Latest news: Faraway's new management co.; Hyatt extends Playa offer; Choice deal in China

Collared Martin launches. Collared Martin Hospitality (CMH) is launching a new lifestyle and luxury hospitality management company. Led by CEO Steven Rubin, CMH will operate and grow a portfolio of boutique hotels and restaurants across leisure destinations, which currently includes properties in Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and the Hamptons. CMH also operates the Faraway brand and serves as the management company for Boston-based Blue Flag Capital’s growing portfolio of lifestyle and luxury hospitality properties.

Hyatt extends Playa offer to June 9. Hyatt Hotels Corp., through HI Holdings Playa B.V., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Hyatt, has extended the offering period of its previously announced cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. for $13.50 per share in cash, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest. The offer is being made under the previously announced purchase agreement, dated February 9, and the new tender offer is scheduled to expire on June 9.

Choice, SSAW deal in China. Choice Hotels International has secured a long-term distribution and master franchise agreement with Hangzhou, China-based SSAW Hotels and Resorts, which sets the foundation for a major expansion in China. The deal will see 68 upscale existing properties (more than 9,500 rooms) currently managed by SSAW, under its Pagoda, Narada Grand, SSAW Boutique, and Ginlan Jia brands, join Choice Hotels’ upscale soft brand, Ascend Collection, under a distribution agreement. The newly affiliated properties will be bookable in Choice’s system within three months. The agreement also gives SSAW exclusive development rights for the Comfort and Quality brands across China as a master franchisee. SSAW intends to develop 100 new hotels in China under these two brands within five years.

Vision adding dual brand in Tennessee. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Vision Hospitality Group has broken ground on a new dual-branded Home2 Suites by Hilton and Tru by Hilton Lookout Valley in Chattanooga. Construction om 150 keys is underway with an expected opening in the fall of 2026. Last week, Vision founder and CEO Mitch Patel talked to Hotel Investment Today about the company’s growth potential and other thoughts on the industry.

TPG adds 5 to portfolio. Los Angeles-based Verge Management has selected McKinney, Texas-based TPG Hotels & Resorts to manage a portfolio of five Marriott-branded select-service hotels in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. The agreement marks a significant expansion for TPG in the South-Central U.S.

Criterion adds in London. London-based Criterion Capital has acquired the Mansell Court, Tower Bridge, in London from an undisclosed seller for an undisclosed amount, advancing the growth of its Zedwell hotel portfolio. Set to open as Zedwell Tower Bridge, the 200-key property will be the brand’s second opening in London.

Minor adds in Dubai. Minor Hotels has signed a management agreement for a beachfront property on Dubai’s Palm West Beach in collaboration with Seven Tides. Effective August 1, the addition of this new resort and serviced residences — currently operating as Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel — will establish Minor as the largest operator on the Trunk of the Palm. The resort includes 273 hotel keys and 287 serviced apartments and boasts a premier beachfront location adjacent to NH Collection Dubai The Palm, launched in February 2023.

IHG growth in India. IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened its 50th Crowne Plaza in India with the opening of Crowne Plaza Lucknow. In 2024, IHG signed 18 new hotels across its brand portfolio and close to 30% of the signings were in premium and luxury segments in India. With almost 70 hotels in the current pipeline, IHG aims to more than double its portfolio in India over the next five years.

Hyatt growth in Africa. Hyatt expects around 50% room growth across new and existing markets in Africa by the end of 2030. In the past two years, Hyatt saw 51% room growth in Africa, fueled by the addition of several milestone properties and first-time brand entries. These included Park Hyatt Marrakech, introducing the luxury brand to Morocco; Hyatt Centric Cairo West, the brand’s debut on the continent; Hyatt Regency Harare – The Meikles, Hyatt’s first hotel in Zimbabwe; and Hyatt Regency Nairobi Westlands, its first hotel in Kenya.

IHG’s first voco resort. IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened the world’s first voco resort with the opening of the 68-key voco Quang Binh Resort – By IHG in Vietnam. The all-suite-and-villa resort also marks the second voco hotels property to open in Vietnam. Launched in 2018, voco hotels has 94 open hotels and 95 in its pipeline.

Hyatt adds Andaz in Japan. Hyatt Hotels Corp., through a Hyatt affiliate, has entered into a management agreement with Nagoya, Japan-based Nagoya Railroad Co. Ltd. for a new Andaz hotel planned to open after 2034 at the Meitetsu Nagoya Station. The project is part of a redevelopment project that includes the opening of a transportation hub along with a high-speed railway. Andaz Nagoya will be the first Andaz hotel in the city. The hotel will be part of a multi-use urban complex integrated with the railway station and is set to have a dedicated entrance on the ground floor that will provide access to approximately 150 rooms and suites on the 25th to 29th floors.