- Meliá Frankfurt City Hotel opens in German city's new One Forty West skyscraper
- Scandic Hotels confirms new Scandic Göteborg Central will open in first half of 2022
- Radisson will debut in another new African market in 2024 after Djibouti signing
- IHG makes Asset World Corporation signing for three new Thailand hotels
- Ascott boosts its lodging portfolio with new acquisitions in France and Vietnam
- Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR
- News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments
Meliá Frankfurt City Hotel opens in German city's new One Forty West skyscraper
Spanish hotel company Meliá Hotels & Resorts has opened a fourth property in the German financial hub of Frankfurt, but its first for the Meliá brand. The new Meliá Frankfurt City Hotel is located in the new One Forty West tower, which combines with luxury apartments and rises 140 metres above the new, central Senckenberg Quartier, a prime location between the popular districts of Westend and Bockenheim. The building was designed by Cyrus Moser Architects and is a striking glass skyscraper with balconies that wind their way upwards to give it its unique silhouette in the Frankfurt skyline. It has been built in the space formerly occupied by the famous "Afe Tower", which belonged to the University of Frankfurt and was demolished in 2014. The 431-room hotel occupies floors 1 to 23 of the building and all of its rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows that provide views over the city skyline and the Taunus Mountains on the horizon. Its location, just a few minutes from the trade fair areas and with quick and easy access to the airport, will make it a popular option for business travellers.
Scandic Hotels confirms new Scandic Göteborg Central will open in first half of 2022
After signing an agreement with Sweden's largest property company Vasakronan to operate a hotel at the Platinan property in central Gothenburg, Scandic Hotels has now revealed that the new property will debut in the second quarter of 2022. The Scandic Göteborg Central will feature 451 rooms and its distinctive glass façade will dominate the skyline a couple hundred meters from Gothenburg's central station in the middle of the rapidly-growing Älvstaden area, the largest urban development project in the Nordic region. The property's location will make it popular for events and the interior has been designed with smart solutions to adapt to different needs. The centre of the hotel features what is described as "the event space of the future". The Grand Container has a six-metre high ceiling and where up to 1,000 guests will be able to attend events and participate in meetings, but with a flexible design and walls that can be easily moved to allow for different types of events. A stand out 14th floor rooftop terrace will offer a panoramic view across the city from the Älvsborg Bridge to Gamlestaden and will be home to the highest garden in the city with large trees that will be transported into place by helicopter.
Radisson will debut in another new African market in 2024 after Djibouti signing
Radisson Hotel Group has announced the signing of Radisson Hotel Djibouti. The hotel marks the Group's entry into the country and brings its East African portfolio to 18 hotels and over 2700 rooms in operation and under development. The new-build 144-room hotel, scheduled to open in 2024, will comprise not only of modern standard rooms and suites, but will also have accessible rooms, designed for wheelchair access. Dining options will include light snacks at the lobby café, international and local cuisine at the all-day-dining restaurant, while an expansive meetings and events area will support corporate and business demand. The property will be located in the heart of the city, surrounded by key infrastructures such as the Djibouti Port, Djibouti Free Zone, and international corporate headquarters, just 15 minutes away from Djibouti International Airport. It is coming to fruition in partnership with hotel owner Salaam Properties and is supporting the Djibouti Vision 2035 strategy for economic diversification which relies strongly on the growth of the tourism industry. Djibouti's strength lies in its strategic location at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, forming a bridge between Africa and the Middle East. Djibouti is a key market in East Africa due to its port complex, considered one of the most sophisticated in the world at the intersection of major international shipping lanes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
IHG makes Asset World Corporation signing for three new Thailand hotels
IHG Hotels & Resorts has formalised the signing of three further hotels in Thailand with long-standing partner Asset World Corporation (AWC), the country's integrated lifestyle real-estate group. The multi-property agreement includes the new-build InterContinental Bangkok Chinatown - the first luxury hospitality development in the area - and two further projects in Chinatown and Pattaya, totalling 629 rooms. Set to open in 2027, the 332-room InterContinental Bangkok Chinatown hotel will be located within a vibrant mixed-use development in historic Verngnakornkhasem. It will feature two hotels, residences and a retail mall, including a 24-hour food centre on Charoen Krung Road. The mixed-use development will also boast the second property under this agreement - a 63-room lifestyle boutique hotel, converted from traditional four-storey shophouses to provide a stylish and authentic stay for visitors to the "Heritage of Asia City". Another boutique hotel under the agreement will open in Pattaya in early 2024. Located within the Aquatique district, Pattaya's first iconic lifestyle destination, it will be at the heart of a major lifestyle and entertainment complex featuring hotels, retail and dining outlets, and convention spaces. With 234 rooms and suites, the hotel will also feature restaurants, a rooftop bar, a swimming pool, spa and meeting rooms in excess of 670 square metres.
Ascott boosts its lodging portfolio with new acquisitions in France and Vietnam
CapitaLand's wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited has entered into two agreements to acquire two properties in Paris, France and Hanoi, Vietnam for around SGD210 million. The acquisition of the two properties through the Ascott Serviced Residence Global Fund (ASRGF), Ascott's private equity fund with Qatar Investment Authority, will boost Ascott's total fund assets under management (FUM) to about SGD8 billion. The two properties will be acquired on a turnkey basis and are expected to open in 2024. The acquisition in Paris is a freehold asset which will be refurbished to introduce Ascott's first co-living property in Europe under the lyf brand. Named LiveLyfHere Gambetta Paris, the 139-unit co-living property is located in a vibrant district in the 20th arrondissement, near galleries, cinemas, trendy cafés and restaurants, street art and music venues. The acquisition in Hanoi is the 364-unit Somerset Metropolitan West Hanoi. It is located in Hanoi's new Central Business District, close to several government agencies as well as local and international corporations. The property is a 10-minute drive to the Vietnam National Convention Centre, the largest convention centre in Vietnam and the Noi Bai International Airport is a 30-minute drive away.
