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The Purpose Hotel nears reality
Social entrepreneur Jeremy Cowart’s latest project, The Purpose Hotel, is near completion in its Kickstarter funding campaign. The project is designed to serve a charitable purpose at every step of the guest stay, Cowart told Forbes—room rates will go toward sponsoring needy children around the world. Wi-Fi upgrade proceeds will go to combat human trafficking. Artwork on the walls will be sold to benefit global social enterprises.
The Kickstarter, which closes 2 September, is intended to raise $2 million of what Cowart projects will be a $10 million total cost to turn The Purpose Hotel into reality. Cowart told Conde Nast Traveler that plans call for the hotel to be built in or near Nashville, and the initial fundraising will go toward hiring a building engineer, designers and an architect.
Denver developer taps NYC bar concept for hotel
Gravitas Development Group, based in Denver, is bringing a 50-room independent boutique hotel, The Ramble Hotel, to Denver’s RiNo neighborhood. Slated for a late-2017 opening, the hotel will have the first outpost of a popular New York City bar concept, called Death & Co, which will operate the lobby bar and the hotel’s food and beverage program.
Avenue Interior Design is directing interior design and Johnson Nathan Strohe is the project’s architect. Gravitas will operate the property.
London is next for De Niro
Actor-turned-hotelier Robert De Niro has the go-ahead for his third hotel project, this one in London. According to the Daily Mail, The Wellington Hotel in London’s Covent Garden neighborhood will have 83 guestrooms, two restaurants, a spa and a private members’ club. This will be De Niro’s third hotel, following openings in New York City and the Philippines. The hotel’s construction will involve redeveloping six existing buildings.
Deals and developments
- Michael Salyers was named GM of the Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake, New York.
- Four properties joined Small Luxury Hotels of the World in August: The Edison George Town in Penang, Malaysia; Hotel28 Myeongdong in Seoul, South Korea; LN Hotel Five in Guangzhou, China; and 1828 Smart Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Chris Jones was named GM of The Scarlet Huntington in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood. Jones previously was GM of the Marker Hotel in San Francisco.
- Scott Robison was named GM of The Embassy Row Hotel in Washington, D.C. Robison previously was assistant GM at Sheraton Tysons Hotel in Virginia.
- The Robey Hotel in Chicago is accepting reservations, with a November opening slated. The 69-room hotel in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood is operated by Mexico-based Grupo Habita.
Compiled by Stephanie Ricca.