Universal targets UK with ‘value’ Aventura Hotel


Ben Ireland ben.ireland@travelweekly.co.uk


Universal Orlando Resort has unveiled a new “affordable” hotel aimed at the UK market.


The 16-storey, 600-room


Aventura Hotel is scheduled to open in summer 2018, increasing the resort’s bedstock by almost 11% to 6,200 rooms. The hotel will have a curved,


glass design, a pool, 13 kids’ suites and fitness centre as well as three bars, a coffee shop and the resort’s first rooftop bar and grill. Russ Dagon, executive project


director at Universal Studios Parks & Resorts, said customer demand


Minor Hotels sets sights on expanding portfolio to 230 hotels


Minor Hotels is planning to add at least 50 properties to its portfolio over the next five years. The expansion plan will see the


group’s brands move into new destinations, with Anantara’s first foray into Europe and the launch of two Tivoli properties in the Middle East. The latter will be the first Tivoli hotels outside Portugal and Brazil. Michael Marshall, chief commercial officer at Minor Hotels, said: “We already have 37 Anantara properties but we want that to increase to 60 and 10 of those locations are already being plotted and planned.


28 travelweekly.co.uk 17 November 2016


ESSQUE ZALU ZANZIBAR: A Minor Hotels group property


“The group has 155 hotels and


we aim to increase that to between 200 and 230 within five years.” The locations of the new Tivoli


properties in the Middle East are yet to be revealed. Anantara Vilamoura Algarve


Resort will open in April 2017. minorhotels.com


had been for a cheaper place to stay at the park. He said: “Our existing properties


are ideal for shorter stays. But if people want to stay longer, then they are looking for more value.” Universal says it plans to offer UK agents, who are its number-one international sellers, a fam trip to Orlando when the hotel opens. Dagon said guests would get


“Our existing properties are ideal for shorter stays, but people staying longer want more value”


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