Kempinski growth plan: The Kempinski Group has stated it expects to have more than 100 luxury hotels, some via a new acquisition strategy, in operation by 2021. In the next 12 months alone, nine new hotels with 1,961 rooms and suites will open in the Caribbean, Tel Aviv, Tbilisi, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Brazzaville and Almaty. A further seven hotels with 2,404 rooms are currently under construction. In addition, the Kempinski Hotels portfolio will have a hotel in New York for the first time via a strategic partnership signed a few days ago with the 12.18. Investment Group, which will develop and open 20 7Pines Kempinski Hotels together with Kempinski through 2022.
Call for Provenance boycott: Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer on Wednesday called for a boycott of the Provenance Hotels owned by the businessman-turned-diplomat Gordon Sondland, who as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union said he was told by the Trump administration this week not to testify before the House Intelligence Committee as part of the Trump impeachment proceedings. “Anyone who cares about America should not do any business or stay at any of Gordon Sondland’s hotels,” Blumenauer said. “Not until he fulfills his duty as a citizen to testify and turn over all relevant documents to the House of Representatives.” Sondland issued his own statement late Wednesday afternoon blasting Blumenauer. “Congressman Blumenauer’s irresponsible attempt to hurt a homegrown business that supports hundreds of jobs in our local economy is just shameful and ought to outrage all Oregonians,” said Jim McDermott, a Portland lawyer representing Sondland. McDermott said Sondland has turned over all relevant documents sought by Congress to the Department of State, as federal law requires.
Radisson grows in Africa: Radisson Hotel Group has signed a deal for the new-build, 117-room Radisson Hotel Tunis in Tunisia’s capital city. It will be the first Radisson branded hotel in the city of Tunis and the group’s fourth hotel in the country. This brings Radisson Hotel Group’s African portfolio to almost 100 hotels in operation and under development. Scheduled to open in Q1 2023, the hotel will be located in Tunis North as part of the IQ Smart Building & Business Center and next to the large mixed-use Tunis Sport City project that is currently under development.
Ace adds Australia: Ace Hotel has announced its first Australian property with Ace Hotel Sydney slated to open in 2021. Partnering with local developer Golden Age, the 264-room hotel will open in the Surry Hills neighborhood in a part historic, part new-build structure.
Plastic ban live in California: California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday he had signed a law banning hotels from giving guests plastic bottles filled with shampoo, conditioner or soap. The law takes effect in 2023 for hotels with more than 50 rooms and 2024 for hotels with less than 50 rooms. Violators could be fined US$500 for a first offense and US$2,000 for subsequent violations.
Belmond launches wellness program: Belmond has launched a new concept of wellbeing – Good Living. With a goal of avoiding ostentatious adventures and focusing on experiences that go beyond pure wellness, ‘Good Living’ focus on a number of cultural immersions, from mindfulness and meditation to athletic endeavors and champagne moments. The campaign features Experience Makers who will curate one-of-a-kind activations that “enrich the mind and body and stir the soul.”
Change at West Palm Beach project: Banyan Cay, owners of the partially built Banyan Cay Resort & Golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, has switched hotel partners to Benchmark to finish development and operate the property. Talks are reportedly underway to turn Banyan Cay into a Hyatt/Destination Resorts property, a boutique luxury hotel brand. The US$100 million, 150-room resort is slated to be completed by fall 2020.
Wellness study released: The Global Wellness Institute has released the second white paper in its “Understanding Wellness” series. The white papers are designed to serve as primers for policymakers, businesspeople, researchers and students on how wellness has become a major force around the world and the ways it will evolve in the future. This second paper, “Opportunities and Impacts of the Wellness Economy for Regional Development,” outlines the ways a growing wellness industry can facilitate development and growth in countries, regions and communities around the world.
New indie platform: Advantage Hotels, the Austin, Texas-based franchisors of the Vista and Select Inn brands, has launched the VistaRez Independent Collection – a sales & marketing solution with an integrated property management system and reservation system for independent hotels.