BWH Hotel Group expands its global portfolio: BWH Hotel Group added new hotels in Europe, North America and Asia. The new properties have been added in countries like the United States, France, Austria, Germany, England, and Thailand, among others. With this addition, the group has now added around 200 hotels to its portfolio in Europe, North America and Asia over the past year, with another 90 expected to open by the end of the year. Currently, BWH’s portfolio includes 4,500 hotels in more than 100 countries around the world. The company has also expanded its collection of soft-branded hotels and added more than 60 soft-branded hotels globally over the past year.
NewcrestImage, HCP acquire 16 hotels: A joint venture of NewcrestImage and Hospitality Capital Partners has entered into an agreement to acquire 16 Marriott-branded properties totaling 2,155 rooms across nine US states. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. The portfolio includes 13 Courtyard properties and three Residence Inn properties in Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, New York, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Texas. Hospitality Capital Partners and its principals own approximately 50 properties in the western United States. NewcrestImage, based in Dallas, Texas, has been actively acquiring properties after selling 27 hotels to Summit Hotel Properties in January. Since March and including this transaction, the company has added 76 hotels totaling 7,600 rooms.
Management change at Apple Leisure Group: Apple Leisure Group (ALG) President and CEO Alejandro Reynal has decided to pursue opportunities outside of the company, Hyatt Hotels Corp announced. ALG was acquired by Hyatt in November 2021. Reynal spent three years with ALG and his last day will be September 30. Effective October 1, Hyatt President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian will assume leadership of ALG, while Ray Snisky, Group President of ALG Vacations will assume additional responsibilities related to business coordination and other operational matters.
WorldHotels Collection expands its footprint: WorldHotels Collection, a private soft brand within the BWH Hotel Group network, has expanded its presence in key destinations in North America and Europe. Properties have been added in countries like Switzerland, USA, Scotland, England, Italy and more. With the addition of these hotels, WorldHotels has added more than 20 properties to its portfolio in Europe, Asia and North America over the past year, with 12 more expected to open by the end of this year.
Hilton, Voyager Space Partner for Space Stations: Voyager Space, the aviation and aerospace company specializing in the space exploration industry, has named Hilton as the official hotel partner of Starlab, Voyager’s planned free-flying commercial space station. The partnership will see Hilton bring customer focus to Starlab. Voyager and Hilton will partner on architecture and design, leveraging Hilton’s creative design and innovation experts, to develop the Space Hospitality Starlab crew headquarters, including common areas, hospitality suites and sleeping quarters for astronauts. The teams will also seek to jointly explore opportunities for longer-term endeavors, including ground-to-space astronaut experience, global co-marketing and branding, and other tourism, educational and commercial efforts. Voyager and its operating company Nanoracks received $160 million in funding from NASA in 2021 for Starlab, which will replace the International Space Station. Starlab should have the capacity to continuously accommodate up to four astronauts and include the George Washington Carver Science Park.
The Grand Hotel Regina changes hands: Fortimo Group AG, the Swiss property developer, has acquired the 77-room Grand Hotel Regina in Grindelwald, Switzerland, for CHF 18.5 million (US$19.15 million) through an auction process . The new owner plans to develop and build a new chalet complex within the existing framework. The new building should include around sixty apartments in the lower part, divided into five residential buildings. The site should also accommodate a new generation 4-star hotel with 14 rooms under the Revier brand. Grindelwald AG, the former owners of the Grand Hotel Regina, had large-scale conversion plans for a 246-bed hotel complex and five luxury apartment chalets. The hotel sat vacant for 10 years after Grindelwald AG failed to secure funding for this ambitious project.
Madison Realty Capital Provides Loan to Four Seasons: Madison Realty Capital, New York, has provided a US$315.6 million loan to Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Carpenter & Co., Inc. and Woodward Interests, LLC for the completion of the renovation of the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences New Orleans in New Orleans. , Louisiana. The 341-key hotel, which opened in July 2021, is part of a mixed-use building that also includes 92 residential units on the upper floors. Offering one- to three-bedroom units and four-bedroom penthouses, the condominiums have a private entrance from the hotel and are operated by Four Seasons. So far the property has sold 50% of the residential units. The 33-story hotel and residence includes event space, two restaurants, a full-service spa, and an outdoor pool. The building also houses Vue Orléans, an observatory offering a panoramic view of the city and cultural and historical exhibitions. Riaz Cassum and Henry Schaffer of JLL Capital Markets arranged the financing.
