MARRIOTT OPENS IN NAGASAKI: Marriott Hotels has opened the Nagasaki Marriott Hotel, marking the flagship brand’s first property in Kyushu, the southernmost main island in Japan. This is also the ninth Marriott Hotel to open in the country. Directly connected to the JR Nagasaki Station, the hotel is less than a two-hour drive from Fukuoka Airport. The hotel has been designed by architect Kume Sekkei and is inspired by a cruise ship. Most rooms have balconies with views of Nagasaki Port and Mount Inasa. Nagasaki Marriott offers an all-day dining restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, a club lounge, a bar, a grab-and-go shop, a fitness center and 162 square meters of conference space. Marriott Hotels’ portfolio currently consists of around 600 properties in more than 65 countries.
HOLIDAY TRAVEL DRIVES LONDON PERFORMANCE: Hotels in London saw significant performance levels, boosted by the holiday travel season, according to preliminary data from CoStar.
- Occupancy: 80.5% (+5.7%)
- ADR: £208.9/$266.02 (+2%)
- RevPAR: £168.07/$214.02 (+7.8%)
ADR and RevPAR levels were the highest for any December on record in the market, while occupancy peaked for any December since 2018. According to daily data, London recorded its highest occupancy levels early in the month — December 7 (Thursday) and December 6 (Wednesday) (at 94.9% and 94.6%, respectively). Daily occupancy levels remained above the 60% mark throughout the month. Room rates peaked on New Year’s Eve at £287.25 ($365.79).
IHG SIGNS HOTEL INDIGO IN KSA: IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a franchise agreement for a new-build Hotel Indigo-branded property in Abha, Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Firdous Abha Hotel Holding Co. and under the management of Aleph Hospitality. The signing will help IHG grow its luxury & lifestyle portfolio in the country. Expected to open in December 2025, Hotel Indigo Abha will offer 110 rooms, a restaurant, a coffee lounge, meeting areas and a fitness center. A premier summer destination for domestic and international travelers in Saudi Arabia, Abha is a key city in the KSA 2030 Vision and currently includes many unbranded or locally-branded hotels.
EMBASSY SUITES OPENS IN ASHEVILLE: Hilton has opened Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown in Asheville, N.C. The full-service, all-suite hotel is owned and managed by Parks Hospitality Group. Located in the middle of the city, the 188-room hotel offers views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and over 7,000 square feet of meeting and event space in the downtown area. Each suite has a separate living area and bedroom, two televisions, a wet bar, a mini fridge and a microwave. The hotel features complimentary breakfast, a nightly ‘Evening Reception, a business center, an indoor pool and a fitness center. A lobby-level restaurant, bar, and rooftop restaurant are slated to open later this year.
FOUR SEASONS TO ZANZIBAR: Four Seasons has collaborated with Albwardy Investment to open a luxury resort in Tanzania. Four Seasons Resort Zanzibar will be located in Pongwe in eastern Zanzibar. The new-build hotel will consist of 60 private villas, with one- to three-bedroom units offering views of the Indian Ocean. While architecture will be led by eco.id, interior design will be spearheaded by MOMA and eco.id. The luxury, beachfront property will span 126 acres and include five dining concepts, an oceanfront pool with cabana service, a kid’s program, water sports, a fitness center and a spa with five private treatment rooms. Four Seasons and Albwardy previously partnered to open luxury properties in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Johannesburg, South Africa; Hoi An, Vietnam; Serengeti, Tanzania; and two resorts in the Seychelles. Currently, Four Seasons operates 128 properties and 53 residential properties in 47 countries and has over 50 projects under development or in the planning stage.