Hyatt continues to expand brand presence of independent hotels in Canada with new hotel joining JdV by Hyatt brand this week and another slated to join later this year

Loft king at The Anndore House (Photo: Business Wire)

Hyatt Hotels announced the continued expansion of the JdV by Hyatt brand with The Anndore House joining the brand this week and plans for The Walper Hotel to join the brand later this year. This milestone signifies the JdV by Hyatt brand’s intentional growth in a new market while offering experiences in places that matter most to guests, members, customers and owners. While the brand has 14 properties across the United States and China, The Anndore House marks its debut in Toronto today, and The Walper Hotel is currently slated to join the JdV by Hyatt brand this May.

Hyatt Hotels expanding in India

Hyatt expects to grow its Indian brand portfolio by more than 70% through 2023, with six new hotels set to open in 2021 across the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Place brands

Hyatt Hotels Corporation today announced plans to grow its brand footprint in India – one of Hyatt’s top three growth markets globally – by more than 70% by 2023. With over 20 executed managed and franchised agreements, Hyatt will add more than 3,600 keys to its existing portfolio of 32 Hyatt-branded hotels across eight distinct brands in the country, including the Andaz, Alila, Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Hyatt Centric, and Hyatt Place brands.

This ambitious growth in India is fueled by an ever-increasing demand from guests, World of Hyatt members, customers, and owners to offer unique and differentiated hotel experiences. This announcement signals significant intentional growth plans for Hyatt, bringing the number of Hyatt-branded hotels in India to more than 50 by the end of 2023, resulting in a more diverse portfolio of hotel offerings in new and existing markets.

All roads lead to Nashville: The nation’s fourth-largest hotel owner-operator welcomes NASCAR fans to its newly acquired properties..........

Tru and Home2 Suites by Hilton Near the Nashville Superspeedway

The ultimate pit-stop! MCR, the fourth-largest hotel owner-operator in the United States, has acquired the 167-room dual-branded Tru by Hilton Smyrna Nashville and Home2 Suites by Hilton Smyrna Nashville in Tennessee.

The hotels are located less than 10 miles from the Nashville Superspeedway, the internationally renowned motor racing complex with the oldest continually operating track in the United States. On Saturday, June 19, the track hosts the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, its first NASCAR event since 2011. And for the first time in 40 years, the NASCAR Cup Series comes to Middle Tennessee with the Ally 400 race on Sunday, June 20. (It’s Father’s Day weekend — hint, hint.)

The first Trademark Collection by Wyndham hotel in Belgium set to open.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts celebrates the opening of Hotel Avenue Louise Brussels, its first Trademark Collection by Wyndham hotel in Belgium. The new property is situated in the heart of Brussels, close to many of the capital’s landmarks and attractions, making it the ideal destination for travellers looking to explore the history and culture of the city. 

Christian Michel, Vice President for Development Europe, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said: “This new opening marks an exciting step in expanding our Trademark Collection by Wyndham portfolio in Europe and around the world. Our Trademark brand is an important part of our conversion strategy. It brings our powerful scale and world-class capabilities to independent hoteliers seeking the competitive advantage of a global hospitality company.”

Hotel Avenue Louise Brussels, Trademark Collection by Wyndham is situated in one of the city’s most popular areas, meters away from the trendy shopping district of Avenue Louise, and within walking distance of many iconic attractions including the historic Grand-Place, the Horta Museum, as well as the famous Manneken Pis statue. The local area offers guests bars, restaurants and traditional bistros, all within walking distance from the hotel.

Massive growth for Hyatt Hotels

The milestone debut of Alila Napa Valley demonstrates Hyatt’s ongoing commitment to growing with intent in places that matter most to travellers.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the official opening of Hyatt’s 1,000th hotel worldwide, Alila Napa Valley in St. Helena, Calif. Founder Jay Pritzker purchased the first Hyatt hotel in 1957 with a new vision for hospitality, built around people. Since then, Hyatt’s purpose to care for people so they can be their best has driven groundbreaking hotel designs, the award-winning World of Hyatt guest loyalty program and strategic brand acquisitions. Today, this milestone reinforces Hyatt’s continued commitment to intentional growth in places that matter most to guests, members, customers, and owners.

