Latest news: Aimbridge adds all-inclusives; NYC casino update; largest Hampton in Europe

Aimbridge adds 2 in CALA. Aimbridge Hospitality has assumed management of the Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana and Wyndham Alltra Samaná, two all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic. Both properties will fall under Aimbridge’s newly launched all-inclusive division, introduced in August. The 620-key Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana is owned by Advanced Asset Management while the 404-key Wyndham Alltra Samaná is owned by Casa Marina Samaná, S.A.S.  Both properties began extensive renovations in 2024.

NYC casino update. Resorts World New York City’s application for a full-scale casino license was unanimously approved by a community advisory committee. Resorts World is competing for one of three downstate casino licenses to be awarded by New York’s Gaming Commission by the end of December. The vote for the other Queens applicant, Metropolitan Park, in the area surrounding Citi Field, is set for Tuesday. Other applicants include MGM Empire City in Yonkers, was also unanimously approved on Thursday, Bally’s in the Bronx and The Coney in Coney Island. Committee votes for Bally’s and The Coney are scheduled for next week.

US hotels down last week. The U.S. hotel industry from September 14-20 reported negative year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar data. Occupancy was 68.1% (-1.1% YOY), ADR was $168.98 (-0.3% YOY) and RevPAR $115.12 (-1.4% YOY). Among the top 25 Markets, Houston saw the largest drop in occupancy (-12.3% to 60.5%) and the second-steepest decline in RevPAR (-20.1% to $73.89). New Orleans reported the steepest declines in ADR (-11.6% to $139.37) and RevPAR (-22.4% to $75.27). Overall, 17 of the top 25 Markets reported an occupancy decline.

Hilton adds Europe’s largest Hampton Inn. Hilton is partnering with Dean Street Developments Ltd. to expand its Manchester portfolio with the 358-key Hampton by Hilton Manchester City Centre, which is the largest Hampton Inn by Hilton hotel in Europe. The hotel is scheduled to open in early 2026.

Travelodge acquires 2 in the UK. U.K.-based Travelodge has completed the acquisition of two hotels as part of its U.K. growth strategy focused on rebranding. The hotels, which had been trading under the Go2 brand, are located in Burton-upon-Trent and Glasgow Cumbernauld, adding 125 rooms to Travelodge’s portfolio. Travelodge has agreed 25-year leases for both properties.

IHG adds Vignette in Germany. IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed the 53-key Hotel Schloss Reinhartshausen to join the Vignette Collection in Germany. Owned by Dana Qadir and to be managed by IHG, the property joins the recently signed Bristol Berlin and Alte Post in Reit im Winkl, becoming the third Vignette Collection in Germany. IHG has 171 open hotels in Germany and a further 65 in development.

Hilton adds 3 in Italy. Hilton has signed three hotels in Italy, all of which are under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand. The 117-key Grand Hotel Savoia Genova, Curio Collection by Hilton, is scheduled to open in December; the 75-key Majestic Palace Sorrento, Curio Collection by Hilton, is scheduled to open in Spring 2027; and the 120-key Cadorna Hotel Milan, Curio Collection by Hilton, is scheduled to open in January 2028. Hilton has more than 100 hotels in Italy, including 11 in the Curio Collection.

Refresh of Broken Shaker bars. Generator & Freehand Hotels have tapped Authentic Hospitality, the team behind New York City’s Jac’s on Bond and Ray’s, to take over operations of their cocktail bar concept, Broken Shaker, nationwide. Broken Shaker has already relaunched in New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles and the portfolio is now complete with the debut of Broken Shaker Chicago, located in the lobby of the Freehand Chicago.

Swiss Life acquires 2 in Spain. Swiss Life Asset Managers France, the French investment arm of Zurich, Switzerland-based Swiss Life, has acquired two hotels in Spain on behalf of two of its managed funds. The portfolio includes the 1,550-key Alannia Costa Blanca in Crevillent near Alicante and the 137-key Alannia Costa Dorada in Tarragona. The deal also includes the Alannia Guardamar and Alannia Els Prats campsites in Guardamar del Segura and Tarragona.

PPF acquires in Prague. PPF Real Estate, the property arm of Prague-based PPF Group, is acquiring the 400-key Vienna House by Wyndham Diplomat Prague in the Czech Republic, from Thailand-based Rabbit Holdings for an undisclosed amount.

Marriott debuts in Mongolia. Marriott International is partnering with HTL Gateway LLC to open the 190-key AC Hotels by Marriott Ulaanbaatar. This move will mark Marriott’s entry into Mongolia and is scheduled to open in 2027.

KSL names new EMEA exec. Denver-based KSL Capital Partners has named Sara Roure as head of EMEA capital formation. With more than 20 years of experience in private equity real estate, Roure most recently served as managing director, co-head of real estate alternatives capital formation EMEA at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, where she led business development, capital raising and investor relations across Europe and the Middle East. She also worked at Blackstone, Brockton Capital and The Carlyle Group.

Pan Pacific adds in Vietnam. Singapore-based Pan Pacific Hotels Group is strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia with the launch of the 126-key ParkRoyal Serviced Suites Hanoi. It is Pan Pacific’s third property in Vietnam, following the recent launches of ParkRoyal Serviced Suites Jakarta, Pan Pacific Jakarta, and Gurney Bay Hotel, a ParkRoyal Hotel in Penang. It is among eight new properties planned across Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines over the next two years. Pan Pacific now operates a total of 23 properties in Southeast Asia.

Marriott dual-brand in Budapest. The Budapest, Hungary-based Forestay Group and its financial partner, Recorde Asset Management, have signed an agreement with Marriott International to develop a dual-branded hotel in Budapest. The project will feature a 217-key Moxy Hotel and a 72-key Residence Inn by Marriott and will be the second Moxy in Hungary developed by Forestay. The hotel is scheduled to open in Fall 2026.