New gen Regent in Cannes: IHG Hotels & Resorts in partnership with Qatar-based owner and developer Katara Hospitality will open Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel in Cannes, France. The hotel, which will open in spring 2023 following a two-year multimillion-euro redevelopment, will become a flagship property within the reimagined Regent Hotels & Resorts. The property will feature 332 rooms and 37 branded residences, designed by French interior designer Tristan Auer. Carlton Cannes is among the eight Regent properties in the pipeline for IHG and will be a brand flagship property in Europe. Presently, IHG has 63 open hotels and 18 hotels in the pipeline across France.
Hyatt’s new luxury brand: Hyatt Hotels Corp. has expanded its luxury offerings with the launch of Secrets Impression Resorts & Spas brand, which will offer luxury, adults-only, all-inclusive service and amenities in its portfolio. The brand had its debut with the opening of the Secrets Impression Moxché Playa del Carmen in Mexico on December 1. Located within Corasol, a gated community in Playa del Carmen, the resort comprises three suite categories including two-story oceanfront penthouse residences, master suite residences, and signature suites. The property also includes three dedicated restaurants. Guests staying at the resort will also be able to access the adjacent Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen, which will open in March 2023.
Waldorf Astoria signs in Nevada: Hilton has announced the signing of a brand and management agreement with EKN Development Group to introduce the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand to Nevada’s Crystal Bay and Incline Village community with the Waldorf Astoria Lake Tahoe. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2027. Located on a 15-acre site, the mixed-use development will feature 76 rooms and 61 Waldorf Astoria branded residences. The residences will be represented for sale by Mike Dunn at Chase International. Managed by Hilton, the new-build luxury hotel will be the first Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts-branded property in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and Hilton’s fourth luxury property in Nevada. There are currently 32 Waldorf Astoria hotels globally, with 26 more in the pipeline. Hilton has 45 properties across Nevada and 15 more in the development pipeline.
Hilton, Amadeus partner: Hilton has partnered with Amadeus to implement their API within the Amadeus distribution system. The Amadeus GDS will directly integrate with Hilton’s API, enabling both companies to benefit from a faster and more flexible connection to the Global Distribution System channel. The new API system will also help Hilton introduce new features at a faster pace.
Zoëtry to St. Lucia: Hyatt announced the opening of Zoëtry Marigot Bay St. Lucia in the Lesser Antilles of the Windward Islands at St. Lucia, part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection. The 124-key resort marks the debut of the Zoëtry brand at St. Lucia. The property consists of 124 rooms, including penthouse residences, master suite residences and junior suites, along with seven dining outlets, a spa and a fitness center.
Hyatt, Lindner collaboration milestone: Hyatt Hotels Corp. and Germany-based Lindner Hotels AG have completed the first milestone in their collaboration — 31 properties under the Lindner Hotels & Resorts and me and all hotels brands are now bookable on Hyatt’s website. As part of an exclusive collaboration between an affiliate of Hyatt and Lindner, 30 hotels across seven countries in Europe will be added to Hyatt’s brand portfolio through individual franchise agreements. Most of the hotels are set to join the JdV by Hyatt brand.
Hyatt Regency Jersey City sells: Taconic Capital Advisors and Norwalk, Connecticut-based HEI Hotels & Resorts have acquired the 351-key Hyatt Regency Jersey City from Hyatt Hotels and Jersey City-based Veris Residential. While the purchase price was not disclosed, Taconic and HEI said they would take on a US$100 million fixed-rate CMBS mortgage which has “ample” time before it comes to term in conjunction with the acquisition. The hotel will continue to operate under the Hyatt Regency brand, with the new owners planning to make significant enhancements to rooms, dining venues and event areas. HEI will manage the hotel.
CL Hotels acquires Coachman Hotel: Miami Beach, Florida-based CL Hotels has closed the acquisition of the 104-key Coachman Hotel in South Lake Tahoe, California. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition comes along with a multimillion-dollar investment plan to upgrade the property. The initial investments include the remodelling of 22 rooms to be added to the 82 newly renovated rooms and the expansion of the meeting space (adding 900 square feet to the existing 800 square feet). The new owner will also open a food and beverage outlet. Evolution Hospitality, the lifestyle and boutique arm of Aimbridge Hospitality, has been retained to manage the independent hotel. Nick Pappas and Greg Morgan with Newmark and Scott Fair with NAI Tahoe Sierra served as brokers for the deal.
