LAUNCHING a major development effort for one of its newest brand offerings Wyndham Hotel Group is to manage three new-construction Planet Hollywood Hotels in the Middle East, Central America and Asia.
The proposed hotels will be located in Doha, Qatar, Panama City, Panama and Boao, China and each will be operated by Wyndham Hotel Management or one of its sister companies.
The announcement marks the inaugural expansion of Planet Hollywood Hotels following the signing of a licence agreement in September 2010 granting Wyndham Hotel Group exclusive rights to franchise Planet Hollywood branded hotels and provide management services globally.
“When we entered into the agreement to franchise and manage the Planet Hollywood Hotels brand just a few short months ago, we pledged to bring this dynamic, entertainment-based offering to key business and leisure destinations around the world,” said Eric Danziger, Wyndham Hotel Group president and chief executive officer. “To have three properties in the development pipeline so quickly is an incredible testament to the power of the Planet Hollywood brand as well as Wyndham Hotel Group’s ability to develop hotels and grow brands globally.”
The Planet Hollywood brand was founded in 1989 by Robert Earl, chairman of Planet Hollywood International, Planet Hollywood Resorts International and the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The group capitalises on the global appeal of movies, sports, celebrity and entertainment-based themes.
“We elected to work with Wyndham Hotel Group because of the company’s formidable scale and expertise as a global brand-builder, in an effort to further solidify the future of the Planet Hollywood Hotels brand,” said Earl. “I am delighted to see our strategy bearing fruit in such a short period of time and look forward to additional expansion opportunities in key markets.”
Located near Entertainment City, Qatar’s widely known theme park, the Planet Hollywood Hotel Entertainment City will feature approximately 300 guest rooms, restaurant, café, lounge, meeting facilities, fitness centre, spa and pool. Owner Regency Group Holdings expects the hotel to open in 2014. The new property will expand Wyndham’s presence in Qatar’s capital city, joining the soon-to-open Wyndham Grand Regency Doha and the Ramada Encore Doha, both also owned by Regency Group Holdings, as well as the Ramada Plaza Doha.