- Hyatt outlines brand growth in Europe with London, Reykjavik, Helsinki, Prague, Lisbon, and Edinburgh among markets to get new properties
- Hilton launches first Tapestry Collection in the Asia Pacific with Hotel Resonance Taipei
- IHG continues luxury expansion in Europe by signing Kimpton Mallorca
- Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR
- News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments
Hyatt outlines brand growth in Europe with London, Reykjavik, Helsinki, Prague, Lisbon, and Edinburgh among markets to get new properties
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has revealed plans to grow its brand portfolio in Europe significantly by the end of 2023 with more than 20 executed managed and franchised deals for new hotels. These properties are expected to join 63 Hyatt-branded hotels across nine distinct brands in 22 European countries. Andaz, Alila, and Hyatt Centric - Hyatt's lifestyle brands - and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt - one of Hyatt's independent collection brands - make up half of Hyatt's executed deals in Europe. This year, nine new Hyatt properties have opened in Europe. The outlined plans signal significant growth plans for Hyatt that will increase its brand footprint in Europe by more than 30% in nine new countries and grow further in seven existing markets. Among the new properties are the 203-room Park Hyatt London River Thames in London; the introduction of the Hyatt Centric brand to the UK with Hyatt Centric Cambridge; Hyatt's foray into Northern Europe with two new hotels within The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, including the 224-room Grand Hansa Hotel in Helsinki, Finland; the first Andaz-branded hotel in Portugal with Andaz Lisbon; the first Hyatt-branded hotel in the Czech Republic with Andaz Prague; and the first Alila-branded resort in Europe with Alila La Gruyère in Switzerland.
Hilton launches first Tapestry Collection in the Asia Pacific with Hotel Resonance Taipei
Hilton Hotels has confirmed the opening of Hotel Resonance Taipei, a 14-storey, 175-room modern hotel located at Happy Village of Zhong Zheng District, Taipei. The latest addition to the Tapestry Collection portfolio and the first hotel under the brand to launch in Asia Pacific, it is owned by Times Square International Stays Corp, a subsidiary of Prince Housing & Development Corp. Providing easy access to the city's downtown recreational and cultural attractions, its guests are just short one-minute walk to the nearest Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station or two minutes by car from the Taipei Main Station. The exterior of Hotel Resonance Taipei resembles different frames of a film roll, signifying the recording of every special moment of life. It is designed by award-winning Taiwan architect Kris Yao (KRIS YAO ARTECH), who received the "Honorary Fellowship of the American Institute of Architects" in 2014. The hotel's design narrative is built around the theme of a "Film Box," which was derived from the heritage of the site as a camphor tree farm 150 years ago. Camphor was used as an important industrial material for a variety of household goods and as a backing for photographic roll films. The idea extends to the interior of the hotel and guests will enjoy finding hints of the theme in various areas of the hotel including the guest rooms.
IHG continues luxury expansion in Europe by signing Kimpton Mallorca
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has completed a landmark deal to sign their first luxury hotel in Mallorca, under the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants brand. When it opens in 2022, Kimpton Mallorca will further expand the brand's presence in Spain, following the launch of Kimpton Vividora Hotel in Barcelona earlier this year. The hotel will operate under a management agreement with Calvia Country Club. The 79-room luxury boutique hotel will be nestled next to one of the island's most renowned golf courses, Santa Ponsa Golf, on the site of the existing Santa Ponsa Country Club. The site will undergo a major refurbishment and extension to bring Kimpton's inspired design to life against the backdrop of hills and treelined lanes that criss-cross the south-west of the island. Located less than 30 minutes from Palma de Mallorca airport, Kimpton Mallorca will bring the brand's distinctly laid-back approach to luxury to the island as a perfect complement to Mallorca's relaxed but chic styling and hospitality.Kimpton Mallorca will bring a boutique luxury offering to the island with guests able to relax with a choice of two outdoor pools, an indoor pool, tennis courts, a yoga studio and a spa, all alongside more than 300 square metres of multi-functional meeting space. IHG has 44 luxury hotels in Europe, with another 17 luxury hotels in the pipeline to open in the next 3-5 years.
Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR
- Hotel performance data in Canada for the week ending 21-Nov-2020 showed flat occupancy from the previous week. In comparison with the comparable week last year occupancy was down -55.6% to 27.8%, the same level as the week earlier, but down from 29.4% (week ending 07-Nov-2020) and 29.2% (week ending 31-Oct-2020). ADR also declined -27.4% to CAD108.05 and RevPAR fell -67.8% to CAD30.00. For the analysis week, Nova Scotia recorded the highest occupancy level (33.4%) among the provinces. Among the major markets, Vancouver (28.1%) saw the highest occupancy level for the week.
- In the United States of America (USA) weekly hotel occupancy for the week ending 21-Nov-2020 continued to slip further from previous weeks. In comparison with the same week last year, occupancy declined -32.6% to 41.2%, down from 43.2%, 44.4% and 44.1% over the past three weeks. ADR declined -20.0% to USD88.54 and RevPAR fell -52.2% to USD36.45. Aggregate data for the Top 25 Markets showed lower occupancy (37.8%) but higher ADR (USD94.21) than all other markets. Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida (50.4%) was the only Top 25 Market to reach or surpass 50% occupancy.
