Hilton and Juniper Opening Bengaluru Properties

The band Coldplay is holding its Music of the Spheres concerts at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia, has hotels in Greater Sydney seeing a surge in bookings. Accor said booking demand across their Sydney hotels has risen by 18% (10.7 occupancy points) over the concert dates year over year. Accor said their hotels in Melbourne and Auckland have also experienced significant increases in bookings over Coldplay’s concert dates there.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of the InterContinental Phang-Nga Bay Resort in Samet Nangshe in Thailand. The hotel is expected to open in 2028 with a management agreement between IHG and first-time partner Plaipol Co., Ltd signed for the 150 key property. IHG already has 39 hotels open in the Kingdom, including 15 resort properties. The InterContinental Phang-Nga Bay Resort will be a 45-minute drive from Phuket International Airport and a 20-minute drive from the new Andaman Airport. It will feature 150 suites and private pool villas, and offer facilities including two restaurants and a bar, Club InterContinental lounge, meeting spaces for 200 people, a spa, fitness and resort center, swimming pool and a Kids Club.

The StandardX brand will debut The StandardX, Bangkok Phra Arthit in November. The hotel will have 62 guestrooms and two culinary concepts and is the second outpost of The Standard International brand following the launch of the StandardX brand in Melbourne, Australia’s Fitzroy neighborhood earlier this year. The StandardX, Bangkok Phra Arthit is nestled in the Thai capital’s old town on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The hotel acknowledges its location surrounded by a creative enclave brimming with cafes, bars, restaurants and a music scene housing 10 10 Art Space, showcasing visiting and permanent collections by local artists. The hotel is a collaboration between The StandardX’s in-house team and Studio Freehand. There are four categories of rooms – Cozy King, Cozy Twin to King on the River and King of Kings.

The Gokongwei Group’s homegrown NUSTAR Resort and Casino is set to become Cebu’s largest hotel complex by 2027. The integrated resort is the first and only of its kind in the Visayas and Mindanao and will feature nearly 1,000 hotel rooms across three hotels upon completion. Included in the resort is the 379-room Fili Hotel NUSTAR Cebu, the first authentic Filipino 5-star hotel. NUSTAR Hotel will hold its soft opening by the end of the year. The Grand Summit Hotel will open in early 2027. Once completed, the entire complex will be the largest in Cebu.

In South Korea, Lotte Hotel & Resort will attach “by LOTTE” to L7, their 4.5-star hotel brand. This is to clarify Lotte’s identity. The “by LOTTE” addition will apply to all L7 hotels at home in South Korea and abroad. For example, L7 Myeong-dong will be renamed L7 Myeong-dong by LOTTE. There are currently six locations with an L7 hotel including four in Korea and two overseas in Hanoi, Vietnam and Chicago in the US.

Hilton announced the signing of Hilton Garden Inn in Whitefield, Bengaluru marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth within “India’s Silicon Valley.” The new property is set to open in early 2025 and will bring Hilton’s Bengaluru portfolio to seven trading and ten pipeline hotels. The hotel is being developed in partnership with Minerva Executive Apartment Private Limited, the owner of Hilton Garden Inn Pune Hinjawadi. This will be Hilton’s third hotel in Whitefield with the DoubleTree by Hilton Bengaluru Whitefield opening earlier this year and the Curio Collection by Hilton, Bengaluru, Whitefield scheduled to open in 2025. The new Hilton Garden Inn in Whitefield will have 223 guest rooms, three dining outlets, and 650 square meters of total meeting and function space. Other amenities include a fully equipped fitness center and an outdoor pool.

Juniper Hotels Limited has completed the acquisition of a 220-room upper upscale hotel asset in Bengaluru. Situated on 6.5 acres of freehold land with a built-up area of 41,200 square meters, the property is located near Bengaluru International Airport. The hotel asset is nearing completion and is set to offer world-class facilities, including 29,000 square feet of MICE space, specialty restaurants, a fitness center, spa, and more. Juniper Hotels said there is potential for future expansion. The hotel asset was acquired for INR 325 crore in a cash buyout transaction, financed by INR 280 crore of long-term debt with the remaining amount funded from Juniper Hotels’ existing cash reserves. Juniper’s current portfolio comprises seven operating hotels with 1,895 keys, including 245 serviced apartments, across strategic locations in India.

Indian Hotels Company announced the opening of Yarkay, Thimphu – IHCL SeleQtions in Bhutan, nestled amidst the serene Himalayas. The 83-key hotel is located in the heart of the capital city with hotel interiors that are a celebration of Bhutanese culture and values. The hotel offers a selection of F&B options from an all-day dining restaurant to the Sky Garden Restaurant providing a panoramic view of the city. Recreational facilities being offered include a state-of-the-art gym with views of the Himalayas, an indoor pool, and a spa.

The Fern Hotels & Resorts unveiled The Fern Residency in Bodhgaya, Bihar. The new addition signifies the brand’s first venture in the state of Bihar, expanding its presence in key destinations across India. Bodhgaya is considered one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites. The opening of The Fern Residency highlights the brand’s commitment to growth while supporting local heritage and tourism. The property is situated along the Gaya-Dobhi Road with Bodhgaya Airport just 8 kilometers away. The hotel encompasses 63 rooms outfitted with modern amenities to enhance guests’ comfort and relaxation. The Kapila Restaurant is available for all-day dining while there are also versatile meeting rooms, banquet space, and a landscaped lawn for meetings and events. Utsav Hall is 4,500 square feet and the lawn covers 12,000 square feet, ideal for events and social gatherings.