The top 5 stories in hospitality this week 19/09 - 23/09
What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.
- Marriott International has completed its $13.6bn merger with Starwood Hotels & Resorts creating the world's largest hotel group. The deal, which was announced almost a year ago, has seen Marriott link the loyalty schemes of each brand to allow users to transfer points between the two.
- David Muñoz - the Spanish chef behind three Michelin-starred Diver XO in Madrid - is to open his long-awaited London restaurant in November. Street XO will feature an open kitchen and showcase the chef's flamboyant cooking style when it launches in Mayfair.
- The star grading system used to rank hotels is being extended to Glamping venues as they continue to grow in popularity. Quality in Tourism, which runs the scheme, said it was extending it to cover sites such as yurts, treehouses, and converted buses to reflect the increasing interest in alternative accomodation.
- Mayfair's The Square has appointed Yu Sugimoto as executive chef six months after former owner Philip Howard's departure. Sugimoto is the first Japanese chef to head up a top European restaurant in the UK, and is reportedly planning to 'modernise' the two Michelin-starred menu.
- A new urban lifestyle hotel brand, Principal, is set to launch in 'landmark' UK properties from 1 November. It has the backing of private investment firm Starwood Capital with sites in York, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London in the pipeline.
For a full rundown of this week's news click here.
