Marriott Opens a Second St. Regis in Shanghai

Marriott International’s St. Regis Hotels & Resorts brand announced the opening of The St. Regis on the Bund, Shanghai. This is the brand’s 60th hotel on a global scale and the second in Shanghai. The luxury property is owned by Pacific Eagle Real Estate and is highlighted by offering guests a fresh perspective on signature rituals, the St. Regis Butler Service. The St. Regis has 192 guest rooms, including 13 suites ranging from 118 to 288 square meters, each offering residential-style accommodations with sweeping views of the Huangpu River and historic Bund area. F&B venues include the Celestial Court Chinese restaurant, The St. Regis Brasserie and The St. Regis Bar which includes the hotel’s interpretation of The St. Regis Bloody Mary. The Drawing Room is expected to open by the end of the year. The hotel also includes The St. Regis Spa, a fitness center and nearly 1,100 square meters of event space.

The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has reopened following an extensive refurbishment. The hotel is located in the central business district of Sydney, Australia and includes 436 guest rooms and suites with the most exclusive accommodation being The Wentworth Suites. Pivotal to the hotel’s transformation is a partnership with Sydney hospitality group, House Made Hospitality. There are four bars and restaurant created within the luxury hotel from the partnership. Finally, the hotel includes over 15 event and conference spaces for business travelers including the magnificent Wentworth Ballroom that has hosted some of the city’s most legendary events.

Bitexco Group officially transferred its stakes in Saigon Glory, the developer of the One Central HCM project situated on the Ben Thanh quadrangle, to a real estate company in Hanoi at the beginning of October. The 8,600 square meter complex was designed to consist of two towers with one set to feature 55 floors for offices and hotels. The other tower was projected to have 48 stories for apartments and hotels. The real estate developer which acquired Saigon Glory was identified as Eastern Hanoi Real Estate Company.

BIM Group has inaugurated their second international branded hotel in Laos. The Holiday Inn & Suites Vientiane is located in the heart of Vientiane’s Chanthabouly district. The Holiday Inn & Suites is part of a 5-star hotel complex project which includes a commercial center and a Class A-office jointly invested by BIM Group and the Lao Ministry of Public Security. The project plays an important role and position in the cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. The project has a total investment of US$90.75 million of which Phase 1 was put into operation in 2017, including the 5-star Crowne Plaza Vientiane hotel and an office block. Phase 2 includes the Holiday Inn & Suites Vientiane hotel, expanded convention center, and a class A office-commercial complex. The 10-story Holiday Inn offers 273 rooms including 203 standard rooms and 64 luxury suites. There is a conference center with a total area of 3,000 square meters, European and Asian restaurants, an international standard fitness center, commercial complex with a shopping area, food court, and class A office. The hotel marks the sixth project in Vietnam and Laos that BIM Group has cooperated with IHG Hotels & Resorts Group.

The Macau SAR government has terminated the land lease for the almost 15,000 square meter land plot where the Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel is located. That hotel closed in 2016. The 500-room property first opened as the 5-star New Century Hotel in 1992, later renamed as Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel in 2013. Its Greek Mythology Casino was first shut down by gaming regulators in 2015 with the Macau Government Tourism Officer ordering a temporary closure of the hotel in 2016 due to serious administrative irregularities and illegal reconstructions. The hotel’s license was revoked in 2017.

Royal Orchid Hotels Limited is looking to accelerate its expansion into the 5-star space with the launch of the 300-key Mumbai, India hotel under the new branding – Iconiqa. Once opened, Royal Orchid Hotels plans to rebrand all its existing operational 5-star properties into Iconiqa, in a phased manner. Royal Orchid also is looking to enter into a new segment of “smart and young” hotel space soon with a new brand – Crestoria. They have two Crestoria hotels currently under development. The hotel company has added 32 new properties in the last 18 months and has a pipeline of 30 hotels that will join the portfolio in the next year.

Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of its newest property in Rishikesh in India. The hotel is nestled in a prime location of Upper Tapovan on the Badrinath Highway and features 37 rooms. Guests to the hotel can select from a variety of premium amenities including a multi-cuisine restaurant, a coffee shop, and a swimming pool. The hotel also offers a luxurious spa, indoor games for children, banquet spaces, and conference facilities.

Lemon Tree Hotels announced the signing of a new property in Karnataka in India, the Lemon Tree Hotel in Kalaburagi. The upcoming hotel will be managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited, a subsidiary of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited. The Lemon Tree Hotel in Kalaburagi is scheduled to open in the financial year 2027 with 72 rooms along with a range of amenities such as a restaurant, bar, banquet hall, meeting room, swimming pool, fitness center, and a spa. The property will be located 14 kilometers away from Kalaburagi Airport.

Indian Hotels Company Limited said they expanded their portfolio with the signing of a new resort in Paryagraj in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The greenfield project will operate under the Gateway brand, marking a partnership with Ecavo Hospitality. The 150 key Gateway Prayagraj hotel will offer an all-day restaurant, a bar, and a specialty restaurant. Other amenities include a gym, swimming pool, spa, and banqueting space covering more than 5,000 square feet. IHCL said the signing aligns with their strategy of penetrating emerging markets in Tier II and III cities. This comes on the heels of IHCL’s signing of a domestic 160-room, Taj-branded hotel in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, in collaboration with Arnaytive Resorts.