Kempinski extends CEO: The supervisory board of Geneva-based luxury hotel company Kempinski Group has extended early the mandate of Bernold Schroeder as chairman of the management board and confirmed his role as chief executive officer. Schroeder has been leading the group since December 2020 when previous CEO Martin Smura was abruptly dismissed. Schroeder joined Kempinski in 2017 as vice chairman of the Management Board and chief operating officer Europe. “We are convinced that he will drive the company’s future success based on his close relationships with hotel owners as well as his proven capability of adding substantial asset and shareholder value,” said His Excellency Abdulla H. Saif, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Kempinski AG. “The Supervisory Board is pleased that he has agreed to continue leading Europe’s pioneering independent luxury hotelier into the future and fully supports his strategic agenda.”
Radisson doubles Makkah portfolio: Radisson Hotel Group has signed three hotels in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, inside the Thakher Makkah urban development megaproject. With 992 rooms and apartments, the three properties will double the group’s portfolio in the city. The Park Inn by Radisson Makkah Thakher City Tower West, the Park Inn by Radisson Makkah Thakher City Tower East and the Radisson Hotel Makkah Thakher City are slated to open in Q4 2022. The Thakher Makkah megaproject, expected to open in Q4 2022, is a mixed-se development consisting of residential, retail units and hotels.
USTA opposes vaccine mandate: U.S. Travel Association (USTA) opposed to the recent comments made by Anthony Fauci, White House Chief Medical Advisor to the President, in support of a vaccine mandate for domestic air travel. Fauci’s support for a travel vaccine mandate comes after the introduction of a bill that calls for all airline and train passengers to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to be eligible to travel. In a statement, USTA Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes said a mandatory vaccination requirement for domestic travel would have an unfair and negative impact on families with young children who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine. Advocating the use of masks during all forms of public transportation, Barnes said: “While U.S. Travel does not endorse a national vaccine mandate, we continue to believe that vaccines are the fastest path back to normalcy for all.”
Global airline capacity improves: Global airline capacity rose slightly in capacity to 79 million, driven by increases in capacity in North East Asia. It is unlikely, however, for the level to exceed 80 million as airline companies adjust their schedules. Total capacity to the year’s end rose 15% to 3.7 billion seats, as compared to 3.2 billion scheduled in 2020. However, compared to 2019, the figures dropped 36%. Airlines have been gradually recovering from the crisis, with 699 scheduled airlines operating compared to 715 at the beginning of the pandemic.
Friedman acquires The Graham Hotel: Friedman Capital, Washington D.C., has acquired The Graham Hotel in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., at what it said is the same price it was originally sold for. Legacy Hotel Group had bought the property in 2016 for US$37 million before selling to Friedman. Friedman Capital and Anasazi group, its management arm, will serve as the hotel’s owner, operator and manager. This acquisition comes close on the heels of the reopening of the Glover Park Hotel in Georgetown, the newest addition to Friedman’s portfolio of historic properties, after new management and capital improvements.
Dusit adds to management portfolio: Dusit International, Bangkok, which is represented in China by Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts, has signed a management deal with Chuxiong Rongda Real Estate Development Co. to operate the 275-room dusitD2 Chuxiong, Yunnan, in southwest China’s Chuxiong City. This will be the first internationally branded hotel in the city and is expected to open in Q2 2023. Dusit’s portfolio currently consists of more than 300 properties operating under six brands in 17 countries. The company operates 10 hotels in China and has more than 20 properties in the pipeline.
Apple Hospitality’s acquisition in Portland: Apple Hospitality REIT has acquired the newly-built 157-key Aloft Hotel in downtown Portland, Maine, for US$51.2 million (approximately US$326,000 per key). After this acquisition, Apple Hospitality’s portfolio consists of 215 hotels with approximately 28,100 rooms located in 85 markets across 35 states. The company’s portfolio comprises 94 Marriott-branded hotels, 115 Hilton-branded hotels, four Hyatt-branded hotels and two independent hotels.
Sandpiper adds to management portfolio: Sandpiper Hospitality, Richmond, Virginia, announced it will be managing four new hotels in Texas under development — AmericInn by Wyndham at San Angelo, La Quinta/Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham at Pflugerville, La Quinta/Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham at Del Rio and La Quinta/Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham at Austin/ Tech Center. Three of the four properties will be the first new builds for Wyndham’s La Quinta and Hawthorne Suites dual-branded concept that caters to both long and short-term guests. All the hotels are expected to open by 2023. Sandpiper currently has a portfolio of 54 hotels open or under contract across 13 states.
New travel marketing collective: Integrated marketing firm MMGY Global has launched the MMGY Global Travel Marketing Collective, a global alliance of locally-based marketing agencies focusing on travel, tourism and hospitality. The collective aims to bring specialist agencies to deliver a range of marketing services tailored to clients’ budget and needs. The collective is an evolution of marketing agency network, Travel Consul. Partners in the alliance include AIGO, Alchemia Communications Group, BrandStory, Buzz Travel Marketing, GTI Tourism, Interamerican Network, Lieb Management, PacRim Marketing Group, Related, TMI Consultancy, Travel Advance and Two Tone Global.