Fatt dies: Industry leader Bill Fatt has died after a long battle with ALS, according to the Avington Monitor. Fatt joined CP Hotels as CEO in the mid 1990’s from his role as CFO at parent company CP Ltd. He was instrumental in transforming CP Hotels from a regional railway hotel company to the NYSE-listed, global luxury hotel group Fairmont Raffles International, which was ultimately acquired by Accor in 2015. Through a series of strategic acquisitions (Princess Hotels, Delta Hotels, Fairmont Hotels and a merger with Raffles/Swissotel), Fatt helped create a Canadian-based leader in the luxury hotel industry. Avington said through his calm and steady leadership, he was a mentor and inspiration to many of today’s senior executives in the industry.
Dubai’s fractional plan: The Dubai Land Department is set to implement a “fractional title deed” concept across the emirate in a bid to attract small investors to the hotel apartment segment. (A fractional title deed refers to the division of the same unit into two or four fractional shares, each having its own title deed that may be sold, mortgaged, or transferred as would any other property.) The new initiative is aimed at attracting investment into hotel or serviced apartment projects in Dubai.
Expedia expands optimized distribution: Expedia Group has rolled out its optimized distribution program for all medium to large-size lodging partners, expanding a program which initially launched with Marriott in fall 2019. Optimized distribution gives lodging partners access to new areas of B2B demand, as well as increased control of B2B rates, availability and content.
Founder of UNLV’s hotel school dies: Dr. Jerry Vallen, the founder of University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s hotel school, died Thursday in Philadelphia at 91, surrounded by family at his daughter’s house. An article on the university’s website describes Vallen’s role in founding the college 53 years ago. Vallen was ultimately dean of the Hotel College from 1967 until 1989.
El Nido Beach Spa & Resort: London-based Pavilions Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of El Nido Beach Spa & Resort in Palawan island, Philippines. The 96-key pool-villa luxury resort will have a mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom luxury villas, as well as 20 “Maldivian styled” over-water villas, each with their own private plunge pool and direct access to the ocean where guests will be able to snorkel the house reef from their own villa. The development is set to be built with minimal environmental impact and sustainability in mind, with an opening planned for Q1 2022.