Hotel and Resort News and Notes for July 2024

by Daniel McCarthy July 09, 2024

The beautiful lobby and grand entry chandelier at Four Seasons Resort Orlando create a welcoming arrival to Central Florida's top-rated resort. — Credit: Four Seasons Resort Orlando

While most big hotel news is covered by TMR’s team and hosted on its Hotels and Resort homepage, some smaller news bits deserve attention. Below you can find rolling hotel news bites from the last four weeks that travel advisors, industry professionals, and frequent travelers should know about.

Marriott has announced a new partnership with Starbucks that will offer Bonvoy members the ability to link their Starbucks accounts to their Marriott loyalty account. Marriott Bonvoy and Starbucks Rewards members will now be able to earn Double Stars on qualifying transactions at participating Starbucks locations through the duration of their Marriott stays.

Loews Hotels has debuted its third annual Summerfest programming, which includes a reading list curated by Jenna Bush Hager of the TODAY show. Through the partnership, Loews will make titles from the list available for guests staying at Loews hotels this summer. Guests will be able to get them on-site pending availability or reserve them ahead of their stay. The full list of books can be found on the TODAY website.

Vancouver’s Rosewood Hotel Georgia has reopened following a major renovation that included a revamp of its Sensorial Rooms & Suites, a “revival” of its lobby lounge 1927 Lounge and the Georgia Bar, a new cocktail program, and an expanded art collection that focuses on pieces from local talent.

Sofitel New York announced plans for a comprehensive refurbishment that will start in late 2024. The plans will touch all corners of the property, including its guestrooms, suites, and public spaces. Sofitel expects the revamp to be completed by the fall of 2025. At the same time, Sofitel announced that Dieter Schmitz, a hotelier with over two decades of experience, would join the property as GM.

The Gabriel South Beach on Ocean Drive in Miami named Ryan Rauscher as its new GM. Rauscher previously spent time at the Kimpton Brice Hotel in Savannah and the Ryder Hotel in Charleston. He also held senior positions at Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection in the Florida Keys and The Resort at Longboat Key Club in Sarasota.

Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore has added an autonomous shuttle service through a partnership with WeRide Robobus. The shuttle offers rides to passengers on a 1.2 km loop, with four stops along the way, around the resort and takes 12 minutes to complete.

SH Hotels & Resorts is bringing a new 1 Hotels property to San Miguel de Allende that will open in 2027. The hotel will open just a few minutes away from San Miguel de Allende’s city center and will offer 97 hotel rooms and 49 residences with each room featuring its own terrace. A spa, outdoor event space, gardens, and culinary options are also planned.

Sheraton opened its 100^th hotel in Greater China with the debut of Sheraton Lanzhou Anning in Lanzhou of Gansu province.

Montauk Yacht Club on the east end of New York’s Long Island officially reopened after a multi-million dollar renovation. The hotel, which is part of Proper Hospitality within The Collective, was originally built in 1928. The renovation includes a new dining experience called Ocean Club Montauk and a full refresh of its public spaces, guestrooms, suites, and outdoor experiences. There’s also a new 24-hour gym for Montauk Water Club members and hotel guests.

*Photo: Ocean Club Pool at Montauk Yacht Club*

Wydham has opened its first Dolce hotel in Turkey, Dolce by Wyndham Çeşme Alaçatı. The property is located on the Aegean Sea and just a short distance from Alcati, the area’s popular resort area. It offers 155 rooms and suites along with indoor and outdoor pools.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando, one of the best luxury hotels in the city, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a bunch of new programming, including things for kids, wellness seekers, and more. The programming is highlighted by a roller-skating rink coming in December and a new speakeasy also coming this year. The celebration will start in August 2024 and run through July 2025.

The William Vale Hotel in the Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY has joined EOS Hospitality’s portfolio after the company purchased the hotel for $177 million. EOS has also named William van Wassenhove as the managing director for the hotel, which opened originally in 2016.

St. Regis Hotels and Resorts has opened the new St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort in Oman. The hotel marks the first hotel for St. Regis in Oman. It is located in the heart of Al Mouj, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Oman, and has direct access to a white sand beach exclusively for its guests. In total, the hotel offers 250 guestrooms, all with private balconies and walk-in wardrobes, along with nine dining venues.

Wynn Las Vegas is adding a new seafood restaurant by Chef Fabio Trabocchi called Fiola Mare. The restaurant will debut early next year and will open as a sister restaurant to one of the same name in Washington D.C. It will feature a raw bar, along with a menu of seafood towers, tableside services, and grilled seafood entrees.

Photo: Wynn Las Vegas

Red Lion Hotels, Inns & Suites by Sonesta is adding a “Sock Service” at select properties across the U.S. that will offer Sonesta Travel Pass members complimentary socks. Guests at one of the four pilot locations (Red Lion Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South in Florida, Red Lion Hotel Portland Airport in Oregon, Red Lion Hotel Gillette in Wyoming, and Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center Cheyenne in Wyoming) can request a complimentary pair of Wide Open socks upon check-in.

Pendry Park City appointed John Rolfs as its new general manager. Rolfs has almost 30 years of experience in hospitality and most recently served as GM for St. Regis Bal Harbour Hotel. He’s held other managerial roles for Ritz-Carlton in Shanghai, Osaka, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Palm Beach, and Aspen.

Nashville’s Hutton Hotel has appointed Jonathan Rush as its new GM of Hotel Operations and French Rankin as the new GM of Food and Beverage Operations. The two bring more than 25 years of combined experience to the boutique hotel. Rush was raised in Nashville and began his career at Doubletree by Hilton in the city’s downtown. Rankin, a graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, owned and operated Samuel’s by Chef French in Chattanooga.

Montage Deer Valley has named Gretchen Walker as its new Director of Sales and Marketing. Walker has over three decades of experience, including time at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara and the Hotel Talisa in Vail, Colorado.

Helicopter company Blade has partnered with the Luxury Group by Marriott International to offer eligible guests at a selection of its New York City properties complimentary roundtrip Blade airport helicopter transfers to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. Guests staying two nights or more in select suites at The St. Regis New York; JW Marriott Essex House New York; W New York – Union Square; The New York EDITION; The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad; and The Luxury Collection Hotel Manhattan Midtown are eligible.

Advertisement for Blade's new partnership with Luxury Group by Marriott International in New York — *Photo: Marriott International*

Disney Vacation Club has officially opened the first phase of new cabins at The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort in the woodlands of Orlando’s Walt Disney World Resort. The additions are part of a collection of improvement projects underway at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

If you have any small hotel news to share with North America’s travel agency community, email dmccarthy@travelmarketreport.com.