Braemar Hotels properties are safe: Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc. said none of its properties were damaged by Hurricane Fiona. The company’s 96-room Ritz-Carlton Reserve Dorado Beach in Dorado, Puerto Rico, and the company’s 180-room Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas, USVI were not damaged. Both properties have resumed normal operations and the company expects minimal cleaning.
Radisson strengthens its presence in the Middle East: Radisson Hotel Group is deepening its focus on the Middle East region, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates remaining its main markets. The group has announced its intention to sign at least five hotels and open more than 1,000 keys over the next 12 months. In the United Arab Emirates, the group will open the Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah later this year, following the opening of the first Radisson resort in the Middle East earlier this year, the Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah on Marjan Island. Radisson will also open a property in West Beach, Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The group has more than 25 hotels and serviced apartments in operation and under development in the United Arab Emirates, including the upcoming openings of the Radisson Blu Hotel, the Riyadh Convention Center and Exhibition Center and Park Inn by Radisson hotels in the development of the city of Thakher in Mecca. The company expects an additional 400 keys by the end of the year, closing the year with around 1,000 keys signed and around 1,500 keys opened in the GCC and Levant sub-regions. In addition to the future Radisson Blu hotel in Jordan, the group announced its second brand in Kuwait with the signing of a Park Inn by Radisson Kuwait Hotel & Apartments. The new 250 key property is expected to open by the end of 2023. Radisson currently operates 52 properties in the Middle East with over 11,000 keys and is working on 25 properties in the Middle East with over 5,000 keys under development .
IHG evolves EVEN Hotels: IHG Hotels & Resorts launched the latest evolution of its upscale EVEN Hotels brand with an updated design, refreshed restaurant and integrated wellness experience. The new EVEN Hotels prototype was developed in collaboration with franchisees. With 50 properties open or in the pipeline globally, the brand changes have been designed with choice and flexibility in mind. The prototype includes enhanced in-room fitness options, offered in three new room types. Enhanced features also include Restorative Moments (iconic sleep experience, spa-inspired showers), targeted F&B offering, sports studio and free on-demand digital content. The new prototype will be showcased this week at the annual housing conference in Phoenix, with elements of the new design to come at future openings across the United States. Additionally, EVEN Hotels will enter the San Diego market with a newly signed dual-branded property that will sprout from the ground in 2023.
Treehouse Hotel in the United States: SH Hotels & Resorts, the sustainable brand management company and a subsidiary of Starwood Capital Group, announced that its first Treehouse hotel in the United States will open in Sunnyvale, California in late 2023. Treehouse Sunnyvale will repurpose several existing structures and elevate a six-story building constructed off-site through modular methods. Most of the 254 rooms, including 21 suites, will have private outdoor spaces, from patios on the ground floor to balconies and terraces on the upper floors. Trees felled during construction will be salvaged by local artists into socially responsible sculptures created on site. Facilities include outdoor event space, three meeting rooms, cafe, garden and courtyard pool. SH Hotels & Resorts is set to open two more Treehouse hotels – Treehouse Hotel Manchester (the brand’s second UK location) in early 2023, followed by Treehouse Hotel Brickell in Miami, Florida in 2025.
Raines adds in Florida: Raines, Florence, South Carolina, has added the 87-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Pensacola West to its hotel portfolio, marking the company’s first property in Florida. This property is Raines’ sixth third-party management deal. The hotel is owned by Season 21, LLC. This is the first time Season 21 has done business with Raines. With this addition, Raines’ portfolio includes 22 properties of which nine are Marriott properties, including two other Fairfield assets. The hotel will soon be undergoing renovations, which will include upgrades to rooms and public areas and improvements to curb appeal.
Aleph Hospitality expands its presence in the Middle East: Aleph Hospitality, Dubai, has signed its first hotel management agreement in Doha, Qatar, and the planned opening of its office in Saudi Arabia. Scheduled to open just in time for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar next month, La Maison will consist of three towers comprising 448 rooms and serviced apartments, a health club, swimming pool, several food and beverage outlets , retail businesses, several meeting rooms and two banquet halls. The company, which is aiming for 50 hotels in the Middle East and Africa by 2026, manages hotels directly for owners, franchise or brand or white label for independent hotels. Aleph will open its office in Saudi Arabia in the fourth quarter.
