Days Hotel by Wyndham Istanbul Maltepe set to open

Latest Addition Strengthens Wyndham’s Position as Turkey’s Largest International Hotel Chain with 80 Hotels and 8 of the Company’s 20 Iconic Brands, in World’s 20th Largest Economy

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company by number of properties with over 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries, is further strengthening its position as Turkey’s largest international hotel chain with the upcoming opening of the newly built Days Hotel by Wyndham Istanbul Maltepe, its first property in the country under the well-known economy brand.

Located close to Maltepe’s business district, several nearby recreational areas and with convenient access to Istanbul’s city centre, the 80-room hotel is slated to open later this summer as travel demand is expected to pick up. It will be complemented by the 176-room Days Hotel by Wyndham Istanbul Esenyurt, a new construction hotel that is part of a mixed-use development scheduled to open in the second part of the year.

Days Inn by Wyndham is one of the largest and most recognized economy hotel brands in the world, with a global portfolio of 1,600 properties.

The new additions are the latest in Wyndham’s expansion in Turkey, where the company is the largest international hotel chain with 80 hotels across the country including cities, resorts and up-and-coming destinations, and a development pipeline of over 2,000 rooms, including five hotels expected to open this year.

Proper Hospitality Continues Hotel Expansion Across California With the Opening of the Venice V Hotel on June 18

Proper Hospitality Continues Hotel Expansion Across California With the Opening of the Venice V Hotel on June 18

Proper Hospitality has announced the opening of Venice V Hotel in Los Angeles’ iconic Venice Beach community. Set in a 1915 landmark building originally called The Waldorf, the beachfront property embraces its past as a residence for A-list stars and backdrop for Hollywood films through a complete restoration that celebrates its roots and the surrounding community. Envisioned as a gathering place for today’s creative nomad, V draws inspiration from Venice’s legendary skate park, surf scene and unmatched culture for a true local experience.

Located off Westminster Avenue on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, each of the boutique hotel’s spacious rooms, suites, penthouses and rooftop bungalows offers picturesque Pacific Ocean views. Proper Hospitality worked closely with local design and architecture partner Relativity Architects to bring the vision for Venice V to life while nodding to the eclectic range of the Venice story. No two rooms are alike with three distinct themes informing the design curation of the interiors: bohemian beach culture, an artist’s studio, and skate and surf culture.

AC Hotel by Marriott Maui Wailea officially opens its doors...............

AC Hotel by Marriott Maui Wailea officially opens its doors as the newest hotel and the first property in the Hawaiian Islands for the design-driven AC Hotels lifestyle brand. Part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, the hotel marks a significant milestone in delivering an effortless travel experience that strikes the perfect balance between everything you need, and nothing you don’t, in the stunning leisure destination of Maui.

Nestled on three acres on the sunny southwestern coastline, AC Hotel by Marriott Maui Wailea features 110 guestrooms with 12 suites, and an infinity-edge pool with a hot tub and cabanas. The hotel offers a perfectly curated experience, focused on the meaningful details and services that enhance every guest’s stay, allowing them to recharge and focus on the beauty of the island.

“Our new hotel seamlessly blends the AC brand’s signature amenities with Maui’s naturally-inspiring landscape, people and aesthetics,” says Kaleo Kenui, Dual General Manager for AC Hotel by Marriott Maui Wailea and Residence Inn Maui Wailea. “The overall design is an artistic rendition based on genuine Hawaiian experiences blending with modern life and a recognition of the diverse cultures forming Maui’s remarkable melting pot of humanity.”

MCR Purchases the Hilton Garden Inn Beaufort

Fightertown, here we come! The nation’s 4th-largest hotel owner-operator acquires the Hilton Garden Inn Beaufort in the heart of the South Carolina coast.

The latest member of the squadron! MCR — the country’s 4th-largest hotel owner-operator — has acquired the 115-room Hilton Garden Inn Beaufort in South Carolina’s beautiful Lowcountry region.

The hotel is just a 40-minute drive to Hilton Head Island and less than an hour from the Spanish moss splendour of Savannah, Georgia. But the real action is minutes away at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station, one of the only places in the world where pilots train to operate F-35B Lightning II jets, which can reach speeds of Mach 1.6 (that’s about 1,200 miles per hour in civilian language). Grab your aviators and practice your call signs because Tom Cruise has nothing on the daring flyers of Fightertown East.