News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments
- The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index was up +31.0% in November to a level of 4,354. Year to date through the first 11 months of 2020, the stock index was down -17.4%. The Nov-2020 performance was influenced by election clarity and several positive vaccine updates, which caused a sharp reversal in investor expectations and led to significant outperformance for hotel stocks. The Hotel Brand sub-index increased 26.3% from Oct-2020 to 7,570, while the Hotel REIT sub-index jumped 47.7% to 1,068.
- Cambria Hotels, the upscale franchise brand of Choice Hotels International has confirmed the opening of the Cambria Hotel St. Petersburg - Madeira Beach Marina. The 125-room property is located in Madeira Beach Town Centre, near leisure attractions such as John's Pass Village & Boardwalk, the Salvador Dali Museum, War Veterans Memorial Park, and Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The property's location also provides easy access to major area employers and company headquarters, including the Home Shopping Network, Spectrum, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital and the University of South Florida.
- Edwardian Hotels London has confirmed its new The Londoner property will welcome arrivals from Apr-2021. The property will offer an 'urban resort' destination. Opening across 16 storeys, the hotel will feature 350 guest rooms, suites and a tower penthouse with panoramic views, two private screening rooms, a mix of six concept eateries - including bars and a tavern, alfresco dining on the ground floor and a contemporary Japanese lounge bar with a rooftop terrace and fire pit - plus an expansive ballroom, a variety of meeting spaces and a results-driven gym and wellness centre.
- Hotelbeds has entered into an agreement with Rappi, Latin America's first 'superApp' that recently announced the launch of its new vertical, Rappi Travel. With this agreement, the 180,000 hotel properties working with Hotelbeds will now be available to millions of Rappi Travel users in Latin America, including: Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, plus corporate travellers from its brand Travel 4Business - with users from Argentina, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador and Costa Rica gaining access in 2021.
- AMJ Group today announced plans to develop the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Gainesville. The Hyatt Place Gainesville Downtown is expected to open in this historic neighbourhood in spring 2022. With 145 guestrooms, a second-floor elevated pool, market, lounge, restaurant and 1,800 square feet of meeting space, the property will cater to a wide variety of travellers, including guests visiting the University of Florida.
- Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants open a new 78-room lifestyle luxury hotel in Tulum, marking the brand's first opening in Mexico. Set to open on 18-Dec-2020, the Kimpton Aluna Hotel offers guests a tucked-away oasis in the Mayan Riviera. Originally opened in 2018 as a luxury anchor for the prestigious Aldea Zama community, the property is situated on the edge of nearly one thousand acres of biosphere reserve. It will be managed by Grupo Presidente, a long-standing partner of Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG).
- Long Weekend Hospitality has outlined plans for the renovation of The Seagate Hotel, Beach Club and Country Club in Delray Beach, Florida starting in Jun-2021. Led by award-winning hospitality designer Studio Robert McKinley, The Hotel and Beach Club will be completed in the autumn of 2021 with work on the Country Club beginning soon after. The property will be positioned as a destination boutique resort for travellers. The scope of the renovations includes remodelling 154 rooms along with a full public space re-design including new restaurant and lounge concepts.
- The Nobu Hotel London Portman Square has opened in the UK capital city. Located in the heart of central London's vibrant Marylebone area, the property features 249 guest rooms and suites, Nobu's renowned restaurant, a ballroom and meeting spaces - all conceptualised by London-based architecture and interior design firm David Collins Studio with Make Architects.
- Phonesuite, a provider of hospitality communications has separated Phonesuite Direct as a stand-alone, focused company dedicated to serving the needs of its most important end-user customers, including hotels, management companies and major brands. As part of the spinoff, Phonesuite Direct has formed a new leadership team, with each member bringing years of industry experience.
- The Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada will mark the brand's debut resort in the Caribbean, set on a headland on the southern part of the island known for its spice and relaxed lifestyle. The property is set to open in late 2022, with the resort and its residences spread over 38 acres (15 hectares). It will offer 56 guestrooms, seven one-bedroom villas and five two-bedroom villas, with no building higher than a palm tree.
- Hotel development, management and investment firm Midas Hospitality has opened its first Overland Park, Kansas property. Located at 4081 Indian Creek Parkway, the USD20 million SpringHill Suites-Overland Park is a five-storey hotel with 128 suites. The property features a fitness centre, indoor swimming pool, and meeting room. SpringHill Suites-Overland Park is conveniently located near the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens and Topgolf.
- Real estate investment and development firm Turnstone Group has selected Sandpiper Hospitality to manage the new WoodSpring Suites Atlanta - Newnan, which is scheduled to open in early Feb-2021. Located close to the Piedmont Newnan Hospital and Cancer Treatment Centers of America, The Ashley Park shopping center and Historic Downtown Newnan Square, the hotel will offer 125 suites all featuring a full kitchen, along with a fitness center and laundry room. Newnan is a rapidly growing city in Metro Atlanta.