Reuben brothers to buy NYC’s Surrey Hotel: Billionaire British brothers David and Simon Reuben are buying New York City’s upscale Surrey Hotel in their latest push into U.S. real estate, according to Bloomberg. The deal is set to value the 5-star Manhattan property at less than the US$215 million asking price, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Reubens plan to hire a top hospitality management company to operate the 189-room hotel, according to the person.
Hyatt targets Europe: Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corp. will grow its brand portfolio in Europe significantly by the end of 2023 with over 20 executed, managed and franchised deals for new hotels. These properties are expected to join 63 Hyatt-branded hotels across nine brands in 22 European countries. Andaz, Alila and Hyatt Centric – Hyatt’s lifestyle brands – and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt – one of Hyatt’s independent collection brands – make up half of Hyatt’s executed deals in Europe. Notable deals include: the 203-room Park Hyatt London River Thames in London, which will be the first Park Hyatt hotel in the U.K.; the introduction of the Hyatt Centric brand to the U.K. with Hyatt Centric Cambridge; and Hyatt’s foray into Northern Europe with two new hotels within The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, including the 224-room Grand Hansa Hotel in Helsinki, Finland.
IHG signs Kimpton Mallorca: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) completed a deal to sign its first luxury hotel in Mallorca, under the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants brand. When it opens in 2022, Kimpton Mallorca will further expand the brand’s presence in Spain, following the launch of Kimpton Vividora Hotel in Barcelona earlier this year. Calvia Country Club S.A. will manage, and the 79-room hotel will be located next to one of the island’s golf courses, Santa Ponsa Golf, on the site of the existing Santa Ponsa Country Club.
New owners to transform New Zealand hotel into 5-star resort: A hotel in Hanmer Springs, New Zealand, has been sold and will reopen before Christmas, after previously closing in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The former Heritage Hotel sold to CPG Hotels, one of New Zealand’s largest privately-owned and operated hotel groups. The 54-room hotel will reopen on December 21, under the new name of Hanmer Springs Hotel. The hotel will undergo a full refurbishment next year to transform it into a luxury 5-star Fable Hotels and Resorts branded hotel.
Bonvoy into the holidays: Marriott International’s travel program Marriott Bonvoy has debuted its global holiday campaign, with a focus on animated and digital advertising, creating “an extravagant visual world through a magical storybook narrative reminding people that joy can be near.” The new animated holiday campaign stemmed from research findings on the power of animation as a tool to both express an idea and invite curiosity and imagination. According to Marriott, research shows, from an early age, people are programmed to enjoy animation even into adulthood.