STARWOOD CAPITAL ACQUIRES 10 HOTELS: Starwood Capital Group has acquired a portfolio of 10 hotels from Edwardian Group through a controlled affiliate for an undisclosed sum in an off-market deal. The 10-hotel portfolio totals 2,053 rooms. The 10 properties include Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Hotel; Radisson Blu Edwardian Mercer Street Hotel; Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury Street Hotel; Radisson Blu Edwardian Berkshire Hotel; Radisson Blu Edwardian Kenilworth Hotel; Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel; Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel; Radisson Blu Edwardian New Providence Wharf Hotel; Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow Hotel & Conference Centre; and Radisson Blu Edwardian Sussex Hotel. Once the transaction closes, Edwardian Group will continue to own and operate The Londoner and its two Radisson Collection hotels, The May Fair and The Edwardian Manchester. Alongside the deal, Starwood and Edwardian Group will partner in future opportunities. As part of this collaboration, Edwardian Group will continue to operate the portfolio on a transactional basis, while Starwood plans future investment into the properties. With this acquisition, Starwood’s European portfolio stands at 47 hotels totaling 10,000 rooms. JLL provided real estate advisory services, with Baker McKenzie providing legal services to Edwardian Group. Paul Hastings (Europe) LLP represented Starwood in the transaction.
KERTEN UNVEILS DAR TANTORA IN ALULA: Kerten Hospitality has unveiled Dar Tantora The House Hotel in AlUla’s Old Town. Set to open on January 21, the restored mud-brick community celebrates AlUla’s heritage and is located 35 kilometers from AlUla International Airport. Made using the same architectural techniques and ancient materials as the restored mud-brick buildings in the area, the 30-room hotel aims to be a premier low-impact hotel. Dar Tantora The House Hotel will be a flagship hotel for Kerten’s sustainable hospitality strategy. Inspired by AlUla’s Old Town, the hotel features earthen architecture and furthers Kerten’s sustainability mission through automated food waste, energy saving and water management solutions. The hotel includes an infinity pool with oasis views, a spa that uses locally grown ingredients and a restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Jaume Puigdengolas. Currently, Kerten Hospitality has 12 lifestyle brands and 11 operational projects, part of a global presence of 50 projects on three continents.
AVANI VENTURES INTO GERMANY: Avani Hotels & Resorts, the upscale lifestyle hotel brand by Minor Hotels, has grown its footprint in Europe and ventured into Germany with the opening of the Avani Frankfurt City Hotel. The former NH Collection Frankfurt City Center was rebranded as the Avani hotel. Celebrating the city’s music legacy, the hotel’s lobby showcases framed vinyl discs and album covers from the 1980s, along with a faux fireplace and vintage record player. The seven-story hotel offers 256 rooms and suites, five meeting rooms with a shared breakout area, a restaurant, a grab-and-go station and a gym. Launched in 2011, Avani Hotels’s portfolio currently consists of 35 hotels globally.
DENVER HILTON GARDEN INN SELLS FOR $18M: Chatham Lodging Trust has announced the sale of the 180-room Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center for $18 million. The buyer’s name has not been disclosed yet. Proceeds from the hotel’s sale will be used for corporate investments to repay debt, Chatham said in a statement. A $6 million renovation of the property was planned for 2023 but could not be finished due to the pending sale. Chatham owns 38 hotels totaling 5,735 rooms across 16 states and the District of Columbia.
ALOFT NEW ORLEANS’ RENOVATIONS: Aloft New Orleans Downtown has completed renovations of its interiors, which includes a redesign of the lobby and upgrades to the guestrooms, bathrooms, corridors and fitness center. The design was led by Pinnacle South. Besides the relocation of the front desk area, the reception features a new seating area and a custom floor-to-ceiling mural illustrating the city’s music scene. The heated rooftop pool has also received new furniture. The 188-room hotel is managed by HRI Lodging.