Marking the expansion of Hyatt’s luxury lifestyle Alila brand portfolio with the brand’s second property in the Americas, Alila Napa Valley offers guests crafted luxury, innovative design, and bespoke experiences in one of the world’s most famous wine regions. The 68-room adults-only restorative retreat is surrounded by the pristine Home Vineyards of the Beringer Estate and features an outdoor pool overlooking adjacent vineyards and distant mountains, a seasonally driven restaurant and bar with a local, sustainable menu and Spa Alila and Fitness Center with transformative, customized treatments.

Pioneering new immersive lifestyle destination at the convergence of travel, fitness and wellbeing....... say hello to SIRO

Kerzner International, the owner of the iconic Atlantis Resort & Residences and ultra-luxury One&Only Resorts worldwide, continues to innovate with the introduction of a new hospitality experience, SIRO. Conceived with fitness and wellbeing at the core, SIRO will be an immersive lifestyle destination, blending the boundaries between hospitality, fitness, and wellness through a fresh perspective and energizing experiences. SIRO will create a collective global community of like-minded individuals who live a high-performance lifestyle passionate about driving achievement and living their fullest potential.

“We have always been pioneers, true disruptors within the hospitality space. We have built destinations through the personalities of our brands and understanding our guests’ journey, creating a meaningful legacy,” commented Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer, Kerzner International. “We look forward to continuing the improvement of people’s lives with the introduction of SIRO. We recognize that holistic health is more important than ever, and the primary focus of SIRO will be exceptional fitness and wellness to support a modern and balanced global lifestyle, delivered with our renowned service in a transformative and nurturing urban environment. As innovators, we are always looking to revolutionize the guest experience and anticipate travellers’ needs. We felt the time was right to introduce the SIRO concept to the world as we continue the strategic growth of the Company. We look forward to SIRO becoming part of key cities around the world.”

SIRO (pronounced Sigh-Row) represents the pillars of Strength, Inclusive, Reflection and Original:

Strength

to always be resilient and committed to become the best version of yourself

Inclusive

to always celebrate the diversity of people and their passions

Reflection

to always nurture harmony, balance, and wellbeing

Original

to always challenge convention and elevate experiences

Hilton to offer COVID-19 testing and screening options for event attendees

After booking a meeting or event at any U.S. property, planners gain access to third-party providers with COVID-19 tests and health screening options

Event planners continue to look to hospitality industry leaders for solutions that help simplify the complex task of organizing in-person or hybrid events in the current environment – particularly as it relates to COVID-19 testing and health screenings. Throughout the pandemic, Hilton has been listening and responding to the needs of its customers, and now the world’s most hospitable company is providing event planners with COVID-19 testing and health screening resources for their event attendees.

“As more customers book in-person meetings and events, there has been a steady increase in requests and questions around COVID-19 testing and screening options for event attendees,” said Frank Passanante, senior vice president, Hilton Worldwide Sales, Americas. “In response, we expanded the resources within our Hilton EventReady Playbook to include third-party providers that can deliver a seamless experience and offer preferential pricing to our event planners.”

Wyndham developments

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts the world’s largest hotel franchising company with over 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries and territories – announced today the first groundbreaking of its new La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites dual-brand hotel concept in Pflugerville, Texas. This marks the first-ever pairing of these two flags under the same roof and enables owners to target both the business transient and extended-stay demand within any given market. The company has 36 La Quinta and Hawthorn dual-branded hotels in its development pipeline in markets such as San Antonio and El Paso, Texas; Yuma, Ariz.; Wichita, Kan.; Charlotte, N.C.

