RLJ sells non-core hotels: RLJ Lodging Trust has sold two non-core hotel assets in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: the 385-room Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort and 255-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort (“Kingston Plantation”) for US$156 million or approximately US$244,000 per key.
Radisson taps Jin Jiang loyalty: Effective June 30, 2019, 53 Radisson Hotel Group properties will become bookable on Jin Jiang International’s WeHotel platform, with the remaining 1,100-plus participating hotels becoming available by the end of the year. As part of this collaboration, Radisson Rewards and WeHotel Prime are working together to provide localized, in-hotel benefits to members of both programs. By going live on WeHotel, Radisson Hotel Group’s properties will gain significant exposure in China. WeHotels has 148 million members, local language booking options and Chinese digital payments.
Ibis sells in Singapore: Property funds Alpha Asia Macro Trends Fund (AAMTD) II, managed by Singapore-based real estate investment advisory firm, Alpha Investment Partners, have sold the freehold 241-key Ibis Singapore Novena for nearly S$170 million. (US$126 million) The buyer is an entity linked to Mohammed Saiful Alam, who controls Bangaldeshi-based industrial conglomerate, S Alam Group. Previously in 2013, Alpha bought the hotel from the Kum family for S$150 million (US$111 million). The property will continue to be managed by AccorHotels.
First positive GOPPAR in May: Hotels in mainland Europe recorded their first year-on-year increase in profit per room in May, powered by growth across all revenue centers, according to HotStats data. GOPPAR increased by 5.9% in May to €78.16, which was the largest margin of YOY growth in this measure since October 2018 and was also a high for the year—almost €30 above the year-to-date figure at €48.09.
Sahara returns to Vegas: After spending US$100 million on renovations, the Murelo Group, which bought the SLS/W hotel in 2018, is bringing back the Sahara brand name to the Las Vegas strip. The Sahara Hotel and Casino opened in 1952 and operated under than name for 59 years until 2011. Among its claims to fame: it was the Las Vegas base for the Rat Pack, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford.
Bon grows in Namibia: Through an alliance with the Theart family in Namibia, South Africa’s Bon Hotels will now expand in Namibia beyond its Swakopmund Bon Hotels. It will add two hotels, managing for the Theart family beginning July 1, taking over the Hotel Ngandu Rundu in the northeast overlooking the Kavango River, as well as the Ngandu at Sea in Walvis Bay.
Motel 6 settles immigration-related claim: Motel 6 has agreed to pay US$10 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over claims the budget chain routinely provided guest lists from properties in Arizona to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, court documents showed on Saturday. The proposed settlement calls for Motel 6 to abide by a three-year consent decree to not give guest information to immigration authorities without a warrant or subpoena and to provide training on the issue to workers.
Lemon Tree finalizes Keys deal: New Delhi-based Lemon Tree Hotels is finalizing its acquisition of Keys Hotels for US$68.2 million to expand its portfolio. Lemon Tree Hotels will buy out Berggruen Hotels Pvt. Ltd., the parent of Keys Hotels, at an enterprise valuation of US$87.6 million.
Airbnb’s impact: According to new Airbnb survey findings, its host and guest community generated over US$100 billion in estimated direct economic impact across 30 countries in 2018 alone. This is based on the sum of homes host earnings and estimated guest spending. The United States topped the list of companies having a direct economic impact at US$33.8 billion; France was second at US$10.8 billion.