Transylvania's New Hotel of Ice Opens 2024-25 Season

Minor Hotels Europe & Americas announces the upcoming addition of NH Collection Alagna Mirtillo Rosso to the portfolio of the upper-upscale NH Collection Hotels & Resorts brand in Italy. Located in the heart of the Pennine Alps, the four-star property will undergo a renovation process and officially open its doors under the new brand in March 2025. NH Collection Alagna Mirtillo Rosso, located in the town of Alagna Valsesia, at the foot of Monte Rosa, caters to all travellers but is ideal for families and perfect for ski lovers. The hotel is just a few minutes from the Alagna, a cable car, which takes visitors to the Monte Rosa Ski ski hotel, an area that links three valleys- Valsesia Valley, Gressoney Valley and Champoluc Valley, where ski enthusiasts can enjoy 150 kilometres of slopes between Piedmont and the Aosta Valley. NH Collection Alagna Mirtillo Rosso, located in the town of Alagna Valsesia, at the foot of Monte Rosa, caters to all travellers but is ideal for families and perfect for ski lovers. The hotel is just a few minutes from the Alagna, a cable car, which takes visitors to the Monte Rosa Ski ski hotel, an area that links three valleys- Valsesia Valley, Gressoney Valley and Champoluc Valley, where ski enthusiasts can enjoy 150 kilometres of slopes between Piedmont and the Aosta Valley. This hotel has 56 guest rooms, a wellness centre with spa divided into an adult-only area of 300 square metres with an indoor and outdoor pool, a salt flotation pool, a whirlpool, two saunas, a Turkish bath, experiential showers and four treatment rooms; and another area of 400 square metres for families with an indoor and outdoor pool. In addition, guests can enjoy the spacious garden, which has a children's play area and sun loungers. The hotel offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in its restaurant, with the option of a full board and a la carte menu. Lara Ponti, owner of Hotel Mirtillo Rosso, commented: "The collaboration with Minor Hotels is a great opportunity for Mirtillo Rosso, the people who work here and all of Valsesia. Being part of such a relevant international group is an opportunity for development, but also a recognition of the value and beauty of this side of Monte Rosa. With the Minor group, I share the search for a sustainable business model, with strong values and deep local roots, through a focus on people and respect for the environment." We are very pleased to announce that such a special property, in the heart of the Alps, will become part of our portfolio, in a country as important to us as Italy, the European country with the second largest number of Minor Hotels properties - Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels This acquisition strengthens the portfolio of the NH Collection brand, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary and is present in Italy with 17 hotels in the country's main cities: Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice, Taormina, Genoa, Verona and Turin, among others. The brand is also present in the Piedmont region, specifically in Turin, with NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina and NH Collection Torino Santo Stefano. In total, Minor Hotels Europe & Americas has 60 properties in Italy under the Anantara, Tivoli, Avani, NH Collection, nhow and NH brands.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement to develop a Holiday Inn Express hotel in the city of Ayodhya. Scheduled to open by mid-2028, the signing aligns with IHG’s strategic focus on expanding its presence in high-growth markets in India, including key spiritual destinations that are attracting large volume of travelers. With over 3,100 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn Express is IHG’s largest and fastest-growing hotel brand. Renowned for its accessible, comfortable accommodations and streamlined services, the brand is a preferred choice for travelers seeking rest, recharge, and productivity. Once open, Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya will embody these core principles, catering to both spiritual, leisure and MICE travelers. Ayodhya rose to prominence as India’s most visited tourist place in 2024, with over 110 million visitors in first half of 2024. Strategically located in close proximity to the airport and just minutes from both the main temple complex and the Railway Station, Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya will be easily accessible, making it an ideal choice for travellers. The hotel will feature 125 well-appointed rooms, an all-day dining, a fitness centre, business center, parking space, laundry room and a spacious meeting room. Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts said, “We are thrilled to announce the signing of Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya. Ayodhya has become one of India’s most preferred tourist destinations in 2024. With Holiday Inn Express Ayodhya’s strategic location, the hotel will benefit predominantly from spiritual tourism year-round. The hotel is poised to offer a unique stay experience, blending world class hospitality, comfort and convenience with an easy connection to the city’s spiritual heritage.” He added, “This signing reaffirms our commitment to expand IHG’s presence in secondary markets, including those with significant cultural and religious appeal as the number of travelers to these markets continue to grow driving demand for quality accommodation.” Abhishek Jain, Owner of the hotel, added: “We are delighted to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to introduce Holiday Inn Express to the holy city of Ayodhya. By combining our local expertise with IHG’s global standards, we aim to create a distinguished destination that will become a preferred choice for both domestic and international travellers. With a high visibility and strategic location, the hotel will set new standards of hospitality in Ayodhya.” IHG® currently has 46 hotels operating across five brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts®, Crowne Plaza®, voco™ Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort® and Holiday Inn Express®, and a strong pipeline of 58 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years.

MGM Resorts International and Marriott International, Inc. officially mark the debut of W Las Vegas, transitioning the iconic 1,117-suite tower on the Mandalay Bay campus into the globally recognized W Hotels brand. Starting today, Marriott Bonvoy members can book stays and earn and redeem points at this vibrant destination, now part of the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy. Photo credits: W Las Vegas  The introduction of W Las Vegas to the MGM Resorts portfolio marks another milestone in the company’s long-term strategic licensing agreement with Marriott International, first announced in 2023. This collaboration unites two hospitality leaders, offering Marriott Bonvoy and MGM Rewards members unprecedented access to both companies’ collections of resorts, along with elevated experiences and unmatched rewards. “W Las Vegas represents an exciting new chapter for MGM Resorts and for our guests seeking a new, sophisticated all-suite luxury experience on The Strip,” said Travis Lunn, President & COO of Mandalay Bay and Luxor. “W Hotels is a brand that is celebrated globally for their unique style and exceptional service, and we can’t wait to see the hotel come to life over the next couple of years, through its distinct personality, dynamic programming and elevated service culture.” Since its launch in March 2024, MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy has exceeded expectations welcoming hundreds of thousands of new Marriott Bonvoy guests to all MGM Resorts properties. This collaboration provides over 200 million Marriott Bonvoy members with exclusive benefits and the ability to redeem points at MGM Resorts destinations across the U.S., while MGM Rewards members can status match and enjoy member benefits across Marriott’s global portfolio of approximately 9,000 properties. With the addition of W Las Vegas, MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy encompasses 12 destinations on the Las Vegas Strip, including Bellagio, a Luxury Collection Resort & Casino; ARIA Resort & Casino, Autograph Collection; The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Autograph Collection; and Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy, among others.