The property is slated to open in March 2022 with a combined 100 guestrooms – 30 of which will feature the recently updated Hawthorn room design that includes modern, well-equipped kitchens for extended-stay guests. This hotel will also feature the newly refreshed room design from La Quinta’s sought-after Del Sol prototype in 70 rooms.  This new dual-brand hotel concept is designed to streamline development and operational costs. The concept includes a shared lobby, spacious modern great room, fitness centre, bar, amenities, and back of the house all while appealing to the multiple types of travellers that have an affinity for these brands. The combination enhances Wyndham’s suite of offerings for developers by coupling its leading upper-midscale brand, La Quinta, with its benchmark, extended-stay Hawthorn Suites brand that reported a 44 percent year-over-year increase in domestic contract executions during 2020.

Massive global development for Hyatt Hotels

Intentional growth of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination by Hyatt and JdV by Hyatt brands demonstrates Hyatt’s commitment to expanding these brands to key global destinations

-Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the global growth of its independent collection brands, including recent openings and development plans through 2025 across The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination by Hyatt and JdV by Hyatt brands. This growth reinforces Hyatt’s focus on continuing to immerse guests, members and customers into cultures and destinations that matter most to them.

Hyatt’s independent collection brands encompass diverse properties, each true to its destination and offering the modern traveller enriching experiences in new and exciting ways. Whether it’s a luxury hotel in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand with a rich history, a boutique JdV by Hyatt hotel inspired by its vibrant neighbourhood, or an immersive resort retreat within the Destination by Hyatt brand, each hotel delivers one-of-a-kind guest experiences for every occasion.

“With each new hotel opening under Hyatt’s three independent collection brands, we are encouraging unique discovery of the local culture or history of the hotel’s location, truly illustrating the spirit of these three distinct brands,” said Katie Johnson, global brand leader, independent collection, Hyatt. “Learning from our guests, members, and customers is key to Hyatt. Each of these hotels accelerates our efforts to expand our independent collections in markets that reach travellers and surprise locals with captivating experiences.”

W Hotel Melbourne opens...

It’s time to press play. W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International, opened the doors to Melbourne’s first luxury lifestyle hotel – W Melbourne – at 408 Flinders Lane. In the heart of an eclectic dining and edgy fashion district, W Melbourne brings the community’s iconic laneway culture and emerging music scene to life. Inspired by the contrasts of the city, the hotel slowly reveals itself to visitors as guests peel back layers to unearth the unique personality of each space.

“Melbourne is the perfect locale for the playfully luxe spirit of the W brand and we could not be more excited to unveil this highly anticipated hotel to the world,” said Jennie Toh, Vice President of Brand Marketing and Brand Management, Asia Pacific, Marriott International. ”From its unique, locally inspired design to its eclectic lineup of restaurants and bars, W Melbourne is destined to redefine the luxury hotel scene here and become a must-go destination for travelers and local scene-stealers alike.”

Marriott Bonvoy's Latest Global Promotion Offers Twice as Much

Along with February’s arrival comes a new global promotion from Marriott Bonvoy making it easier and quicker for members to achieve elite status and redeem points for free nights at 7,500 participating hotels globally, gift cards and experiences. Members will receive double elite night credits and double points earned for stays of two nights or longer that occur between February 16 – April 27, 2021 at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy. To take advantage, members must register here for the promotion before April 13, 2021.

Members can achieve higher elite status even quicker with this promotion when combined with the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy’s co-branded credit cards from American Express and JPMorgan Chase, which offer 15 Elite Night Credits annually. Terms apply. To learn more about the cards, please visit here.

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun debuts in picturesque Costa Mujeres

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun debuts in picturesque Costa Mujeres

Overview of Planet Hollywood Cancun

Planet Hollywood Hotels and Resorts is thrilled to announce the opening of its newest all-inclusive luxury property, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun, on Friday, January 29, 2021. Featuring an array of amenities, services and A-list exclusives, the highly anticipated resort transforms the everyday all-inclusive vacation into a blockbuster getaway.

"It's been an amazing journey leading my all-star cast of employees to prepare for the grand opening of Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun," said General Manager Jonathan Iriarte. “The Planet Hollywood brand is dedicated to delivering unique and memorable experiences, and with this new resort we wanted to rewrite the script on what an all-inclusive vacation should look like. We can’t wait for our guests to experience the resort’s VIP line-up of features and attractions."

