Hyatt Hotels to Sell Playa’s Real Estate Portfolio for $2 Billion

Hyatt Hotels to Sell Playa’s Real Estate Portfolio for $2 Billion

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 5, 2025

Hyatt Hotels is doubling down on its asset-light strategy with a major move—selling Playa Hotels’ real estate portfolio to Tortuga Resorts for $2 billion. This follows Hyatt’s acquisition of Playa in February for $2.6 billion, including debt. Playa operates 24 luxury all-inclusive resorts across Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.

The sale covers 15 of Playa’s resort assets, effectively reducing Hyatt’s net purchase price for the remaining Playa business to around $555 million. The deal, still pending regulatory nods in Mexico, is expected to close before the end of 2025.

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As part of the arrangement, Hyatt and Tortuga will enter into 50-year agreements for these properties, allowing Hyatt to continue managing the resorts. Thirteen of the resorts will operate under Hyatt’s standard management fee structures, with two under separate agreements.

Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian called the move transformational, noting it turns the Playa acquisition into a fully asset-light transaction. "It also ramps up our fee-based earnings," he added. Hyatt now anticipates its asset-light earnings mix could hit at least 90% by 2027.

Analysts view the swift real estate divestment positively, seeing it as a smart way for Hyatt to stay nimble while bolstering returns. Proceeds from this deal will primarily go toward repaying loans taken to finance the Playa buyout.


Experience a Magical Navratri Celebration at Novotel Imagicaa

Experience a Magical Navratri Celebration at Novotel Imagicaa

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 25, 2025

This Navratri, Novotel Imagicaa invites guests to step into a world of vibrant celebrations where thrilling adventures meet festive indulgence. Located right next to the Imagicaa Theme Park, the hotel offers the perfect escape for families and friends to celebrate the season in style.

Guests can take advantage of a special 35% discount on packages, making it easier than ever to plan a fun-filled getaway. The festive packages come with exciting inclusions designed for a complete experience:

  • Complimentary tickets to Imagicaa Theme Park & Water Park for unlimited fun.

  • Free breakfast to start the day on a delicious note.

Adding to the festive spirit, from 22nd September to 2nd October, guests can also savor specially curated Navratri Fasting Thalis at 15% off, making celebrations more wholesome and delightful.

Whether it’s seeking blessings, enjoying festive flavors, or spending an action-packed weekend with loved ones, Novotel Imagicaa offers the perfect blend of comfort, adventure, and tradition. This Navratri, it promises to be the ultimate destination for creating magical memories.


Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins Opens in the Heart of the CBD

Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins Opens in the Heart of the CBD

By Hariharan U

Published on September 21, 2025

Melbourne has welcomed a new neighbour to its buzzing CBD with the opening of Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ first dual-branded development in Australia, alongside the new Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street Mall, the 179-room property blends heritage character with contemporary design to create a stay that’s uniquely Melbourne.

The hotel is built behind four carefully preserved heritage façades, Diamond House, the Public Benefit Bootery, Allan’s, and the York Building – weaving the stories of jewellers, bootmakers, and retailers into a vibrant new hospitality experience. Each Hotel Indigo property reflects its neighbourhood, and here, Melbourne’s layered history and laneway culture set the tone.

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The opening of Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins is a landmark moment for the revitalisation of Bourke Street Mall and surrounding laneways, and an opportunity for us to showcase exactly what the Hotel Indigo brand brings to Melbourne: a design-forward, neighbourhood-first experience,” shared General Manager, Scott Hamilton.

Developed by Steadfast Capital with interiors by global design firm Buchan and construction by Hickory, the property showcases a mix of intimate lobby spaces, interconnected areas, a courtyard, and dining destinations. Design nods to Melbourne’s past are everywhere – monkey motifs pay tribute to E.W. Cole’s famous Book Arcade, while a spiral staircase recalls Sidney Myer’s drapery store. Guests can also admire a three-storey Cabinet of Curiosities mural by Melbourne-based artist Lisa King, featuring symbolic nods to the city’s icons like the Australian Open and Queen Victoria Market.

 Guest rooms at Hotel Indigo combine style with thoughtful details. From coin-inspired room numbers engraved with E.W. Cole quotes to terrazzo side tables made from recycled Skyy Vodka bottles, every element ties back to Melbourne’s story. Rooms are equipped with modern comforts such as Wi-Fi, Chromecast-enabled TVs, and locally sourced minibar offerings from Little Lon Gin Distillery. Guests can choose from standard and premium rooms, as well as balcony suites that open to views of Little Collins Street.

 Beyond its rooms, Hotel Indigo offers amenities such as The Meeting Room for intimate gatherings, a fitness centre, and direct access to Melbourne Walk retail precinct, home to JD Sport’s largest Southern Hemisphere store and Pop Mart’s designer art toys. Its location puts guests within easy reach of the city’s arts, dining, and sporting attractions, with public transport at the doorstep and Melbourne Airport just 21 kilometres away.

With its opening, Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins not only adds a fresh chapter to IHG’s growing Australian presence but also brings a bold, design-led sanctuary that reflects Melbourne’s culture, history, and creativity. Guests booking the Opening Special can enjoy breakfast for two for just $1 extra on top of the best flexible rate.


Lemon Tree Hotels Expands in Bihar with New Gaya Property

Lemon Tree Hotels Expands in Bihar with New Gaya Property

By Hariharan U

Published on September 18, 2025

Lemon Tree Hotels has announced the signing of its latest property Lemon Tree Hotel, Gaya, Bihar. The upcoming hotel will feature 56 well-appointed rooms, a restaurant, banquet and meeting facilities, along with a swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, and other public spaces. The property will be managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited, the management arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited.

Strategically located, the hotel offers easy access to both Bodhgaya Airport (14 km) and Gaya Railway Station (6 km), while being well-connected by road for public and private transport.

Commenting on the signing, Kapil Sharma, Executive Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer, Lemon Tree Hotels, said, “With this signing, we further enhance and strengthen our footprint in Bihar, where we operate one hotel and have one more upcoming. This aligns with our strategy of expanding our brand across the country to delight our guests with comfortable options.”

Lemon Tree Hotels has steadily grown since its first 49-room property in 2004. Today, the group welcomes over 1.5 million guests annually across 110+ operational hotels in 75+ cities in India and overseas, with a pipeline of 110+ upcoming properties. Its network spans metro hubs such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, along with tier II and III cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, Kochi, and Indore. Internationally, Lemon Tree Hotels is present in Dubai, Bhutan, and Nepal.

With the new signing in Gaya, Lemon Tree continues to build on its reputation for comfort, consistency, and refreshing hospitality — serving both business and leisure travellers alike.

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