On neighbouring Parris Island, you’ll find the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, the primary training centre for generations of Marines since 1915. The base welcomes more than 17,000 recruits annually. In town to celebrate a new graduate? Bunk at the Hilton Garden Inn Beaufort and say “Semper Fi” with a hand-crafted cocktail at the fully stocked bar.

Two new hotels to open in Oceanside Beach, San Diego - Mission Pacific Hotel and The Seabird Resort

Representing the largest oceanfront hotel development in San Diego County in more than 50 years, the two hotel openings join Hyatt and underscore Oceanside Beach’s appeal as a sought-after Southern California travel destination.

The Shore Room at The Seabird Resort. (Photo: Business Wire)

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced this week the opening of Mission Pacific Hotel, a JdV by Hyatt hotel. Situated on 700 feet of beachfront property in Oceanside Beach, Calif. in North County San Diego, Mission Pacific Hotel and The Seabird Resort, a Destination by Hyatt hotel, which is slated to open on May 25, welcome guests to two adjacent boutique-style properties on a coastal playground that will markedly enhance the tourism landscape in Oceanside Beach.

Mission Pacific Hotel

Mission Pacific Hotel is a vibrant beachfront sanctuary with a laid-back spirit. Relaxed and undeniably Southern Californian, the 161 high-touch guest rooms – including 38 suites – feature soothing textures, gentle colours, cozy bedding, and gentle salt air. An expansive rooftop pool and jacuzzi with private cabanas and lounge seating offer the ultimate vantage point from which to take in endless Pacific views and majestic sunsets. A 24-hour fitness centre, a library, and 13,000 square feet of ocean-view function space are among other notable amenities. Additionally, an exclusive beach kiosk provides guests with everything they need for a day of surf and sand, from chairs and umbrellas to sunscreen, towels, flip-flops, surfboard rentals, and more.

King suite at Mission Pacific Hotel. (Photo: Business Wire)

The Little Things Add Up at The Farnam............New Curated Autograph Collection Hotel Officially Opens May 20

The Farnam, Autograph Collection will take its place Thursday, May 20, as Omaha’s premier boutique hotel, welcoming discerning travellers and urban tastemakers to revel in a truly unique hospitality experience in the heart of the storied city.

Overlooking Omaha’s Riverfront and historic Old Market from one of the city’s tallest buildings, The Farnam, Autograph Collection offers the most sought-after views from its 120 guest rooms, including 24 suites. Every room has a distinct view, ranging from cityscape to the north, west and south, to river valley to the east. Here guests will find a uniquely upscale vibe, with shiny, modern glass expanses melding into historic details and textures reminiscent of a bustling Old Market manufacturing and warehouse district. The hotel joins Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, a group of 200+ independent hotels hand-selected for their inherent craft and distinct perspectives on design and hospitality.

“When it comes to creating a memorable guest experience, we believe the little things are transformative,” said Jason Fisher of Omaha's Cushman & Wakefield/the Lund Co., a principal investor in the property. “As we were designing the hotel, we made it our mission to be purposeful with even the smallest of details. When you look closely, you’ll notice the thought that went into every choice of material, which we know our discerning guests will appreciate.”

California Dreamin’...................MCR Acquires the Staybridge Suites Cathedral City Palm Springs

Going once, going twice, sold! MCR — the country’s 4th-largest hotel owner-operator — won the foreclosure auction for the 197-room Staybridge Suites Cathedral City Palm Springs, an IHG Hotel, on the Corona City Hall steps on April 7, 2021, at 9:30 AM. The acquisition marks MCR’s expansion into the California market as the Staybridge Suites joins MCR’s portfolio of 110 hotels across 33 states.

In the heart of the Coachella Valley, the all-suite hotel is just 10 minutes from Palm Springs Airport, 15 minutes from downtown Palm Springs and a two-hour drive to star-studded Los Angeles. If you’re searching for desert feels this summer, look no further! Next year, festival vibes will be in the air as Coachella and Stagecoach get rolling again.

Newly redesigned, the Palm Springs downtown plaza is renowned for its locally-owned restaurants, one-of-a-kind boutiques, art galleries and antique shops. A popular home to movie stars and Presidents (Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan both settled in the city) since the 1930s, the area is full of old Hollywood glamour. Stroll along Palm Canyon Drive and Museum Way to glimpse the Walk of the Stars, which honours more than 440 famous residents, including Elvis Presley, Lena Horne and Marilyn Monroe.

