Hilton announces EV charging program: Hilton Worldwide will roll out an electronic vehicle (EV) charging program, which will be available at 50 US hotels by the end of 2015 with plans to expand to 100 US hotels by the end of 2016.
W Hotels to debut in Egypt: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will launch its W Hotels brand in Egypt in 2020 with the opening of W Sharm El Sheikh and The Residences at W Sharm El Sheikh. W Sharm El Sheikh will include 350 guestrooms and suites and The Residences at W Sharm El Sheikh will feature 50 branded residences.
Read more at Starwood’s website
Founder says Airbnb complements hotel: Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky said that Airbnb’s inventory of hosts and private homes can help hotels and cities contend with having an adequate supply of rooms for tourists and business travelers during major events. Chesky cited the example of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil during the ULI Fall Meeting in San Francisco.
Minor grows in Portugal: Minor Hotel Group acquired Hotel Tivoli Oriente in Lisbon, Portugal for €38.5 million (US$43.4 million). The 279-room hotel will continue to operate as Tivoli Oriente, managed by Tivoli Hotels & Resorts.
Greystone buys in California: Greystone Hotels purchased the Hotel Los Gatos for US$28.75 million. Greystone will take over all management, operations and ownership of the full-service hotel. The 72-room hotel had been in bankruptcy since 2011.
Wyndham grows in Malaysia: Wyndham Hotel Group signed a franchise agreement with Mah Sing Group for a 322-key Ramada property in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Ramada Encore Meridin Johor Bahru is scheduled to open in 2018.