Corina Duma - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers

Urban street scene with a tall brick building and a red 'NEW YORKER' sign on top, lamppost in foreground, and silhouettes of leaves framing the view.

1 min

Wyndham Signs 25 Hotels, Opens 13 Properties Across EMEA, Expanding Regional Portfolio to Over 750 Hotels

🏨 Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, in the first half of 2026, signed 25 hotels and opened 13 properties across Europe, the Middle East, Eurasia, and Africa, expanding to 750+ hotels with 99,000+ rooms. Türkiye led developments, with new openings like TRYP by Wyndham Istanbul Maltepe. In Southern Europe and CIS, they added locations in Portugal and Uzbekistan. Eleven new agreements were signed in India, and five projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Turquoise alpine lake with colorful rowboats anchored at a rocky shore and towering snow-dusted mountains in the background

2 min

Parliamentary Report Warns Proposed 5% Visitor Levy Could Harm English Tourism, Recommends Safeguards and VAT Reduction

💸 30 July: The APPG for Hospitality and Tourism released findings on a proposed 5% visitor levy on English overnight accommodations, warning of risks to tourism spending, investment, and employment, especially in coastal and rural areas. Recommendations include a full regulatory assessment, reducing VAT to 10%, consistent national regulations, and a minimum 12-month implementation period. It stresses fair engagement with the industry and transparent reinvestment of levy revenues for economic growth.

Hotel building with 'Hyatt Centric' sign overlooking a sunset harbor and boats on the water.

1 min

Hyatt Q2 RevPAR rises 5.9% as luxury demand holds strong

Growth in leisure and group bookings helped offset regional headwinds

ZenStay Expands California Presence with Tech-Enabled Hotels in Santa Barbara, South Lake Tahoe, Santa Cruz, and Solvang

🏨 ZenStay has expanded in California, opening tech-enabled hotel properties in Santa Barbara, South Lake Tahoe, Santa Cruz, and Solvang. The hotels offer self-check-in, kitchens, Wi-Fi, and smart TVs, with human support available from 5am to 1am PST. A notable project includes transforming a 1920s church into a 37-room hotel. ZenStay plans to further increase its property count statewide. Founder Arvand Sabetian emphasizes unique experiences and seamless hospitality for each guest.

Elegant antique oval mirror on a gilded stand with sculpted figures, reflecting a doorway and pink upholstery in a richly decorated room.

1 min

Cheval Collection Appoints Alyona Antonenko as General Counsel to Drive Expansion in London and Dubai

📈 Cheval Collection has appointed Alyona Antonenko as general counsel. Antonenko, with over 20 years of cross-border hospitality experience, joins to support company expansion in London and Dubai. Cheval Collection, managing over 950 units, opened Cheval Maison – Expo City Dubai in March 2025, and plans openings in Riyadh and Sulaymaniyah in 2027 and 2028, respectively. The company aims to leverage its 45-year heritage for growth. Mohammed Alawadhi, Managing Director, welcomes her expertise.

4 min

Accor's Handwritten Collection Expands to UK, Signaling Growth in Collection Brands Amid Rising Demand for Unique Hotels

🏨 In 2023, the Handwritten Collection will enter the UK with The Queen at Chester Hotel, reflecting the rise of collection brands. Accor’s collection brands include approximately 180 open hotels with over 115 in the pipeline. MGallery has 125 hotels globally, and Emblems opened its first hotel in the UK. Handwritten Collection expanded to 40 hotels in 20 countries. Collection brands offer individuality while leveraging global brand platforms, with a significant growth opportunity in the under-penetrated UK market.

Evening view of a large beige hotel complex with lit windows and balconies, pool area with umbrellas in the foreground.

1 min

Marriott Signs Agreement to Develop Nine Properties in Egypt with Misr Italia, Adding Over 1,500 Rooms

🏨 Marriott International, in collaboration with Egyptian developers Misr Italia Properties and People and Places, will build nine properties in Egypt, adding over 1,500 hotel rooms and residences across locations like Ras Al Hekma, West Cairo, East Cairo, and Ain Sokhna. They plan to invest EGP 56.7 billion (£844 million), creating around 6,000 jobs and accommodating 373,000 tourists annually. This initiative expands on a 2022 deal, with an aim of 50 hospitality assets by 2037.

Tall residential building with cascading greenery on every balcony against a blue sky.

1 min

Casa Hotel in Chesterfield Earns Green Meetings Bronze Award for Sustainable Corporate Event Practices

📍 Casa Hotel in Chesterfield received the Green Meetings Bronze Award from Green Tourism for its sustainable practices in corporate events. The venue offers 11 meeting spaces for 2-280 delegates and 100 bedrooms. It sources produce from the 360-acre Walton Lodge Farm Estate and other local suppliers to minimize food miles. Green Tourism evaluates venues based on environmental management, responsible sourcing, and resource efficiency. This award acknowledges the hotel's commitment to sustainability and local engagement.

IHG to Convert 158-Room Krabi Hotel to Holiday Inn Express by 2026 in Second Deal with Chok Deesuk

🏨 IHG Hotels and Resorts will convert a 158-room hotel in Krabi, Thailand, into a Holiday Inn Express by 2026. Located in Ao Nang, the hotel is 1km from the beach and 40 minutes from Krabi International Airport. This marks the second partnership with owner Chok Deesuk and introduces Thailand's first fifth-generation Holiday Inn Express design. In 2025, hotel conversions made up nearly 40% of IHG's keys in Thailand. Currently, IHG operates 42 hotels and has 39 more in development.

Colorful hot air balloons drifting above rugged rock formations at sunrise in Cappadocia, Turkey.

1 min

UKinbound Urges UK Government for Unified Strategy to Enhance Overseas Visitor Economy and Boost Export Revenue

🗺 UKinbound wrote to the prime minister on 20 July, urging a strategic reset for the UK visitor economy. The overseas visitor sector is the fifth-largest export industry. Despite a commitment to a Visitor Economy Strategy 18 months ago, plans are pending. Issues span visas, travel charges, and taxation across departments. Joss Croft highlights the need for coordinated policies to enhance competitiveness and boost export revenues.

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