Take advantage of sunshiny SoCal’s annual 300-plus days of rays: Hike nearby Tahquitz Canyon or drive through the valley to Joshua Tree National Park, which is visited by more than 3 million travellers each year.

Hyatt Announces Return of Hyatt Loves Local

Building on the success of Hyatt’s global initiative in 2020, Hyatt hotels are teaming up with even more minority and female-owned businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen the communities in which they operate in.

The Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced Hyatt hotels across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia regions have launched more than 160 Hyatt Loves Local collaborations in a continued effort to help revitalize and advance care to communities and small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Following the success of the 2020 community-driven initiative, which provides complimentary resources and exposure to select local businesses that have struggled during the pandemic, Hyatt Loves Local has evolved to further meet the current needs of Hyatt communities and guests, including collaborating with more minority-owned and female-owned businesses and delivering reimagined experiences inspired by the new travel landscape. In turn, Hyatt Loves Local connects those in need directly with Hyatt guests and locals through distinctly local offerings, including wellbeing, arts and entertainment, “voluntourism,” travelling with pets and culinary experiences.

Aligned with Hyatt’s Change Starts Here commitment to accelerate Hyatt’s longstanding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, nearly half of the 100 participating hotels are teaming up with more than 65 minority-owned and female-owned businesses, two groups that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Participating hotels are also working with new businesses that were born out of the pandemic. For example, Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego is collaborating with Seaside Cinema to offer personalized, mobile outdoor movie experiences on the shores of Mission Bay. Seaside Cinema founders, Brian and Krystil Hofmann, were inspired to start the company as an alternative to movie theatres and indoor gatherings after Krystil lost her corporate job due to COVID-19.

Blue Flag Acquires 6 Historic Properties in Nantucket, Expands Relationship With Life House for Management

Local real estate firm Blue Flag Partners announced the acquisition of six additional properties in Nantucket, MA. With three existing hotel properties on Nantucket and the purchase of the historic Kelley House Hotel on Martha’s Vineyard in October 2020, these acquisitions further expand Blue Flag’s partnership with the Life House hotel group.

The portfolio, which comprises 6 properties spread across 3 transactions, includes the Summer House at 27 Fair Street, Summer House at 29 Fair Street, Pineapple Inn on Hussey Street, India Street Inn on India Street, Hawthorn House on Chestnut Street, and a property on Federal Street that previously operated as a seasonal vacation rental.

Hilton has released its 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report

Hilton has released its 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, which highlights the company’s continued commitment to redefining sustainable travel and driving a positive impact on people and the planet. Through Hilton’s Travel with Purpose program, the company continues to take important steps to integrate positive social impact and environmental stewardship throughout its operations, communities and supply chain.

“As we weathered this unpredictable year, Hilton has remained focused on our Team Members and the communities we serve around the world,” said Kristin Campbell, general counsel and chief ESG officer, Hilton. “We took a nimble approach during this difficult period to deliver meaningful support, while remaining focused on our bold Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals. Now more than ever, we are committed to our leadership in environmental, social and governance so travellers can enjoy our planet for years to come.”

Hilton’s 2020 ESG Report highlights the company’s environmental and social performance during a tumultuous year. Despite the challenges of 2020, Hilton was proud to receive several significant ESG honours in 2020, including:

Named the 2020 Global Industry Leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, the most prestigious ranking for corporate responsibility and sustainability performance, for the second consecutive year;

Recognized just last week as one of the Best Companies to Work For in the U.S. by Great Place to Work and Fortune for the sixth consecutive year, including earning the #1 spot in 2020 and #3 in 2021 – as well as being ranked the #3 World’s Best Workplace and achieving a #1 ranking in seven countries around the world in 2020;

Ranked #2 on DiversityInc’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity list; and

Named to the 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2020 list, the only global hotel brand recognized.

An Unprecedented Year for Social Impact

Coming soon, a new Hyatt Ziva all inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico.................438-room Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Playa Hotels & Resorts have announced plans for a new Hyatt Ziva all-inclusive resort in Mexico’s Riviera Cancun region. Slated to open later this year, the family-friendly Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun will be the latest resort to join the award-winning Hyatt Ziva portfolio, which is designed for travellers seeking an effortless, all-inclusive experience.

Situated between Playa del Carmen and the world-famous Cancun Hotel Zone approximately 30 minutes from Cancun International Airport, the 438-room Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun plans to provide travellers with the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones, enjoy time away from their busy lives, and experience the most unique aspects of Riviera Cancun.

