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1. IHG buys Ruby Hotels brand for €110.5 million
Hotel brand Ruby Hotels is joining IHG Hotels & Resorts' brand portfolio after IHG announced the acquisition of the brand's parent company, Munich-based Ruby GmbH, for €110.5 million, HNN's Terence Baker reports.
The 12-year-old brand has 20 hotels with 3,483 rooms across major European markets and another 10 hotels with 2,235 rooms in the pipeline, according to the news release.
IHG announced the deal in conjunction with its fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 earnings report, during which CEO Elie Maalouf expressed confidence for 2025 and reported a 10% increase in profits for the previous year.
“I believe 2025 in the U.S. can be as good or better than 2024. If you look at the fundamentals that drive U.S. travel … another good year for [revenue per available room] growth [is] there,” he said.
2. Accor exec foresees strong 2025, powered in part by Indian travelers
Jean-Jacques Morin, Accor's group deputy CEO and head of the premium, midscale and economy division, believes all the signs are showing 2025 could be an extremely strong year with powerful tailwinds to international travel, and he's particularly optimistic about the trajectory of international travelers from India.
Speaking with HNN at the 2025 Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Morin noted the trend with Indian travel is the result of a years-long transformation.
"I think what's happening with India is the potential, to some extent, was always there in terms of the demographic," he said. "What's changing is that now you've got the infrastructure in order to make it happen. India, in last year, has spent 3.5% of their GDP just creating ... airports. There was about 1,000 planes that were purchased in 2023."
In other Accor related news, investment groups affiliated with AccorInvest have announced a series of deals to sell five Novotel Suites hotels to London-based private equity firm Henderson Park.
3. Investor sentiment souring for 2025
The latest survey from the American Association of Individual Investors shows bearishness has hit its highest levels since late 2023 amid "trade-war threats, regulatory upheaval, stubborn inflation and the dwindling expectations for additional interest-rate cuts," the Wall Street Journal Reports.
Experts say a sense of uncertainty pervades the market, but increased pessimism can open opportunities for contrarian investors.
“The mood is confused. They don’t know which policies are going to stick and which ones aren’t,” said Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research. “It isn’t necessarily bearish, it is just not bullish.”
4. 18 injured in overturned plane landing in Toronto
A Monday flight from Minneapolis took a dangerous turn Monday when the Delta jet flipped upside and burst into flame moments after wheels touched down at Toronto Pearson International Airport, the New York Times reports. Of the 80 people on board, 18 were injured but no deaths were reported.
The cause of the crash has not yet been released, although it's likely related to windy and snowy conditions at the time of landing. Experts say it's likely to cause further delays at Canada's busiest airport during a stretch of winter storms.
“Everyone on that plane suddenly became very close in terms of how to help one another, how to console one another,” said Pete Carlson, one of the passengers. “That was powerful.”
5. Indian hotel company inks deal to open Wyndham hotels in India, UK, United Arab Emirates
India-based Signum Hotels & Resorts has announced a deal with Wyndham Hotel & Resorts to open and operate roughly 5,000 rooms across India, the U.K. and the United Arab Emirates under Wyndham's Trademark Collection, HNN's Terence Baker reports.
In a news release announcing the deal, Signum founder and CEO Mehul Sharma said the partnership “marks a significant milestone for Signum as we take a major step forward in strengthening our presence across India, the U.K., and the UAE. … This collaboration further solidifies our commitment to expanding our footprint and delivering exceptional hospitality experiences.”
Signum has 12 hotels in India, 50 serviced apartments in the UAE and more than 850 serviced apartments in 39 UK destinations.