Latest news: Blackstone buys 2 in Japan; Hyatt aligns with Venetian; Conrad to Los Cabos

Blackstone acquires 2 in Japan. Blackstone has acquired a Ritz-Carlton resort in Okinawa and is purchasing another hotel on the Japanese island in a deal worth about JPN 20 billion ($130 million), according to a Bloomberg report. Blackstone acquired the 97-key Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa from Okinawa, Japan-based Kanehide Holdings Co., and it will also acquire the 162-key Kanehide Kise Beach Palace, which will undergo renovations.

Hyatt aligns with Venetian. Hyatt Hotels Corp. and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas have signed a long-term licensing agreement to make the Las Vegas Strip property bookable in the near future through Hyatt channels. The licensing deal adds 7,000 rooms and 2.25 million square feet of meeting space to Hyatt’s inventory. The partners will work together in the MICE and convention space to complement each other’s strengths in group business. The Venetian is home to two all-suite hotels – The Venetian and The Palazzo – and is in the process of completing a $1.5 billion refresh.

Hilton adds Conrad in Los Cabos. Hilton has signed an agreement with Raleigh, North Carolina-based Parks Hospitality Holdings for a 175-key Conrad Hotels & Resorts hotel with private residences within OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf in Los Cabos, Mexico. It will mark the brand’s debut in the Baja California peninsula.

High-profile add for Auberge. Auberge Resort Collection has been selected by The Bastion Collection to manage The Woodward in Geneva, Switzerland, beginning February 1. With just 26 suites, the hotel includes Geneva’s only Two Michelin Star restaurant, L’Atelier Robuchon.

MB Signature Properties adds Orlando. Mérida, Mexico-based developer MB Signature Properties is building the 199-key MB Resort Orlando, a luxury hotel scheduled to open in the winter of 2028. The resort will be built in front of Lake Bryan, about five miles from the Disney Springs dining/shopping district.

New boutique in Louisiana. Puyallup, Washington-based Sans Souci Properties, Hattiesburg, Mississippi-based The Thrash Group and Lexington, Kentucky-based Tandem Hospitality Group are developing a new boutique hotel in Lafayette, Louisiana. The 83-key Hotel Lafayette will be managed by Tandem and is scheduled to be completed by summer 2026.

ART acquires in Liverpool. St Peter Port, U.K.-based Alpha Real Trust Limited (ART) announces it has acquired a hotel in Liverpool from an undisclosed seller for £6.5 million in a cash-only deal. The 100-key property, built in 2005, is leased to Travelodge Hotels Ltd. with a 17-year unexpired lease term.

WorldHotels adds 3 in Europe. WorldHotels, which is part of Phoenix-based BWH Hotels, has expanded its presence in Europe after adding three independent properties across the continent. The new additions for the soft brand are City Hotel Gouda in the Netherlands ;The Flaner Hotel in Warsaw; and Saga Hotel Oslo, Norway. WorldHotels has also added more members in North American destinations, including Hotel Croydon in Miami and Elm Hurst Inn & Spa in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Sofitel is coming to Vietnam. Accor is partnering with Hanoi, Vietnam-based DOJI Group to develop the Sofitel Diamond Crown Hai Phong, which is scheduled to open in 2026. The hotel will have 231 rooms and 180 serviced apartments and join two other Sofitel hotels in Vietnam.

Hilton to debut Waldorf in Bahrain. Hilton and Abu Dhabi-based Al Sorouh Hospitality Development Real Estate has signed the Waldorf Astoria Bahrain Bay in Manama, marking the brand’s debut in Bahrain. The 120-key hotel is scheduled to open in 2028 and will be one of three Hilton properties in Bahrain.

Accor adds 2 in Goa. Accor is partnering with Jaipur, India-based Dangayach Group to develop two new luxury hotels in Goa. The 120-villa Raffles Goa Shiroda will be set on 27-plus acres and share a beachfront club with the 56-plus-acre, 400-key Fairmont Goa Shiroda. Both properties are scheduled to open by 2030.

New CC for Marriott in KSA. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-based alrajhi bank and Marriott Bonvoy are launching the Marriott Bonvoy alrajhi bank Credit Card in Saudi Arabia. The new cobrand credit card will provide benefits and rewards to travelers for their and experiences in Saudi Arabia and across the globe.