Latest news: Shinola to Indy; Minor brands add China; big investment in Indonesia

Shinola to Indianapolis. Detroit-based Shinola will expand its hospitality footprint with the opening of the second Shinola Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. The 170-room, 13-story hotel is being developed by Bedrock Manufacturing (Shinola’s parent company), Sage Hospitality (operator of the Shinola Hotel in Detroit) and Boxcar Development (an investment group led by the Herb Simon family, which also owns Pacers Sports & Entertainment). Construction is expected to be completed in 2027. The hotel is part of a $300 million development project which will also house a 4,000-seat live entertainment venue at the long-blighted corner of Pennsylvania and Georgia Streets in downtown Indianapolis.

NLRB withdraws appeal. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) withdrew its appeal from a US federal court ruling blocking its joint-employer final rule. The rule would have made it easier for the NLRB to declare joint-employment status in business relationships and allowed unions to organize by company rather than property by property. “Today marks a huge victory in our fight to preserve the franchise business model for hoteliers across the country,” said American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Interim President and CEO Kevin Carey. “The NLRB’s decision to withdraw its appeal will provide our industry with the certainty we have been asking for and protect the franchise business model that has paved the way to the American Dream for tens of thousands of hoteliers. We couldn’t have achieved this outcome without the support of our 30,000-plus dedicated members, and AHLA stands ready to fight any further NLRB attempts to change the joint-employer standard.”

Tivoli, NH to NW China. Minor Hotels (China) has signed a deal for a Tivoli and NH dual-branded property in Yining, Xinjiang, China, marking the debut of the two brands in Northwest China when the property opens in 2026. The project, covering 1.6 million square meters , will include 200 guest rooms for each property.

Big investment in Indonesia. The Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) of the Republic of Indonesia has entered into a partnership with UAE’s Eagle Hills to invest up to $3 billion in Indonesia’s tourism ecosystem and infrastructure. Key aspects of the collaboration include upgrading state-owned hotels to international standards. The MoU will be effective for one year, with the possibility of extension through mutual agreement. There is no fixed timeframe for the $3 billion investment, allowing for flexibility in implementation. This collaboration marks a milestone in Indonesia’s efforts to attract foreign investment and expertise to bolster its tourism industry, potentially reshaping the country’s tourism landscape in the coming years. It is part of a broader drive by the Ministry of SOEs to increase collaboration between Indonesian SOEs and global companies to boost productivity and impact for Indonesia.