Florida Quality Inn sells for US$5.65M: The 68-room Quality Inn by Choice Hotels in Spring Hill/Weeki Wachee, Florida sold for US$5.65 million. The hotel was acquired by SMP Hospitality, LLC and was sold by Maya Motels Inc. The sale was arranged by Tampa, Florida-based DSH Hotel Advisors, who represented both the buyer and seller.
First Vignette Collection in the US: IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed its first Vignette Collection-branded hotel in the U.S. in McMinnville, Oregon. Expected to break ground in late 2023 and open in 2025, The Gwendolyn will comprise 92 rooms, a restaurant and retail spaces, a rooftop pool with a restaurant and bar, a fitness center and a spa. The hotel’s development will be overseen by IHG and owner, Portland, Oregon-based Hugh Development. The signing follows the signing of Vignette Collection’s first North American property in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in October. IHG expects to secure over 100 new Vignette Collection properties globally within the next decade.
Everhome grows portfolio: Rockville, Maryland-based Choice Hotels International has announced the groundbreaking of the Everhome Suites in Nampa, Idaho. The hotel is being developed by Denver, Colorado-based HighSide Companies. Slated to open in late 2023, the 122-room, four-story Everhome Suites will feature rooms with muti-functional furniture and fully-equipped kitchens, public spaces for work and play and a 24/7 laundry and fitness center. Launched in 2020 as a new construction midscale extended-stay offering, the Everhome brand now has over 50 hotels in its pipeline.
Meliá announces 2023 luxury strategy: Meliá Hotels International, Mallorca, Spain, has announced its 2023 luxury hotel growth plan and said one out of three hotel openings between 2023 and 2026 will be within its luxury portfolio. The family-run public company recently added a carbon-neutral prototype, Villa Le Blanc Gran Meliá in Menorca. Its future luxury hotel openings include Palazzo Cordusio, a Gran Meliá Hotel in Milan, Ngorongoro Lodge, a Meliá Collection Hotel in Tanzania, ME Malta, ME Lisbon, ME Guadalajara in Mexico, Paradisus Gran Canaria, Paradisus Salinas in Lanzarote, and Gran Meliá Nha Trang in Vietnam.
Oyo announces layoffs: Indian hospitality chain Oyo has announced it will downsize roughly 10% of its 3,700-employee base by cutting down 600 jobs in the technology and corporate divisions. The IPO-bound travel tech company will, however, hire 250 people, mostly in the relationship management and business development teams to increase the number of homes and hotels on its platform. The company said the decision was part of wide-ranging changes in its organizational structure. Product and engineering will be merged and downsized, while the number of staff at the corporate headquarters and in OYO Vacation Homes will also be reduced.
Bedrock acquires in Detroit: Billionaire Dan Gilbert’s real estate vehicle Bedrock LLC has closed the acquisition of the Robert Riverwalk Hotel in Detroit, Michigan, from Michael V. Roberts. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but Roberts put up the hotel for sale in 2020 with a US$26 million asking price. It reportedly received a bid of US$15 million at an auction but the sale fell apart. The acquisition adds to Bedrock’s real estate portfolio along Detroit’s East Riverfront, which the company wants to turn into a place for “sustainable urban development.” The 108-key, five-story, boutique hotel incorporates 5,500 square feet of event and banquet space and 126 parking spaces. The hotel was open till last summer and has since closed.
The Townhouse Hotel sells: Miami, Florida-based LuxUrban Hotels Inc. has acquired the long-term rights to the Townhouse hotel in South Beach, Florida through a 21-year master lease agreement, inclusive of option. The 70-key hotel, which will be powered by the company’s consumer -acing LuxUrban brand, will open later this month.
UK gets gaming hotel: Game on Cornwall, a gaming hotel, will open later this month in Cornwall, U.K. The unique hotel will feature seven gaming-themed rooms, an esports center, gaming café, tavern, shop, bar and VR. The retail gaming area on the ground floor is expected to open soon, with the rooms opening in March 2023.
St. Regis opens in Jakarta: St. Regis will open a new 17-story hotel in Jakarta this month. Spread across 29,000 square feet, the St. Regis Jakarta will feature 254 rooms and 28 suites, along with 164 private apartments and penthouses. The hotel will also include eight dining venues and a flagship spa.