- Moxy Hotels continues Asia Pacific expansion with debut in Taiwan
- IHG signs deal to bring boutique upscale Hotel Indigo brand to Kuala Lumpur
- Six Senses to land in the Americas in early 2021 with Six Senses Botanique opening in Brazil
- Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR
- News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments
Moxy Hotels continues Asia Pacific expansion with debut in Taiwan
Marriott International has opened of its first Moxy Hotel in Taiwan, as it aims to shake up the hospitality scene in Taichung, an industrial city on the western side of central Taiwan with its playful spirit. The experiential and next gen-focused Moxy Taichung is located near many of the city's attractions, including the colourfully quirky Rainbow Village, Zhongshe Flower Market, as well as the street food paradise of Yizhong Street Night Market - all must-visit destinations for the young and young-at-heart. This opening marks the sixth Moxy Hotel to open in Asia Pacific and further underscores Marriott International's commitment to continue growing its lifestyle portfolio across the region, and to cater to the next-generation of travellers with tailored experiences in a well-designed and affordable space. The Moxy Taichung features 262 bedrooms, each equipped with the latest technology featuring a 55-inch flat screen television, high quality sound system, furiously fast and free Wi-Fi, ample USB power outlets, motion-activated LED guidelights below the bed, and a backlighted glass panel to add ambiance. The hotel also features several of the brand's signature touches.
IHG signs deal to bring boutique upscale Hotel Indigo brand to Kuala Lumpur
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a landmark deal to bring the boutique upscale Hotel Indigo brand to Kuala Lumpur in partnership with Techvance Properties Management. This first property, the 180-room Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park, will be located at the base of the picturesque Bukit Nanas, close to KL Tower and KL Forest Eco Park, in the heart of Malaysia's capital city and is scheduled to open 2023. This location is within walking distance of the main financial district, shopping at KLCC and Pavilion Mall. In keeping with brand guidelines, the property will have Kuala Lumpur's multicultural influences embedded in its DNA through a design which captures the historical charm of local heritage buildings and the breadth of nearby modern architecture. Sustainability has been key in Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park's creation with environmentally friendly methods prioritised in its planning, led by the use of reclaimed materials from nearby sites, solar panels on its roof, and rainwater harvesting. In line with IHG's broader sustainability efforts, the hotel will also be plastic straw free and will opt for bulk amenities in all its guest rooms. Across South East Asia and Korea there are currently four Hotel Indigo hotels in Bangkok, Bali, Phuket and Singapore and Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park joins a growing pipeline for the brand including properties in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Six Senses to land in the Americas in early 2021 with Six Senses Botanique opening in Brazil
The Six Senses brand will make its debut in the Americas early next year with he opening of the Six Senses Botanique, located on a hillside amid 700 acres (283 hectares) of lush, mid-tropical Atlantic forests in Brazil in a naturally secluded yet convenient setting. The resort lies in the desirable Mantiqueira area, 2.5 hours from São Paulo and 3.5 hours from Rio de Janeiro, 1,200 meters above sea level and at the confluence of three river valleys in the heart of the Mantiqueira Mountains. These are known as the "mountains that weep" due to the abundance of springs and rivers. Formerly known as Botanique Hotel & Spa, the hotel was born out of Fernanda Ralston Semler's vision to set a new benchmark in luxury hospitality that was completely home-grown, recognizing local traditions and culture, as well as its natural setting. The hotel was constructed in 2012 by regional architects and designers using indigenous materials such as jacaranda wood, natural stone, and chocolate slate. In its new guise, it will offer seven suites in the main hotel, ranging from 645 to 970 square feet (60 to 90 square meters), and 13 private villas, from 1,184 to 3,230 square feet (110 to 300 square meters), dotted in the hills around it. A further 14 villas are planned and will be constructed off-site in a modular manner using local materials. There will also be 37 branded residences, again constructed using an eco-friendly modular approach, available for purchase off-plan, with the first phase already underway. Owners will have access to all the hotel's facilities, amenities and services and the opportunity to place their homes into the rental programme managed by Six Senses.
Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR
- The hotel industry in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia reported mixed performance in Oct-2020 in comparison with recent months, according to preliminary data, but year-on-year declines in the key performance metrics remained significant. In comparison with Oct-2019, occupancy declined -24.3% to 36.4%, ADR was down -15.9% to SAR646.03 and RevPAR fell -36.3% to SAR234.93. Absolute occupancy was up slightly from Sep-2020 (36.1%) and was the market's second highest level in the metric since the beginning of the pandemic. The ADR level was the market's lowest since Jun-2020, pulling RevPAR lower than any month since Jul-2020.
- Hotels in London, United Kingdom showed relatively flat occupancy in Oct-2020 compared with the previous month, while year-on-year declines remained significant. Occupancy was up slightly from Sep-2020 (29.2%) but ADR was lower than the GBP93.55 recorded that month. In comparison with Oct-2019, occupancy was down -66.5% to 29.3%, ADR fell -44.8% to GBP89.11 and RevPAR declined -81.5% to GBP26.07.
