Ouvertures d’hôtels

🍴 The MGallery Fontainebleau L’Aigle Noir introduced a new restaurant, A L’Épicerie, in December. Chefs Florian Desetable and Julian Allano have crafted a French terroir-oriented menu featuring 7-hour lamb shank and Saint-Jacques scallops with hazelnut-celery risotto. The restaurant, housed in a building from 1470, combines a Napoleonic legacy with modern luxury. Specialties include warm toasted Brie with snail butter on country bread.

🏦 Machefert Group entered safeguard proceedings in early 2022 due to heavy debt from the health crisis and demanding creditor. Led by Kevin Machefert, the group, with 19 hotels (including 1K Paris), 8 restaurants, 3 bars, and a beach in Ramatuelle, is in advanced negotiations for refinancing with global financing leaders. Over €150 million is expected to be raised to clear debt and spur growth. In 2022, the group reported €42.5M revenue and a €4.7M net loss, heavily affected by COVID-19, especially in Paris and the Côte d’Azur.

🏨 Blu Hotels acquires Beverly Alps Hotel & Spa in Pinzolo, increasing its Trentino presence to three properties. Nicola Risatti, Blu Hotels President, underscores the importance of Trentino ties and celebrates the prestigious addition. The 4-star superior hotel, with 41 rooms and suites, opens on December 21, featuring a wellness center with an indoor pool, jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, and hammam.

🏖️ Sun Siyam Olhuveli Maldives, located 45 minutes by speed boat from Malé International Airport, unveils 40 new Grand Beach Suites with private pools on Dream Island. The 101 sqm suites accommodate up to four adults or two adults and three children, featuring contemporary elegance, Maldivian charm, lush gardens, and turquoise waters. Each suite includes a private pool, tropical gardens, convertible extra room, and an open bathroom concept.

⛷ In Switzerland, Interhome, a European vacation rental leader, highlights booking trends for the 2024-2025 winter season among its French clientele. Nendaz, with 210 properties in Interhome's portfolio, emerges as the top choice, located in the heart of the 4 Vallées with one of the largest ski areas in Switzerland. Villars-sur-Ollon and Crans-Montana are also favored, the former offering spectacular views of Lake Geneva and the latter boasting a ski area of 140 kilometers at over 3,000 meters altitude.

🏨 Hyatt Place in Rouen, inaugurated on October 4, marks 8 years of work by d+b Interior Design. Sandra Demuth and Caroline Béné-Combes, founders of the agency, blended nods to the building's history with vibrant design. The Hyatt Place is the second French location after Roissy and adds to ten years of d+b's interior design projects. The renovated building, dating from the 1880s, extends over 20,000 m² and had been unused since 1991.

🏕️ Hilton announced a partnership with Parks Hospitality Holdings to open Conrad Los Cabos in 2027, marking the brand's debut in Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. The luxury hotel aims to redefine hospitality in the coastal destination, known for its landscapes and beaches. Currently, Hilton operates eight properties in the region. Juan Corvinos, VP of Hilton, emphasized the company's commitment to expanding its luxury portfolio in Mexico with partners like Parks Hospitality Holdings.

🛏 After a 950-room hotel locked out its unionized employees last month following a contract proposal rejection due to a dispute over staffing agencies, the workers, who are part of a group exceeding 600 union members, have been facing issues. They've previously staged multiple surprise strikes. Comparable contract offers, including a 21% wage increase over four years with a 10% raise in the first year, have been accepted by workers at over 20 other Quebec hotels.

🏖️ Hilton announced its entry into Bonaire with the inauguration of Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The company now has over 45 hotels in the Caribbean and about 35 in development. Hilton recently opened the Palmaroga Hotel Asuncion in Paraguay, marking its first hotel in the country. Delfins Beach Resort Bonaire offers 148 rooms, immersive experiences, and a diving center for underwater adventures.

🏝 Radisson Collection brand debuts in South Africa by transforming Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, Cape Town. The hotel design is inspired by the meeting of land and sea, incorporating the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain's essence with local materials such as wood, brass, and stone. Colors include oceanic blues, sandy neutrals, and earthy tones, with patterns referencing the local fynbos, wildlife, and vineyards. African craftsmanship is showcased through locally sourced materials and custom art installations, including a dedicated art gallery highlighting local fashion and architecture. The renovation elevates the hotel to a destination embodying Cape Town's natural beauty, history, and cultural vibrancy.