- IHG reveals plans for extensive refurbishment of InterContinental Adelaide
- Hilton signs with Shimao Group Holdings to launch four luxury hotels in China
- Rosewood Hotels to debut in Japan in the Okinawan archipelago
- Best Western boosts its offer to the connected travellers with new Oklahoma GLō arrival
- Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR
- News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments
IHG reveals plans for extensive refurbishment of InterContinental Adelaide
IHG Hotels & Resorts has outlined plans for an extensive investment into the iconic InterContinental Adelaide alongside the hotel's asset management company, TCC Land International. This will be the first major renovation to the hotel since it was built in 1988, latterly taking up its current branding in 2009. The work will commence in late 2021 and is due for completion in early 2023 and through which time the hotel will remain open. The transformative refurbishment will include a redesign of all 367 guestrooms and suites; upgrades to meeting and event spaces; a refreshed restaurant and bar; enhancements to the hotel's award-winning Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, Shiki; and a new InterContinental Club Lounge space and experience. It will also mean a face lift for the hotel's entrance, lobby, hallways and lifts. IHG currently has 60 hotels operating under six brands in Australasia, including a big presence in South Australia with the Crowne Plaza Adelaide, Holiday Inn Express Adelaide, and the brand new Hotel Indigo Adelaide, which opened on 01-Mar-2021. The InterContinental Sydney recently announced details of its own upcoming refurbishment, which will also commence in 2021.
Hilton signs with Shimao Group Holdings to launch four luxury hotels in China
Hilton Hotels and Shimao Group Holdings have confirmed the signing of a landmark agreement to launch four luxury hotels in China: Waldorf Astoria Shenzhen, Conrad Shanghai, Conrad Wuhan and Conrad Zhuhai. When they open, the hotels will mark the entry of Hilton's iconic luxury brands, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad, in the four cities, while Conrad Shanghai takes the spotlight as the largest Conrad hotel in Asia to open, with more than 700 rooms. The multi-deal signing signals optimism from both companies on the luxury tourism outlook in China and a commitment to extending their partnership which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Since the signing of their first hotel in 2011, the partnership has seen Hilton and Shimao Group work together to launch nine hotels, including Hilton Wuhan Riverside and Hilton Yantai, with another Hilton hotel due to open later this year. The new Waldorf Astoria Shenzhen is Hilton's first Waldorf Astoria hotel in Shenzhen and will be located in the newly developed CBD and in close proximity to Shenzhen Hong Kong International Centre. The Conrad Shanghai, the first hotel under the luxury brand in Shanghai and Hilton's largest Conrad hotel in Asia with have more than 700 rooms and will open in early 2022, located at People Square, the most renowned tourism and business district of Shanghai. Launching along the Yangtze River, the Conrad Wuhan will be the first Conrad hotel to enter the city, while the Conrad Zhuhai will be located in the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Port City on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB).
Rosewood Hotels to debut in Japan in the Okinawan archipelago
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been appointed by Mitsubishi Estate Co to manage Rosewood Miyakojima on Mikayo Island in the Okinawan archipelago. The 55-villa, ultra-luxury resort is due to open in 2024 and represents the first Rosewood property in Japan, in a destination acclaimed for its exquisite beaches with several of the country's most scenic locations. Approached through verdant sugar cane fields, Rosewood Miyakojima will occupy a secluded peninsula surrounded on three sides by white sand beaches, dramatic rock formations and stunning ocean vistas. The resort's 55 villa accommodations will feature private pools, landscaped gardens and unobstructed sea views. Conceived by Netherlands-based Studio Piet Boon, the architecture and interiors are have been designed to immerse guests in the natural surroundings and express harmony with the island through the extensive use of local materials.
Best Western boosts its offer to the connected travellers with new Oklahoma GLō arrival
Best Western Hotels & Resorts is further building its boutique GLō brand with the addition of the newly-constructed GLō Enid OK Downtown/Convention Center Hotel to its portfolio. GLō is especially designed for the modern connected traveller with a tech-centric design, upgraded amenities and innovative shared spaces, along with a bold and bright aesthetic that is meant to both energise and relax today's savvy travellers. The property features 96 contemporary guestrooms, each with an in-room workstation, gel-topped signature mattress and a space-saving bathroom. It is located nearby to Enid's popular hubs and attractions, within walking distance of the city's convention and game center, Stride Bank Center, and just minutes from the David Allen Memorial Ballpark, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center.
Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR
- There was improved hotel occupancy across most markets in Mexico in Mar-2021, but beach destinations continued to lead the country's recovery. Overall, Mexico's Mar-2021 occupancy was 37.0%, up from 28.3% in Feb-2021 and 26.4% in Jan-2021. Popular spring break spots for US students performed strongest in Mar-2021 - Cancun (49.0%) and Acapulco (46.8%) recorded the highest occupancy levels. Other popular beach destinations, such as Puerto Vallarta (42.8%) and Playa del Carmen (40.3%) experienced occupancy levels above 40%. Among Mexico's urban markets, Guadalajara (38.1%), Oaxaca (37.4%) and the Monterrey Area (35%) surpassed the 30% level.
- The United States of America (USA) Spring Break holiday in 2021 "didn't just dive in, it made a cannonball-sized splash for Florida hotels and other US destinations," says STR. Its School Break Report shows 39% of college students and just 7% of K-12 students were on break beginning 06-Mar-2021, a slightly low percentage than normal, but delivering a significant industry uplift. The STR-defined Florida Keys market, at that point, was the only US market to reach an 80% occupancy level-recording 85.9% for the opening week of Mar-2021. Other markets, such as Sarasota (75.4%), Fort Lauderdale (72.5%) and McAllen/Brownsville, TX (70.5%), were lower but all above the 70% mark. The following week "things really began to heat up," says STR. For the weekend of 13/14-Mar-2021 the Florida Keys market was once again on top in terms of occupancy (88.0%), followed by Daytona Beach (86.1%), while for the week ending 20-Mar-2021 the Florida markets reached the peak of spring break with a 95.5% occupancy level.
News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments
- TFE Hotels' brand-new premium hotel experience, A by Adina Sydney, has officially opened its doors to guests in the heart of the Australian city's CBD. Developed by TOGA Group, the property is part of a 26-storey tower at 2 Hunter Street that climbs above Australia's oldest street and one of Sydney's most prestigious addresses. The property is home to 194 apartments, comprising 82 studios, 104 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom apartments.
- Barceló Hotel Group has expanded its partnership with Sabre Hospitality Solutions and its technology platform, SynXis, to support its leisure travel sector, which plays a major role in Barceló's portfolio. The implementation of SynXis is an important milestone in helping the Group roll out an effective, future-ready channel strategy to maximise revenue from both direct and indirect channels.
- Aparium Hotel Group has confirmed the opening of the Daxton Hotel in Birmingham, MI, approximately 30 minutes north of Detroit. The property, located on the city's iconic old Woodward Avenue, features 151 guestrooms and houses over 400 pieces of art curated by world-renowned Saatchi Art.
- Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced Together by Hyatt, a new suite of events offerings designed to meet planners where they are on their journey to return to events. Together by Hyatt advances care for meeting planners by simplifying and streamlining event planning and execution, with attendee safety and wellbeing as top priorities.
- The Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, a 202-room boutique hotel located in the heart of New Orleans' Central Business District on the corner of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas Streets, will open to guests on 11-May-2021. The opening marks the brand's return after a sixteen-year absence from the Crescent City and comes at a time when cravings for cultural experiences, which New Orleans has in abundance, continue to rise.
- The Mantra Terrace Hotel Brisbane has reopened after the completion of a multi-million dollar renovation across its guestrooms, public spaces, and restaurant and bar. The hotel's new-look has been designed to appeal to both business and leisure guests seeking a new level of comfort, convenience and sophistication in the heart of Brisbane and were led by Singapore-based architectural designer, FDAT Architects. All 85 guestrooms and suites have been upgraded to deliver an elegant new hotel experience to guests visiting Queensland's River City.
- Melia Hotels has launched its first hotel in the Netherlands, opening the lifestyle Innside Amsterdam property in Zuidas, the city's financial district. The hotel is part of the 2Amsterdam redevelopment project by architects KCAP that is transforming of two 1980s office towers. The hotel houses 328 rooms
- Sunstone Hotel Investors has acquired the fee-simple interest in the newly constructed 130-room Montage Healdsburg luxury resort, tucked away among oak trees and sprawling vineyards in the hills of Sonoma County. The property, which opened in Dec-2020, offers 130 bungalow-style rooms and suites, each with an outdoor fireplace.
- NH Hotel Group is set to join the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands, which now counts over 35 hotel brands under its umbrella. This will see the NH Rewards loyalty programme merge with Discovery in early 2022, a move that will establish Discovery as one of the ten largest loyalty programmes in the hospitality sector, featuring over 900 participating hotels.
- As part of an ambitious Plastic Free 2022 strategy to remove and avoid all virgin plastic materials from its hotel and spa operations, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has become the first hospitality brand to collaborate with the United States Coalition on Sustainability and SustainChain. This follows a partnership with the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative signed in 2020 to work with suppliers to seek safer alternatives and address the root causes of plastic pollution.