21 May | Hotel openings

Marriott Hotels has opened a new property in the Nigerian city of Lagos, marking the brand’s debut in the West African country.

Named as Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja, the hotel has 206 guestrooms and 44 suites designed to suit the needs of modern travellers.

The rooms feature contemporary décor and in-room amenities, deluxe walk-in showers and spa-like lighting.

Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja also boasts 1,380m² of space dedicated for hosting small and large-scale events, including a ballroom, six breakout rooms and nine event rooms.

The meeting and events spaces are equipped with rewritable surfaces, magnetic panels and shared-screen technology, pivotable walls, soft seating and modular furniture and moveable partitions.

Guests can enjoy regional and international cuisine at the hotel’s restaurants.

The Azure Grill Restaurant serves a variety of dishes on an authentic charcoal grill, while the WAKAME offers Asian-Fusion cuisine from China, Japan, Thailand and Northern Indian.

Additionally, the Koriko & Co restaurant with live cooking stations provides all-day dining buffet.

Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja also features The Greatroom, M Club for Elite members and Club paying guests, a spa, a fitness centre and an outdoor pool.

Marriott International – Sub Saharan Africa area vice-president Volker Heiden said: “We are excited to have opened the Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja, bringing Marriott Hotels’ transformed vision to Nigeria.

“Lagos is a vibrant and bustling city with much to see and do for leisure and business travellers.

“What better place to debut the Marriott Hotels brand in Nigeria with its thoughtful service and intuitive spaces that enable guests to be inspired during their stay.”

20 May | Deals

MCR acquires Hilton Garden Inn Beaufort in South Carolina, US

US-based hotel owner-operator MCR has acquired the three-star Hilton Garden Inn Beaufort hotel located in Lowcountry region of South Carolina.

Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

Hilton Garden Inn Beaufort is situated nearby popular destinations such as Hilton Head Island, The Bay Street waterfront and the US Marine Corps Air Station.

The hotel features 115 pet-friendly rooms equipped with mini fridges, microwaves and coffeemakers. The property has all-day dining, room service, and restaurants in walking distance.

It also offers a 24-hour sundry and convenience store, free high-speed Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness room, an outdoor pool and lounge and a business centre.

In addition, Hilton Garden Inn Beaufort provides 1,500ft² of meeting and event space across two rooms and complimentary parking for guests.

Furthermore, the hotel features an on-site restaurant and bar, The Garden Grille. It serves cooked-to-order hot breakfasts and American classics, such as pasta, steak, ribs, sandwiches and salads.

18 May | Hotel openings

Marriott opens Aloft and Element brand hotels in Dubai

Marriott Bonvoy has expanded its portfolio in the UAE with the opening of two hotels, Aloft Al Mina and Element Al Mina, in Dubai.

The two new hotels are located on Sheikh Rashid Road in the Al Raffa neighbourhood Dubai.

Aloft Al Mina has 192 guestrooms and suites that are equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, 55in flatscreen televisions and bathrooms with walk-in showers and more.

The hotel also offers signature brand amenities such as W XYZ Bar, the Re:mix Lounge for locals and travellers, and a 24/7 Re:charge fitness centre with advanced equipment, as well as the all-day restaurant, MIX, an outdoor infinity pool, and events and meeting spaces.

Element Al Mina is designed for holidaymakers, business travellers and longer staying guests. It features a collection of 96 studios, and one and two-bedroom apartments.

All the apartments in the hotel feature a fully equipped kitchen, a spa-inspired bathroom, oversized closets and the signature Heavenly bed.

Additionally, the hotel boasts a compact meeting room and an advanced fitness centre that is open 24 hours.

17 May | Hotel openings

Element by Westin brand debuts in Philadelphia, US

Marriott International’s Element by Westin brand has opened a new 460-room eco-conscious hotel for extended-stay travellers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US.

Called Element Philadelphia, the new hotel has been developed by Conshohoken-based Chestlen Development. It is designed to suit the needs of families, groups and business travellers.

Element Philadelphia offers rooms in different sizes that range from a standard guest room, to deluxe and executive guest rooms, to one-bedroom suites.

Each room comes with fully equipped kitchens, Westin Heavenly beds and spa-inspired bathrooms fitted with rain showers.

The hotel also features a business centre, Motion Fitness centre, guest laundry services, Sky Lobby with open seating for work and relaxation and other safe, socially distanced amenities for guests.

Several dining options are also provided at the hotel, such as a complimentary Rise breakfast, Relax evening reception, and grab-and-go meals, snacks and beverages from the Restore gourmet pantry.

Guests can also opt to create home-cooked meals in their rooms.

The hotel’s more than 45,000ft² event space will be made available soon for indoor meetings, events and celebrations.

In addition, Element Philadelphia offers a Bikes to Borrow programme and a pet-friendly programme for its guests to explore the city on their own.

14 May | Deals

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to operate new hotel in Mexico

Real estate development firm Grupo Sordo Madaleno has appointed Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to operate a new hotel set to open in 2024 in the Polanco district of Mexico.

Named Rosewood Mexico City, the new hotel is designed by domestic architecture firm Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos. It will be located in the tower of mixed-use development Antara.

The hotel will have 133 rooms, including 35 suites, a living room, four food and beverage outlets and a specialty dining venue. A 1,270m² space will be dedicated for meetings and events.

In addition, the building will have Rosewood’s wellness concept Asaya, which will feature a fitness and wellbeing centre, two swimming pools, eight treatment rooms and changing rooms and hydrotherapy zones.

