First Hualuxe locations: IHG announced the first Hualuxe Hotels and Resorts properties in China: Hualuxe Nanchang High Tech Zone and Hualuxe Yangjiang City Centre. Since IHG first announced the launch of the Hualuxe brand in 2012, it has signed 24 hotels in 20 cities across China.
Ritz-Carlton grows in Malaysia: Marriott International’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company will open its second luxury hotel in Malaysia. The Petaling Jaya resort is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
Read more at Marriott’s website
Sheraton expands in Germany: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed the Sheraton Grand Hotel Esplanade. The franchise agreement with Esplanade Operation GmbH, a subsidiary of Host Hotels & Resorts’ European joint venture, marks the conversion of the existing 394-toom Grand Hotel Esplanade.
Read more at Starwood’s website
Westin debuts in Buffalo: Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Delaware North will open Westin brand in Buffalo, New York in June 2016. The Westin Buffalo will be part of a new 12-story mixed-use development that will also house Delaware North’s world headquarters.
Read more at Starwood’s website
International tourism increases: According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals reached 1.138 million in 2014, a 4.7% increase from 2013. For 2015, UNWTO forecasts international tourism to grow by 3% to 4%.
Auction.com introduces hospitality division: Auction.com has launched a new division focused specifically on the sale of hotel properties. The company closed transactions on a total of 76 hotels in 2014, including full-service Holiday Inns, Marriott Courtyards, Hampton Inns and Suites, Country Inns by Carlson, Comfort Inns, Red Roof Inns, Best Westerns and Microtel Inns.
Chandler adds seven hotels: Chandler Hotel Group has added seven hotels in South Carolina, Texas and New Mexico. The expansion will collectively add nearly 1,200 new rooms to the group’s portfolio.