London’s DoubleTree Docklands Hotel Sold

Hong Kong-based investment firm Junson Capital has reportedly purchased the DoubleTree by Hilton London – Docklands Riverside from private equity company HIG for a rumoured £80 million (£210,600 per room). The deal marks Junson’s first hotel transaction in the UK. The 378-room hotel, which is housed in a former 17th-century wharf building on the River Thames, opened as the 11th DoubleTree property in the UK capital in summer 2015 following a multimillion pound renovation. Hilton Worldwide will continue to manage the hotel, which used to operate as a Hilton. HVS London was pleased to have advised Barclays Bank on this transaction.

THINC You’d Like to Know More about Africa’s Burgeoning Tourism and Hotel Investment Scene?

Then come along to the inaugural THINC Africa conference, which is due to take place next week in Cape Town, South Africa. The event will run over 6 and 7 September at the Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, Cape Town and a total of 19 countries will be represented. Amongst the keynote speakers will be the Shadow Minister of Tourism for South Africa, James Vos, who will be speaking about the role of government in promoting tourism, and Russell Kett, HVS London’s chairman, will be conducting an interview with Mark Satterfield, Marriott International’s chief operating officer for the Middle East and Africa region. Please contact Tim Smith, managing partner at HVS Cape Town, at [email protected] to book or to register your interest for next year’s event.

Hilton Expands into Ibiza with its Curio Collection

Hilton Worldwide has made its debut on Ibiza, the third largest of the Spanish Balearic islands, with the opening of the Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza, Curio Collection by Hilton. The 33-room hotel originally opened in 1933 as the first purpose-built hotel on the island. Located in Ibiza Old Town, the property underwent a refurbishment and restoration before it became part of Hilton’s Curio Collection.

London’s Autograph Collection Goes from Duo to Trio

The Hotel Xenia in South Kensington has become the third hotel in London to join Marriott International’s Autograph Collection. The 99-room hotel, in the west of the city, is housed in a Victorian building close to some of London’s most iconic tourist attractions, including the Victoria and Albert, Science and Natural History museums. “The portfolio continues to grow in Europe, and we believe that Hotel Xenia is a powerful addition as it truly embodies the philosophy of the collection, ensuring the brand’s offering continues to be exactly like nothing else,” said John Licence, the brand leader for Autograph Collection Hotels in Europe.

First and Foremost in Frankfurt

Berlin-based Foremost Hospitality Group is continuing its expansion across Germany with the opening of its first Hilton Garden Inn property. The 167-room Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt City Centre is scheduled to open in 2017 close to Frankfurt’s main train station and the city’s financial district. Foremost currently operates 20 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels and ten Hampton by Hiltons across Germany.

Travelodge Takes a Trip to Poole

Budget brand Travelodge has opened its first hotel in the seaside town of Poole, on England’s south coast. Some £9.5 million was invested in the 125-room Travelodge Poole, which has become the group’s sixth property in the county of Dorset.

A New Four Points Marks More Expansion for Starwood in Nigeria

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement for a new hotel in Nigeria. The 176-room Four Points Benin City, which is owned by Eagle Hospitality and Leisure Limited, will be developed at the heart of Benin City, in southern Nigeria, a five-minute drive from the airport. Starwood currently has five hotels in operation in Nigeria and now has a further four in its development pipeline. The group’s president for the EMEA region, Michael Wale, commented that the “Four Points by Sheraton Benin City will further consolidate our strong Nigeria portfolio, opening up yet another emerging destination for international travel”.

Al Ain-Based Ayla Planning African Resort

Ayla Hotels and Resorts has plans to expand outside of the UAE and make its debut in Africa with a property in Djibouti, in northeast Africa. The Ayla Djibouti Resort is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2017 and around US$24.5 million will be invested in the project. Alya currently has two hotels in operation in Al Ain (the 153-room Alya Hotel and the 90-room Ayla Bawadi Hotel) and a further property in its development pipeline for the emirate (the Ayla Grand Hotel), expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2016.

65 Hotel Puts Tel Aviv on the Map

Israeli boutique hotel chain Atlas Hotels has opened its ninth property in Tel Aviv and its 15th hotel in Israel overall. The latest addition to the group’s portfolio is the eight-storey, 74-room 65 Hotel, which is housed in a circular building on the corner of Rothschild Boulevard and Nahmani Street, in Tel Aviv city centre. HVS alumnus Michael Hay is responsible for Atlas Hotels' development.

GHM to Launch Tin Hotels

Luxury hotel operator Singapore-based GHM (General Hotel Management Ltd) has formed a joint venture partnership with Van De Bunt Partners to launch a new mid-market lifestyle brand, Tin Hotels. The brand is expected to open its first properties in Dubai and Oman and aims to expand in the Middle East to 35 properties by 2022. The Tin Hotels concept focuses on the travel trends and needs of millennials and the growing middle-class population. “We want to challenge the status quo and bring the pursuit of excellence and style to the mid-market tier. We will create hotels that are not merely places to stay, but function as venues to connect: as social hubs, design spaces or simply, places to be seen at,” said Hans R. Jenni, GHM’s co-founder and president.

DoubleTree to be Developed at Jumeirah Village Triangle

Hilton Worldwide has signed a Letter of Intent with developer Nakheel to manage a hotel within the Jumeirah Village Triangle development in Dubai. The 256-room, 18-storey hotel will be flagged under Hilton’s DoubleTree brand. Construction will begin in October and the hotel is expected to be completed in 2019.

Absolute Share Price Performance Over the Past Week – 25 August-1 September 2016

 

 

Disclaimer: Information provided above has been gathered from various market sources. HVS has not independently verified the accuracy of the information provided. Interested parties should not rely on the information as statement of facts and are advised to make their own independent checks to verify the information provided. For further information, please feel free to contact HVS London.