Portugal: Lifestyle and luxury hotel portfolio Vignette Collection, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has announced the opening of Casa da Companhia in the centre of Porto, Portugal. Casa da Companhia marks the first European hotel to join Vignette Collection since the soft brand launched in 2021. The hotel is housed in the former headquarters of Port producer Real Companhia Velha, and guests can … [Read more...]
Boutique Hotel Report shows strong US RevPAR recovery
US: The 2023 edition of The Boutique Hotel Report, published by The Highland Group, reveals that rate increases have pushed most boutique hotels to full RevPAR recovery. The annual report covers the independent boutique, lifestyle hotel and soft brand collection segments in the United States. Boutique hotel groupings averaged 58 to 65 per cent occupancy in 2022. This is compared to all US … [Read more...]
Sydell sues Ennismore in $30m lawsuit
US: Andrew Zobler, founder and CEO of Sydell Group, has reportedly issued a lawsuit against Ennismore founder Sharan Pasricha for attempting to “sabotage” a rival hotel deal. The lawsuit, filed in New York as reported by The Financial Times, relates to a 2018 incident involving Sydell Group and MGM Resorts International. At the time, US billionaire Ron Burkle wanted to sell his 50 per cent … [Read more...]
URBANAUTS opens STUDIOS Minelli in Trieste
Italy: Hotel and apartment company URBANAUTS Hospitality Group, in partnership with investment group JP Hospitality Investors Club, has opened URBANAUTS STUDIOS Minelli in Trieste, Italy. URBANAUTS STUDIOS Minelli comprises 36 studios housed across six floors in a 19th century palazzo, located in the San Vito district of Trieste. The studios come equipped with a small kitchen. The building has no … [Read more...]
The Manchester to open in Kentucky this May
US: High-end lifestyle hotel The Manchester is scheduled to open in May 2023, housed in the former campus grounds of Central Kentucky’s first registered bourbon distillery. The Manchester is located in the centre of the Distillery District in Lexington, Kentucky. It offers 125 rooms, a bottle shop and spirited lobby bar and lounge, alongside two dining and drinking spaces. Granddam, the hotel’s … [Read more...]
Clermont Hotel Group unveils The Academy
UK: London-based owner-operator Clermont Hotel Group has opened The Academy, a learning and development centre to train new and existing employees. Clermont Hotel Group employs over 1,600 members of staff across its 17 hotels and head office in London. The Academy, located within The Tower Hotel, provides a classroom and a mock reception area for employees to learn more about the … [Read more...]
Mondrian Abu Dhabi to open in 2024
UAE: Lifestyle hospitality company Ennismore has announced the opening of Mondrian Abu Dhabi next year, the brand’s first location in the UAE. Located downtown alongside the city’s canal, Mondrian Abu Dhabi will offer 221 rooms and 80 serviced apartments, six food and beverage venues, a ballroom, four meeting rooms, a spa, swimming pool and fitness area, along with a kid’s club and retail … [Read more...]
Highgate and Flynn Properties acquire The Huntington Hotel
US: The Huntington Hotel in San Francisco has been purchased by hotel management, investment and development company Highgate and hospitality and commercial real estate owner Flynn Properties. Highgate and Flynn Properties aim to renovate The Huntington’s public areas, guest rooms, the Big 4 Restaurant and Nob Hill Spa. It is expected to reopen in 2025. Arash Azarbarzin, CEO at Highgate, said: … [Read more...]
Operto raises US$25m in Series B financing round
Canada: Smart device automation and SaaS software, Operto Guest Technologies, has secured US$25 million in a Series B funding round. The financing round was led by specialised growth equity firm Centana Growth Partners, with participation from Thayer Ventures, FUSE, Blackpines Capital Partners and Derive Ventures. Proceeds from the round will be used to further fuel Operto’s aggressive … [Read more...]
Ellenborough Park Hotel refurbishes 61 rooms
UK: Five-star country house Ellenborough Park Hotel has completed the refurbishment of all 61 bedrooms as well as the Horse Box brasserie. The 15th century country estate and spa is set on 90 acres of parkland close to Cheltenham Racecourse. The refurbishments were completed ahead of the Cheltenham Festival which took place last week. Ilza Reinke oversaw the interiors of all 61 bedrooms. Due to … [Read more...]
