San Francisco reported the highest increase in RevPAR (+22.7% to $178.32). Tampa recorded the steepest RevPAR decline (-16.9% to $98.63).
REGENT HONG KONG REOPENS: Regent Hong Kong, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, will reopen on November 8. The hotel features 497 rooms, which includes 129 suites. Initially opened in the 1980s, the hotel underwent a three-year-long transformation to add a modern touch to the iconic property. The hotel was designed by Hong Kong-born, Milan-based designer Chi Wing Lo. The hotel offers six dining venues, the Regent Club, an outdoor pool, a fitness center and a pillarless ballroom that can host up to 1,000 persons and 10 function venues. The opening of Regent Hong Kong will be followed by openings of Regent Shanghai On The Bund later this year and Regent Bali Canggu in 2024.
SONESTA LAUNCHES HOTLINE FOR HOLIDAY SEASON: Sonesta International Hotels Corp. has launched Travel SOS (Sonesta Overnight Stay), a new service to help reduce travelers’ stress during the holiday season. Travel SOS will help deal with unpredictable challenges, such as transportation delays, winter weather conditions, unexpected layovers and cancellations, by providing information on availability at the nearest Sonesta hotels. Travelers can dial a dedicated Travel SOS hotline to identify their nearest hotel and use a promo code to book a room online. The service will be available to a portfolio of hotels spanning 17 brands.