Hotel News Now each week features a news roundup from a different region of the world. Today’s compilation covers Europe.
May hotel performance
The European hotel industry posted mostly positive results in year-over-year metrics when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for May 2013, according to data compiled by STR Global, sister company of Hotel News Now.
May hotel development pipeline
The Europe hotel development pipeline comprises 792 hotels totaling 131,038 rooms, according to the May 2013 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report. The total active pipeline data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages but does not include projects in the Pre-Planning stage.
Among the chain-scale segments, the upscale segment made up the largest portion of rooms in the total active pipeline with 23.2% and 30,417 rooms. Three other segments each accounted for 15% or more of rooms in the total active pipeline: the unaffiliated segment (21.9% to 28,730); the upper-midscale segment (18.5% with 24,260 rooms); and the upper-upscale segment (15.1% with 19,813 rooms).
Accor’s new vision for Mercure
The Paris-based hotel company announced an ambitious road map for the midscale Mercure brand. The primary goals include: continuing to roll out the Dedicaces renovation concept, which launched in 2011; global quality guarantee to ensure consistency throughout the portfolio; and a new brand logo. The company also aims to ramp up development, with a target of 1,000 hotels within five years. There are more than 700 Mercure hotels in operation at present.
Warimpex sells a 5-star
Warimpex Finanz- und Beteiligungs AG sold the 5-star Palace Hotel in Prague to a Czech investor. The transaction closed earlier this week, and the parties agreed that the purchase price would not be disclosed. The 124-room Palace Hotel was run by Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG (VI). The new owner will now be taking over operations.
Luxury Collection reopens a Parisian gem
The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts reopened the Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris, following a two-year restoration. The restoration, which has brought the hotel back to its original Art Deco style, is part of a larger strategy to invest more than $200 million in some of Starwood’s most celebrated Luxury Collection hotels throughout Europe: Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville and Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, which reopened in 2012, and most recently, The Gritti Palace in Venice, which was unveiled in February 2013.
Park Inn rolling in Russia
The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group strengthened its portfolio in Russia's regional cities with the signing of a new Park Inn by Radisson in Nizhny Tagil. The mid-market property will be the first globally branded hotel in the industrial city. The Park Inn will include 135 guestrooms, an all-day dining restaurant plus an adjoining terrace, a lobby bar, a 375-square-meter (4,036-square-feet) ballroom and 10 meeting rooms.
DoubleTree sprouts in Dundee ...
Hilton Worldwide opened the DoubleTree by Hilton Dundee in Scotland. In partnership with Redefine BDL, the former Landmark Hotel completed its £1-million ($1.5-million) refurbishment to become the upscale brand's third Scottish property and its 21st across the United Kingdom.
… and Macedonia
Hilton Worldwide's expanding presence in South Eastern Europe will see it enter Macedonia with the signing of a franchise agreement with Ajdovan Ademoski to open the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton Skopje. The hotel is expected to open in early 2016 and joins further properties under development in the region in Croatia and Montenegro.
Hilton drives stake in heart of Transylvania
Hilton will soon open its first Hampton by Hilton in Romania. Located in Cluj-Napoca, a popular tourism destination, the new-build, 109-room hotel makes for a superb base from which to explore the region made famous by Bram Stoker's Count Dracula.
IHG carves out another serving in Turkey
InterContinental Hotels Group announced the signing of the Holiday Inn Express Manisa—West Turkey. The 102-room property, scheduled to open in early 2014, will operate under a franchise agreement with Procons Turizm and be managed by T&T Consulting, who currently manages the Holiday Inn Express Istanbul--Altnizade.
A Holiday in Madrid
Holiday Inn Madrid–Las Tablas is due to open at the beginning of the third quarter this year. The property will operate under a franchise agreement with Gestion T3 Hotels, which operates four other IHG hotels in Spain. The 133-room hotel is a conversion from an existing hotel.
IHG increases footprint in the UK
IHG continues to grow its presence in the U.K. with the signing of three new hotels: Holiday Inn Huntingdon–Racecourse in Cambridgeshire; Holiday Inn Glasgow Green in Scotland; and Holiday Inn–Watford Junction in Hertfordshire. The first of the three to open will be Holiday Inn Huntingdon–Racecourse, a 98-room new build due to open its doors in the third quarter three of 2013. The hotel will operate under a franchise agreement with HP Hotels Limited, which also owns Holiday Inn Express Nuneaton. In 2014, a franchise agreement with Nine Hospitality will see Holiday Inn–Watford Junction open, followed by the opening of Holiday Inn Glasgow Green under franchise with VDL Management. All three hotels will feature Holiday Inn’s new open lobby concept, providing guests with an open area to relax, have a coffee or host an informal business meeting.
Wyndham winds up second hotel in Turkey
Wyndham Hotel Group opened the newly constructed, 307-room Wyndham Istanbul Petek, the second upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts property to open in Turkey in just six months. The opening of Wyndham Istanbul Petek adds to Wyndham Hotel Group’s growing presence in Turkey, becoming the 20th property in the country to fly a Wyndham Hotel Group brand flag.