Yotel Amsterdam: Yotel will open its first city center property in Amsterdam. The 204-cabin hotel will be located in the Amsterdam Noord area of the city, and will feature “significant outdoor space, an outdoor terrace next to the water, boat docking spaces and a unique sustainable water system.” The hotel is scheduled to open in late 2019.
Expotel new prez: New Orleans-based Expotel Hospitality appointed Larry Spelts as president and chief development officer. Prior to joining Expotel, Spelts served as vice president of business development for Charlestowne Hotels.
Revamped TripAdvisor app: TripAdvisor introduced a new mobile management center experience to its iOS and Android apps for hoteliers. Changes include a faster interface for viewing and responding to traveler reviews; managing photos directly from mobile; and greater ease in answering traveler questions while on the go.
Charlotte Marriott City Center acquisition: Carey Watermark Investors 2 Incorporated acquired the Charlotte Marriott City Center, located in Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina’s central business district, for a purchase price of US$170 million. Over US$40 million of capital improvements to the property were completed in 2016.
Asia pipeline: According to data at Lodging Econometrics, the most recent Asia Pacific Construction pipeline trend report, excluding China, shows that the total pipeline has 1,561 projects and 314,716 Rooms, up 1% by projects year-over-year. There are 834 projects and 172,518 rooms under construction, down 2% by projects YOY. Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months are at 308 projects and 66,676 rooms, up 11%, while projects in early planning at 419 projects and 75,522 rooms up by two projects.
Omni: Omni Hotels & Resorts has been designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services as a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite. In addition to the luxury hotel brand’s corporate office, all Texas-based Omni properties earned the Mother-Friendly Worksite distinction due to a proactive support of mothers who continue to breastfeed as they return to the workplace.