Google, Sabre hook up: Google Cloud joined forces with travel software and tech provide Sabre Corp. in a 10-year-strategic partnership to “enable the travel provider to improve operational agility while developing new services and creating a new marketplace for its airline, hospitality and travel agency customers,” according to a press release. Goals include improving Sabre’s technology capability, including migrating Sabre’s its IT infrastructure to Google Cloud, using Google analytics tools and driving innovation.
Bensley on sustainability: Bangkok-based hotel designer and owner Bill Bensley introduced a white paper, “Sensible Sustainability Solutions,” for the global hotel Industry, which he said should “shoulder more responsibility concerning issues such as education, clean accessible water, alternative energy, energy consumption, food waste, wildlife protection and conservation.” The white paper outlines 20 suggestions for hotel designers, owners and operators on designing better hotels to help fight climate change.
D.C. sues Trump: The District of Columbia is suing President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee and two companies that control the Trump International Hotel in the nation’s capital, accusing them funding parties for the Trump family with nonprofit funds, and overpaying for event space at the hotel, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit alleges that the committee abused nonprofit funds and coordinated with the Trump family to “grossly overpay for event space” in the hotel.
First Hospitality appoints CEO: Rosemont, Illinois-based First Hospitality Group appointed David J. Duncan president and CEO. Duncan has served as First Hospitality’s president since joining the company in June 2018. Company founder Stephen L. Schwartz continues as executive chairman. Duncan held leadership positions at Guggenheim Partners, Denihan Hospitality Group in New York, and JC Resorts in La Jolla, California.
Hotel for Harrods? Iconic London department store Harrods won planning permission to build a US$392 million hotel that connects to the store via a secret tunnel. The site, currently a parking garage, was acquired in 2013 by Singapore-based Kwek Leng Beng’s CDL property group for £85 million (US$110.8 million). The planned hotel would have 120 rooms over eight floors, along with a spa, and take about 30 months to complete.
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Kenya growth: Destination and resort spa visitation grew at a compound annual growth rate of 8.5% in Kenya from 2015 to 2019, according to GlobalData. Wellness tourism is becoming an important sub-sector for Kenya and the East African tourism industry, with an increasing number of spas opening across the region, the company said. From 2019 to 2022, GlobalData expects destination and hotel/resort spa visitation to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% in Kenya.
Zleep in Germany: Deutsche Hospitality aims to open its first Zleep in Hamburg, the Zleep Hotel Hamburg Altonaer Volkspark, in 2022. The Danish brand taken over by Deutsche in 2018 also has hotels opening in Madrid and Hamburg in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Farnhornstieg 8 GmbH, a joint venture between Soravia and Kiskan Kaufmann Architekten, will act as project developer for the 204-room new-build in Hamburg, which will have a Nordic-style breakfast and snack bar, parking and bicycle stands.
Biggest Fairfield: Marriott International signed an agreement with Nahdet Al-Mashaer to open a 2,600-room Fairfield by Marriott property in Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia. The agreement is expected to deliver the first Fairfield by Marriott property to the Middle East and Africa region, and create the largest Fairfield hotel in the world. Construction has started and the Fairfield by Marriott Makkah Al Naseem is slated to open in 2023.
Accor plastics ban: France’s Accor announced a commitment to remove all single-use plastic items in guest experience from its hotels by the end of 2022. The commitment includes: removal of individual plastic toiletry amenities and cups by the end of 2020; the elimination of all remaining single-use plastic items in guestrooms, meeting areas, restaurants and all leisure activities areas (spas, fitness centers, etc.) by the end of 2022. According to the company, 94% of its hotels have eliminated the use of straws, cotton buds and stirrers, with the remaining, mostly in China, doing so by the end of March.
Sage names management exec: Denver, Colorado-based management company Sage Hospitality Group named Daniel del Olmo president of the company’s hotel management arm, also overseeing restaurant operations. Del Olmo previously held executive roles at Wyndham Hotel Group, Meliá and Sbe; most recently he ran The Passionality Group, an advisory and investment company he co-founded.
Schroder targets Europe: Schroder Real Estate’s hotels arm has raised 60% of a €500 million (US$554.7 million) fundraising target for its debut European fund, primarily from European institutional investors and family offices. The fund will target a portfolio of between 10 to 15 European hotels through the acquisition, selected refurbishment and operational improvement of existing hotels, the company said.
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