Corina Duma

🏨 Scottish hospitality operator Buzzworks will acquire the Nether Abbey Hotel in North Berwick in mid-January, marking its first venture into accommodation. The hotel, a family-run establishment for over 60 years, will undergo a seven-figure refurbishment, transforming it into a venue with 12 rooms, a pub, and a restaurant. Construction is set for spring 2026, with reopening in late 2026. The redevelopment will create 25-45 jobs, retaining current staff during refurbishment. Buzzworks aims to expand its presence in East Lothian.

🏨 Marriott International plans to open The Cape Town EDITION at V&A Waterfront in 2026. This marks Africa’s first EDITION hotel, featuring 142 rooms, suites, and private residences. Designed by Neri and Hu with StudioMAS, it will offer dining venues, a rooftop bar, a spa, and a pool. Located in Granger Bay, it offers views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. This development is part of Marriott’s African expansion strategy focusing on luxury lifestyle brands.

🏨 Criterion Capital expands in London with Zedwell Underground Park Lane, a 133-room hotel in Mayfair, opened in 2025. As the second underground Zedwell hotel in the capital, it repurposes urban space to reduce environmental impact. Features include windowless “cocoons” and automated check-in. The company operates over 3,000 rooms in London, with plans for 6,000 more by 2029, extending to Oxford, Edinburgh, and Manchester, targeting leisure and business travelers.

🏨 Fort George Hotel and Spa in Belize City was awarded Belize’s Best MICE Hotel for 2025 at the World MICE Awards in Bahrain on 6 December. The Lord Ashcroft Centre, offering over 6,600 square feet of flexible meeting space for up to 500 guests, was a significant factor. Opened in early 2024, the hotel features in-house event planning and a new room tower set for 2026, adding 120 rooms. Located 30 minutes from Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport.

📈 Daish’s Holidays plans a £1m refurbishment across 10 UK hotels in early 2026, targeting 155 bedrooms and communal areas. The Sandringham Hotel in Weston-super-Mare receives the largest investment of £250k for 90 bedrooms. Scarborough, Llandudno, Newquay, Torquay, Weymouth, Isle of Wight, Bournemouth, and Eastbourne hotels will also upgrade rooms. Paul Harper emphasizes the investment's role in enhancing guest experiences with modern amenities amidst competitive hospitality demands.

🏠 Líbere Hospitality Group will open its first Paris property in the 8th arrondissement by early 2026. The Spanish firm aims to expand across Europe with an asset-light model, managing but not owning buildings. The Paris site currently has 12 apartments for up to 50 guests, set to increase to 19 units. Líbere, operating in six countries, plans revenue to exceed €32 million in 2025, with 1,000 units active and a 2,300-unit pipeline.

🏨 Whitbread secures planning for a 421-room Premier Inn hub at Dorset House, Southwark. Acquired in May 2025, the 90,000 sq ft site will open in summer 2028. This marks Whitbread’s fourth Central London conversion in 2025, adding nearly 1,000 rooms. Investments exceed £100m, with aims for renewable energy use. Construction starts in the second half of 2026. Whitbread targets 125,000 UK rooms, with London housing 18% of its 86,000-room estate.