Category Archives: Hospitality

Mumian Shaoxing Hotel Debuts in Historic 871 Chip Factory with Bespoke Art and Heritage Journeys

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(IN SHORT) Hyatt and Shenzhen Yuen Kai have unveiled Mumian Shaoxing Hotel, the latest Unbound Collection addition in Shaoxing, housed in a revitalized 871 Chip Factory. Designed by Ju Bin’s Horizontal Design, the property preserves industrial architecture while showcasing contemporary art and natural textures. Ninety guest rooms overlook a central water courtyard and feature premium… Read the full news article

Hyatt Moves to Fully Asset-Light Model with $2 Billion Playa Portfolio Deal and 50-Year Resort Contracts

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(IN SHORT) Hyatt Hotels Corp. has agreed to sell the $2 billion real estate portfolio it acquired from Playa Hotels & Resorts to Tortuga Resorts, retaining up to $143 million in earnouts and $200 million in preferred equity. The deal covers 15 all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. Hyatt will then enter… Read the full news article

Rimrock Banff Transforms into North America’s First Emblems Collection Sanctuary with $2 Billion Backing

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(IN SHORT) Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection—overlooking the Bow Valley near downtown Banff—will close in October 2025 for a full-scale renovation and relaunch as Accor’s first North American Emblems property in summer 2026. Owned by Oxford Properties Group and a capital partner, the resort has welcomed guests since the 1880s and currently blends historic allure with… Read the full news article

PATA Issues Mid-Year Asia Pacific Tourism Forecasts Highlighting 801 Million Visitors by 2027

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(IN SHORT) PATA’s Mid-Year Update to its Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2025–2027 refines its March outlook, modelling three recovery scenarios for 39 destinations amid geopolitical tensions, economic volatility and community pushback against mass tourism. Key takeaways include a projected rise from 692 million to 801 million international arrivals by 2027 under the “medium” scenario; China,… Read the full news article

Kempinski’s Bangkok and Bali Properties Lead GHA Awards for Loyalty Performance and Green Initiatives

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(IN SHORT) Kempinski Hotels swept three major prizes at the 2025 Global Hotel Alliance Awards in Brussels. Recognized for outstanding loyalty-programme engagement, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok claimed Top Property of the Year by achieving the most DISCOVERY room-night bookings, while The Apurva Kempinski Bali received the Green Collection Spotlight for its sustainability leadership. These awards… Read the full news article

Marriott and Polaris Launch Four City Express Hotels to Meet El Salvador’s Growing Demand for Midscale Lodging

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(IN SHORT) Marriott International has partnered with Corporación Polaris and Cardedeu to open four City Express by Marriott hotels in El Salvador, delivering 440 new rooms to the country’s midscale market. The properties—City Centro in downtown San Salvador, an airport-adjacent hotel, a highway-front location in Santa Elena, and a City Express Plus in San Benito—will… Read the full news article

Phuket’s Layan Life Blends Thai Healing and High-Tech Medicine in AHEAD Asia Awards Shortlist

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(IN SHORT) Layan Life by Anantara at Anantara Layan Phuket has been named a finalist in the 2025 AHEAD Asia Awards, which honor excellence in hotel design and guest innovation. The retreat’s design fuses modern medical technologies with ancient Thai healing, realized through biophilic architecture by Martin Palleros and Tierra Design and interiors by P49… Read the full news article

Villas of Distinction Unveils Legendary Hideaways Inspired by Iconic Owners

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(IN SHORT) Villas of Distinction has launched a curated portfolio of five celebrity-inspired villas for group stays: Domaine Umbrella (the former Kennedy summer home) on France’s Côte d’Azur; Emara Estate in Turks and Caicos (once Prince’s beachfront haven); Invisible House in Joshua Tree, California (desert-scape glass retreat by Chris and Roberta Hanley); Necker Island in… Read the full news article

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Winter 2026–2027 Itineraries Open: Evrima Debuts in Polynesia and Hawaii While Luminara Adds Ten Asia-Pacific Destinations

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(IN SHORT) The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has announced 32 new winter 2026–2027 voyages aboard Evrima and Luminara, including the first South Pacific and Hawaiian sailings. Evrima’s debut in French Polynesia and Hawaii will feature island-hopping itineraries from seven to twelve nights, leveraging its Marina for direct access to secluded lagoons and coral reefs alongside immersive… Read the full news article

IHG Adopts Classroom at Al Noor Centre to Sponsor Education and Training for Students of Determination

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(IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts has adopted a classroom at Dubai’s Al Noor Training Centre for People of Determination, sponsoring the SAIE Emerald Class of ten students for one year. Beginning June 24, 2025, the partnership funds transportation, specialist staff and therapies—including physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy, vocational training and vision rehabilitation—to prepare students… Read the full news article

