Hotel Openings

🍗 Chef Johnny Lee launched Rasarumah in collaboration with Last Word Hospitality on November 24. Lee previously operated Side Chick and Pearl River Deli, which closed in February, in Los Angeles. Located in Historic Filipinotown, the restaurant occupies a former brassiere factory's ground floor. Rasarumah offers a 40-seat space with a menu featuring Malaysian and Southeast Asian cuisine, including dishes like rojak salad, satay skewers, and banana leaf steamed black cod. The design echoes Penang's cafes, and the wine list includes global selections.

🏠 Sonesta International Hotels Corporation unveiled the Sonesta Simply Suites Houston Brookhollow, adding an 85-room hotel to its portfolio. This newly opened hotel is conveniently located near Houston landmarks like the Downtown Aquarium, NRG Park, and the Museum District. Characterized by its apartment-style suites, which include kitchens and workspaces, the hotel caters to travelers seeking extended stays, complete with WiFi access. Keith Pierce highlighted the company’s effective franchising model for its rapid execution of deals and conversions.

🏠 Hyatt Hotels Corp. has introduced Hyatt Centric in Nepal, transforming Hyatt Place Kathmandu into Hyatt Centric Soalteemode Kathmandu. The hotel offers 153 guestrooms, over 8,600 square feet of event space, and two new dining venues: NOON and ZING Sky Pool Bar & Deck. The property features a redesigned lobby and amenities for modern travelers, aiming to weave Kathmandu's essence into every aspect of the guest experience.

🏡 Amy, a stay-at-home mom with 3 kids and Bryant, an unsatisfied engineer, bought 34 acres in Hocking Hills in 2018 for top dollar at $10,000/acre. They renovated a 1920s cottage on the property within four months at a cost of $120,000. They now rent it out to cover the mortgage, financed by a local community bank.

📌 A 150-unit, five-floor hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey, was acquired by NewcrestImage in June 2022 and rebranded as Homewood Suites by Hilton. Located strategically along Interstate 80, the hotel underwent renovation, featuring modernized public areas, suites, two meeting rooms, an indoor pool, fitness center, and complimentary buffet breakfast. It caters to business and leisure travelers, being 23 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport and 2 miles from Parsippany Railway Station, with proximity to several corporate offices, attractions, and New York City (29 miles).

🏨 In Kalispell, Montana, The Hotel Group and TE Miller Development, LLC announced the topping-off of Home2 Suites by Hilton, a 107-room extended-stay property expected to open in late spring 2025. Designed for flexible accommodations with all-suite rooms, the hotel is seven miles from Glacier Park International Airport and provides amenities like an indoor pool and a fitness/laundry space, enhancing access to Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.

🏙 Shangri-La Group launches in Cambodia with a waterfront hotel in Phnom Penh's Koh Pich district, opened December 28, 2024. The 303-room Shangri-La Phnom Penh is part of a 228-meter tri-tower, one of the tallest in the city, offering views of the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Tonle Bassac rivers. Interiors feature a mix of Art Deco, neo-classical, and Khmer styles. Facilities to include a large ballroom, infinity pool, and spa. Cambodia's hotel market is expected to reach $93.85 million by 2025. Shangri-La operates over 100 hotels worldwide.

🏖️ Minor Hotels is set to open NH Collection Alagna Mirtillo Rosso in Italy's Pennine Alps in March, catering to ski enthusiasts with its proximity to 150 kilometers of slopes in Monte Rosa Ski Hotel. The renovated hotel will feature 56 rooms, a wellness center with separate 300 m² adults-only and 400 m² family areas, offering pools, saunas, and treatment rooms. The NH Collection marks its 10th anniversary in Italy, increasing its Italian portfolio to 17 hotels, while Minor Hotels Europe & Americas has 60 Italian properties.

🏦 Singapore's Prima Asset Management partnered with Australia's Schwartz Family Co. to boost London real estate presence. Prima's hotel project in Paddington will see the Victorian-era hotel expand from 68 to over 80 rooms after renovations. Acquired in June 2024, financed by OakNorth Bank, the project is in collaboration with Capilon Group. Schwartz Family Co., with a portfolio of 15 hotels and over 4,300 rooms, invests in Prima's vision for sustainable hospitality. London, a top hotel investment destination, saw €2.6 billion in hotel deals in H1 2024, up 215% from H1 2023. Prima aims for another hotel acquisition by Q1 2025.