It’s been a whirlwind week in the hospitality world, with announcements and expansions aplenty. Here’s your wrap on all that’s going down in the hotel space.

Accor announces new Art Series hotel for Perth

Accor has announced it will open its ninth Art Series hotel in Perth’s CBD in October 2019, heralding the arrival of the Art Series brand in Western Australia.

Dedicated to Australia’s contemporary artists, the fundamental design concept of the 250-room Art Series hotel will draw inspiration from its incoming namesake artist, with custom contemporary furnishings and original artworks and prints adorning the walls and halls of the hotel.

In another first for the state, the art-inspired hotel will also be home to a chic new international food and beverage destination, serving Mediterranean cuisine and the city’s best cocktails. The venue will be centred around the hotel’s stunning pool area on level one, directly above Hay Street.

Marriott International to open first Ritz-Carlton hotel in Bangkok; Brisbane Marriott Hotel unveils new look

Marriott International’s 259-room hotel planned in the One Bangkok lifestyle development in Thailand’s dynamic capital.

Marriott International has announced it has signed an agreement to open its first Ritz-Carlton hotel in dynamic Bangkok with One Bangkok, a joint venture between TCC Assets and Frasers Property.

The hotel is expected to occupy a planned 50-storey tower in the One Bangkok lifestyle development, now rising in the city’s commercial centre. Construction on The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok already commenced, with the hotel expected to open in 2023.

Marriott has also unveiled its Brisbane Marriott Hotel, showcasing its $20 million reimagined hotel. The extensive redesign transformed the hotel’s 267 guest rooms and suites, Executive Lounge, two floors of event space and its signature restaurant, reinventing the experience of the legendary hotel.

Offering travellers a warm welcome in one of the city’s most exciting locations, Brisbane Marriott Hotel’s updated look and feel is ideal for visitors who are accustomed to modern design, state-of-the-art facilities and warm, intuitive service.

DoubleTree by Hilton expands global portfolio with key openings

DoubleTree by Hilton Nashville Downtown Exterior

DoubleTree by Hilton has expanded its global presence, opening a further seven new hotels in the first quarter of 2019. The brand has seen substantial international growth in the last decade, and with these newly opened properties, DoubleTree by Hilton now boasts more than 560 unique upscale hotels in key destinations around the world.

In 2008, the brand began its global expansion with simultaneous openings of two properties in Costa Rica, and at the time operated 160 hotels.

Ten years later, DoubleTree operates in 45 countries across six continents, providing upscale solutions to those in or traveling to key hubs around the world, with hotels such as the recently opened DoubleTree by Hilton Miami Doral in Florida and DoubleTree by Hilton Kocaeli in Turkey.

Virgin Hotels opens second hotel in San Francisco

Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, officially opened the doors of its highly anticipated second property, Virgin Hotels San Francisco, on 19 February 2019.

The hotel, located at 250 Fourth Street, is situated South of Market (SoMa) just steps from Yerba Buena Gardens and the Moscone Center, and features 192 Chambers and two Penthouse Suites, as well as multiple dining and drinking outlets, including the brand’s flagship space, Commons Club and Funny Library Coffee Shop.

There are also numerous meeting spaces, and the city’s newest rooftop bar, Everdene. The hotel is also in close proximity to the new Central Subway Station, which, upon opening later this year will connect South of Market with Union Square and Chinatown.

Crown unveils ‘Mumcations’ package

New research commissioned by Crown Metropol has revealed that overseas travel is becoming increasingly difficult for Aussie Mums with young kids.

In response to the growing trend of ‘Mumcations’, Crown Metropol has launched a specific offer designed for busy Mums to take time out close to home, at its properties in Melbourne and Perth.

The package features all the necessities for a great girls’ night, including a bottle of sparkling wine to kick things off in style and a $100 food and beverage voucher.

Mums can take their pick of the many dining options across the Crown complex, which span from French-style eats at Bistro Guillaume to premium Japanese at Nobu or can kick back and relax in their room with in-room dining.

Nanuku Auberge Resort Fiji celebrates major restoration expansion

Nanuku Auberge Resort has unveiled 13 luxury Auberge Beach Villas, increasing the resort’s overall accommodations to 37 suites, villas and residences.

The villas are set along Nanuku’s famed three-kilometre stretch of sand, providing unparalleled year-round access to activities such as snorkelling the resort’s own untouched coral reef.

Each Auberge Beach Villa, now available, will offer sumptuous, indoor and outdoor living including contemporary-styled interiors and exteriors.

Options include Beachfront Pool Villas with uninterrupted ocean views, or Garden-View Pool Villas nestled among lush tropical gardens with partial ocean views in either one-bedroom (84 square metre) or two-story, two-bedroom (172 square metre) sizes.

Best Western launches ‘SureStay Hotel by Best Western’ in Australasia

Hospitality Kalgoorlie, SureStay Collection by Best Western

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has announced the first six hotels within its SureStay and soft brand ‘SureStay Collection by Best Western’ portfolio in Australasia.

Positioned in the economy and upper economy accommodation categories, SureStay Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection by Best Western provide options for guests who like to travel simply and rest in comfort while being assured of the quality and service they’ve come to expect from the Best Western brand.

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts celebrates 25 years with a more than 25 per cent reduction of single-use plastics in a year

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts celebrates its 25th anniversary and Earth Day 2019 with over 25 per cent group-wide reduction of single-use plastic in a year.

The group announced a pledge against single-use plastic in support of Earth Day 2018 theme ‘End Plastic Pollution’. Within a year, this declaration has inspired the change across its 48 hotels worldwide and successfully eliminated 4.2 million single-use plastic items, equating to a significant 26 per cent reduction in total usage.

Championing 25 years of sustainable development since its inception in 1994, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has pioneered the journey of stewardship in its commitment towards the environment and communities through its philosophy of “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People”.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts launches limited-edition high tea experience

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has announced the launch of ‘Haut Patisserie’: a limited-edition, art-inspired high tea available across all InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in Australia and New Zealand.

The high tea is a creative extension of the brand’s partnership with contemporary artist Alexander Hall, also known under the alias as Haut de Gamme, who created a stunning, one-of-a-kind art installation to celebrate 200 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts across the globe.

Alexander recently visited Australia to officially unveil Haut Patisserie in collaboration with InterContinental’s inspired culinary talent.

During his Sydney visit, 15 exquisite pieces of the 200 InterContinental Hotels and Resorts art installation were specially flown into Double Bay, including unique pieces created for Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Japan.