Sonder considers going public: San Francisco-based Sonder, which leases apartments and turns them into furnished, short-term rentals, is in talks to go public by merging with one of Alec Gore and Dean Metropoulos’ blank-check firms, Bloomberg News reported. Sonder recently closed a Series E funding round that valued it at US$1.3 billion. If the merger with Gores Metropoulos II goes through, the company’s valuation could exceed US$2.5 billion, according to the report.
Four Seasons plans first Israel hotel in Jaffa: The international chain’s first Israeli hotel will be in the city of Jaffa. Israel Canada Group and the U.S. diamond business family Basal, represented by Silverstein Properties, are developing the hotel. This week the Tel Aviv Local Planning and Building Committee approved the plan, which involves three 35-45-floor towers including apartments and commercial areas as well as the Four Seasons hotel. The plan must now be approved by the Tel Aviv District Planning and Building Committee.
HFZ sues former partner: HFZ Capital Group’s Ziel Feldman is suing his former business partner, Nir Meir, alleging he fraudulently diverted company funds to himself through credit card reimbursements and wire transfers. New York City-based HFZ owns hotels such as Miami Beach’s Shore Club. Feldman alleges that Meir transferred US$5M from an HFZ bank account to himself between 2017 and 2020 and took more than US$11M in illegitimate credit card reimbursements for money spent on wine. Further, Feldman says Meir illegally took ownership of a US$45M home in the Hamptons that belongs to HFZ by forging documents.
Deutsche’s Steigenberger Icons: Frankfurt, Germany-based Deutsche Hospitality is uniting its flagship hotels under a new umbrella brand, Steigenberger Icons. It will be used in the future to position more luxury-end Steigenberger properties. The first hotels to be designated as Steigenberger Icons will be the Steigenberger Grandhotel & Spa Petersberg, the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof, the Steigenberger Parkhotel Düsseldorf, the Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvédère Davos, the Steigenberger Wiltcher’s in Brussels and the Steigenberger Grandhotel Handelshof Leipzig. Deutsche also plans to use the brand to further its growth in Asia together with its shareholder Huazhu, which plans to use Steigenberger Icons as a vehicle to move into the luxury hotel segment within the Asian market.
Bob W raises US$12M: Helsinki-based Bob W hotels has secured €10 million (US$12 million) seed funding. The first raising of the seed round of €4 million (US$4.7 million) last year was extended, and an additional €6 million (US$7.1 million) majority equity was raised. The funds will mainly be invested in developing their full-stack tech platform, growing the team and expanding in existing and new markets across Europe. The investment round was led by Founders VC and private equity outfit Finnish Industry Investment (Tesi). Other top European real estate and venture capitalist investors include Kaamos, Superangel, United Angels and NREP through its 2150 investment wing, which just launched with €200 million (US$238 million) to back sustainable urban technologies.
Santikos and Airotel launch new management company: Two Athens, Greece-based companies, Santikos Collection and Airotel Group, have launched a new hotel management company in Greece. “Capital H” will offer specialized services across all facets of the upscale hotel, resort and private club industry, appealing to business owners “who are looking for leaner and innovational forms of hotel management to serve their needs.” Capital H launches with 11 hotels, which include the signature properties of Santikos Collection and Airotel Group.
Prominent English hotelier murdered: A man arrested on suspicion of murder after one of the UK’s richest men – Sir Richard Sutton, 83, was found stabbed to death – remains in hospital with injuries, police said. A woman, in her 60s and believed to be his wife, was also stabbed and remains in a critical condition. Sir Richard owned several top hotels, including the freehold of the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane and the Athenaeum Hotel in Mayfair, and had a large property and farming portfolio.
The English can eye foreign travel: Amid criticism from the travel industry, people in England can start thinking about booking foreign holidays again this summer, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said, adding that the cost of the required COVID tests needed to be driven down. Shapps also gave more detail on the traffic light system which will see countries graded on their risk. Passengers will have to take the tests before leaving and on returning, even from low-risk “green” countries.
Laid-off workers protest hotelier’s loans: Dozens of laid-off hospitality workers in Los Angeles have filed a complaint, as well protested outside the Four Points by Sheraton LAX. Workers demand the U.S Small Business Administration conduct a full investigation of the US$4.4 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans approved for the hotel as owner Rui Gao permanently closed the hotel on February 5, only one week after being approved for its second loan.