IHG Signs Deal for First Kashmir Hotel

The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is partaking in Landmark’s transformative project ‘Tomorrow’s Central’. Guests will have convenient access to 10 world-class luxury Maison destinations, over 200 additional exceptional retail experiences and more than 100 gastronomic offerings. The hotel’s refurbishment is scheduled to begin in November 2024 but the hotel will continue to operate its seven Michelin stars on the seventh floor, namely the Amber and SOMM under Chef Richard Ekkebus, plus the Sushi Shikon and Kappo Rin. Two new dining and bar concepts will be reintroduced. The guestrooms and suites are going to be artfully refreshed to complement the overall elevated offerings, while The Oriental Spa will have new and revitalizing facilities. Hong Kong designer Joyce Wang was appointed to oversee the design phase. All this is being done ahead of next year’s celebration of the hotel hitting its 20th anniversary. The hotel is owned by Hongkong Land.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced they signed a management agreement with Geeland Residency for voco Srinagar, which will be IHG’s first hotel in Kashmir. The hotel is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026 and marks the sixth voco hotel being developed in India. The voco Srinagar will be located in the upmarket commercial area of the city, within a two hour driving distance from Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg. The hotel will feature 95 rooms, diverse dining options including all-day dining and a pool deck and a fitness center pool. There will be options available for MICE. IHG currently has 45 hotels operating across five brands in India with a pipeline of 50 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years.

Grand Hyatt Singapore, located along Scotts Road in the prime Orchard Road area, is set to reopen on July 10 following the completion of the first phase of a multi-year transformation. The hotel closed for renovations in September 2022 and will be reopened now in stages, beginning with the revamped Terrace Wing, fitness center and pool, local cuisine restaurant Straits Kitchen and Brix bar. The hotel offers 292 rooms starting from 452 square feet and includes three presidential suites spanning around 2,713 square feet. Poolside restaurant Oasis will reopen in August followed by Pete’s Place. In October, the hotel will launch Le Pristine Singapore, which replaces Mezza9 along with a refreshed Martini Bar. The hotel’s Grand Wing remains closed for refurbishment and is slated to reopen in 2025. Upon completion, Grand Hyatt Singapore will offer a total of 699 rooms and other facilities, including a wellness hub and a new Grand Club Lounge.

The Suasana Suites Johor Bahru has rebranded as Shama Suasana Johor Bahru, unveiling a new chapter. This introduces the Shama brand to Malaysia. The Shama Suasana Johor Bahru is strategically located adjacent to the Zenith Lifestyle Center and across KOMTAR JBCC and City Square Johor Bahru. The hotel features 87 elegantly designed suites equipped with modern amenities, spacious living areas, and fully equipped kitchenettes. A state-of-the-art fitness center and swimming pool round out the amenities. This is the second collaboration between ONYX Hospitality Group and UMLand, the hotel’s owner. Malaysia is now the first country outside of Thailand to host all three ONXY brands: Amari, OZO and Shama.

Marriott International and Ideal Property Group will team up to open the second Marriott brand hotel and residences in Penang by 2029, namely the Penang Marriott Hotel Queens Waterfront and Marriott Residences Queens Waterfront in Bayan Lepas. Ideal Property Group will be the developer, while Marriott International will be the operator. The first Marriott brand to open its doors on the Malaysian island was the Penang Marriott Hotel which opened in April while the Penang Marriott Executive Apartments will open later this year. The Penang Marriott Hotel Queens Waterfront and Marriott Residences Queens Waterfront are part of Phase 4 in the Queens Waterfront master plan. The 28-story hotel will offer 262 hotel rooms, while the 19-story branded residences will provide 228 residential units.

South Korea’s foreigner-only casino operator Paradise Group said they will develop a new all-suite flagship hotel in Seoul as part of a revamped strategy to attract more international high rollers to its properties. Paradise Group’s new strategy is called “Beyond No. 1, Paradise Value Up Project. The company will place a particular focus on Chinese tourists as they expect that market to continue its recovery in the months and years ahead. The new Seoul hotel will not open until 2028 and will stand 18 floors high, span 13,950 square meters with around 200 suites and offer premium services for foreign VIPs, luxurious Korean-style cuisine and wellness amenities. Paradise will have a new gaming space designed specifically for high rollers, spanning 383 square meters at the company’s Seoul casino, Paradise Walkerhill, slated to open in December. Its four casinos in Seoul, Incheon, Busan and Jeju will become better aligned by integrating their operating systems to optimize marketing efforts. Paradise has nothing to lose but more money considering nothing else has worked to make their casinos successful.

The Erawan Group is expanding beyond its luxury roots in Thailand by doubling down on budget accommodation. The company has earmarked 10 billion baht (US$272 million) over the next six years to expand its Hop Inn chain to 150 hotels across Asia Pacific from 59. The group is targeting a fourfold rise in revenue from its budget segment, which currently makes up 12% of group sales, by 2030.

Caravan Hotel, managed by Elite Hospitality & Management, is located in the Daun Penh District of Cambodia. It offers 93 rooms and suites and is set to become a premier destination for travelers. Amenities include meeting rooms, a lounge, spa, gym, skybar and rooftop pool.

Personnel Moves

H World Group Limited said Mr. Shangzhi Zhang will step down as a Director and serve as an Observer of the Board of Directors effective July 2, 2024. Ms. Jie Zheng, a Senior Advisor to the company and a Supervisory Board Member of Steigenberger Hotels GmbH, a subsidiary of the company, will serve as an Executive Director of the Board, effective on the same date.