News

According to BGF Retail on Dec. 22, BGF Retail's cumulative annual sales reached 6.48 trillion won (approximately $4.48 billion) as of Q3 this year, a 5.3 percent increase from 6.15 trillion won during the same period last year. This figure highlights that the sales growth rate of hotel-based stores is at least six times higher than regular stores. Similarly, sales of GS25 convenience stores, operated by GS Retail, in hotels and resorts increased by 17.6 percent year-over-year during the same period.

Police in Homa Bay Town are investigating an incident where a university student died after he was tortured at a hotel.

Real estate developer Nusco has signed an agreement for the opening of the first Hyatt hotel unit in Bucharest in Nusco City, a mixed-use development in the northern part of the city.

Otonomus, a leading AI-driven technology and hospitality company, announces its flagship Otonomus Hotel in Las Vegas will exhibit at CES 2025, showcasing what it believes to be the first AI-powered hotel. The company will demonstrate how they blend AI, attribute-based booking, and personalized guest services to CES attendees at their booth in Tech East, LVCC, North Hall, Grand Lobby, and Level 1 Meeting Rooms — 8543.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending €46.8 million to CIMEX Group, a leading hospitality operator in Czechia. The EBRD financing is being provided as part of a €140.4 million syndicated loan facility with UniCredit Bank and Raiffeisenbank.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. has inked a long-term licensing agreement with the Venetian Resort Las Vegas, expanding its Las Vegas footprint by 7,000 rooms.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) announced that all six of its Australian properties have been awarded the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Industry Criteria for Hotels certification today, 18th December.

As Oyo takes the wheel at Motel 6, it’s not just revamping operations. By expanding beyond OTAs and focusing on direct bookings and corporate demand, Oyo looks to cut commissions, boost margins, and build loyalty through better control of customer data.

The Hotel Workers’ Union will go ahead with a strike on New Year’s Eve, between 30 December and 1 January, at a time when the region’s hotels will be full.

BM Caterers is trialling artificial intelligence (AI) self-checkout systems across two client sites, which if successful could be rolled out further in 2025. The business is trialling the new technology at the headquarters of a logistics specialist in Crewe and a London-based law firm.

Cloud One Hotel in Warsaw is set to open in the Upper One complex, offering over 360 rooms. This will be one of two The Cloud One hotels in Poland, following the recent opening of the first location in Gdańsk. Strabag Real Estate and Motel One Group have already signed the lease agreement for the project. 

Minor International Public Company Limited (MINT), the parent company of Minor Hotels, announces that on 13 December 2024 the Board of Directors of Minor Hotels Europe & Americas ("MHEA", formerly NH Hotel Group) issued a positive report in respect of an offer made by MHG Continental Holding (Singapore) (“MHG”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MINT, to delist the shares of MHEA by way of a tender offer.

Asia is being targeted for growth by Tui with plans to more than double the number of own brand hotels across the region. The group currently has 18 hotels in six countries in Asia with resorts in the Maldives, Thailand and Sri Lanka part of the Tui portfolio. 

Over the course of 2024, CBRE has been tracking the emergence of a curious phenomenon across the Asia Pacific retail property market, why is expansionary demand so strong when sales growth is slowing?

Three-time Olympic table tennis champion Fan Zhendong has pleaded with fans to “understand and respect” his privacy after he was mobbed in a hotel lobby.

A new Ritz-Carlton hotel is set to revive use of a key site in Belgrade, Serbia with the redevelopment of the former Hotel Jugoslavija.

Seven tourists sought hospital treatment for suspected poisoning after drinking cocktails at a bar in an upscale Fiji resort that’s now being investigated by police.

Leading global hospitality company Hilton(NYSE: HLT), announced the official opening of its 100th Hilton Garden Inn property in Greater China, the Hilton Garden Inn Beihai Jiafu, marking a significant milestone for the brand in the Chinese market.

Canadian real estate investment and development company Leyad has marked its entry into the New York City (NYC) market with the acquisition of the Ink48 Hotel.

The group - which boasted a portfolio of Hilton and Marriott hotels in France before it went bankrupt in October 2023 - will see its hotels distributed amongst Westmont Hospitality Group, Atypio, London & Regional’s LRO Hospitality and Didier Ferre, a source told Hospitality Investor.

Lifestyle Hospitality Capital (LHC) Group, majority owner of hotel brand The Dean Group, has acquired The Gates Hotel South Beach in Miami, Florida.

Hilton has announced the opening of the much-anticipated Hilton Brazzaville Les Tours Jumelles Hotel & Residences. The opening establishes Hilton’s presence in the vibrant Congolese capital.

US-based Korean BBQ fast-casual restaurant brand Cupbop has announced its expansion into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market through a development agreement with RMAL Hospitality.

Meliá Hotels International, Spain’s hotel group and the third largest in Europe, is set to enhance its luxury portfolio with 15 new hotel openings by 2025, showcasing ambitious expansions across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.