Today’s news in brief – 23/10/23
The Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has announced a stellar year in 2023, with year-to-date revenue reaching $1.7bn (£1.39bn), a remarkable 101% increase compared to the same period in 2022. GHA, an alliance of independent hotel brands operating across 100 countries, credited its robust performance to strong results in Q3. Hotel revenues for the third quarter surged by 41% compared to Q3 2022, and room nights increased by 31% year-on-year. Furthermore, GHA’s loyalty programme, GHA Discovery, saw a 46% surge in new enrollments during Q3, surpassing 25 million total members. GHA CEO Chris Hartley attributed this success to increased travel demand and the addition of more than 21 properties from 14 brands in 2023.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Planning Committee has granted approval for Frogmore and C1 Capital to renovate and extend the existing 404-room Hilton London Olympia into a new 905-room hotel. This development, located on Kensington High Street, marks the largest hotel project in London in a decade. The project will incorporate a rooftop garden and bar, focusing on sustainability and environmental considerations. Frogmore acquired the Hilton London Olympia in 2022 and plans to seek additional partners for the project, expected to have a gross development value of approximately £450m. With the Olympia London Conference Centre set to reopen in 2025, strong demand is anticipated.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has appointed Sir Ron Kalifa as a non-executive director, effective January 1, 2024. This appointment reflects IHG’s commitment to diversifying its board with individuals possessing a wide range of talents and expertise. Sir Ron Kalifa, currently the chair of Network International and a non-executive director at the Bank of England, brings extensive international leadership experience. He served as the CEO of Worldpay and held key roles at the Royal Bank of Scotland. This appointment strengthens IHG’s board, providing valuable insights and perspectives.
Valor Hospitality has partnered with Inspiro Learning to introduce a development programme aimed at enhancing the skills and lives of its team members in the UK hotel portfolio. As the number of apprentices in the hospitality industry continues to rise, Valor Hospitality’s new programme offers a variety of qualifications, including front-of-house and back-of-house roles. Team members can study while working in their current positions to advance their careers. The first apprentices in the programme are set to enrol in October 2023, helping Valor Hospitality redefine the path for career progression in the industry.
