Austria
The 233-room Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel, Vienna, a rebranding of an existing hotel, opened. The hotel is located next to Schonbrunn Palace in the capital city. There is an all-day restaurant and lobby bar, executive lounge, gym and sauna. The property also features a ballroom with nearly 6,500 square feet of space and a total capacity of 500 people, along with nine seminar rooms.
China
Hilton Shenyang opened its doors in northeast China. The hotel’s 329 guest rooms feature modern Chinese decor inspired by traditional elements such as silk paintings. The property has a pool, an outdoor garden and three diverse dining options. There is nearly 17,000 square feet of meeting space, including a grand ballroom and seven function rooms.
Germany
The Jaz Stuttgart launched as the brand’s second property. The music-themed hotel offers 166 guest rooms and features digitized booking, check-in, room keys and payment systems. On-site Rhythms Bar + Kitchen delivers a menu prepared using local produce as well as hosting live acts and concerts. The hotel’s meeting space, named The Base, has three music-themed meeting rooms for groups of up to 180 attendees. Two sixth-floor boardrooms are also available.
Italy
Hilton Lake Como debuted in the city center between central Como and the Swiss border. There are 170 guest rooms, including 21 suites, three of which offer lake view private terraces complete. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Satin, serves up cuisines from the Southern Swiss, North Italian and Valtellina regions, while smaller bites are available at the hotel’s Taffeta lounge and bar. Rooftop dining venue Terrazza 241 offers lake views. The hotel offers meeting space for up to 300 guests across six different rooms totaling nearly 6,500 square feet. The hotel provides easy access to a number golf courses, tennis courts and water activities, including boat trips and sailing lessons.
Philippines
The Grand Hyatt Manila, the first for the brand in the Philippines, opened. The 461-room hotel tops the tallest skyscraper in the Philippines and offers unobstructed views of the skyline and Manila Bay. The hotel boasts 24,500 square feet of meeting space that includes a jewelry-box-inspired 12,800-square-foot grand ballroom and a Garden Pavilion that provides indoor and outdoor seating. Each guest room features natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows and mirrored walls. There are multiple food and beverage options, including The Grand Kitchen, an all-day-dining restaurant and No. 8 China House, an informal dining option. The Peak, a bi-level entertainment center on the top floors of the hotel with indoor and outdoor seating options will open mid-year.
Spain
Mandarin Oriental International announced that Hotel Ritz, Madrid will close at the end of February for a $121 million restoration. The 120-room hotel first opened in 1910 and is situated within the “Golden Triangle of Art,” area of the city and close to Madrid’s financial and commercial district. The extensive work will upgrade the Mandarin Oriental International property’s facilities and services while maintaining its character. The design of the public spaces will focus on the careful restoration of the hotel’s interior architectural features and will incorporate a number of valuable artistic pieces from the property’s collection, including crystal chandeliers, antique paintings and sculptures. The reinstatement of a glass roof will bring light to the lounge and the hotel’s main restaurant will move to its original location, with direct access to the terrace. The hotel’s meeting rooms, which can accommodate up to 600, will also be refreshed. Other new facilities will include a new fitness center and indoor pool, along with a range of spa, heat and water experiences.