NORTH QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA—Accor will bring the Fairmont brand to Australia for the first time, with the announcement that the Fairmont Port Douglas is set to open in Far North Queensland in 2023. Set on the edge of two UNESCO World Heritage sites—the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest—the hotel has been sustainably designed to give back to the environment. “We are excited to bring the extraordinary Fairmont brand to Australia and are confident that Fairmont Port Douglas will deliver a new level of luxury and sophistication to one of the country’s most glamourous resort towns,” said Simon McGrath, Chief...

NAYARIT, MEXICO—Mexico’s coveted Riviera Nayarit welcomes a bright new era in hospitality with the official opening of Conrad Punta de Mita—Hilton’s first-ever Conrad brand resort in Mexico, and the second Conrad brand property in the country. Situated beside the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific on a two-mile-long beach, the highly anticipated opening of the 324-room property invites travelers to discover contemporary luxury. “The opening of Conrad Punta de Mita marks an important milestone for Hilton, as we bring Conrad-level style, service and experiences to the shores of Riviera Nayarit,” said Jorge Giannattasio, Hilton’s Senior Vice President and Head of Operations,...

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, announces the opening of its newest hotel, Hyatt Place National Harbor. Located within the 350-acre shopping, dining and entertainment destination of National Harbor, Maryland, this seven-story, 156-room all-suite hotel has picturesque views of a lively waterfront, on-site dining, fitness center and 1,900 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. The Hyatt Place National Harbor is on track to achieve LEED certification. The on-site restaurant, Bar Harbor, offers a casual dining experience featuring artisan pizzas and exceptional tacos paired with local microbrews. With spectacular views of the Potomac River, the spacious outdoor...

EL PASO, TEXAS—In El Paso, Texas, a historic hotel built in 1912, Hotel Paso del Norte (Marriott Autograph Collection), has been undergoing a multi-million-dollar, multi-year renovation to bring it to the grandeur of yesteryear with a wide array of modern amenities. As part of the final touches before re-opening later this year, the hotel will be among the world’s first Marriott Autograph Collection Hotels to install a state-of-the-art air filtration system throughout the hotel’s entire HVAC system. The Plasma Air system has been shown to remove 99 percent of bacteriophage in the air after 10 minutes of use. Common...

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY—Deutsche Hospitality’s young Danish economy brand Zleep Hotels is to launch in Switzerland. Construction work on the new build Zleep Hotel Zurich Kloten is scheduled for completion in 2023. The hotel will be located in a new quarter near to Zurich Airport, which will also be home to a restaurant, retail outlets and privately owned apartments. There will be 90 rooms, a generously proportioned lobby complete with a breakfast area and a bar. The Zleep Hotel Zurich Kloten will also introduce the “Hygge Standard” to the Swiss hotel sector for the first time. Transport links will...

NEW YORK—One of Europe’s most anticipated launches of 2020, Villa Copenhagen, officially opened its doors in the heart of Denmark’s capital city on July 1. Housed in the century-old Danish Post and Telegraph office, adjacent to Tivoli Gardens, the 390-room Villa Copenhagen is a Grande Dame hotel for the 21st century, offering approachable, conscious luxury through a commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and meaningful experiences that connect guests to the landscape, culture, and energy of the city. “This project has proven to be a labor of love and, in many ways, is testament to Copenhagen’s resilient spirit. We...

LAAMU, MALDIVES—After 10 weeks of exploring the oceans around Six Senses Laamu, the first series of the online Junior Marine Biology program has made a satisfying splash. What’s more, it is not too late to dive in, as all classes were recorded, which means they can be taken any time, and in any order. The online Junior Marine Biology program is a series of free web-based classes, made up of short informative videos, activities to do at home and one-on-one feedback by the team of 10 marine biologists at the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI). Each class explored a different topic, from...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The Element Orlando Universal Blvd., part of the Marriott International brand of hotels, opened at ICON Park in Orlando, Fla. on June 29, 2020. The eight-story hotel features 165 guest suites with its focus on sustainability, wellness, and caters to today’s healthy and active traveler. The guestrooms of the new extended-stay hotel in Orlando are ideally suited for business and leisure travelers. The hotel features 165 studio and one-bedroom suites that offer fully equipped energy-efficient kitchens with full-sized Energy-Star rated appliances. Standard room kitchenettes feature microwaves, mini-fridges, and toaster ovens. All guestrooms and suites include 55” LCD TVs with...

TORONTO—The 144-room Element Toronto Airport will open tomorrow across the street from the Toronto Pearson International Airport’s Terminal 3. Located at 6257 Airport Road, this new all suite extended stay hotel is operated as a Marriott franchise and is owned and managed by Easton’s Group of Hotels. Guests of the modern eco-conscious Element Toronto Airport can expect to enjoy in-suite water filtration systems, bikes to borrow and electric-car charging stations. Each outdoor inspired guest suite is larger than a traditional hotel room and includes a fully equipped kitchen, separate living area and workspace, oversized closets, a spa-inspired bathroom, a signature...

RIVIERA BEACH, SINGER ISLAND, FLA.—Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa has earned Green Key Global’s ultimate honor: a 4 Green Keys rating. It is the first hotel in Palm Beach County to achieve the designation, which is reserved for hotels that show national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through wide-ranging policies and practices. Coupled with Marriott’s Commitment to Clean, spearheaded by the Marriott Cleanliness Council, the resort is committed to providing guests with a safe environment that aligns with expert protocols for working to defeat COVID-19. Green Key Global is a leading international environmental...