- Reflecting the impact of a second lockdown, Melbourne, Australia showed continued lower hotel performance, according to preliminary Oct-2020 data. In comparison with Oct-2019, occupancy was down -69.1% to 26.3%, ADR declined -47.2% to AUD99.39 and RevPAR fell -83.7% to AUD26.12. The absolute levels across the three metrics were the lowest for any month in the city with Oct-2020 the second consecutive month that occupancy and RevPAR were below 30% and AUD30.00, respectively.
News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments
- Amano Group plans to extend its successful property formula in Germany into the United Kingdom with the planned opening of the Amano Covent Garden in 2022. The property will represent the transformation of Drury House on the corner of Russell Street and Drury Lane into a 141-room hotel.
- Campbell Gray Hotels has confirmed plans to open a first property in Egypt in 2022. The unnamed new hotel and wellbeing development will be located at the Kings Polo Academy in Cairo. It will feature 70 rooms and suites which will overlook the polo fields and landscaped gardens and is expected to open in early 2022.
- The Cumberland House Knoxville has opened following an extensive top-to-bottom and inside and out renovation and brand conversion. The sleek and modern property is located in the heart of downtown Knoxville and will be part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The seven-storey, 130-room hotel pays tribute to the historic Knoxville textile and button manufacturing industry and is within walkable distance of the Knoxville Convention Center, University of Tennessee, World's Fair Park and Market Square.
- The Delta by Marriott Grand Rapids Airport has secured a USD8.85 million refinancing with Lodging Opportunity Fund. The 188-room property is located four miles from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, and eight miles from Downtown Grand Rapids, one of just two full-service Marriott hotels in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area. The hotel is operated by National Hospitality Services, an affiliate of Lodging Opportunity Fund.
- A recent deployment of Impulsify's Grab & Go self-service kiosk retail technology in 14 of Dimension Development's 80 hotels across the US has delivered revenue gains for the hotel management company. Average Retail Sales Per Occupied Room grew +19% (from USD0.95 to USD1.14 POR), and increased average profit margin significantly across the properties when compared to the six months before installation.
- Berry College has held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott hotel adjacent to its Rome Tennis Center in Rome, the largest city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, US. The property, managed by Hotel Equities, is expected to be complete in autumn 2021. The hotel development aligns with the college's focus on creating new revenue streams to support its educational mission, provide opportunities for student learning and employment, and contribute to the economic vitality of Rome.
- Whether you're ready for time away or crave somewhere new to work and learn remotely, Four Seasons has become the latest to offer guests an extended stay offer which is available at all properties globally and applies to any room type for stays of longer than 30 days. The concept allows guests to take advantage of exclusive rates and a variety of exclusive benefits.
- The Pivot Hotels & Resorts lifestyle and luxury division of Davidson Hotels & Resorts will manage the Kimpton Harper Hotel, a new property due to open in spring 2021. Located in the heart of downtown Fort Worth, Texas, in close proximity to the Fort Worth Convention Center and Sundance Square, the property will house 226-rooms within the historic Farmers and Mechanics National Bank landmark building. The 24 storey construction will include 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space and a rooftop observation deck with a 360-degree view of Fort Worth.
- In Oct-2019, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group pledged to eliminate all single-use plastic, across its portfolio of 33 luxury hotels, by the end of Mar-2021. It confirms it has already eliminated an average of 70% of the 60 most commonly used items, excluding supplier packaging, with steady progress across all departments. Items that have been completely eliminated and replaced with eco-alternatives include cocktail sticks, straws, body scrubs, tasting spoons, plastic spatulas and takeaway bags.
- Commercial real estate development business Newmark Valuation & Advisory is requesting qualifications from experienced hotel management companies for a hotel development in the Ohio City neighbourhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Mixed-use developments at the site are planned to include market-rate apartments, leased retail and restaurant space, and the new-build lifestyle hotel.
- The 376-room Ritz-Carlton South Beach, 95-room Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour and 93-room Sagamore on Miami Beach are now under the common ownership of Lionstone Group, Ben-Josef Group and Flag Luxury Group. The owners plan to combine the Ritz-Carlton South Beach and adjacent Sagamore Hotel by 2024, though it is yet undetermined whether the Sagamore will keep its current brand.
- With leisure demand stronger than anticipated in the autumn, STR and Tourism Economics have slightly upgraded their final 2020 US hotel forecast, but regardless of the short-term upgrade, the forecast for 2021 "remains functionally unchanged" and full recovery in RevPAR is "unlikely until 2024". They project the industry will recapture 80% of demand by the end of 2021, although RevPAR will be just over a third (-34.2%) lower than in 2019. ADR and revenue will follow a slower recovery timeline, putting the industry on pace for full demand recovery at the end of 2023 and a return to pre-pandemic RevPAR levels by the close of 2024, according to the forecast.
- Popular beach resort brand Outrigger Hospitality Group has reopened Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger, Hawaii's first and only craft hotel. The properties offer comes from the mindset of a collection of local artisans and influencers to offer a one-of-a-kind, immersive stay for guests. The opening follows changes in travel restrictions that now allow travellers with a negative COVID-19 test result prior to arriving to Hawaii not to be subject to a 14-day quarantine.