Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region; this week: Accor sells 29 hotels in Europe, NH manages The Netherlands biggest hotel: Nhow Amsterdam RAI, FRHI signes two in Egypt and more...
Accor Announces Sale-and-Franchise-Back Deal
Accor has sold 29 hotels (3,354 rooms) across Germany and the Netherlands under a sale-and-franchise-back deal for €234 million. The acquisition price for the hotels (18 in Germany and 11 in the Netherlands) is €209 million but the portfolio's buyer is to invest a further €25 million in renovation of the properties. The deal, with one of its main franchisees, Germany-based Event Hotels, is expected to close before the end of the summer. The portfolio includes two ibis budget hotels, 12 Mercure properties and four Novotel hotels.
Nhow Say Hello to the Biggest Hotel in the Netherlands
Spanish group NH Hoteles will be the proud owner of the biggest hotel in the Netherlands. The 650-room Nhow Amsterdam RAI is set to be developed on an empty plot next to Amsterdam's RAI convention centre, in the city's Zuidas business district. The 91-metre-high property, which will be housed in three blocks all set at different angles, was designed by Rotterdam-based architects OMA. The hotel will be the fourth property in the Nhow chain, which currently has hotels in Rotterdam, Milan and Berlin.
Thistle Express the New Budget Brand on the Block
London based GLH has announced that it plans to launch a new budget brand: Thistle Express. The first hotel under the new chain is due to open in London in 2016 and GLH aims to open a further ten hotels across the UK over the next five years. This the fourth new brand that GLH has announced since the group was rebranded from Guoman in June 2013. The Thistle Express properties are to be new-build hotels and conversions from hotel and non-hotel buildings (excluding existing Thistle hotels). GLH commented that the Thistle Express hotels will offer the fastest Wi-Fi within the budget sector. "Research told us that fast, free Wif-Fi is not just a luxury for luxury hotel guests, but an expectation for economy hotel guests too," said Mike DeNoma, chief executive of GLH.
Whitbread's Chief Executive Announces Retirement
Andy Harrison, chief executive of Whitbread, has announced that he plans to retire after five years at the helm of the UK-based group. He will step down from the role at the end of February 2016 (the end of the current financial year) and a search has already begun for his replacement. Whitbread's chairman, Richard Baker, commented that under Harrison's leadership the group had gone from strength to strength and delivered "constant rapid and profitable growth". Whitbread's Premier Inn brand currently operates 59,138 guest rooms across the UK and this is set to rise to 85,000 by 2020.
Two New Properties in Egypt For FRHI
FRHI Hotels & Resorts has signed agreements with real estate developer Citystars Properties for two new projects in Egypt: a Fairmont hotel in Soma Bay, south of the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, and a Swissôtel property in Cairo's up-and-coming Katameyah district. The 300-roomFairmont Soma Bay will be part of a 10 million square metre mixed-use development, which will also have 150 Fairmont-branded residences for sale. The Swissôtel in Cairo will have 250 rooms and 50 residential units, under the Swissôtel Living brand. This isn't the first time FRHI has teamed up with Citystars. The pair also have a mixed-use project under development in Sharm El Sheikh, which will include Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel properties.
Wyndham Takes a Tryp to Abu Dhabi
Wyndham Worldwide's select-service urban hotel brand Tryp by Wyndham has made its first appearance in the Middle East with the opening a 146-room hotel in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE. TheTryp by Wyndham Abu Dhabi is adjacent to the Sheikh Khalifa Energy Complex, on Khalifa Street, at the centre of Abu Dhabi's business district.
Bulgari Bags a Spot on Jumeirah Bay Island
Rome-based luxury goods firm and hotel chain Bulgari has got together with Dubai-basedMeraas Holding to develop a resort on Jumeirah Bay Island, off the coast of Dubai. The resort, Bulgari's first in the Middle East, will include a 101-room Bulgari hotel, 20 hotel villas, 165 apartments, 8 penthouses and 15 mansions. The project, spread across 1.7 million square feet, will also have a 50-berth marina and Bulgari yacht club and is expected to be finished in 2017. Bulgari currently operates three hotels in the UK (London), Italy, (Milan) and Indonesia (Bali).
Saudi Arabia Getting a Second Ritz-Carlton this Summer
Marriott International's Ritz-Carlton subsidiary is to open its second hotel in Saudi Arabia this summer. The 224-room Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah has been developed on Al Hamra Corniche, covering eight acres of land. The hotel, which will be operated by The Ritz-Carlton Company on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, will join sister property, the 493-room Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh. The hotel's room inventory includes 30 royal suites measuring 500 square metres each, and the property will also offer 63,356 square metres of meeting space.
www.hvs.com
