Hyatt's Standard Acquisition Adds Properties in Bangkok and Singapore

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has completed the acquisition of the brands and most of the affiliates of Standard International. This gives Hyatt the Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels brands. The 100% asset-light portfolio includes management, franchise and license contracts for 22 open hotels with approximately 2,000 rooms. The acquisition also includes more than 30 future projects with a signed agreement or letter of intent and new projects Hyatt says were sparked by the August announcement of the planned acquisition. New properties slated to open later this year include The Standard, Singapore; Bunkhouse's Hotel Saint Augustine in Houston, Texas; and The StandardX, Bangkok Phra Arthit. The acquisition includes a robust residential business with Standard Residences under development in Miami, Lisbon, Phuket, Hua Hin, Mexico City and Tulum as well as completed Bunkhouse Residences at Hotel Saint Cecilia, located in Austin, Texas.

Oxley Holding has entered into an agreement to divest a 30 percent stake in the to-be-built luxury hotel in Malaysia with sales expected to significantly improve its cash flow. Oxley Rising is the subsidiary that has signed an agreement to contribute up to 70% of the issued share capital of Artisan Hospitality, with the remainder to come from Kindway Express. Oxley Rising has agreed to sell for RM250 million to Artisan Hospitality a luxury hotel made up of 14 stories of hotel rooms and two of hotel facilities within the freehold integrated development in Kuala Lumpur called Oxley Towers KLCC. The hotel will have a floor area of about 24,284 square meters and is expected to be operational under the Langham brand before December 31, 2027. It is one of the two hotels to be developed as part of the Oxley Towers KLCC. Oxley Rising will be appointed by Artisan Hospitality to be in charge of the design, execution, completion and delivery of the architectural works, mechanical and electrical works and fit-out works for the hotel. Oxley Rising will be paid not exceeding RM200 million for the project costs.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group announced they were appointed to manage Pan Pacific Siam Bangkok, which will be converted from an office building located in the heart of the capital city. This follows Pacific Hotels signing of Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Bangkok in the Thong Lo district. Pan Pacific signed the agreement with Siam Motors Co. Ltd. for the Pan Pacific Siam Bangkok. The retrofitting and optimization of the office building will be completed by 2027. The entire façade of the building in the commercial district of Pathumwan will be redone. The 18-story hotel will offer 220 rooms and suites with city views ranging from 37 square meters to 163 square meters. Signature amenities will include a Pacific Club Lounge, a specialty restaurant and an all-day dining venue. An entire level will be dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga room, steam and sauna facilities, outdoor terrace and a swimming pool. Pan Pacific Siam Bangkok will also feature a state-of-the-art ballroom and versatile meeting spaces. Pan Pacific has close to 30 hotels, resorts and serviced suites across 22 cities in Thailand.

The Sira, a Luxury Collection & Spa, Lombok, is slated to open this coming November in North Lombok, Indonesia between the Mount Rinjani volcano and Gili Islands. The beachfront resort will be Marriott International's first luxury property on the island, located east of Bali. Lombok is part of the Lesser Sunda Island chain. The 60 key resort will feature luxurious suites, all with ocean views, and expansive beachfront and private garden-view villas with their own private pool and terrace. The top accommodations include the Presidential Suite and Beach House, each with panoramic ocean views and access to a personal butler. There will be multiple dining venues, 230 foot outdoor pool, rejuvenating spa, fitness center, meeting rooms and a 4,844 square foot beach venue.

CBRE Hotels will be spearheading the Expressions of Interest campaign for the Runaway Bay Motor Inn on the Gold Coast. After three decades of ownership, the Tasmanian family is parting ways with the only 40+ room motel on the Gold Coast. The Expressions of Interest process is set to close on October 31, 2024. The motel is situated near theme parks, medical facilities and other demand generators. It is situated on a 5,591 square meter freehold site and comprises 41 guest rooms, a manager's residence, reception and office space, a swimming pool, restaurant, bar and function area that is currently not operational along with guest laundry and parking for 55 vehicles.

Lemon Tree Hotels announced the signing of a new hotel at Gir in the state of Gujarat in India. The new hotel is slated to open in the financial year 2026 and will feature 74 rooms, a restaurant, meeting and banquet facilities, a swimming pool, spa and a fitness center. Lemon Tree Hotel, Sasan Gir will be approximately 60km from Keshod Airport, while Diu Airport and Hirasar Rajkot International Airport are 100km and 180km away, respectively. Lemon Tree previously signed an agreement for a hotel in the same area, an 80-room hotel set to open in 2030 with a restaurant, banquet hall, meeting room, swimming pool and a spa. Lemon Tree now has a portfolio of more than 180 hotels including 110 in operation and more than 70 in the pipeline in India and globally.

Club Mahindra, the flagship brand of Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, announced the expansion of their footprint in Mysuru by assuming complete management of the Club Mahindra Golden Landmark resort in Mysuru, Karnataka. Mahindra said this addition aligns with their strategic goal of doubling their room capacity to 10,000 by fiscal year 2030. Club Mahindra Golden Landmark Mysuru is spread over 7.5 acres and features 66 rooms, an all-day dining multi-cuisine restaurant, and gourmet dining options. Other amenities include a spa, gym and swimming pool as well as unique banqueting options with two lawns and a banquet hall.

Hong Kong actress Amy Yip made her first visit to Malaysia last week for the opening of her boutique hotel in Penang. Does anyone else find it strange that this is her hotel but until it opened she never even stepped foot in the country? Yip said she plans to open three more hotels in the state, and the reason she had not been there before is because of her fear of flying after going through a hurricane on a plane.

Leadership Changes

Frasers Hospitality announced the appointment of Chew Hang Song as Chief Operating Officer and Ian Loa as the Managing Director, Technology and Innovation, effective October 1. Chew succeeds Mark Chan who is retiring from his role after over four years with Frasers Hospitality. Chew will oversee the operational strategy and financial performance of Frasers Hospitality's portfolio of over 100 properties in more than 20 countries. He first joined Frasers in March 2019 as Deputy Country General Manager of China. His position was upgraded to the Cluster Head for North Asia before the promotion to COO. Loe will lead and execute Frasers' global IT infrastructure and transformation as well as the innovation strategy to enhance its capabilities and elevate the guest, resident and employee experience across its growing lodging portfolio. Prior to joining Frasers, Loe held leadership positions with several conglomerates, most recently serving as Chief Information Officer at DFI Retail Group.