SELECT GROUP AWARDS CONTRACTS FOR DUBAI PROJECTS: Dubai’s Select Group has awarded millions in construction contracts to China State Construction Engineering Corp. (Middle East) LLC, Engineering Contracting Co. LLC (ECC Group), iBUILD Construction LLC and Al Basti & Muktha LLC (ABM) with construction contracts worth more $816 million and equivalent to over 10 million square feet of development. iBUILD Construction has been awarded the Six Senses Residences The Palm, Dubai, one of the last available plots on the West Crescent of Palm Jumeriah. Spread over 1.2 million square feet, the Six Senses Residences includes a 60,000 square feet wellness and leisure facility and is scheduled to finish construction in 2024.
TIVOLI HOTELS TO THE NETHERLANDS: Tivoli Hotels & Resorts is set to debut in the Netherlands with The Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam. After a rebrand of the NH Collection Doelen located along the River Amstel in Amsterdam, the hotel will be relaunched and open in March. Tivoli Doelen will comprise 81 rooms, a lounge and bar area and a restaurant. Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, owned by Minor Hotels and managed by NH Hotel Group Europe, has 16 properties across four countries (Portugal, Brazil, Qatar and China). Tivoli plans to expand into Europe this year, with a property to be added in Spain, another in Portugal and more European destinations in the future.
HILTON MOTIF SEATTLE OPENS: Hilton has announced the opening of the 319-room Hilton Motif Seattle. Earlier known as Motif Seattle, the hotel includes a rooftop restaurant and more than 36,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The hotel is located on Fifth Avenue between Pike Place Market and Union Street, within walking distance from the waterfront, the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and the newly expanded Seattle Convention Center.
U.S. PERFORMANCE DIPS: U.S. hotel performance dropped from the last week and showed weakened comparisons against 2019, according to STR’s data through Jan. 7. This reflects post-holiday seasonality and an unfavorable shift in calendar.
- Occupancy: 47.2% (-11.5%)
- ADR: $142.82 (+11.2%)
- RevPAR: $67.40 (-1.5%)
The comparable week in 2019 — Jan. 6-12 — was a whole business week. Orlando was the only top 25 market to witness an occupancy increase over 2019 (+2% to 71.3%). Notably, Las Vegas reported the highest occupancy level (73.5%). Oahu Island saw the highest ADR increase in 2019 (+42.6% to $332.05). San Francisco (-81.8% to $72.25) saw the steepest RevPAR decline due to the market hosting the College Football Playoff National Championship during the corresponding week in 2019.
WHITBREAD Q3 SALES IMPROVE: Whitbread, the UK-based owner of the Premier Inn brand, reported higher third-quarter sales, boosted by robust demand for accommodation in the United Kingdom and higher room rates. Particularly, budget hotel chains have seen a strong demand as consumers opted for cheaper alternatives. The hospitality company reported a 19% increase in sales in the U.K. from last year and a 22.9% rise compared to FY19 for the 13 weeks that ended Dec. 1, 2022. Sales of food and beverage rose by 8.4% compared with last year. Total RevPAR in Q3 was up 21% on the same period a year earlier and 27% compared to the pre-pandemic period. The company also saw improved earnings in its secondary market, Germany, where it has 45 open hotels and 36 more in the development pipeline.