Miscellaneous resort projects
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Work is progressing on the transformation of one section of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa into a Disney Vacation Club tower. Let’s take a look at the construction progress as of today (May 21st)

The expansion of The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa includes 200 proposed resort studios, a Disney Vacation Club room type unique to this property. The new resort studio accommodations, which are expected to open in late June 2022, rise regally in 1890s Victorian splendor on Seven Seas Lagoon, a scenic stroll away from Magic Kingdom in the heart of Walt Disney World.

Source: https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2022/05/21/grand-floridian-dvc-conversion-update/

Merlin Entertainments property, Warwick Castle has been given planning permission for their new hotel planned to open in 2023.

This month (May 2022) Warwick Castle was given the greenlight by Warwick District Council to construct a 60-bedroom hotel at the visitor attraction’s site. To fit in the castle’s historic surroundings, the hotel is set to be medieval-themed and will be spread across two storeys. The hotel will be situated in prime space within the castle’s main carpark. The hotel will also be linked by walkway to the Castle’s Knights Village restaurant, which is set to undergo an expansion to accommodate the extra guests.

Work on the new guest accommodation is expected to commence later this year, and be ready to open the public by the end of 2023.

Source: https://www.experienceuk.org/blog/warwick-castle-gets-greenlight-for-onsite-hotel

In its quest to redefine tourism at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has inked a deal to bring an international entertainment company to the United States for the first time. Tribal Council and international theme park company Puy du Fou have signed a letter of intent to develop a new "spectacular immersive show" as part of a 200-acre development located at Exit 407 south of Interstate 40 on the way to the Smokies.

The 407 partners have estimated the development could attract 6.7 million visitors in the first year after phase one is complete. That's expected sometime in 2024.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is developing "The 407: Gateway to Adventure" just off Interstate 40 in Sevier County. This rendering shows initial design plans partners hope will feel immersive and nostalgic. The developers are seeking world-class entertainment venues for phase one of the project, which also will include the largest Buc-ee's travel center in the country.

Knoxville-based OE Experiences represents Kituwah and The 407 in its search for world-class entertainment partners for the property. Now that initial funding is assured more hotels, restaurants, retail and attractions will be announced later this year, a release said. The tribe also purchased 122 acres on the north side of the interstate. It purchased both properties for about $21 million.

Sources: https://eu.knoxnews.com/story/money/2022/05/10/puy-du-fou-open-theme-park-cherokee-indians-smoky-mountains/9679895002/ & https://eu.knoxnews.com/story/money/2022/05/05/smoky-mountains-home-puy-du-fou-theme-park-first-us-attraction/9616769002/

Storyland Studios has been selected to master plan and design Sports Illustrated Hotels and Resorts, which will debut worldwide as early as 2023.

The first Sports Illustrated Resort will be located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with an expected opening date in 2023. Following that, a resort in Orlando, Fla., will highlight some of the most iconic sports moments and celebrated athletes through interactive visitor attractions, high-quality dining, and lifestyle and wellness experiences. Additional U.S. locations are also being considered for future Sports Illustrated Resorts, including Hawaii.

Source: https://attractionsmagazine.com/plans-announced-for-all-new-sports-illustrated-resorts/

Another MSG Sphere (like the one under construction in Las Vegas) has been put forward for a site in Stratford, East London, UK.

As well as being a global destination for arts, music and entertainment, one of the many reasons MSG Entertainment chose Stratford is because it is one of the best-connected parts of London.

On 22 March 2022, our proposals for MSG Sphere were recommended for planning permission by the LLDC Planning Decisions Committee, and we look forward to progressing onto the next steps in the approval process.

With a scalable capacity of up to 17,500 seated, or 21,500 with a mix of seated and standing, MSG Sphere would attract a wide variety of artists and content. We look forward to delivering something for everyone: concerts, residencies, immersive experiences, family shows, corporate events, award shows, product launches and select sporting events.

In addition to the main venue, our plans for MSG Sphere include:
• Publicly-accessible outdoor spaces – including a nature play space for children, seating areas, and an outdoor gym
• A range of indoor dining and entertainment options – a smaller music club/nightclub, retail space, a café, and restaurants

Source: https://london.msg.com/our-plans/

New Disney Vacation Club resort being built at Walt Disney World as part of the Polynesian Village Resort expansion. The new hotel and pool will open in 2024 according to the permit.