Data metrics - latest performance insights from STR
- Although domestic demand in Taiwan is not insignificant, the market is still well behind in the recovery process due to "a slow vaccination rate and the emergence of new virus variants amid reopening," says STR and "has quite a way to go before the market is back to pre-pandemic levels". Taiwan's hotel occupancy came in at 20.9% in May-2021, up from 17.5% in May-2020 (17.5%) but substantially below 2019 (66.2%). ADR is even further behind the pace-TWD3,509.55 in May-2021, TWD3,636.62 in May-2020 and TWD5,377.21 in May-2019, according to STR data.
- The majority of states across the United States of America (USA) are now within 10% of 2019 hotel demand levels, based on performance data for over a four week period (ending 12-Jun-2021) and shows a solid return to normalcy. In total, 26 states showed demand totals within a 10% margin of the corresponding period of 2019, according to STR data. Collectively, eight of those states actually sold more rooms for the four-week period than they did 2019. Demand gains are widespread and, so far in 2021, most states (28) have had at least one week that surpassed a comparable week from 2019.
News briefs - bitesize updates of latest industry news and developments
- Vision Hospitality Group and CBL Properties have confirmed the opening of the 135-room Aloft Chattanooga Hamilton Place. Located at the Hamilton Place Mall, located off of Interstate 75, around 15 minutes from downtown Chattanooga, the new hotel marks the brand's entrance into the Chattanooga market. The hotel will be operated by Humanist Hospitality, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vision Hospitality Group.
- The Nobis Group has introduced its first property outside of Scandinavia with the Jun-2021 opening of Concepció by Nobis in Palma, the Mallorcan capital. The hotel merges the Swedish brand's signature Scandi style with a sophisticated Spanish charm in a historic building located on the border of the city's Old Town and Santa Catalina district. It has an exclusive feel and is home to just 31 guestrooms with an overall design concept developed by the brand's long-time architecture partner Wingårdhs.
- The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills has created an entire Wellness Floor for health-focused guests. After partnering with Delos Living on multiple installations, the property has transformed its entire fourth floor into a wellness oasis with ten Wellness Rooms, one Wellness Studio Suite, three Wellness Suites, Private Fitness Suite and Well Office. These are all located on the same floor as the Spa, Cabana restaurant with plant-based options, expansive pool deck and main Fitness Center. Additionally, the Hotel has converted one of its traditional, lobby level meeting and event spaces into an innovative, wellness-focused event space to round out the programme.
- The iconic Gansevoort Meatpacking Hotel in New York will debut a renovated room offer as the US city fully reopens after its COVID-19 restrictions. The property's 186 guestrooms will debut with a fresh look that brings elements and inspiration of the Meatpacking District into the design. Drawing on the hues of the neighbourhood, a blue and grey ombré wallpaper is introduced to reflect the waterways of the Hudson River just outside the window. As a tribute to the hotel's own evolution and history, artwork juxtaposes photography from the Meatpacking District almost two decades ago against modern imagery snapped in the same neighbourhood.
- Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Kairos, a portfolio of brands that builds and invests in solutions across healthcare, housing and financial services, have announced a new strategic collaboration between World of Hyatt, Hyatt's guest loyalty programme, and Bilt Rewards, the first-of-its kind rewards programme for renters to earn points on rent. Through this relationship, over 100 million renters across the USA will now be able to earn points on monthly rent payments, that they will be able to transfer at a 1:1 ratio to travel and reward partners.
- The Qatar National Tourism Council has confirmed a key milestone in the accommodation sectors promise to guest hygiene and welfare with 100% of its licensed hotels now "Qatar Clean" certified. Launched in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health in Jun-2020, the Qatar Clean programme ensures the highest standards in hygiene and cleanliness, with rigorous procedures in place to ensure the safety of customers.
- The Red Roof Inn Niagara Falls represents the latest addition to the economy lodging brand's portfolio. The property is located off of I-190 and is less than five miles away from Niagara Falls State Park and features 85 rooms and the promise of free Wi-Fi, a free expanded cable package, a free continental breakfast, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and free coffee in the lobby for guests.
- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has confirmed the opening of the Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos, marking the debut of the iconic luxury hospitality brand in this island paradise. Situated on the world-famous Grace Bay in Providenciales, the property features 147 ocean view guest rooms, including 23 suites, which showcase the stunning turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
- Safely.com, the insurtech and guest screening solution for the vacation and short-term rental industry, has announced a partnership with LMPM, the next generation property management software solution for the vacation rental industry. Through the integration with Safely's solution, LMPM's customers will be able to access comprehensive, tailored short-term rental insurance and full guest verification based on data analytics.
- Dreamscape Companies, founded by real estate industry veteran Eric Birnbaum, has acquired the Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown, a 482-room hotel known for its elevated comfort in the heart of Music City. A major milestone for Dreamscape, this newest addition to the company's portfolio illustrates its commitment to the targeted goal of USD1 billion in acquisition over the next 24 months, as well as signifies the company's first foray into the Nashville market.