Situated in the exclusive resort enclave of Costa Mujeres, a charming, pristine peninsula just north of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun invites travelers to Vacation Like a Star™ in one of Mexico’s most beautiful beachfront locations, surrounded by turquoise waters and sprawling mangroves. With 898-luxury suites, world-class restaurants and modern wellness features, plus curated entertainment-themed experiences and authentic Hollywood memorabilia, it is the ideal resort for families, couples, friends and business professionals looking for a getaway like no other.

A range of exciting PH Experiences will allow guests to discover the wonders of Costa Mujeres while the resort's PH Attractions set the stage for action-packed features on-site – including four swimming pools, a lazy river, Shipwreck Cove and Jurassic Splash Park, FlowRider® surf simulator, Labyrinth, a mini-golf course and the first-of-its-kind Planet Play Adventure Park. Children can enjoy supervised activities at the Stars Kids Club™, a unique kids club program designed to spark the imagination of younger guests, and the whole family can catch a front row seat at the theater to watch fan-favorite movies and classic films.

Delivering today’s hottest culinary trends from the resort’s ‘Crave – World of Flavors’ program, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun‘s selection of 11 restaurants, including celebrity Chef Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint, will take guests on a culinary adventure spanning from Mexico to Japan, Italy and India. Guests can also enjoy a Chef’s Table experience featuring a personal Chef and custom crafted menu of dishes catered to each person’s unique tastes. Another new venue, Studio Disco Bar & Lounge is the perfect place to live the VIP experience and dance the night away in paradise. With everything from specialty coffees to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free choices, Planet Hollywood is committed to providing a memorable, highlight-reel worthy experience for each and every guest.

Additional all-star features and amenities include:

• The PH Spa, inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood, which promises total relaxation and rejuvenation with deep immersive therapies, soothing massages, showers, a steam room, sauna, hydrotherapy pool and an ice fountain.

• The resort’s professionally designed wellness program, PHIT, which brings active vacationers top-trending fitness regimes straight from Hollywood.

• The state-of-the-art PUMPED Fitness Centre which offers first-class workouts with professional instructors, daily classes and the latest cardio and strength-training equipment. The resort also features tennis courts and a world-class outdoor facility.

• A modern and spacious Convention Center that will transform any conference or board meeting into a full red-carpet experience, with a capacity of up to 1,300 guests.

• A variety of wedding packages fit for the big screen, plus on-site wedding coordinators to take care of all the details.

• Monthly special events and daily activities for guests of all ages, from Hollywood Tribute Nights to Retro Wednesdays.

• Signature brand offerings, including the Your Soundtrack™ music program, where guests can curate a soundtrack for their vacation and Plugged-In™, a personal command center to help guests do anything from ordering room service to booking excursions, along with free Wi-Fi throughout the resort.

• Other brand offerings include the Main Event Guarantee™, allowing guests to catch all major events in real time and STAR Class™, delivering the full star experience with exclusive amenities and extraordinary service.

Introducing a new way to Vacation like a Star™, Planet Hollywood Adult Scene Cancun, the brand’s first-ever adults-only resort-within-a-resort concept, allows guests 18 years and older to enjoy Planet Hollywood’s signature celebrity-inspired experience in an exclusive resort setting. This upscale oasis is comprised of 332 suites with A-lister amenities including hand-crafted PHabulous Beds™, ceiling-mounted rain showers and plush bathrobes and slippers. Adult Scene also features its own private beachfront and pool area, complete with a swim-up bar and waiter service, two specialty restaurants reserved exclusively for Adult Scene guests – the Braza Grill & Churrascaria and Catch Seafood Restaurant – in addition to full access to the amenities and facilities at the wider Planet Hollywood resort.

For more information or to book your all-inclusive vacation, visit www.planethollywoodhotels.com

Hyatt Offers More Seamless Travel Experience With Complimentary COVID-19 Testing for Guests at Latin America Resorts Traveling to the U.S.

