Latest news: Marriott adds 3 luxury properties; Whitbread expands in Ireland; Aman adding Janu to UAE

Marriott converting three luxury properties. Marriott said it plans to convert three luxury properties in the U.S. to its portfolio. One of the hotels is the 450-key Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu, Hawaii, which Blackstone Real Estate sold to Host Hotels & Resorts last week for approximately $680 million. Host will convert the property to a Ritz-Carlton with Marriott managing. The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, California, is expected to join Marriott on July 1. The 504-acre resort has two 18-hole golf courses and will continue to be owned by the Irvine Company and managed by Marriott. It is expected to be converted to a St. Regis later. In addition, Marriott said an unnamed luxury hotel in New York is expected to join its portfolio on June 5. This property is in Midtown Manhattan and will mark The Luxury Collection’s return to New York City.

Whitbread expanding in Ireland. UK-based Whitbread has announced plans to expand its room count in Ireland by 30%. The company said it plans to increase to 5,000 rooms in Ireland, up from the current target of 3,500. Whitbread said the decisions come from high demand and an undersupply of branded hotels in the region. The company wants to add additional sites across Dublin City Centre, five new locations in Outer Dublin, and 11 locations in the rest of the country, including tourist destinations such as Killarney, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Sligo, Westport and Tralee, and larger towns and cities including Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford.

Aman will open Janu in Dubai. Luxury hotel company Aman Group is bringing its new social-centric brand Janu to the UAE with the 150-key Janu Dubai, which will open in 2027. The hotel, which will have rooms and private residences, will open the same year that Aman Dubai will open in Jumeirah 2. Janu launched its first property in March with the Janu Tokyo in Japan.

Hyatt pipeline grows 85% since 2017. Hyatt Hotels Corp. said its pipeline has grown nearly 85% since 2017, reaching a record 129,000 rooms. The company said its lifestyles brands are fueling its growth. Hyatt said its Hyatt Studios brand is driving more than 250 deals while its Grand Hyatt Brand is expected to expand by more than 10 locations over the next two years. In addition, its World of Hyatt loyalty program has quadrupled its membership since 2017 and is up 22% year-over-year through the first quarter. 

SH Hotels adds in Seattle. Miami-based SH Hotels & Resorts is taking over Seattle’s Pan Pacific Hotel, which will be transformed into 1 Hotel Seattle in 2025. The hotel will stay open during the renovation. 

RIU adds in Mauritius. Palma, Spain-based RIU Hotels & Resorts is returning to the island of Mauritius with two new hotels in the foothills of the Le Morne Brabant. The 310-key Riu Palace Mauritius and the 390-key Riu Turquoise will be the chain’s most energy-efficient hotels, with over 2,400 solar panels installed on their roofs. For the project, RIU demolished the previous two hotels on those sites.

Accor adds in Bulgaria. Accor is opening its first Mercure-branded hotel in Bulgaria, the 111-key Mercure Sofia, which is expected to open this fall. Festa Hotels will operate the property. There are more than 950 Mercure hotels in over 65 countries. 

Radisson adds in Sardinia. Radisson Hotel Group is debuting in Sardinia by rebranding the 172-key Veridia Resort Sardinia for its Radisson Individuals brand. Situated in the picturesque Chia region of Southern Sardinia, less than an hour from Cagliari, the resort is set to transform premium travel with its blend of natural beauty and sophisticated elegance.

Movinn takes over hotel in Sweden.Serviced apartment provider Movinn has entered into a long-term lease for the existing Duxiana Hotel in Malmö, Sweden, which will reopen under a new aparthotel brand in June. The 21-key boutique hotel was transferred to Movinn fully furnished and will have a restaurant on the ground floor.