Hyatt Hotels set to open a Caption by Hyatt in Memphis next year.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has said it has started a joint venture deal with Carlisle LLC for a Caption by Hyatt hotel in Memphis, which is expected to open in 2022.

The Caption by Hyatt brand is grounded in a commitment to caring for people and place and creating connections between them. Located at One Beale Street and adjacent Hyatt Centric Memphis Beale Street, which is set to open on April 15, Caption by Hyatt Memphis is expected to debut in 2022 and will be integrated into the historic main building of Wm. C Ellis & Sons Ironworks and Machine Shop, one of the earliest and longest-running businesses in Memphis. The historic building will house the hotel’s ground and second floors, and a new 136-guestroom tower will rise above offering guests spectacular views of the Mississippi River and city skyline.

The Caption by Hyatt brand’s signature marquee will adorn the hotel’s dual entrances, leading avid travellers and locals into the all-day, multi-functional lounge space, Talk Shop. The double-height lounge will be enveloped by the historic building’s original heavy timber framing, decorative brick walls, archways, and clerestory windows. At Caption by Hyatt Memphis, Talk Shop will include an expansive patio and double-height beer garden that will be incorporated into the building’s historic, decorative façade on Front Street – with locally driven tap beer offerings that will showcase the best beverages of the region, open fire-pits, exposed brick, and existing metalwork, Caption by Hyatt Memphis will have an unmistakable neighbourhood feel. Caption by Hyatt Memphis will work with Memphis-area purveyors and suppliers, making every effort to support local and minority-owned businesses whenever possible.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced this week the opening of Andaz Bali

Hyatt Hotels Corporation 

announced this week the opening of Andaz Bali, marking the entry of the vibrant Andaz brand into Indonesia. Offering a contemporary take on the traditional Balinese village and its way of life, Andaz Bali is located in the heart of Sanur, a quaint seaside village known for its old-world charm, picturesque beaches and spectacular sunrises.

“As we continue to offer our guests new and immersive ways to rediscover Bali, we are honoured to introduce the Andaz brand to Sanur, where Indonesia’s first Hyatt-branded hotel opened more than 40 years ago,” said David Udell, group president, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt. “Andaz Bali is our first Andaz resort in Asia, adding to the brand’s growing urban portfolio in the region which includes Seoul, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Tokyo and Xiamen.”

A short 22-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Sanur is located along Bali’s south-eastern coastline. Andaz Bali pays homage to Balinese art and craftsmanship, weaving together the island’s rich heritage and the contemporary influence from artists who have been visiting Sanur over the decades.

Wyndham Adds New Private Island Beach Resort in the Caribbean With Second Conversion to its Trademark Collection in Belize

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with over 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries, today announces the opening of Turtle Island Beach Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham in Belize. The hotel operated by Wyndham Hotels & Resort’s management division is set on a private island on the west side of pristine Ambergris Caye, just five minutes by boat from San Pedro Town. Owned by Castle Capital Investment LTD, the resort marks the third Wyndham-branded hotel in Belize and the second hotel on the island to convert to the Trademark Collection by Wyndham.

Launched in 2017, Trademark Collection by Wyndham is designed for travellers seeking distinctive, attainable accommodations in sought-after destinations, with each Trademark hotel maintaining its own unique attributes. The addition in Belize is the latest in the brand’s fast growth trajectory around the world over the past four years, with approximately 115 hotels in the U.S., Canada, Belize, Mexico, Sint Maarten, Curacao, Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium.

InterContinental to Hotel Continental: IHG Hotels & Resorts announces major Mornington Peninsula signing

IHG Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to announce that its luxury InterContinental brand will come to Sorrento in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula as part of the redevelopment of the Hotel Continental. It follows the signing of a management agreement with the Consortium behind the iconic Hotel Continental redevelopment on the state’s famed coastal strip.

Hotel Continental, or the ‘Conti’ as it is endearingly called by locals, will have a new, luxurious lease on life when the InterContinental Sorrento opens in November 2021, as the property poises itself to once again become a beacon of glamour and sophistication on the Mornington Peninsula.   

Following a sensitive, state-of-the-art restoration by the Trenerry Consortium, which is owned by Victor Smorgon Group, the Kanat Group and Trenerry Property, InterContinental Sorrento will occupy the accommodation component of the 145-year-old heritage-listed limestone building and will feature 106 beautifully appointed, spacious guestrooms, many of them with water views.   

