CHECK IN! – latest hotel highlights from across the globe

24 November, 2020

CTC - Corporate Travel Community brings you the first of this week's round up of some of the latest accommodation news from across the globe.

  • Hilton adds second branded property in French Polynesia
  • Marriott's Moxy to arrive in downtown Dubai in 2025
  • Crowne Plaza Budapest another conversion property to boost IHG's portfolio
  • Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR
  • News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments

Hilton adds second branded property in French Polynesia

Hilton has confirmed the signing of its second Hilton Hotels & Resorts branded hotel in French Polynesia. Under a management agreement with Hotel Tahiti SAS, Hilton will manage Hilton Tahiti in the Tahitian capital of Pape'ete, the vast territory's main centre of government and economic activity. A major conversion is currently underway, due for completion in the first half of 2021. Hilton Tahiti is in a prime location for both leisure and corporate travellers. Situated on the waterfront and three kilometres from Faa'a International Airport, Hilton Tahiti will be the closest hotel to the airport, the gateway for all international arrivals to the territory. The hotel is also just seven kilometres from Pape'ete Ferry Terminal, with its connections to the outer islands, and near the capital city's vibrant CBD. The property will offer 171 new guest rooms ranging from 33 to 57 square metres, and 29 suites ranging in size from 72 square metres up to two Royal Suites, one of which is a grand measuring 183 square metres.


Marriott's Moxy to arrive in the Middle East in downtown Dubai in 2025

Marriott International has signed an agreement with Ingenious Holding Limited to debut the company's bold and experiential Moxy Hotels brand in the Middle East. Slated to open in 2025, the Moxy Downtown Dubai will rise within the city's iconic downtown neighbourhood and tourist hub. The property is expected to feature 320 modern bedrooms with smart modular furniture, hi-tech touches and fast Wi-Fi. The industrial-chic design will include social spaces, such as a rooftop bar and restaurant with stunning views of Downtown Dubai, a bowling alley and a swimming pool. The hotel will also highlight several of the Moxy brand's signature public spaces including its Library where guests can plug-in and tune out; The Welcome for guests to check-in and hang out; and THE GYM, which offers a fully equipped fitness centre. Moxy Hotels are designed to "reimagine the hotel scene, offering guests unexpected, playful extras and affordability without compromising on style". Moxy Downtown Dubai will encompass the signatures of the brand such as its energetic lobby where guests are met by the welcoming crew, its smart and fun self-service B&F concept and its kinetic Living Room space for day to night gatherings.


Crowne Plaza Budapest another conversion property to boost IHG's portfolio

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Granit Polus Group for an existing property to be re-branded as the Crowne Plaza Budapest in 2021. This new arrival to its portfolio adds to the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn properties already available in Hungary's capital city with the Holiday Inn Express Budapest - City Centre due to follow in 2022. The 230-room hotel offers a range of facilities, from 13 meeting rooms to a café and lounge club. Budapest is known for being one of Europe's most popular and emerging destinations, and the Crowne Plaza Budapest is located close to the downtown business district, whilst in walking distance to the international railway station linking Budapest to major European cities. IHG has experienced an uplift in conversion activity in 2020, with owners of quality hotels looking to the brand and the benefits of its scale and strong branded systems. Conversions have accounted for 27% of signings so far this year, up from 20% in 2019.


Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR

  • Performance metrics for hotels in Canada showed slightly lower occupancy from the previous week for the week ending 14-Nov-2020 after last week's small rise. In comparison with the same week last year, occupancy fell -53.5% to 27.8%, down from 29.4% (week ending 07Nov-2020), 29.2% (week ending 31-Oct-2020), and 31.1% (week ending 24-Oct-2020). Year-on-year ADR was down -25.9% to CAD110.36 and RevPAR declined -65.5% to CAD30.70. Nova Scotia recorded the highest occupancy level (35.0%) among the provinces, while Vancouver (29.0%) saw the highest occupancy level for the week.
  • In the United States of America (USA) hotel occupancy also slipped further from previous weeks in the week ending 14-Nov-2020. After ranging between 48% and 50% occupancy from mid-Jul-2020 into the later portion of Oct-2020, the last two weeks have produced levels of 44.4%, 44.1% and now 43.2%, a -32.7% decline on the comparable week last year. ADR was also down -28.6% year-on-year to USD90.58 (-28.6%) and RevPAR declined -52.0% year-on-year to USD39.11. Aggregate data for the Top 25 Markets showed lower occupancy (39.7%) but higher ADR (USD96.31) than all other markets with Phoenix, Arizona (52.7%) was the only location to reach or surpass 50% occupancy.

