The Hyatt family grows with a new upper-midscale brand, resorts celebrate their imperfections, and fatal air accidents are on the rise. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Hyatt adds a new upper-midscale hotel brand
Hyatt Select rendering; courtesy of Hyatt
On the heels of its acquisition of all-inclusive owner and operator Playa Hotels & Resorts, the Hyatt family of brands is growing, writes The Points Guy. Hyatt has announced Hyatt Select, a new upper-midscale, select-service brand launching in the Americas. Designed for short-term travelers, Hyatt Select will offer complimentary breakfast, a 24-hour market, and efficient, comfortable guestrooms with workspaces and high-speed internet. It will join Hyatt’s Essentials portfolio, alongside Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, and the newly launched Hyatt Studios, which caters to extended-stay travelers. Hyatt Select is also positioned as an owner-friendly brand that’s cost-efficient and flexible—a boon for developers looking to build a new hotel from the ground up or convert an existing property. “For Hyatt, launching a new brand is never just about adding to our portfolio—it’s about strengthening our network in a way that benefits both owners and guests,” says Jim Chu, Hyatt’s chief growth officer.
Airline safety report reveals rise in fatal accidents
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
A new International Air Transport Association (IATA) report highlights a significant increase in fatal air accidents in 2024, reports Skift. Seven fatal crashes resulted in 244 onboard deaths, compared to just one in 2023 with 72 fatalities. However, the five-year average of 144 deaths per year offers broader context, with 2024’s fatality risk index at 0.06, still below the five-year average of 0.10. IATA also noted a 175 percent surge in global navigation satellite system (GNSS) interference and a 500 percent rise in GPS spoofing incidents, particularly in Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt. The all-accident rate was 1.3 per million flights, slightly worse than 2023 but better than the five-year average. Despite these challenges, IATA maintains that commercial air travel remains the safest form of transport.
Zaha Hadid Architects reveals winning masterplan for Napoli Porta Est
Zaha Hadid Architects’ Napoli Porta Est masterplan; rendering courtesy of BrickVisual
Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has unveiled the Napoli Porta Est masterplan, a transformative project aimed at revitalizing eastern Naples in Italy, reports Designboom. The ambitious plan seeks to reconnect the city’s fragmented urban fabric by converting more than 74 acres of derelict industrial land into vibrant public spaces, including a new urban park and repurposed railway yards. Central to the design are two fluid-form towers—integrated with public amenities such as a conference center, cinema, and commercial areas—housing the new Campania Region headquarters. Collaborating with landscape architect Martha Schwartz, ZHA plans to introduce extensive green spaces featuring native vegetation to enhance biodiversity and promote sustainability.
Resorts embrace their natural landscapes
Playa Viva in Mexico; photo courtesy of Playa Viva
Luxury resorts are shifting away from artificial beachscapes and embracing native ecosystems for sustainability and resilience, according to The New York Times. The idea of a pristine white sandy beach is often entirely manufactured. But now, several resorts are celebrating their imperfections. Take Mexico’s Playa Viva, where a native beachscape has always been part of the property’s ethos. Here, bungalows are set within a more natural landscape featuring sea grape, which offers a robust root system. Meanwhile, at Song Saa in Cambodia, the team replanted and regrew everything, including mangroves, using samples from nearby islands. “These forests are vital to the surrounding ecosystems, as they are one of the most effective carbon-capture ecosystems on earth, plus they stop erosion of the coastlines,” says Song Saa owner Melita Koulmandas.
ICYMI: Hospitality Design announces Design Firm and Hotelier of the Year
Warren Street Hotel in New York, designed by hotelier Kit Kemp, HD’s Hotelier of the Year; photo by Simon Brown Photography
Meyer Davis has been named Hospitality Design’s 2025 Design Firm of the Year. Known for their sophisticated yet timeless approach, the studio, helmed by Will Meyer and Gray Davis, has elevated projects for brands like Four Seasons, Auberge Resorts, and recently Arlo. Kit Kemp of Firmdale Hotels has been named Hotelier of the Year. Alongside her husband, Tim, Kemp has created a portfolio of eclectic, design-driven, and art-infused hotels in London and New York, including the recently opened Warren Street Hotel in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. Both will be honored as part of the 21st annual HD Awards program, held on May 6th at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during HD Expo + Conference. (Register today!)