IHG and Palm Holdings Launch Garner Hotel Haymarket to Energise Edinburgh’s West End

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(IN SHORT) IHG Hotels & Resorts has unveiled Garner Hotel Edinburgh – Haymarket, its 195-room midscale flagship in partnership with Palm Holdings. Located opposite Haymarket Station and close to major attractions like Edinburgh Castle and Murrayfield Stadium, the hotel offers reliable, essential comforts—including plush beds, blackout blinds, parking and round-the-clock snacks—alongside grab-and-go breakfasts. Ahead of… Read the full news article

The Marcus Portrush Opens as Tapestry Collection’s Debut Hotel in Portrush, Blending History and Adventure

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(IN SHORT) The Marcus Portrush, Tapestry Collection by Hilton has opened in a meticulously restored Victorian building on Northern Ireland’s Portrush coast, marking the brand’s regional debut. The 80-room hotel brings to life the adventures of “Marcus,” a fictional explorer whose narrative and artwork infuse public areas and guest rooms. An £11 million renovation preserves… Read the full news article

Canopy by Hilton Unveils First South African Hotel in Cape Town’s Historic Longkloof District

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(IN SHORT) Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof has officially opened, marking the lifestyle brand’s debut in South Africa. Situated in the rejuvenated Longkloof district, the 154-room hotel combines historic architecture with contemporary design and is ideally located near major attractions like Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, and Clifton beaches. Its signature dining venue, Ongetem—helmed… Read the full news article

New 182-Room Radisson RED on Leman Street Brings Bold Design and Sustainability to London’s East End

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(IN SHORT) Radisson Hotel Group and PPHE Hotel Group have signed an agreement for the first Radisson RED hotel in central London, located on Leman Street near Liverpool Street Station. The mixed-use development will replace two outdated office buildings with a 182-room lifestyle hotel featuring a restaurant, bar, gym, and office space. Scheduled to open… Read the full news article

Cambria Anaheim and 274 Other Choice Hotels Win Top Honors in Tripadvisor’s Prestigious Travelers’ Choice Awards

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(IN SHORT) Choice Hotels International announced that close to 300 of its properties have been honored with Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2025, placing them among the top 10% of hotels worldwide. The Cambria Hotel & Suites Anaheim Resort Area achieved an elite Best of the Best award for Family-Friendly hotels, distinguishing itself with resort… Read the full news article

INEO at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Joins Michelin Guide in Celebration of Two Years of Culinary Innovation

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(IN SHORT) INEO, the fine dining restaurant at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome, has been newly included in the Michelin Guide for June, marking a significant recognition shortly after its second anniversary. Led by Chef Heros De Agostinis—whose 25-year Michelin-starred pedigree informs a menu blending Italian produce with global techniques—the restaurant offers dishes like Maccheroncini al… Read the full news article

From Luanda to Zanzibar: Hilton Unveils Major Expansion with 160 Hotels Planned in Africa

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(IN SHORT) At the 2025 Future Hospitality Summit Africa, Hilton announced plans to grow from 63 to over 160 hotels across Africa, including more than 100 in development. Key debuts span Angola (three properties), Benin (Hilton Cotonou), Madagascar (two Antananarivo hotels), Ghana (Hampton Accra Airport; Hilton Accra Cantonments later this year), Nigeria (Curio Abuja, Lagos… Read the full news article

From Luang Prabang to the Maldives: Minor Hotels Clinches Top Honours at 2025 Travel + Leisure Awards

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(IN SHORT) At the 2025 Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific, Minor Hotels garnered 26 honours—highlighted by three top accolades—across its diverse portfolio in Laos, Vietnam, the Maldives, Thailand, and Cambodia. Standouts included Avani+ Luang Prabang (Best Pool, Best Hotel Spa, Best GM), Anantara Hoi An and Quy Nhon in Vietnam, and Anantara Kihavah… Read the full news article

Hotel Becomes Living Gallery as Jeff Robb’s Shifting Images Transform Avani Rio Novo Venice’s Social Areas

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(IN SHORT) Avani Rio Novo Venice and Cris Contini Contemporary present “Serenissima,” an exhibition of Jeff Robb’s pioneering lenticular works, on display in the hotel’s public spaces until 14 November 2025. The show features immersive installations—from classical still lifes at breakfast to shifting tulip forms in the corridors, haunting silhouettes in the restaurant, and a… Read the full news article

TUI Unveils New Blue and Suneo Resorts in Egypt and Tunisia as Part of Expansive African Rollout

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(IN SHORT) TUI Group announced the addition of two new hotels to its African portfolio: TUI Blue Samaya in Marsa Alam, Egypt, featuring 143 rooms and an aqua park, and TUI Suneo Palm Beach Skanes in Tunisia with 294 rooms and extensive gardens. The company has over 20 more African properties in development, including a… Read the full news article