Hyatt Offers More Seamless Travel Experience With Complimentary COVID-19 Testing for Guests at Latin America Resorts Traveling to the U.S.

Driven by Hyatt’s purpose of care and to support the wellbeing of guests, World of Hyatt members and customers, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that all 19 Hyatt resorts in Latin America have arranged for complimentary on-property COVID-19 testing through May 31, 2021, for guests travelling to the U.S. This is valid for up to two registered guests per guestroom per stay at 19 participating resorts in Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and South America. 

In addition, Hyatt hotels in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America are extending a Travel Delay Rate to guests who cannot complete their travel due to test-related reasons, representing up to a 50% savings on standard rates (excluding Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara properties) and up to a 30% discount on food and beverage (excluding alcohol). These special offers serve as an extension of Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment, which enhances operational practices at Hyatt hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, with guest and colleague wellbeing as a top priority.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts opens its first hotel in Nepal.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across 90 countries, continues to expand its global footprint with its entry into Nepal via the newly opened 90-room Ramada® Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu-Thamel.

Located in the center of Kathmandu, the capital and largest city in Nepal, the newly built hotel opened earlier this week and is part of a vibrant rejuvenation project of the city’s commercial center, close to top attractions and cultural wonders such as the base camp for Mount Everest, the Garden of Dreams, Ason Bazaar at Kathmandu Durbar Square and other popular destinations in the city.

This latest opening builds on Wyndham’s continued commitment to growth for the sub-Indian continent. With more than 50 properties currently in the Indian sub-continent, the opening of Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu-Thamel is another welcome footstep towards the Company’s continued expansion plans.

Inside the best hotel in America...................Grand Hyatt Nashville

Grand Hyatt Nashville was named the best new hotel in America, according to USA TODAY readers who voted in the media outlet’s 10Best poll.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as the best new hotel in the country, particularly during such a challenging year and so soon after our grand opening,” said Joe Melton, acting general manager of Grand Hyatt Nashville. “It’s an honour to be part of the Music City community that continues to show such resilience and strength, and we look forward to welcoming many more guests in 2021. Thank you to USA Today readers for their support!”

Check availability or get more information here.

Grand Hyatt Nashville, which opened October 2020 in the heart of the expansive 18-acre Nashville Yards development, is home to one of the tallest outdoor rooftop lounges in Nashville, a fifth-floor pool deck overlooking downtown, world-class spa R+R Wellness, and multiple culinary experiences – including The Nashville Grange, a Tennessee-to-table restaurant featuring locally-sourced dishes, and a new “contemporary renditions of luxury favourites” concept from James Beard Award-Winning chef Sean Brock called The Continental.

Hilton Introduces Hilton EventReady Hybrid Solutions for Meetings and Events

 

As we emerge from a year of uncertainties, one business reality seems crystal clear: Hybrid meetings and events will be critical in the near-term. To address this dramatic shift in how people meet and celebrate, Hilton is introducing a set of Hilton EventReady Hybrid Solutions. The new suite of offerings, which will continue to evolve, directs event planners to Hilton’s hybrid-ready hotels while also providing them with planning resources – including an expanded Hilton EventReady Playbook and flexible customer offers.

Global program roll-out to feature hybrid-ready hotels across the portfolio

With each meeting and event experience delivered by dedicated team members, as part of the Hilton EventReady Hybrid Solutions, participating hotels will have access to comprehensive team member training resources to build and strengthen their knowledge in hybrid events.

Wyndham Destinations buys Travel + Leisure for $100 million

Wyndham Destinations has confirmed today that it has acquired the Travel + Leisure brand from the Meredith Corporation for $100 million. 

This mega-deal includes all related assets from Meredith Corporation, combining the travel company’s portfolio of resort, membership, and lifestyle travel brands with the world’s most trusted travel lifestyle content curator and its travel clubs. This acquisition will accelerate Wyndham Destinations’ strategic plan to build on its leading position as the world’s largest vacation club and exchange company and expand into new leisure travel and licensing markets.

