Evacuations in Gatlinburg: Wildfires in the eastern Tennessee town of Gatlinburg, a vacation community near Pigeon Forge and Dollywood, are forcing evacuations. The 16-story Park Vista Hotel — a DoubleTree by Hilton — an apartment complex and homes have been destroyed.
Hampton in Lodz: Hilton Worldwide made a franchise agreement with VHM Management Sp. z o.o. to open a second hotel in Lodz, Poland. The 149-room new-build Hampton by Hilton Lodz will open in early 2018.
Indigo in Brisbane: IHG and Pointcorp signed a management agreement for a new-build Hotel Indigo in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. It’s the first such brand in Australia and is due to open in 2020.
SJP and MGM: MGM National Harbor, the Maryland hotel opening next week, announced a partnership to bring a standalone SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker store to the property, offering shoes, handbags and clothing. The retail site will open a day after the hotel, on December 9.