A high-profile chef partnership will soon be announced for the hotel’s signature restaurant, with the property also home to five other dining and bar outlets. In addition, the hotel will feature a sprawling wellness centre incorporating a luxury bathhouse, an outdoor pool, gym and three function and event spaces, including the Conti’s original iconic grand ballroom and will be lovingly restored catering for corporate and social events. 

A Decade of Innovation in Just One Year: Seven Surprising Ways the Pandemic Has Changed Hotels Forever

For more than a century, Hilton has pioneered many of the elements that define the hospitality industry today. In the last year, the pandemic has accelerated our innovation engine – we’ve thought of it as a decade of change in just 12 months. And though the experience in our hotels will be different as people begin to travel more freely, our Team Members around the world are eager to welcome our guests, sharing the light and warmth of our hospitality once again.“ – Chris Nassetta, president & CEO, Hilton

After more than a year of canceling family vacations, postponing bucket-list trips or attending virtual conferences, travelers are looking forward to packing their suitcases and making new memories with family and friends. In fact, Hilton’s recent To New Memories campaign revealed that 94% of Americans surveyed plan on doing just that once travel restrictions lift, and that 91% of those who travel say that their hotel experiences are a memorable part of their trip. 

But how has the pandemic changed that hotel experience? And what can travelers expect as they hit the road now and in years to come?

Marriott International Teams With Shinhan Card and Visa For Korea’s First-Ever Co-Branded Hotel Credit Card

‘Marriott Bonvoy The BEST Shinhan Card’ combines the competitive advantages of a major card company with the reach and choice of the highly awarded travel program

Marriott International today announced the launch of Marriott Bonvoy® The BEST Shinhan Card, offered exclusively by Visa, enabling cardholders to accelerate the number of Marriott Bonvoy points they earn, which can be redeemed for free nights at more than 7,600 hotels across 30 extraordinary brands around the world. This launch is set to be the first hotel industry credit card in South Korea where Cardholders can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and enjoy member benefits that come with elite status.

Super 8 Teams Up with Actor Oliver Hudson to Inspire Travellers to #JourneySafe

Award-winning, PSA-style campaign gets reimagined to promote safe travel as increasing numbers of travellers prepare for a return to the open road ......<

Super 8® by Wyndham, one of the world’s largest economy hotel brands, today unveiled the latest instalment of its award-winning #JourneySafe campaign. Featuring the voice of actor, family man and avid road-tripper Oliver Hudson, the reimagined, multi-channel campaign—best known for its use of iconic dashboard bobbleheads—takes a light-hearted, PSA-style approach to promote the continued importance of safe and responsible travel.

#JourneySafe returns as millions of travellers—many showing increasing levels of consumer confidence—look to balance a new willingness to travel with the continued desire to do so safely.

According to a recent third-party travel study shared by the United States Travel Association with its members, close to 9 out of 10 American travellers now have travel plans in the next six months1.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts continues its growth programme.....

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company by number of properties with over 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries, continues to cement its presence across Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA) with a series of recent hotel launches and a strong line-up of openings for 2021.

In a year of historic challenges for the travel industry, in 2020 Wyndham achieved 38 new hotel signings in the region, a host of important openings, in addition to launching multi-faceted initiatives to support and empower hotel partners across EMEA to help re-build demand in response to changes and on-going travel restrictions.

Some of Wyndham’s key 2020 openings included the European expansion of Ramada by Wyndham in Madrid, Valencia, Leeds and Budapest and continued momentum in India and Pakistan. Other highlights included the expansion of La Quinta by Wyndham in Turkey, and the debut of the Super 8 by Wyndham brand in the UAE alongside more openings in Germany.

Hollywood Beach redevelopment gets top ranking.

A top 10 ranking in Conde Nast Traveler, AAA Four Diamond status and resilience through the pandemic have proven the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort to be one of the best public/private redevelopment projects in the nation.

Margaritaville looking east from the Intracoastal. (Photo: Lojeta Group of Fla. Inc.)

Best Practice Cities (www.bestpracticecities.com) Founding principal Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark, while serving as City Manager for Hollywood Florida, steered the project through uncharted and difficult waters. Her leadership created not only the #7 resort among all Florida resorts ranked by Conde Nast readers but also an anchor for redevelopment and reinvestment that has kept hundreds of small businesses on Hollywood Beach alive even in unmatched challenges during COVID-19. The Margaritaville development created hundreds of jobs, a revenue stream for the city that will be worth hundreds of millions and an activity generator that has boosted tourism in the historic beach district between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.