Emerging Eastern European Destinations Lead Growth in Amadeus & UN Tourism’s Travel Insights 2025

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(IN SHORT) Travel Insights 2025: Focus on Europe, co-published by Amadeus and UN Tourism, reveals that emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe—led by Azerbaijan’s 26 percent year-on-year growth in air bookings—are gaining traction among international travelers. While traditional leaders like Spain, the U.K., Italy, France, and Germany continue to dominate (accounting for 71 percent… Read the full news article

Amadeus Integrates AI Chatbot into Demand360 and Automates RFP Responses in MeetingBroker

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(IN SHORT) Amadeus, in partnership with Microsoft and leveraging OpenAI’s Azure platform, is rolling out two AI-driven enhancements to its Hospitality products. The first embeds Amadeus Advisor Chat into Demand360, granting hotel teams instant, tailored insights based on data from 44,000 hotels and 35 million short-term rentals. Advisor Chat users have already reclaimed significant analyst… Read the full news article

Amadeus and Hospitality Alliance Team Up to Upskill Youth for Global Travel Careers

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(IN SHORT) Amadeus and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance are expanding their alliance to scale the Employability Program, which delivers digital and hospitality training to underprivileged youth. Launched in April with a 200-person pilot in four Indian cities in partnership with Kherwadi, the program pairs theoretical instruction with placements at local and global hotel brands…. Read the full news article

Mandarin Oriental and Pantone Debut Custom Celadon Green to Redefine Brand Experience

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(IN SHORT) Mandarin Oriental and the Pantone Color Institute have created Mandarin Oriental Celadon Green, a bespoke hue inspired by ancient celadon ceramics. This new signature colour forms the cornerstone of Mandarin Oriental’s refreshed brand identity, marrying the group’s Asian craftsmanship heritage with a modern, calming aesthetic. Announced on 18 June 2025, the launch features… Read the full news article

Marriott Unveils Plans for 50+ New African Hotels and Entry into Five New Countries

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(IN SHORT) Marriott International plans to bolster its African presence with 50+ new hotels (9,000+ rooms) by 2027, entering five new markets: Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Mauritania. The expansion emphasizes select-service brands—Protea Hotels by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton—alongside conversions constituting over 30% of the pipeline. North… Read the full news article

Masterpieces & the Mediterranean: Exclusive Art Encounters Aboard The Ritz-Carlton Superyacht

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(IN SHORT) Masterpieces & the Mediterranean is a one-off auction experience melding The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s luxury yachting with Sotheby’s art expertise. From October 17–24, 2025, the winner and a guest will sail aboard Luminara—enjoying the Owner’s Suite, gourmet dining (including Chef Fabio Trabocchi’s Italian tasting menu), spa treatments, and curated wine tastings. The bespoke… Read the full news article

The Soaltee Kathmandu Joins Autograph Collection, Showcasing Nepalese Heritage in Modern Luxury

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(IN SHORT) Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection has debuted in South Asia with The Soaltee Kathmandu, Autograph Collection, located on 12 acres in Kathmandu’s Tahachal area. The historic 1966 property features 285 uniquely appointed rooms and suites overlooking the Himalayas, Swayambhunath Stupa, and manicured gardens. A “Storyteller” installation animates the hotel’s public spaces with personal narratives… Read the full news article

NoMad London Unveils Twenty8 NoMad: Wood-Fired NYC Flavors in a Modern Victorian Setting

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(IN SHORT) NoMad London launches Twenty8 NoMad, a New York–inspired bistro in its historic 28 Bow Street home. Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the restaurant evokes a contemporary palm court with rattan detailing, greenery, and a central wood-burning hearth. Its menu—overseen by Bryce Shuman, Zak Gregoire, and Martha Hernandez—features NYC classics reimagined: Union Square–style crudités, Little… Read the full news article

Victorian Building Restoration Completes Hotel del Coronado’s Major $550 Million Makeover

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(IN SHORT) Hotel del Coronado has completed its Victorian building restoration, the final phase of Blackstone Real Estate’s $550 million renovation plan. The work included refurbishing public spaces, updating all guestrooms with bright, Victorian-inspired décor, and adding two signature restaurants: Nobu Del Coronado and Veranda. Iconic ballrooms and the central garden courtyard—with the restored Naiad… Read the full news article

IHG Doubles Down on Osaka Expansion with Ten Hotels and Seven Brands During World Expo

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(IN SHORT) To coincide with World Expo Osaka Kansai, IHG Hotels & Resorts has expanded its Osaka portfolio to ten hotels and 3,249 rooms—surpassing its Tokyo presence—and now spans seven brands from luxury (Vignette Collection at the former RIHGA Royal Hotel) to midscale (three Garner Hotels). This growth builds on a presence dating back to… Read the full news article