TSA records highest passenger screenings: U.S. TSA officers screened 1,357,111 people at airports on Friday, marking the highest number of passengers on a single day since March 15, 2020. Air travel in the United States hit a low point on April 14, 2020, with only 87,500 passengers going through TSA checkpoints. Travel for 2020 was down more than 60% from the previous year to 324 million passengers, according to the TSA.
Marriott board names new directors: Marriott International’s Board of Directors has elected David Marriott, Marriott’s president, U.S. full service managed by Marriott, and Horacio Rozanski, president and chief executive officer at Booz Allen Hamilton, as directors of the company, effective March 15. The elections of the two expand the board’s membership to 13, nine of whom are independent. With David Marriott joining the board and in anticipation of him eventually assuming the position of Chairman of the Board in 2022 when J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. transitions to the role of Chairman Emeritus, he will be formally stepping down from his current role at the end of April.
UK extends ban on evicting commercial tenants: UK commercial and residential tenants who miss rent payments due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic are to be protected from eviction for at least another three months. The necessary legislation for England, Wales and Northern Ireland is included in the Coronavirus Act. In Scotland, the necessary legislation is included in the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act.
Torquay golf resort sells for US$10M: Former Morgan Stanley investment banker Jack Dahan has acquired the Sands golf resort in Torquay on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula for AUD$12.8 million (US$10 million), paying just over half what it changed hands for four years ago. The resort, originally developed by Rupert Murdoch’s nephew, Paddy Handbury, includes an 18-hole championship golf course, plus a 112-room upmarket hotel previously operated under Accor’s Peppers brand. Having temporarily closed in the pandemic, the resort was put up for sale last August. The new owner is a company solely directed and owned by Dahan, who heads up a number of investment and advisory firms, including Fielding Hill, a small family office and advisory firm Hennessey Capital Partners.
Hyatt’s 1,000th opening: Hyatt Hotels Corp. has officially opened the Alila Napa Valley in St. Helena, California, the company’s 1,000th property globally. Highlights for planned hotels in 2021 includ: the 152-room Alila Dalit Bay in Sabah, Malaysia; the 149-room Andaz Bali in Indonesia; the 219-room Park Hyatt Toronto; and the 400-room Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World New York, among others.
Bonvoy portfolio will see 70 hotels open in 2021: The Marriott Bonvoy portfolio will open this year the 200th Autograph Collection hotel, the 50th Tribute Portfolio hotel, and the anticipated opening of the 120th Luxury Collection hotel. All three Collection brands are expected to expand their global footprint to nearly 70 new locations in 2021, including 24 new market entries.