Latest HITs: MCR buys in Charlotte; Marriott adds 3 in Indonesia; Ennismore grows in Dubai

MCR deal in Charlotte. Owner-operator MCR, New York, has acquired the 150-room Canopy by Hilton Charlotte Southpark, which was built in 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Closed with new financing in place, the hotel was purchased at a 20% discount to MCR’s estimated replacement cost. This is the company’s sixth hotel in North Carolina and its first Canopy by Hilton hotel.

California call for standard fee disclosure. The California Hotel & Lodging Association put out a statement on Thursday supporting a single standard for fee disclosure across the lodging ecosystem. It stated: "Equal requirements must exist for hotels, short-term rentals and other transient accommodations, as well as the various booking channels that exist, from direct options to online travel companies and even metasearch sites, as all mandatory fees are included in upfront pricing so guests can more clearly see any costs associated with their stays. The standard disclosure of all mandatory fees in these bills provides a transparent and competitively fair booking process for guests making lodging reservations in California.”

Marriott adds in Indonesia. Marriott International has signed a management deal with Indonesian real estate developer, PT. Pakuwon Jati Tbk. to open three hotels in Indonesia’s new capital city, Ibu Kota Negara Nusantara. With the agreement, Marriott expects to debut three brands – a 300-room Four Points by Sheraton, a 200-room Westin Hotels & Resorts and a 150-room Tribute Portfolio.

Banyan Tree coming to Dubai. Ennismore announced it will open the Banyan Tee Dubai at the multi-staged project on Bluewaters by Dubai Holdings in November 2023. It will replace the existing Caesars Palace Dubai and following a phased stage of brand-related upscaling improvements, the repositioned resort will feature 179 rooms, including 30 suites and a brand-new four-bedroom villa with its own private entrance, pool and beach. Banyan Tree Dubai will also include 96 private residences comprising one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units with a dedicated lobby, outdoor swimming pool and access to the hotel’s facilities. As part of a long-term strategic partnership agreement between Accor and Banyan Tree Group signed in 2016, Banyan Tree Dubai will be co-operated by Banyan Tree Group and Ennismore, following a similar operational model applied in Banyan Tree La Cigale Doha, Qatar and Banyan Tree AlUla, Saudi Arabia.

MGM cyberattack. MGM Resorts on Wednesday said that a cyberattack that started on Monday represents a material risk to the company. The major credit rating agency Moody’s warned that the incident could negatively affect MGM’s credit rating, saying the attack highlighted “key risks” within the company. The company’s corporate email, restaurant reservation and hotel booking systems remained offline and digital room keys were not working. It has since come to light that days before the MGM cyberattack, casino operator Caesars paid out a ransom worth $15 million to a cybercrime group that managed to infiltrate and disrupt its systems.

Crestline growth. Crestline Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage the Ohio University Inn and Conference Center with 139 guestrooms on the campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. It has also the 175-room Le Merigot Santa Monica to its Latitude: Lifestyles by Crescent portfolio.

Autograph Collection to KSA. Marriott International has signed an agreement with AlUla Development Co., fully owned by the Public Investment Fund, to open a 250-room and suite Autograph Collection property in Saudi Arabia. Expected to open in 2025, the hotel will be located in the heart of downtown AlUla. Autograph Collection’s portfolio currently features over 290 hotels globally.

Valor grows in Oman. Valor Hospitality Partners, Atlanta, has gained management of its second property in Duqm, Oman, marking seven properties in the Middle East and expanding Valor’s Middle. In partnership with Marriott International, the 85-room property will be branded Four Points by Sheraton when it opens in 2024 and owned by Ezz Assas International. This opening will bring Valor Hospitality’s global portfolio to 90-plus hospitality projects.

Davidson invests in DE&I. Davidson Hospitality Group has appointed Kenny Imafidon, vice president of Operational Excellence to lead its internal council, invest in training programs and workshops, and forge a strategic partnership with the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH). Under the leadership of Imafidon, Davidson’s DE&I committee comprises 17 individuals from all areas of the organization to provide an advisory role from a diverse perspective, integrate initiatives to inspire, and create processes that will optimize accountability. Areas of focus include training and development, community outreach and engagement and attraction and recruiting.

ISHC celebrates. The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) has marked its 35th Anniversary. The society was established in 1988 by 19 founding members to promote the awareness and advancement of the hospitality consulting profession and to foster a high ethical standard for the industry. Today, ISHC boasts more than 200 members spanning more than 26 countries in over 50 functional areas across the hospitality spectrum. It will celebrate this milestone at the 2023 annual conference at the Park Hyatt Washington, D.C., October 5-7.

Waikiki asset trades. To further secure funds, South Korea’s Hanjin KAL Corp. will sell the assets owned by its Hawaii-based subsidiary Waikiki Resort Hotel Inc. to U.S. company AHI-CLG LLC for $108.4 million on September 15, the holding firm of Korean Air Lines Co. stated. Hanjin KAL will divest all real estate and related assets of Waikiki Resort Hotel, excluding cash and cash equivalents worth $121 million.