Chicago’s Navy Pier to get hotel
Chicago’s Navy Pier tourist attraction announced a US$155 million plan to build a new boutique hotel at the end of the pier on at a board meeting on Thursday. An international design contest will be held for the hotel. The plan is an initiative by the attraction’s new management company Navy Pier, Inc.
Read more at Crain’s Chicago Business
Ireland gets reduced hotel VAT
A new reduced VAT rate took effect in Ireland on Friday. Hotel room sales VAT was reduced from 13.5% to 9%. The Irish Hotel Federation encouraged its members to pass on the reduction to consumers to encourage tourism to bolster Ireland’s troubled hotel market.
Venice Lido beach opened to public
The glamorous Lido beach in Venice, Italy is being opened up to the general public at the initiative the city’s new left-wing government, headed by Mayor Giorgio Orsoni that passed Thursday. Private beaches, many owned by hotels, will have to give the public open access to beachfront that’s within 15 feet of the shoreline.
Read more at The Daily Telegraph
Cornwall beach resort moving ahead
Municipal authorities in Cornwall, England unanimously approved a £250 million beach resort development at a Thursday meeting. The 511-room resort will be called “The Beach” and has been in the pipeline for two decades. It is being built by British development company Commercial Estates Group and will require a go-ahead from the Cabinet for construction to begin.
Read more at ThisIsCornwall.co.uk
7 Days purchases Huatian Star
Chinese hotel chain 7 Days purchased the Huatian Star budget hotel chain, also based in China for approximately US$21 million. This adds 21 hotels to 7 Days’ roster of economy hotels in China’s roster, as all the Huatian Star locations will be rebranded to 7 Days.