Hyatt joins forces with Grupo Piñero, U.S. tourism is rebounding faster than expected, and the 35th annual Platinum Circle Awards gala is just around the corner. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Hyatt grows its all-inclusive portfolio
Bahia Principe Grand Punta Cana Dominican Republic; photo courtesy of Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels has struck a deal with family-owned tourism group Grupo Piñero that will increase the hotel giant’s all-inclusive room count by approximately 30 percent. According to a press release issued by Hyatt, the 50-50 joint venture will add 23 resorts, spanning a total of 12,000 guestrooms, to the company’s umbrella. Twenty-two of the properties are under the Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts brand and located across the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, and Spain. The Dominican Republic’s Cayo Levantado Resort will be added to Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection as well. The transaction is expected to close in the coming months.
Marcus Samuelsson and West Elm take their partnership up a notch
Photo courtesy of Hav & Mar
On the heels of the summer launch of Marcus Samuelsson’s 32-piece collection for West Elm, the chef and brand are taking their collaboration a step further. A special dining experience—including a three-course, family-style menu—is now being offered at Samuelsson’s seafood restaurant Hav & Mar through the end of the year. Guests who book the experience via OpenTable will dine at a table designed by Samuelsson and set with tabletop items from his line. “Every piece of my new West Elm collection is incredibly personal and bringing this piece into the restaurant feels like the perfect way to merge design and dining,” says Samuelsson. “The table serves as more than just a centerpiece—it’s an invitation for guests to connect, share stories, and enjoy memorable meals in a space that embodies creativity and community.”
U.S. on track to attract 90 million visitors by 2026
The National Mall in Washington, DC; photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
According to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, the U.S. is projected to see a whopping 90 million visitors by 2026—a year ahead of the State Department’s goal. “By next year, we’re projecting that the industry will be fully recovered from Covid,” Raimondo said at a press conference on Tuesday. Although, when inflation is taken into consideration, inbound visitor spending is not expected to fully recover until 2026, reports Skift. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also noted the progress that’s been made in reducing wait times to obtain visitor visas, which has been a priority for the U.S. travel industry as it readies to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Snøhetta designs light-filled addition at Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum
Photo by Nic Lehoux
Following a two-year closure, the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha recently unveiled a 42,000-square-foot addition designed by global firm Snøhetta in partnership with locally based practice Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture. The project adds 16,700 square feet of gallery exhibition space, 15,400 square feet of public gathering space, three acres of new and restored public gardens, and more, reports The Architect’s Newspaper. The new structure hovers above two granite garden walls and features a transparent first floor, juxtaposing the two existing monolithic buildings (a 1931 Art Deco building, designed by John and Alan McDonald, and the Suzanne and Walter Scott Pavilion, completed in 1994 by Foster + Partners).
The Platinum Circle Awards gala is one week away!
The 2023 Platinum Circle Awards gala; photo by PWP Studio
Kicking off BDNY weekend, HD’s 35th annual Platinum Circle Awards gala, which will recognize four luminaries for their contributions to the hospitality industry, takes place in just seven days. Join us on next Friday, November 8th at New York’s Lighthouse at Pier 61 as we present Liz Lambert, Tom Ito, Ave Bradley, and Alan Fuerstman with the coveted honor. Purchase your tickets to the event today!
