Airbnb makes privacy a priority, Las Vegas’ new stadium will resemble an armadillo, and restaurateur Danny Meyer tries his hand at indoor golf. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Danny Meyer takes a swing at indoor golf
Danny Meyer, founder and executive chairman, Union Square Hospitality Group; photo by Jeff Wojtasek
Restaurateur Danny Meyer, known for New York restaurants like Union Square Cafe and burger chain Shake Shack, is betting big on indoor golf. Meyer’s investment firm, Enlightened Hospitality Group, has invested $20 million in Five Iron Golf, an indoor golf and entertainment company with 24 locations across 13 states, including its new flagship location at Grand Central Station in New York. “What they’re doing with golf is what we’ve always tried to do with restaurants,” Meyer told CNBC, “which is to make something more accessible to more people with quality.” The new location will comprise 15 golf simulators, two full bars, food, and a lounge area with other games. It’s part of growing trend in hospitality of mixing sports with food and drinks and one in which Meyer thinks he can perfect using his F&B expertise.
Catch up on the latest hotel news
The Life House Palm Springs, designed in-house; photo courtesy of Life House
In the world of hotels, some brands are making big moves while others are reevaluating what to do next. Hyatt’s deal with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) will officially end in May, and, at the same time, it was announced that SLH would instead join forces with Hilton and its Hilton Honors program, writes The Points Guy.
This comes on the heels of another big announcement from Hilton—one that had been rumored for some time. The hotel company recently purchased Graduate Hotels for $210 million—a rare acquisition for Hilton, which, in the past, has organically launched its own brands. “With thousands of colleges and universities around the world, we believe the addressable market for the Graduate brand is 400–500 hotels globally,” Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta said in a statement.
In other financial news, Choice Hotels has abandoned its $8 billion hostile takeover bid of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Had it been successful, the acquisition would have been a massive merger in the budget hotel space, writes Forbes.
Finally, Skift reports that Life House founder Rami Zeidan has resigned as the hotel startup’s CEO amid complaints from owners who use its software and services. Zeidan founded Life House in 2017, touting it as a tech-savvy departure from other hospitality companies by providing software to hotel owners to help them boost profitability by streamlining operations and tasks like revenue management. Christopher Cave, the former CEO of online travel agency FlightHub, was named interim CEO.
Airbnb bans indoor security cameras
Photo courtesy of Airbnb
Airbnb has banned the use of all indoor security cameras in its listings worldwide, reports The New York Times. This is an update to its current policy, which allowed devices to be installed in common areas, like hallways and living rooms, as long as the hosts disclosed them to guests before booking. The policy stated that they had to be visible and were not allowed in sleeping areas or bathrooms. The update, which takes effect at the end of April, prohibits security cameras anywhere inside the properties, even if visible. After being in consultation with guests, hosts, and privacy experts, the company said in a statement that it was making privacy a priority.
The new A’s stadium gets the BIG treatment
A rendering of the new ballpark for the Athletics in Las Vegas, a collaboration between BIG and HNTB; rendering courtesy of BIG
A new ballpark for the Athletics (A’s) will be designed by BIG in collaboration with engineering firm HNTB, writes Dezeen. The Major League Baseball (MLB) team announced that it was moving from Oakland, California to Sin City following the 2024 season, and the Danish architecture firm—known for its inventive and innovative take on design—has dreamed up a stadium that resembles an armadillo. With seating up to 33,000, it will feature a massive dome clad in metal that is made up of five overlapping forms, with a glass wall hanging from one end that offers views of the Strip. “Our design for the new Vegas home for the A’s is conceived in response to the unique culture and climate of the city,” firm founder Bjarke Ingels said. “Five pennant arches enclose the ballpark—shading from the Nevada sun while opening to the soft daylight from the north.” This news comes as Las Vegas continues to reinvent itself with new entertainment venues like the Sphere and showstopping hotels, including the recently opened Fontainebleau.
HD/West Elm Student Product Design Competition deadline extended
The deadline for the HD/West Elm Student Product Design Competition has been extended by a week to Friday, March 22nd. This year, entrants are tasked with designing a barstool intended for hospitality and commercial spaces. Submit today! The winning designer will receive a $5,000 prize and have their product produced by West Elm. In addition, they will be featured in the May/June 2024 issue of Hospitality Design magazine and honored at the HD Awards ceremony on April 30th at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas during HD Expo + Conference. Buy tickets to the ceremony. Also, check back next week as HD reveals the products and projects finalists of its 20th annual HD Awards.
