New Year Forecast

Here we sit excitedly on the cusp of the new year. 2016 has been a successful year for new hotels in Israel, and we're confident that 2017 will be even better. We've got high-profile openings in store like the Isrotel Orient Jerusalem and the W Tel Aviv, along with the Publica Herzliya, the Setai Tel Aviv and maybe even the Setai on the Kinneret, too. Perhaps some of those developments in Bat Yam will come to fruition, too. Oh, and the Leonardo Plaza Jerusalem may finally transition into a Herods. What won't be happening: the Four Seasons Jerusalem, the Kempinski Tel Aviv, the W Jerusalem, or the AC Marriott Herzliya. But that's even more to look forward too. We're sure that there will be more announcements from Atlas Hotels (Betzalel Hotel Jerusalem may have just snuck in before the end of the year- and boy, we're ready to check in. Look at those rooms with the sun decks!). And Leon Avigad from Brown Hotels definitely has more up his sleeve, too. We'd love to see some more international chains breaking ground in Israel, especially with the Starwood- Marriott marriage. We'd love to see some new hotels pop up outside of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, too. Especially now, Haifa could use a boost in tourism, and some new hotel projects could bring some much needed excitement to the area. And while we're at it, let's look south. For all that it is one of the fastest-growing cities in Israel, with the fastest-growing university in the country and a vibrant start-up scene, Beersheba still has one hotel. And no, it's not a nice hotel. So Israeli hoteliers- this year, let's look outside of the box. Or not. As we like to say, any new hotel is a good hotel. Happy New Year!