NEOM ANNOUNCES LUXURY COASTAL TOURISM DESTINATION: NEOM has announced its latest coastal tourism destination, Epicon, which will include a residential property. Situated on the Gulf of Aqaba in Saudi Arabia, Epicon will be located on NEOM’s desert landscape and will feature two towers — a 225-meter building and another reaching 275 meters. The towers will have an ultra-premium 41-room hotel and luxury residences offering 14 suites and apartments. Epicon Resort will be located close by, offering 120 rooms and 45 residential beach villas. Epicon will include a beach club, a spa, water activities, destination restaurants, a gym, a library, workspaces, swimming pools and lounges. This announcement follows the unveiling of Leyja, NEOM’s sustainable tourism destination located in a natural valley.
KEMPINSKI ADDS TURKS & CAICOS RESORT TO PORTFOLIO: Kempinski Hotels has signed an agreement with European real estate developer JTRE to operate the new luxury beachfront residences and resort at Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos. Kempinski Grace Bay is being developed by JTRE. Located on an undeveloped 11-acre plot on the beach, the luxury property will span 431 feet of beachfront land and offer 72 condominium residences and four beachfront villas. The property is situated close to the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club. There are three condo-style residences, stepped back from the beach, and are available in studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, including four- or five-bedroom penthouse units. Four one-story villas offer six ocean-facing bedrooms and are located in front of the property. Amenities available at the property include a grand entrance with a lobby and bar, three dining venues, two resort-style swimming pools, a beach club, a fitness center, tennis and paddle courts, a children’s club and an indoor golf simulator. Pre-construction pricing and availability will be announced in early 2024. Currently, Kempinski Group operates 82 hotels and residences in 36 countries and has over 26 projects under development globally.
ACCOR OPENS FIFTH SWISSÔTEL IN TURKEY: Accor has grown its presence in Turkey with the opening of its fifth Swissôtel in the country — Swissôtel Uludağ Bursa. Built in 1946 as Kirazlıyayla Sanatorium, the former sanatorium has been restored to open as the hotel. Surrounded by national parks, the hotel features 173 rooms, a spa, fitness center, ballroom and auditorium and five meeting rooms. The hotel will also host the Bursa Business School, founded by the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Currently, Accor has more than 1,000 properties across the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
CHOICE GROWS EXTENDED STAY PORTFOLIO: Choice Hotels International, Inc. has expanded its extended stay segment with the addition of three new Everhome Suites (currently under construction) and six more in various stages of development across Southern California. The three California properties under construction are the 120-room Everhome Suites Temecula, the 113-room Everhome Suites Ontario and the 114-room Everhome Suites San Bernardino. In the first six months of 2023, Choice’s extended stay property openings increased 38% relative to the same period in 2022. The group’s extended stay domestic pipeline increased 12% YOY to 47,000 rooms in the third quarter this year. Choice currently has 60 Everhome Suites in the pipeline and more than 250 in three extended-stay brands. The hotels under construction will open in the second half of 2024 and early 2025.
SAN RAMON MARRIOTT COMPLETES RENOVATIONS: San Ramon Marriott in San Ramon, Calif., has completed $17-million renovations. The hotel is owned by Hudson Advisors L.P. and operated by HEI Hotel & Resorts. The hotel underwent a top-to-bottom refurbishment, which saw upgrades to its rooms, back-of-the-house services and public spaces. All rooms have received new soft and case goods, while new furniture has been added in the public spaces. Meeting areas have received a facelift with new wallpaper, carpeting and air walls. The lobby and the front desk reception area have been enhanced with a fresh coat of paint, wall coverings, front desk background and new furniture. The dining area has new lighting, a new chandelier, furniture, wall coverings and a bar redesign. The hotel features an outdoor pool and patio, a fitness center, communal fire pits and more than 16,600 square feet of adaptable meeting space.