Cahill, Morin promoted at Accor: Chris Cahill and Jean-Jacques Morin have been appointed deputy chief executive officers of AccorHotels. Cahill, until now CEO luxury brands and CEO North America, Central America and Caribbean Region, will be responsible for hotel operations. Morin, until now CFO, will be responsible for finance, communications and strategy.
Estates by Oetker: The Oetker Collection has launched Masterpiece Estates by Oetker Collection. The collection includes historic houses and estates in the United Kingdom available for private use; plans are to expand beyond that. The houses will be equipped with a team and a host who will act as a guide, and will include dining and activities. The first three properties include Glen Affric in the Scottish Highlands, Farleigh House in Hampshire and Hound Lodge in Sussex.
Chicago strike movement: Striking hotel workers in Chicago ratified a contract with Marriott International, the union said Thursday. The pact could pave the way for a resolution of the two-week-old work stoppage at more than two dozen Chicago hotels. Thousands of housekeepers, doormen, cooks and other hotel employees have been on strike since September 7 to demand year-round health insurance and other improvements to work conditions as they negotiate new contracts. About 6,000 workers across 30 downtown hotels are covered by contracts that expired at the end of August.
Marriott in Austin: Marriott International announced two anticipated lifestyle hotel openings in Austin, the dual-branded AC Hotel Austin and The Otis Hotel, an Autograph Collection hotel. Developed by White Lodging, the dual-branded complex is set to open its doors in Q4 2019. The two hotels will bring 347 rooms to the city. White Lodging is also building a 613-room Marriott in downtown Austin, adjacent to the city’s convention center.
More on Accor: AccorHotels plans to develop the SO/Havana Paseo del Prado, set to open in early 2020 in Havana, Cuba. It marks the first SO/ property in the Americas region; it will be located at the intersection of Paseo de Marti and Malecón, in the heart of Cuba’s capital.