Capella Announces Wellness Retreat in NEOM: Capella Hotels and Resorts will soon open its first coastal resort in Saudi Arabia. Located in NEOM’s Elanan, a Magna resort destination, with the desert mountains and coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba as a backdrop, Capella Elanan will be a wellness retreat as part of the sustainable development of the country’s northwest. The resort will feature intertwining geometric forms. The property will feature 80 rooms and suites, four dining concepts, expansive gardens, an observation tower and a spa. Capella Elanan will be Capella’s second property in the Middle East.
Viva Resorts by Wyndham opens in the Dominican Republic: Viva Resorts by Wyndham, the company that offers all-inclusive vacations in the Caribbean, will open its newest resort, Viva Miches by Wyndham, in December, in its trademark all-inclusive resort. The new resort will be Viva Resorts by Wyndham’s ninth all-inclusive property in the Caribbean and its sixth in the Dominican Republic. The property is located in Miches on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic and consists of three buildings, offering 538 rooms with garden, sea and oceanfront views. The resort also features a pool with a swim-up bar, five restaurants and a variety of activities and experiences. The first phase will have an investment of $80 million, while the second phase will increase the number of rooms to 750, bringing the total investment to $130 million. Viva Resorts by Wyndham operates all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
US Performance Updates: According to data from CoStar through June 8, the U.S. hotel industry improved from last week but was mixed compared to a year ago.
- Market share: 69.1% (-0.1%)
- ADR: $160.9 (+1.8%)
- RevPAR: $111.26 (+1.7%)
Among the top 25 markets, Houston saw the highest year-over-year increases in occupancy (+14.8% to 71.1%) and RevPAR (+19.3% to $85.20). New York City saw the highest increase in ADR (+9.1% to $358.25). Detroit (-8.7% to $83.43) and Atlanta (-6.8% to $85.63) saw the largest declines in RevPAR.
Nominations now open for the ISHC Lori Lowry Award: The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) has opened a call for nominations for the Lori Lawrie Award for Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consulting. The award, established in 2015 in honor of Lawrie, founder of Traverse Group and Executive Director of ISHC from 2000 to 2013, recognizes young industry professionals who demonstrate leadership qualities and promise in hospitality consulting. Nominees must be 35 years of age or younger and recognized by company leaders and other industry peers as outstanding role models for future leaders. Nominees must be self-employed or employed by a company that provides third-party consulting services to the hospitality industry and have an active role or responsibility in providing advisory services to the company’s clients. Nominations must be submitted by August 16. The award recipient will receive a one-year associate membership in ISHC, including access to all conference and networking functions.
Washington DC Homewood Suites completes renovation: Homewood Suites Washington DC Downtown has completed renovations to reveal an updated lobby, public spaces and 175 suites. The updated lobby features new furniture and nooks, as well as additional seating for dining or computer work. The hotel’s 2,300 square feet of meeting space has been renovated with a modern feel. The hotel offers work areas, a fitness center, a general store and laundry facilities. Homewood Suites Washington DC Downtown is managed by Crestline Hotels & Resorts.
