Nobu to Open Five New Hotels in 2018
Date: January 2018
Location: Marbella, Spain; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Los Cabos, Mexico; Chicago, USA; Barcelona, Spain
Name: Nobu Hotel
Nobu Hotel, Marbella, Spain
No. of Keys: 752
Who: Nobu Hotels – owners, Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, started the company in 2009. Currently seven hotels open, with five new ones in the pipeline. London opened in 2017 and plans to make this 15 hotels by 2020, with more hotels in Atlanta, Toronto, Sao Paulo, and Bahrain.
The Nobu empire, was valued at US$500m after an investment by Australian entertainment group Crown Resorts (James Packer, although just a few days ago James Packer stepped down from Crown resorts citing health issues) in October 2015 for 20% of the company, when they paid Aus$ 140.8m for their stake.
Crown venues already host three of the world’s 32 Nobu restaurants, and one of its nine hotels.
The remaining 80% share of Nobu is held by entities associated with Matsuhisa, De Niro and Teper. The Company is run by Trevor Horwell and Struan Mckenzie.
Launching in Q1 2018, Nobu Hotel Marbella will be exclusively for grown-ups and this will be Nobu Hotels’ second resort in Spain, following the launch of sister property in Ibiza earlier this year.
The resort offers chic guest rooms and suites overlooking the excitement of the Plaza, a private rooftop pool, beach, spa, fitness, tennis, endless recreational activities including an exclusive access to the hottest nightclub in Costa del Sol.
Following suit in Q2, Nobu Hotel Riyadh will be an urban oasis in the heart of the city. The modern 23-story glass-panelled skyscraper will offer 134 guestrooms and suites.
In the Mexican resort region of Los Cabos is the next to play host to Nobu’s first hotel in Mexico. With 200 guest rooms and suites, Nobu Hotel Los Cabos opens to expansive views of a magnificent beachfront on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
Situated in the vibrant area of Chicago’s west loop, Nobu Hotel Chicago will offer 119 guest rooms and suites, Nobu Hotel Chicago will play host to a 10,000-square foot ground floor Nobu restaurant with an indoor and outdoor bar opening out on to Randolph’s famed Restaurant Row.
Nobu Hotel Barcelona, their 3rd hotel in Spain, will be set in a prime central location. With an integrated mix of a Nobu Hotel and Restaurant, the Nobu Hotel Barcelona will offer 250 rooms and suites, as well a Nobu restaurant offering panoramic views of its iconic locale from the majestic heights of the 23rd floor.
THPT Comment: Interesting history when famous chef meets movie star and ends up with a serious business empire.
Nobu Matsuhisa outside his La Cienga restaurant in 1987
First Seen: Travel for Senses and The Guardian (UK)