Hilton reports breach: Hilton Worldwide said it suffered a security breach related to customer credit and debit card payments at its hotels. Although it remains unclear how many of its hotels have been affected, the company is asking all its guests who stayed at Hilton properties from November 18 to December 5, 2014 or April 21 to July 27, 2015 to review their payment card statements for signs of fraud.
Omni fully acquires King Edward Hotel: Omni Hotels & Resorts has acquired the remaining shares from King Edward Realty to fully acquire the King Edward Hotel in Toronto. With this transaction, the company will take on the ownership, operations and management of the hotel.
Marriott Rewards now available across Africa: Marriott Rewards is being expanded to all Protea Hotels and African Pride Hotels across Sub-Saharan Africa, giving its 53 million members 100 more hotels where they can earn and redeem points.
Read more at Marriott’s website
Marriott accounts for almost half of upscale hotel sales: Through Q3 2015, Lodging Econometrics tracked the sale of 227 upscale hotel sales in the U.S. It found that Marriott-branded properties accounted for 49% of sales. Under the Marriott umbrella there were 51 Residence Inns sold, 44 Courtyards and 17 Springhill Suites. Residence Inns had the highest average selling price per room (ASPR) of Marriott’s upscale brands at US$148,738, compared to an overall Upscale ASPR of US$137,583.
Four Seasons launches a Chinese app: Four Seasons launched a dedicated app entirely in simplified Chinese that has been uniquely designed to suit the preferred user experience of Chinese travelers. The features include check in/out and the ability to make dining reservations throughout China and in a select number of international hotels. Also through the new app, a host of these Four Seasons hotels and resorts offer local recommendations compiled by concierge teams.
Read more at Four Seasons’ website
KSL buys big in Scotland. After failing to acquire Gleneagles in Scotland earlier this year, KSL Capital Partners this week acquired the famed 132-room Cameron House Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland from QHotels for a price reported to be between £70 million and £80 million (US$106-121 million). QHotels had only purchased the hotel from the De Vere group last November.
Quadrum announces hotel plans: Quadrum Global will build a hotel at a property it acquired last year in the Garment District of New York City. The choice of brand is forthcoming and Quadrum commissioned Marvel Architects to design the 26-story hotel, which will include more than 500 guestrooms.
Read more at Real Estate Weekly
Brussels suffers during lockdown: Flight bookings to Brussels have collapsed in the wake of the recent attacks in Paris and the lockdown in Brussels. ForwardKeys reports that net bookings dropped 159% since the beginning of last weekend, when the lockdown came in to force. In the previous week, which directly followed the Paris attacks, bookings were down by 23%.