Hyatt Centric for Shanghai: Hyatt Hotels Corp. has entered into a management agreement with Shanghai Xintian Real Estate Co. Ltd., a joint venture by Shanghai Industrial Urban Development Group Ltd., Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd., and Shanghai Minhang Urban Construction Investment Co., Ltd. for a Hyatt Centric hotel in the rising southwestern Shanghai. The 186-room hotel aims to open by 2024 as part of a 7.5 million-square-foot (700,000-square-meter) mixed-use development on top of the Xinzhuang Subway Station, comprised of residential units, serviced apartments, premium offices and a grand shopping mall..
State of Dorchester boycott in LA: Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz said he will ask the city to continue to boycott the Hotel Bel-Air and the Beverly Hills Hotel although the leader of Brunei said the country will not impose the death penalty on those convicted of having gay sex. “As long as homosexuality is still criminalized in the country and women can be brutally whipped for adultery, it seems like his response is simply lip service to save the almighty dollar,” he said. On Sunday the sultan of Brunei said he would extend a moritorium on capital punishment and ratify the United Nations’ Convention Against Torture.
Vivanta for Jaipur: The Indian Hotels Company Ltd. has signed a management deal with with Kalpsagar Private Ltd. for a new Vivanta hotel in Jaipur’s Jawahar Circle. It marks the group’s seventh hotel in Jaipur. The Greenfield project will comprise 200 rooms as is slated to open in early 2023.
Freshly minted: Mint House, a technology-enabled hospitality company for the business traveler, has announced a Series A investment of US$15 million led by Revolution Ventures, a Washington, D.C.-based early-stage venture fund with participation from Tom Mangas, the former CEO of Starwood Hotels; Carl Sparks, the former CEO of Travelocity; Kerry Hatch, the former president of St. Regis Hotels; and Rob Stewart, the executive vice chairman of JBG Smith. Mint House’s aim is to differentiate itself from hotels and short-term rentals by providing apartment-style accommodations with the brand consistency of top tier hotels. It is targeting markets outside of New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles in locations not covered as widely by hotel chains. Mint House properties are currently located in Indianapolis, Denver, Nashville, Miami and Detroit, with plans for San Diego and Minneapolis in the future.
AJ volunteers: AJ Capital Partners has acquired the Hilton Garden Inn across from the University of Tennessee. The hotel will operate independently as The Volunteer Hotel prior to and during renovations, which will begin in December 2019. Once complete in spring 2020, the 112-key hotel will debut as Graduate Knoxville. Saloon 16, opening in partnership with University of Tennessee graduate and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, will bring a western-inspired, high-end watering hole to Graduate Knoxville.
Choice reports: Choice Hotels International reported Q1 2019 earning on Thursday with EBITDA of US$72.4 million, ahead of the US$70.9 million consensus. Earnings per share of US$0.84 also beat consensus of US$0.75. However, domestic RevPAR was -0.7% versus unchanged guidance. Choice cited the impact of the Comfort transformation, the government shutdown, and tough y/y hurricane comps. The stronger performance came from the Cambria brand, which showed 3.6% RevPAR growth. Domestic RevPAR guidance was lowered to +0-1% from +0.5-2%.
Enabling working moms: Hilton has announced a partnership with Milk Stork, enabling Hilton team members to ship or carry breast milk home to their babies while traveling for work. As part of a robust program of family-friendly benefits, the partnership underscores Hilton’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all, including working parents. Starting in June, all U.S. Hilton Team Members will be able to access Milk Stork at no cost while on business travel in the United States – alleviating what can be a stressful component of navigating career and family.
Minor supports industry education: Minor Hotels, Bangkok, has established the Asian Institute of Hospitality Management in academic association with Les Roches Global Hospitality Education. It is set to launch in September 2020, with campuses in Bangkok and Chonburi in Thailand and will offer certificates, diplomas and bachelor degrees in hospitality management in academic association with Les Roches.
Santa Monica hotel fined: Sunshine Enterprises, developers of the Shore hotel in Santa Monica, California, was hit Wednesday with a US$15.58 million fine for constructing a luxury hotel after initially obtaining a permit for a property with moderately priced rooms. State officials called it a “bait-and-switch” building scheme. Commissioners unanimously approved the fine — the largest in the agency’s 40-year history — but decided not to immediately levy an additional, staff-recommended US$5.9 million in mitigation fees linked to approval of a new permit. Sunshine Enterprises had said in a Tuesday statement that it will pay all penalties and work with the commission to reach “full resolution of this matter.”