Santa Ynez Inn reopens as The Genevieve
US: Privately owned boutique hotel The Genevieve has opened in Santa Ynez, California, after it was repositioned from the Santa Ynez Inn. The Genevieve is owned by the same team behind The Landsby, a 51-room boutique hotel in Solvang, California. Following a refresh and repositioning from the Santa Ynez Inn, The Genevieve offers 20 guest rooms, a restaurant, whiskey library, spa, and 7,000 square … [Read more...]
Radisson opens first Individuals property in Paris
France: Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) has opened the Hotel YAC Paris Clichy, a member of Radisson Individuals, located in the northwest Parisian suburb of Clichy. The hotel offers 75 rooms, a restaurant and bar, fitness centre, an indoor pool and sauna, along with a meeting room with capacity for 50 people which will open later in the year. The meeting facilities will provide videoconferencing … [Read more...]
Ennismore signs standalone SLS residences in Dubai
UAE: Lifestyle hospitality company Ennismore has signed its first standalone residences in Dubai under the SLS brand with Roya Lifestyle Development. SLS Residences The Palm Dubai, set to open in 2026, is a new-build, low-rise project offering 113 branded residences comprising two, three and four bedroom apartments. The property’s ground floor will have 13 flagship residences, each with its own … [Read more...]
Kincraig Castle Hotel purchased by Siya Properties
UK: Luxury hotel in the Scottish Highlands, Kincraig Castle, has been sold by Graham + Sibbald to Ruchir Gupta of Siya Properties. Since the 17th century, Kincraig Castle has been home to generations of the Mackenzie Clan. It sits on 10 acres of land and now offers 15 bedrooms, a resident’s lounge and reading room, the Alexander Restaurant, a function suite for up to 60 people, a bar and … [Read more...]
Pullman Cannes sold to Poseidon Hospitality
France: The four-star Pullman Cannes Mandelieu Royal Casino has been acquired by Poseidon Hospitality, an entity owned by Luminare and Unik Capital Solutions. Global real estate advisor CBRE advised on the sale on behalf of Joa Group, a French casino company owned by Blackstone and Kings Park Capital. The Pullman Cannes features 213 keys and provides direct access to the beach. Facilities … [Read more...]
Spring Budget 2023: Takeaways for hospitality and urban living
Hunt said that “high inflation is the root cause” of the strike action currently affecting many industries in the UK. The rail and tube strikes taking place across the UK this week are expected to cost hospitality as much as £600 million, according to UKHospitality. Contents of the Budget which affect hospitality includes: • From August, alcohol taxes on wines will rise by up to 50p a bottle but … [Read more...]
citizenM secures €480m sustainability-linked loan
The Netherlands: Amsterdam-based boutique hotel group citizenM has secured a €480 million sustainability-linked loan from HSBC UK and Continental Europe, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., and Aareal Bank. The funding is linked to ESG (environmental, social and governance) targets such as reducing CO2 emissions and improving green building certifications. It will incentivise citizenM to achieve environmental … [Read more...]
Life House expands Mexican portfolio
US: Tech-enabled hotel management company Life House has been selected to manage The Carmen in Playa Del Carmen and Faisano Nomadas in Aldea Zama. With the addition of the two hotels, Life House is now managing five independent properties in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The Carmen, built in 2017, offers 37 bedrooms and is owned by a Denver-based developer. The adults-only hotel … [Read more...]
AGO Hotels opens first central London property
UK: Hotel operator and lease provider AGO Hotels has opened the four-star Rove London Paddington Hotel, the group’s first city centre property in the UK capital. The Rove London Paddington Hotel offers 75 rooms and is located close to the Paddington train station on Norfolk Street. It marks the fifteenth hotel in the AGO portfolio. The company predominantly operates Ibis budget hotels across … [Read more...]
Ruby Hotels signs debut property in France
France: Munich-based hotel group Ruby Hotels will open a property in Marseilles, France in partnership with BNP Paribas Real Estate. The new hotel will be converted from a former office building. It is set to include 237 rooms, workspace, and a 24/7 bar with a rooftop terrace. Ruby’s debut in France follows news that the group will open its second Italian hotel in 2025, located in Rome. The site … [Read more...]