Rosewood Hotel Group CEO Sonia Cheng said: “We are thrilled to introduce our A Sense of Place philosophy to visitors and locals with the opening of Rosewood Mexico City, wherein the hotel will embody the distinct sensibilities of the destination all while presenting one-of-a-kind ambience and style combined with unparalleled quality and personalised service.”

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts runs a total of 27 luxury hotels, resorts and residences in 16 countries while 24 properties are currently under development.

12 May | Deals

Kasada to acquire Safari Hotels & Conference Centre in Namibia

Hospitality investment firm Kasada Capital Management has agreed to acquire the 414-key Safari Hotels and Conference Centre located in Windhoek, Namibia.

The acquisition will take place via Kasada Hospitality Fund. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Considered the largest hotel complex in Namibia, Safari Hotels and Conference Centre houses Safari Court Hotel and Safari Hotel with 215 and 199 rooms and suites, respectively.

It also includes meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions venue named the Safari Court Conference Centre.

Kasada will work with its strategic partner Accor and its international hotel brands portfolio to rebrand the acquired hotel. The plan is to leverage management skills, expertise and marketing resources.

After rebranding, the Safari Court Hotel will be Mövenpick and the Safari Hotel will be an ibis Styles.

Kasada will also invest more than N$100m ($8m) to renovate the acquired hotel and upgrade its conference facilities. These conference spaces are said to host local, regional as well as international events in Namibia.

Langham Hospitality opens 13th hotel in Changsha, China

Langham Hospitality has strengthened its position in China with the opening of a new hotel in Hunan province’s Changsha city.

Located inside Da Wang Shan Resort, the hotel is designed by architect Wolf Prix of Coop Himmelblau. It is the group’s 13th hotel in Chinau and the 25th property in its global portfolio.

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas selects NVB’s Surface Protection Treatment System

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has selected US-based self-disinfecting surface protection technology provider NanoVapor Biotech (NVB) for protection from viruses and bacteria.

NVB will treat the hotel and casino with its 90-Day Surface Protection Treatment System. The system is powered by a patented 100% environmentally friendly anti-microbial solution, called OMNISOL.

La Quinta by Wyndham Selma hotel opens in North Carolina, US

The new La Quinta by Wyndham Selma hotel with Del Sol prototype has opened in North Carolina, US. Hotel franchising company Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said the new property is the 120th hotel in the La Quinta portfolio. The hotel is owned by Jay Sai Corporation and features 80 guestrooms, a lobby and an outdoor pool.

Cambria Hotels opens new airport-area hotel in Orlando, US

Choice Hotels International’s franchised upscale brand Cambria Hotels has opened its new airport-area hotel in Orlando, Florida, US.

Cambria Hotel Orlando Airport is located less than two miles from the Orlando International Airport.

Crowne Plaza Albany – The Desmond Hotel reopens after renovation

IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the reopening of the newly renovated Crowne Plaza Albany – The Desmond Hotel in New York, US. The 323-room hotel is located off the Northway I-87 Exit 3, half a mile from the Albany International Airport.

10 May 2021 | Hotel openings

UAE’s TIME to add new hotels in Middle East and Mauritius by 2022

UAE-headquartered hospitality company TIME Hotels is set to add new properties across the Middle East and in Mauritius over the coming 18 months.

The company’s 91-room TIME Moonstone Hotel Apartments in Fujairah, the 99-room TIME Burj Al Saadah Hotel Apartments in Sharjah and the four-star TIME Asma Hotel in Al Barsha, Dubai, will open in the UAE this year.

In Saudi Arabia, TIME will assume the management responsibility of two boutique hotels in Riyadh. These hotels are TIME Elite Suites in Al Muruj and TIME Express Olaya Hotel in Olaya district Saudi capital.

This year, the company will also open the five-star TIME Coral Resort in the Red Sea resort of Nuweiba and the four-star TIME Marina Hotel & Conference Centre on the Mediterranean coast in Egypt.

TIME Marina Hotel is expected to commence services in August. TIME Coral Resort is already operational with the property’s re-branding and opening under TIME’s management set to take place this summer.

Additionally, the TIME brand will open its first property, the 120-room TIME Phoenix Hill, on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

29 April | Deals

Sunstone purchases new Montage Healdsburg luxury resort

Sunstone Hotel Investors has purchased a newly luxury resort, Montage Healdsburg, for a gross purchase price of $265m.

Construction of the 117-acre resort was completed in December 2020. It features 130 bungalow-style rooms and suites equipped with an outdoor fireplace and own outdoor shower.

Montage Healdsburg features 16 acres of vineyards, an 11,500ft² spa, separate adult and family pools, more than 12,000ft² purpose-built meeting space and many lawns for events.

The deal is funded through the issuance of $66.25m of Series G preferred equity directly to the seller, which is an affiliates of hospitality focused investment group Ohana.

Montage Hotels & Resorts will continue to manage the property.

Sunstone expects the resort to generate a 6.0% to 7.0% net operating income yield on total invested capital.

Sunstone president and CEO John Arabia said: “Leveraging our industry relationships, we acquired the Resort on an off-market basis and at a discount to what it would cost to develop today.

“The acquisition is consistent with our stated tactics of acquiring LTRR in the early phases of a cyclical recovery and putting to work a portion of our excess liquidity, all while maintaining financial flexibility and access to capital to fund incremental external growth."