Latest news: Big deal in Savannah; New Hampton, Sleep Inn prototypes; Delano to Dubai

Deal for 400-room hotel at Savannah convention center. Real estate firm Songy Highroads (SHR) and joint venture partner Matthews Southwest Hospitality, a real estate development and investment division of Matthews Southwest, have been selected by the Savannah Georgia Convention Center Authority to develop a 400-room hotel at The Savannah Convention Center.  The partnership started in earnest in October 2023 with SHR's appointment as the convention center hotel developer. Last week, the Georgia House of Representatives approved increasing the Authority's bonding capacity for public bond financing. Songy Highroads is starting a one-year design, engineering and pricing period, and will assist the financing for the hotel. The Authority also named Cooper Carry, the lead architect for the project. The Savannah Convention Center is undergoing a $271 million expansion that will double the current exhibit hall space to 200,000 square feet, add a 40,000-square-foot ballroom and create 15 new meeting rooms.

Hampton refresh. Hampton by Hilton is launching a new North American prototype and the unveiling of a refreshed global brand identity. The North American prototype, slated for its first hotel opening in early 2025, is designed for greater adaptability to various market conditions and site restrictions. It includes increasing total key count within the same footprint and optimizing the Suite room layout for better site efficiency; a new FF&E package expected to cut costs by up to 6%; a simplified entrance canopy, subtle adjustments to the color scheme and an added exterior patio for social gatherings; repositioning the front desk, adding a localized feature wall and flexible multi-use space, and relocating the retail shop to a more prominent location within the lobby area; adding a multi-functional task table in guestrooms, improving bathroom design, enlarging windows to increase natural light, and optimizing in-room guest storage solutions. The refreshed Hampton by Hilton visual identity will roll out across all brand activities, marketing, and communications, and be integrated globally at the property level, throughout 2024.

Sleep Inn prototype. Choice Hotels International’s Sleep Inn limited-service lifestyle brand has a launched its latest prototype, Scenic Dreams, featuring redesigned guestrooms and common areas that complement the exterior tower and purple accent lighting previously announced last April. The newly refreshed interior includes signature murals of natural landscapes as well as calming color schemes and modern wood accents to complement the exterior purple tower and purple lighting accents. Key efficiency drivers include strategically placed back-of-house spaces, easily movable furniture, ample AC and USB outlets, and easy-to-clean surfaces. Other updates include lobbies with open floorplans, large windows, front desk welcome wall, consisting of illuminated abstract natural wood cutouts to reflect the changing night sky, and updated signature murals. Guestrooms feature increased functional spaces, light dimming and smart thermostat capabilities, as well as regional artwork. Breakfast areas can be zoned into three distinct areas, including a game room, TV room and flexible workspace. The prototype offers expanded wellness offerings, including fitness centers, complimentary premium access to the BetterSleep sleep and relaxation app, and designated outdoor spaces. It also includes energy-efficient LED lighting, a linen and towel reuse program, and low-flow shower heads and faucets. Water refill stations electric car charging stations for guests at select locations are also new.

Margaritaville expands boutique brand. Following the opening in Naples, Margaritaville announced it is expanding by five properties its Compass by Margaritaville collection of boutique hotels. Between March 2024 and early in 2025, smaller Compass-branded hotels will either open or break ground in Naples, Florida; Beaufort, North Carolina; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Flagler Beach, Florida. Senior Vice President of Development Rick Cunningham said an additional 10 projects are in the pipeline. The brand currently has hotels open in Bradenton, Florida, and Medford, Oregon.

Delano to Dubai. Ennismore’s Delano brand will open later this year at the waterfront destination Bluewaters Dubai. The 251-room Delano Dubai, including 84 suites, some with private pools, forms part of a deal signed between Ennismore and Dubai Holding in 2023 and follows the opening of Banyan Tree Dubai at Bluewaters Dubai late last year. In 2024, Ennismore entered into a long-term partnership with Cain International to drive forward the global expansion of the Delano brand and reopen Delano Miami Beach.

Kushner developing in Belgrade. Former President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners is reportedly partnering with Serbian officials to build a luxury hotel in Belgrade. The $500 million contract offers Kushner a 99-year lease at no charge in exchange for his company’s development of the hotel, a museum, and luxury residential units at the site of the former Yugoslav Ministry of Defense headquarters. The New York Times reported that the draft of the new deal included a clause that offers Kushner an opportunity to take ownership of the property for free once the development is complete. Kushner told The Times that the parties had reached a tentative agreement for the Serbian government to receive a 22% share of the project’s profits.

New ultra-luxe concept from Oberoi. With plans to double room count and reach 50 hotels by 2030, Oberoi Group Managing Director and CEO Vikram Oberoi said the company is discreetly planning to establish an ultra-luxury hotel concept internally called Oberoi Nature. The plan includes focusing on international travelers who are willing to pay a higher rate than is currently commanded in the country.