MOHG to manage Gulf icon: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has signed a management contract to manage, and ultimately brand, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The group will take over management of the property owned by Emirates Palace Co., a subsidiary of the government of Abu Dhabi, on January 1, 2020, and will be rebranded following a phased renovation over two years, during which time the hotel will remain open. Work at the 394-room property will encompass significant upgrades to guestrooms and recreational amenities, as well as new food and beverage facilities.
Gencom commits Bermuda: The 593-room Fairmont Southampton hotel in Bermuda has been sold by AccorInvest to a Miami-based Gencom, which is planning an ambitious renovation to the country’s pink landmark. Karim Alibhai, the founder of investment firm Gencom, which also owns the Rosewood Bermuda, did not reveal the terms of this deal. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts reportedly will remain the property’s manager.
Motto heading to Peru: Hilton has signed a franchise agreement for a new 150-room Motto by Hilton hotel in Lima, Peru, representing the brand’s debut in the Caribbean and Latin America. In partnership with Compañia Hotelera CINSA S.A, Motto by Hilton Lima Miraflores is scheduled to break ground in May 2020 and expected to open in 2022.
Responsible brand raises funding: Soul Community Planet (SCP), San Juan Capistrano, California, a holistic hospitality company providing fair-priced lodging, coworking and fitness experiences centered on the values of personal wellness, social good and the environment, today announced it has secured US$5 million in investments in a new Series A Preferred Equity offering. The initial SCP Series A comprises approximately 17% of SCP’s total capitalization. A second SCP Series A closing is planned for February 2020. The first two SCP venues – SCP Colorado Springs and SCP Redmond – incorporate lodging, coworking memberships and boutique fitness. The third SCP venue is slated to open in Q1 2020.
THesis launches in S. Florida: NP International launched THesis Hotels on Monday with their first property set to open in Coral Gables, Florida this March. THesis Hotel Miami, part of the Paseo de la Riviera mixed use development, will feature 245 guest rooms, two chef-driven restaurants, contemporary co-working spaces, a wide range of community-inspired events and experiences and published rates starting at US$159. NP International, which constructs and manages a diverse portfolio of landmark properties in the United States and Latin America, evaluated the market and while there are many brands that claim to connect with the community, THesis Hotels was designed to serve the communities with a focus on access to education, transportation and medical facilities. Plans for future THesis Hotels are currently in discussion and will be announced in 2020.
SBE grows Hudson brand: SBE has said New York’s iconic Hudson will be developed in Toronto, Canada, and is set to debut in 2024. The proposed 75,000 square foot project will be developed in partnership with Lamb Development Corp. and IE Hospitality, featuring 146 rooms. SBE Founder and CEO Sam Nazarian said the deal marks the beginning of the Hudson brand’s global expansion plan.
Escobar site being developed: Tulum, the beach destination on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, is getting a new luxury hotel with a colorful distinction: It once belonged to the cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar. Thor Equities Group bought Casa Magna, part of a beachfront compound once owned by Escobar, for US$17.5 million, according to a representative for the firm. It plans to spend as much as US$100 million to develop 40 luxury hotel rooms, a spa and high-end shops.
Hoxton heads to Rome: Ennismore’s The Hoxton has announced the newest hotel in its series, with Rome, Italy, opening in autumn 2020. Coming as the 10th hotel from the brand, and the 6th opening in Europe, Hoxton, Rome will boast 192 bedrooms, a large coffee bar and takeaway counter, a large restaurant, and a outdoor terrace. The Hoxton, Rome will be situated in Salario, a leafy neighborhood just north of the center and well off the city’s main tourist trail, filled with art museums, gourmet delicatessens and traditional trattorias.
W deal in Cairo: Marriott International has entered into an agreement with Landmark Sabbour to bring the W brand to Cairo, underscoring the growing demand for luxury in Egypt. Expected to open in 2024, the 350-room W Cairo will be situated in 1-Ninety – a 300,000 sqm mixed-use development in the emerging New Cairo district featuring retail space, commercial and residential components. Landmark Sabbour recently launched 1-Ninety. With a total investment of EGP 28 Billion ($1.75 Billion). 1-Ninety covers 300,000-square-metres and has a built-up area of 450,000-square-metres including administrative, retail, commercial, and residential components.
Hong Kong meltdown continues: Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong’s biggest developer by value, said revenue at its hotels division had plummeted by up to half in November and December, as the city’s tourism industry struggled to stay afloat amid seven months of anti-government protests and the US-China trade war. Revenue per available room dropped in these two months by 40% to 50% year on year, said Adam Kwok, who plans to urge the government and Trade Development Council to implement support measures used during the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in 2003. He added that the company had not forced its staff to go on unpaid leave, or resorted to mass lay-offs. He added that the company’s High Speed Rail project will not have a hotel as it “already has about 7,200 rooms in Hong Kong, which is already quite a lot of exposure”.
IHG grows Holiday brand in Australia: A new-build Holiday Inn will open in the trendy inner-Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 2023, following the signing of a long-term management agreement between IHG and a joint venture between Pelligra Group, PrimeLand Group and Diamond Hospitality Singapore. The property will be part of a mixed-use development directly opposite Burnley Station. This is the second hotel signed between IHG and Pelligra Group, with Holiday Inn Melbourne Werribee also scheduled to open in early 2021.
Tel Aviv airport getting hotel: Ben-Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv is on its way to getting its first hotel. Brown Hotels, a chain of 13 properties, won a 25-year contract Sunday through competitive bidding the right to build and operate a hotel adjacent to the airport’s main Terminal 3. The hotel will be walking distance from the terminal. It will occupy a 7.5-dunam (1.9-acre site) just west of Terminal 3, close to the railway station. It will include 200 guest rooms, a conference center, a spa and gym as well as bars and restaurants in keeping with Brown’s boutique hotel style. The chain already operates the spa in the airport’s King David Lounge.