Oxford Capital to develop Godfrey: Chicago-based Oxford Capital Group purchased property in Hollywood and will develop it into The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood, a 200-room property slated to open in 2018. It will be the third Godfrey hotel; the flagship is in Chicago and its sister property is in Boston. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Starwood in Armenia: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will enter Armenia with The Alexander, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in Yerevan. It is partnering with Tsupani CJSC on the 114-room hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2017.
Autograph, AC in Austin: Merrillville, Indiana-based hotel investment, development and management company White Lodging announced a new property near the University of Texas campus in Austin that will feature both Autograph Collection and AC Hotels by Marriott brands. The 11-story property, which will total 350 rooms and have event, entertainment and F&B space, will open in early 2019.
Let’s go to Canada: American vacationers are looking to the north to book their holidays, according to the Industry Report: USA and Canada, a Summer of Tourism report by Horwath HTL, saying the ease of travel and economic and political stability is contributing to renewed interest in the country. Toronto expects to top the record it set in 2015 for overnight travelers, at 14 million, the report says.
Read more about Horwath’s new report
De Niro hotel OK’d in London: Planning permission has been granted to American actor Robert De Niro for an 83-room boutique hotel in London’s Covent Garden. The Wellington Hotel, to be developed with property firm Capco and BD Hotels, will encompass six adjacent buildings and include a members-only club. The hotel is expected to open in 2019.
WoodSpring in Texas: Extended-stay hotel company WoodSpring Hotels has entered into an agreement with MVK Hospitality to develop two WoodSpring Suites Signature hotels in Buda and Georgetown, Texas.