WILDERNESS OPENS TENTED SUITES IN BOTSWANA: Wilderness Mokete, a collection of tented suites, has opened in the Mababe region of Botswana. Located on the eastern fringes of the Okavango Delta, the property is spread across over 50,000 hectares of private concession land and offers safari experiences. The property has been designed by architects reMORPHED Arch & Design, with Michele Throssell Interiors designing the interiors. The property comprises nine ensuite canvas tented suite and a communal tented lounge area, connected by wooden walkways at ground level. Other facilities include a swimming pool, plunge pool and a sunken hide. All rooms have air conditioners, WiFi and retractable roofs. Wilderness Mokete is fully off-grid and utilizes renewable PV energy systems. Wilderness, the African conservation and hospitality company, is expected to open three more properties later this year.
MINOR SIGNS DUAL-BRANDED HOTEL IN CHINA: Minor Hotels has signed a Tivoli and NH dual-branded hotel in Yining, Xinjiang, marking the debuts of both the brands in northwest China. The hotel is slated to open in 2026. The hotel will be located near local attractions and the central business district. Spanning 1.6 million square meters, the project will include 200 rooms for each of the Tivoli and NH brands, along with a commercial zone, cultural performance area and residential areas. Currently, Minor Hotels’ portfolio includes more than 550 hotels, resorts and residences in 56 countries under eight brands. The company aims to add over 200 hotels by the end of 2026.
VIRGIN LIMITED EDITION JOINS PREFERRED HOTELS: Virgin Limited Edition has joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the independent hotel brand. As part of the agreement between the two brands, Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek, South Africa; Necker Island in Necker Island, British Virgin Islands; The Lodge in Verbier, Switzerland; Ulusaba in Sabi Sand, South Africa; Mahali Mzuri in Maasai Mara, Kenya; Son Bunyola Hotel & Villas in Mallorca, Spain; The Branson Beach Estate in Moskito Island, British Virgin Islands; Kasbah Tamadot in Asni, Morocco; and Finch Hattons Luxury Safari Camp in Tsavo National Park, Kenya will be live on Preferred Hotels’ website and join the Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Legend Collection. The agreement builds on the partnership with Virgin Hotels Collection, the parent company of Virgin Limited Edition and Virgin Hotels, announced in 2022. As the Virgin Hotels Collection portfolio continues to grow, more hotels will join the Preferred Hotels, including the recent announcement of Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch.
RED ROOF ADDS IN SOUTH CAROLINA: Red Roof has opened HomeTowne Studios Greenville in Greenville, S.C. The 50-room extended-stay hotel has kitchens with full-sized refrigerators and cooktops, complimentary Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, a snack center and weekly housekeeping facilities. Surya Hotel Corp., the hotel’s owner, invested more than $1 million to renovate the property, which included new furniture, bedding and televisions in rooms, enhanced guestroom bathrooms and refurbished kitchenettes. The hotel is located adjacent to the Red Roof Inn Greenville, which also underwent a complete renovation. Red Roof’s portfolio includes around 700 hotels totaling more than 60,000 rooms in the U.S. and Japan.