VIGNETTE COLLECTION EXPANDS IN MEA: IHG Hotels & Resorts is set to introduce the Vignette Collection in Doha, Qatar. The first Vignette Collection hotel in Doha will open in partnership with Hospitality for Success H4S Hotels & Residences, one of Al Baladi’s Holding companies. Slated to open by the end of Q1 2024, Velero Hotel Vignette Collection Doha Lusail will be the fifth Vignette Collection signing in the MEA region, following signings in Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Kuwait and the U.A.E. Located in Lusail, the second largest city in Qatar and about 23 kilometers from Doha, the hotel will be part of a mixed-use development. Situated close to the Lusail Stadium, the 244-room hotel will include three dining outlets, a spa, gym, pool and meeting and events space. Currently, IHG operates 108 hotels under eight brands in the Middle East.

THE LUXURY COLLECTION TO GEORGIA: The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of more than 30 brands, debuted in Georgia with the opening of the Paragraph Freedom Square, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in Tbilisi. The hotel has been designed by the architectural firm Hausart Georgia, with HAT Design Paris designing the interiors. The hotel building has a double-curved glass façade reflecting the Freedom Square, State Opera House, City Assembly and Art Museums. The 220-room hotel features five restaurants and bars, a spa with six treatment rooms, an infinity pool, an indoor circular pool and a fitness center with views of the Freedom Square. The hotel also includes 1,400 square meters of meeting and event space, which comprises five meeting rooms and two ballrooms. Currently, The Luxury Collection’s portfolio includes around 120 hotels and resorts in over 35 countries.
FOUR SEASONS PRIVATE RESIDENCES IN ISTANBUL: Four Seasons has collaborated with Tay Group to announce a new standalone private residential project in Istanbul. Tay Group is the owner of the Four Seasons hotels in Istanbul at Bosphorus and Sultanhmet. Four Seasons Private Residences Istanbul is scheduled to open in 2024 and will feature 82 homes. The residences will consist of penthouses, a sky loft, garden suites and apartment residences. Located at the meeting point of the Ulus, Etiler and Levent neighborhoods, the property will be spread across four blocks. The property will feature an indoor pool, an outdoor garden deck, multi-purpose spaces for events, a kids’ playroom and young adults’ room, a private cinema and wellness areas. The residences will include EV charging stations, environmentally-friendly VRF air conditioning, noise-canceling technology and insulation, 24-hour surveillance and under-floor heating. Currently, Four Seasons operates 53 branded private residences globally, with three-quarters of upcoming Four Seasons projects including residences.
FIRST HOSPITALITY ADDS TO PORTFOLIO IN INDIANAPOLIS: First Hospitality has assumed management of Hotel Indy in Indianapolis. This is First Hospitality’s first hotel with owner group KennMar. The 90-key hotel opened in 2021 and includes two restaurants and 1,200 square feet of meeting space. The hotel is close to the Lucas Oil Stadium, Gainbridge Field House and Hilbert Circle Theater.
MELIÁ HOTELS OPENS IN CUBA: Meliá Hotels International has opened Meliá Trinidad Peninsula in Trinidad, Cuba. The beachfront hotel offers views of the Sierra del Escambray and is near Trinidad’s old town. The hotel is surrounded by large outdoor spaces with gardens and swimming pools overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The hotel has 401 rooms, many of which have sea views, with 80 of them being The Level, which provides guests with a more personalized stay as well as access to exclusive services and spaces. Some units are also swim-up rooms with access to their own pool. The hotel includes a pool, 14 restaurants and bars, a spa, four meeting rooms that can accommodate more than 1,400 persons and an independent reception area for events. Meliá has strengthened its presence in Cuba with this opening, following the recent opening of the Sevilla Habana Affiliated by Meliá Hotel. The group is also set to open the Sol Turquesa Beach hotel before the end of this year, increasing its portfolio in Cuba to 34.