“We acquired Travel + Leisure, including access to its global audience of 35 million loyal followers across multiple platforms and nearly 60,000 club members, because it matches our passion and purpose to put the world on vacation. Over the past 18 months, we have laid the foundation to expand our footprint beyond our core vacation ownership business, and today we add one of the most trusted and influential brands in travel through the acquisition of Travel + Leisure,” said Michael D. Brown, president and chief executive officer of Wyndham Destinations.

Five new Hyatt Hotels open in China

The new openings reinforce Hyatt’s commitment to reach China’s underserved upper-midscale segment and strategically grow the Hyatt brand in China.

Hyatt together with its partners and affiliates have opened its first five properties – UrCove Shanghai Jing’an, UrCove Shanghai Lujiazui EXPO, UrCove Shanghai Wujiaochang, UrCove Chengdu City Centre and UrCove Nanjing South Railway Station. 

These new additions to Hyatt’s portfolio in these popular destination cities in China aim to better serve the highly mobile travellers in the upper-mid segment.  This will further help to demonstrate the hotel groups commitment to achieve meaningful growth in the region. 

“China remains a priority market for Hyatt’s growth, and we are committed to unlocking the huge potential of the country’s emerging middle class and growing domestic travel trends,” said Stephen Ho, president of growth and operations, Asia Pacific, Hyatt. “UrCove hotels cater to the underserved premium upper-midscale segment and with five UrCove hotels open in the major gateway cities of Shanghai, Chengdu and Nanjing, the brand is more accessible for this large, attractive and growing customer base."

Discounted flights to Shanghai here.

Take that, 2020 - here’s how to experience an Orlando vacation that puts “true revenge” on the year that travel was on hold.

Take that, 2020 - here’s how to experience an Orlando vacation that puts “true revenge” on the year that travel was on hold.

For many, it’s safe to say 2020 put a real wrench in one’s travel plans. With this New Year, many travellers are ready to take a much-needed, long-awaited vacation, and Orlando ranks among the top 2021 trending travel destinations.  Below are ways to make a 2021 Orlando vacation at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort “next level” and make up for lost travel memories:

Reserve a vacation now and save 20 percent, with the Resort’s Advance Purchase package.  Planning ahead has its perks; this package is the best value offer available. With inclusions such as a complimentary daily kids’ camp for ages 4 and older, kids 5 and younger dine free, complimentary access to The Spa’s relaxation lounges, and an exclusive five-acre (two-hectare) water park, there are numerous added values included with a stay. Plus, the guest rooms and suites have all undergone a recent enhancement, and Four Seasons Lead With Care program puts the health, safety and comfort of guests at the forefront.

Book flights to Orlando at discount prices

Major expansion planned for Europe by Hyatt Hotels.

Hyatt Hotels has announced plans to grow its brand portfolio in Europe significantly by the end of 2023 with more than 20 executed managed and franchised deals for new hotels in some of the most desirable destinations in the world. These properties are expected to join 63 Hyatt-branded hotels across nine distinct brands in 22 European countries. Andaz, Alila, and Hyatt Centric – Hyatt’s lifestyle brands – and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt – one of Hyatt’s independent collection brands – make up half of Hyatt’s executed deals in Europe. This growth is fueled by a growing desire from travelers, World of Hyatt members, and owners for hotels that offer unique, differentiated experiences that foster genuine connections with people and cultures.

“Hyatt is in the process of transforming the hotel landscape in Europe with planned openings for new Hyatt-branded hotels in some of the most sought-after leisure destinations in the world,” said Peter Norman, senior vice president real estate and development EAME/SWA, Hyatt. “Supported by strong brand recognition and demand for the high-quality experiences for which Hyatt is known, we look forward to welcoming guests and World of Hyatt members in these key European destinations. Further, with half of Hyatt’s executed pipeline in Europe consisting of franchise agreements, we are thrilled to collaborate with a number of new, as well as existing, owners to bring these exciting projects to fruition.”