A quick roundup of global hospitality news.
PARKROYAL ON KITCHENER ROAD TO REBRAND: PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, the Singapore hotel that was recently acquired by Worldwide Hotels Group, will rebrand as Novotel Singapore on Kitchener and reopen on November 1. Accor has signed an agreement with Worldwide Hotels, its long-term partner, for the 543-key hotel. Worldwide Hotels acquired the property from Pan Pacific Hotels in July for S$525 million ($389.03 million), the largest-ever single hotel asset deal in Singapore and the second-largest hotel asset transaction in Asia Pacific this year. The rebranding will start after the acquisition is completed by October 31. The 21-story hotel last underwent extensive renovations worth 21 million dollars in 2020 and will now feature updated décor and interior design with new flooring, open-concept wardrobes and refreshed bathrooms. Accor already manages other Worldwide Hotels properties, which include ibis Styles Brisbane in Australia and ibis Budget Osaka Umeda in Japan.
MARRIOTT’S LUXURY COLLECTION GROWS IN JAPAN: The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 31 hotel brands, has opened Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in Nara in Japan. The 43-key hotel is situated on the western edge of Nara Park. This is the fifth Luxury Collection-branded hotel in Japan. The hotel’s design and interiors were spearheaded by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and Associates. The reception lobby, lounge and restaurant are located in a low wooden structure, originally built in 1922 as the residence of the Governor of Nara. While some rooms offer views of the nearby Mount Wakasuka, the deluxe rooms and suites include private in-room hot springs or open-air baths. The hotel features multiple dining options, a fitness center, a spa and a destination discovery that shows guests how to create hand-made ink stick rubbings on ink stones.
IHG BREAKS GROUND ON TWO ATWELL SUITES HOTELS: IHG Hotels & Resorts has broken ground on two new Atwell Suites properties in Henderson, Nev. And Fort Worth, Texas. The two hotels are expected to open in 2024 and will join an expanding pipeline that will add another 35 properties and over 3,500 rooms to the U.S. portfolio. Atwell Suites, the all-suites, upper-midscale category, offers guest rooms with separate zones for work and rest and a combination of private and shared spaces. Both properties at Henderson and Fort Worth will feature a complimentary hot breakfast, a 24×7 beverage station and a round-the-clock marketplace with travel essentials and snacks. Atwell Suites Henderson – at the Pass will feature 90 suites and will operate under the ownership of DeSimone Companies, a regional real estate developer. Offering 96 suites, the Atwell Suites Fort Worth will operate under the ownership of Sequoia Hospitality, the Texas-headquartered developer. The two groundbreakings were the first year for the brand as it started work on new properties in Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, Colo. and Cheyenne, Wyo. later this year. Atwell Suites will open its third hotel in the U.S. in Austin this year, following the openings in Miami and Denver in 2022.
HIGHGATE EXPANDS HAWAII PORTFOLIO: Continental Assets Management has selected Highgate to manage Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay in Kauai, Hawaii. This will be Highgate’s first property in Kauai and its 12th property in Hawaii. The hotel is the only Hilton hotel on the island. Located across 10 acres next to the Wailua River and Lydgate Beach Park, the beachfront hotel consists of 216 rooms, two pools, two restaurants and a poolside bar, a gym, a business center and more than 7,400 square feet of meeting and event space, including an ocean view wedding gazebo. Accommodations feature a variety of options, including guest rooms, suites and cottages, each offering ocean, mountain or garden views. With more than $20 billion of assets under management, Highgate’s portfolio includes over 5,000 owned and/or managed hotels totaling more than 84,000 rooms across the U.S., Caribbean, Latin America and Europe.
HABYT DEBUTS IN AUSTRIA: Habyt, the flexible housing provider, has opened its first property in Austria. Located in the neighborhood of Lend in Graz, the Habyt features a green courtyard and has 218 units occupying an area of 6,073 square meters. Accommodations include a mix of one-bedroom apartments and private rooms in shared apartments ranging from two- to four-bedroom units. The property includes four community spaces with kitchens, lounge areas with sofas and dining areas. The property also includes bike storage.