News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments

  • To support hoteliers in successfully getting back to business, strengthen pandemic recovery efforts and reassure guests and staff alike, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and AAHOA are joining forces to provide the hotel owners' association's nearly 20,000 membership network with further health and safety guidance and education. The new partnership will provide them with access to special tools and resources to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating, as well as live webcasts and forthcoming member-only events.
  • Aria Hotels, the Greek boutique hotel and villas company has strengthened its presence in Western Mani, with the addition of Villa NUPADI to its collection. This newly built property alongside the gorge of Nupadi in the Peloponnese, which leads to the beach of Foneas, stands at an altitude of 120m, only 4km from the picturesque village of Kardamyli. It features two living rooms, two kitchens, four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, and three guest bathrooms.
  • A Hyatt Hotels affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with Banyan Cay Development (BCD) to develop Banyan Cay Resort & Golf, a Destination Hotel. Expected to open in late 2021, this 150-room property will mark entry of the Destination Hotels brand into Florida and will be the first full-service Hyatt-branded property in Palm Beach County, an internationally recognised resort and leisure destination.
  • Hotel Equities has been selected to operate the new-build Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fort Myers Airport hotel in Florida. The property will boast 101-guest rooms and suites and is being developed by ownership group Shivam Soham. The hotel is scheduled to open in early 2001 and is expected to be popular for guests accessing the Southwest Florida region due to its proximity to Southwest Florida International Airport.
  • The new Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel has opened following a USD75 million reinvention of the iconic 1915 Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska. The highly anticipated 205-room property is the brand's first hotel in Nebraska and serves as a key development in the renaissance of the city's Blackstone District. The hotel has been meticulously restored and renovated by LEO A DALY and DLR Group, and offers five food and beverage concepts, 13,500 square feet of meetings and event space, including two grand ballrooms, a seasonal resort-style swimming pool and Pool Club, a solarium and a rooftop terrace with views of downtown Omaha.
  • The Oetker Collection, a group of masterpiece hotels, estates and villas, will add The Woodward, a new hotel in the heart of Geneva, to its exclusive portfolio in Spring 2021. Owned by Bastion Holdings, the hotel sits directly on the shores of Lake Geneva, offering panoramic views of Mont Blanc and is housed in a 1901 build property designed by French architect François Durel, in a post-Haussmann style. Each of the 26-suites have been carefully curated to possess their own distinct character and individual design details with signature flourishes including marble fireplaces and bookcases, 21 of which have a full lake view.
  • Apartment hotel brand StayCity has secured a GBP30 million loan from OAK North Bank, which together with an equity rise will support its plans to open another ten aparthotels in 2021, and operate 15,000 apartments by 2026/27.
  • Tablet Hotels, the hotel experts at the MICHELIN Guide, has selected 2,000 further properties to add to its platform, bringing the total to 6,000. These are mainly smaller, unique hotels in more remote locations to support demand from safety-conscious travellers seeking less-crowded destinations as an alternative to major cities.
  • The TownePlace Suites by Marriott Potomac Mills Woodbridge has opened, a Marriott franchise, owned by Mills Group and managed by Marquee Hospitality. The property houses 91 suites and is located adjacent to the Potomac Mills Mall and offers guests convenient access to the Hylton Chapel, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Fort Belvoir, historic Occoquan and a short drive to downtown Washington, DC.
  • IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel groups, has signed a management agreement with Saudi based Arif Group to bring a new upscale voco hotel in the city of Jeddah. A new built property, voco Jeddah North will feature 145 rooms and will open to guests in 1Q 2022. Its location close to the new Jeddah airport and its offering of 1,710 square metres of meeting and banqueting space (including two ballrooms of 500 square metres and 400 square metres), will make it especially well positioned for upscale corporate guests and will be well suited for MICE requirements.