Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region: Hyatt opens its first Regency in Amsterdam, Rotana plans third hotel for Iraq, Motel One reaches nine in Berlin and more...
Malmaison and Hotel du Vin’s Chief Executive Announces His Departure from the Group
Malmaison and Hotel du Vin’s (MHdV) chief executive, Paul Roberts, is to step down, five years after taking up the role of finance director with the company. Mr Roberts is due to leave the company on 30 June 2017 but he won’t be replaced; instead his responsibilities will be taken on by Guus Bakker, chief executive for the EMEA region with MHdV’s owing company, Frasers Hospitality. “I have no doubt the brands will continue to grow, innovate and lead the way whilst staying true to their principles of outstanding service and unique experiences. They have great future ahead. However, after five years with the business, I feel the time is right for me to embark on the next phase of my career,” said Mr Roberts.
Marriott Makes its Debut in Montenegro with a Four Points by Sheraton Hotel
Marriott International has made its first appearance in Montenegro with the opening of the Four Points by Sheraton Kolašin. The 72-room hotel, which is owned by York Hotels & Resorts, is in the town of Kolašin, 950 m above sea level, in the country’s Bjelasica mountain range. The hotel brings the brand’s portfolio across Europe to 25 hotels in operation or under development, and it is the first Four Points by Sheraton ski resort to open in Europe.
Swissôtel to Sweep into Sarajevo…
AccorHotels’ Swissôtel chain is to make its debut in Bosnia-Herzegovina in early 2018 with the opening of the Swissôtel Sarajevo in the Balkan country’s capital. The group has signed a franchise agreement with Riyadh-based investment company Al Shiddi International for the 218-room resort, which will be part of the mixed-use Sarajevo City Center project, adjacent to the Bosnian Parliament. AccorHotels is planning to make its first appearance in Bosnia-Herzegovina in October 2017 with opening of the 64-key Tarcin Forest Resort and Spa Sarajevo MGallery.
…As Novotel Reaches for the Sky in Canary Wharf
AccorHotels has opened a flagship Novotel property in the Canary Wharf financial centre, in London’s Docklands area. The French group invested £90 million in the 313-room, 127-metre-high hotel, which is one of the tallest buildings in the area. Commenting on the group’s newest Novotel, Thomas Dubaere, managing director of AccorHotels UK & Ireland, said, “Joining a network of 33 Novotel in the UK, this unique hotel is a shining example of our ambition to create innovative, guest-focused, sustainable accommodation that caters for the changing requirements of the modern-day guest as well as providing first-rate services for the local population.”
Hyatt Opens its First Regency Hotel in Amsterdam
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened its first Hyatt Regency hotel in Amsterdam: the 211-room Hyatt Regency Amsterdam, which is the group’s third hotel in the Netherland’s capital overall. The hotel, in the city’s East district, has 517 m² of flexible meeting and event space, including a 191 m² ballroom. “The hotel is an ideal location for both business and leisure travelers visiting Amsterdam and nicely complements Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht and Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport,” commented Peter Fulton, Hyatt’s group president for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Motel One Reaches Nine in Berlin
Budget design group Motel One has opened its ninth hotel in the German capital. The 582-room Motel One Berlin-Upper West is housed across 19 floors of the landmark Upper West building, next to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The group currently operates more than 14,600 guest rooms across Germany, Austria, the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
Prizeotel Announced for Munich Airport
Through a joint venture with Rezidor Hotel Group, prizeotel is continuing to expand. The latest project to be announced is the prizeotel Munich Airport, in the German state of Bavaria. The 160-room economy hotel is scheduled to open in early 2019 and will be a short car journey away from Munich Airport. “The new prizeotel in the heart of Bavaria is another evidence of our continued success story with The Rezidor Hotel Group, with whom we have already realized three projects in a span of 11 months,” said Marco Nussbaum, founder and chief executive officer of prizeotel. Rezidor already has two Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Munich.
Three New Park Inns for Europe and Africa
Carlson Rezidor has recently opened three new Park Inn by Radisson hotels across Europe and Africa. The Park Inn by Radisson Hasselt has become the group’s second hotel in the Belgian city of Hasselt and its sixth in the country overall. The 84-room hotel is part of a high-rise mixed-use complex (also containing retail, office and residential space) in the city centre and is adjacent to the 126-room Radisson Blu Hotel, Hasselt. The Park Inn by Radisson Izmir is Rezidor’s second hotel in Turkey’s third largest city, joining the 311-room Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Cesme. The 137-room hotel is in Izmir’s Pasaport area and brings the group’s portfolio of hotels in operation or under development in Turkey to 23 (4,500 rooms). The Park Inn by Radisson Nairobi Westlands is the first its brand in Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa. The 140-room hotel is five kilometres from Nairobi city centre, in the Westlands area and joins Rezidor’s other hotel in Kenya, the 271-room Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill.
Mondrian Hotel in Doha Marks sbe’s First Opening in the Middle East
US-based hotel management company sbe is making its debut in the Middle East with its Mondrian brand in the second quarter of 2017. The 270-room Mondrian Doha, Qatar will be adjacent to the Lagoona Mall in Doha’s West Bay area. The hotel’s building will be shaped like a falcon, Qatar’s national bird, and the property will have eight restaurants and bars. The group also plans to open two more hotels in Dubai in 2017 and 2018, alongside a number of restaurants.
It’s TIME to Expand into Qatar
TIME Hotel Management is all set to open its first hotel in Qatar during the second quarter of 2017. The 102-room TIME Rako is in Doha’s Al Wakra district, 20 minutes from the city centre and 15 minutes from the airport. This latest opening is part of a much bigger expansion programme for TIME and the Dubai-based group plans to make its first appearance in Ajman, Fujairah and Saudi Arabia before the end of 2018. TIME currently operates five hotels across Dubai and Sharjah.
Rotana Plans Third Hotel for Iraq
Rotana is planning to open its third hotel in Iraq. The Erbil Arjaan by Rotana, in the country’s Kurdistan region, is expected to be ready for its first guests in the second quarter of 2017. The long-stay property will have 168 hotel apartments, two food and beverage outlets, seven meeting rooms, 25 fully furnished serviced offices and a fitness club.
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