A new permit filed with the state of Florida reveals more about the upcoming Disney Vacation Club tower coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The new building will be located on the west side of the existing Polynesian Village Resort property, taking over the closed Spirit of Aloha dinner show space.

Looking closer, we can see where the pool will be located. We can also see that there will be no new monorail station for this building. Guests will use the existing monorail station at the Great Ceremonial House similar to how guests at Bay Lake Tower use the monorail station at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Source: https://blogmickey.com/2022/04/permit-reveals-location-size-and-shape-of-new-polynesian-village-disney-vacation-club-tower/

Palawan Sands by The Shangri-La Group is going to developed in Singapore.

The Shangri-La Group will develop its first standalone lifestyle and entertainment precinct, Palawan Sands, on Sentosa Island in Singapore. Slated to open in 2023, it will be home to several new-to-Singapore leisure activities.

There will be a host of lifestyle entertainment and exciting food and beverage options, accompanied by Shangri-La’s hallmark hospitality. Taking pole position at Palawan Sands is HyperDrive, South-east Asia’s first-ever gamified electric Go-Kart circuit featuring an eco-friendly fleet of electric karts on a three-level racetrack.

Palawan Sands will also be home to two unique beach clubs, each catering to different audiences. The first is a sandcastle-themed family beach club. Complementing that is the +Twelve, which will feature an iconic swim-up bar in the main pool overlooking the shoreline of Palawan beach, and 12 terraced private cabanas, each with their own plunge pool.

Other attractions are UltraGolf, a brand-new 18-hole mini golf course, and HydroDash, Singapore’s very first floating aqua water theme park. More details on food and beverage options at Palawan Sands will be shared closer to opening.

Source: https://www.ttgasia.com/2022/04/08/shangri-la-gets-bigger-in-the-business-of-fun-on-sentosa/

It's been the subject of quiet speculation among diplomats and executives for years, but now global casino bosses are setting their sights on a once improbable prize: gambling in the United Arab Emirates

Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), one of the smaller and lesser-known of the seven emirates, said earlier this year that it planned to regulate gaming in some resorts. On the same day, Las Vegas casino giant Wynn Resorts said it would build a resort licensed for gaming, or gambling, on a man-made island.

The announcements could mark a watershed moment for the Gulf, a region that has traditionally imposed stricter Islamic rules than other parts of the Middle East, and one where gambling has long been off-limits.

About 10 km along Dubai's coast from the Caesars resort, digging has begun on another artificial outcrop to support a luxury resort by Las Vegas gambling stalwart MGM Resorts International. When asked whether it would consider introducing gaming at the resort, MGM said "gaming has not been part of the planning and there are no updates to our plans".

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/now/vegas-macau-dubai-global-casinos-051044127.html

Four Seasons and Diriyah Gate Development Authority announce plans for new luxury hotel in Saudi Arabia’s most historic destination

Four Seasons Hotel Diriyah, Saudi Arabia will include approximately 150 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, expansive meeting and event spaces, a wellness spa with seven treatment rooms and a fitness centre, as well as two outdoor pools with private cabanas. The Hotel will also offer four culinary outlets, including a poolside restaurant and Sunset lounge.

The Diriyah development will become one of the Middle East’s most walkable, pedestrianized cities, and upon completion will be the world’s largest cultural and heritage site. It has been designed to honour the heritage of the area with traditional Najdi architectural design principles, including low-rise, compact and organic architecture, rooftop terraces, decorated doors, and large courtyards. Each district within the development will be highly walkable with easy connections to the sights and attractions within the area.

Source: https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/four-seasons-and-diriyah-gate-development-authority-announce-plans-for-new-luxury-hotel-in-saudi-arabias-most-historic-destination-xb0gaifh

The Gulf nation of Qatar is ramping up its investment in the arts with plans to build three more museums in Doha, including the new Lusail museum which intends to house “the world’s most extensive collection of Orientalist paintings, drawings, photography, sculptures, rare texts, and applied arts.”

The plans were announced on March 27 by Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the chairperson of the state body that oversees the Qatar Museums, during the online Doha Forum.

Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, Lusail will be dedicated to the influence of Middle Eastern and Islamic art on the wider world. The four-story building will span 559,700 square feet and will include exhibition space, an auditorium, library, and educational hubs.

The panel also touched on plans to renovate a disused flour mill on Doha’s waterfront promenade into the Art Mill, a creative campus that will feature more than 861,000 square feet of exhibition and performance space.

Source: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/qatar-lusail-auto-museum-art-mill-1234623044/