Cynera Rodricks

🏖 The Nici group plans two luxury coastal hotels opening in summer 2026: The Nici Newquay, converting Hotel Victoria into an 82-room clifftop hotel with spa and cinema, and The Nici New Forest in Lymington, transforming Elmers Court Hotel into a 118-bedroom retreat on 23 acres. Located 1 hour 45 minutes from London, both hotels feature wellness centers, dining, and fitness studios, targeting the UK staycation market. Founder Nicolas Roach emphasizes unique, enjoyable escapes.

🏨 Glenapp Castle, located on Scotland’s southwest coast, will unveil The Nest, a new 60sqm suite, on 1 July 2026. The suite, part of an 1830s walled garden renovation, features wellness facilities and energy-efficient systems. Aimed at North American and European markets, it is projected to achieve 65% occupancy, increasing average stay duration from 2.2 to 2.7 nights. Under owners Paul and Poppy Szkiler, the hotel's revenue has increased sevenfold in the past decade.

🏨 Whitbread will acquire a site in Limerick's Opera Square for a 156-bedroom Premier Inn. The seven-story hotel will open after planning amendments and host around 60,000 guests yearly. Scheduled construction starts in 2027, with a 2025 basement completion. This expansion supports Whitbread's 5,000-room Ireland strategy and follows a 30% Irish room target increase. The hotel will create 30 permanent jobs, aligning with the Opera Square regeneration project. Planning applications are due by summer 2026.

📍 Minor Hotels plans to launch the Colbert Collection, a soft brand targeting independent premium hotels, in Italy by spring 2026. The initiative supports hotel individuality while leveraging the global systems of over 640 properties like Anantara and Avani. The brand's identity is influenced by European café culture, focusing on culinary and creative curation. Properties are planned for the UK, Spain, Austria, and the UAE, aligning with Minor Hotels' asset-light strategy for scalability.

🏨 IHG Hotels and Resorts expanded by 27% in Europe over three years, adding 32,800 rooms, reaching 150,000 open rooms by end of 2025. IHG opened 102 hotels and signed 117 properties in 2025, with conversions accounting for 84% of openings. Germany is a key market, holding 20% of the room count. European hotel investment hit €27bn (£23.3bn) in 2025. Holiday Inn represents over 60% of IHG's European estate, and the region now makes up 15% of IHG's global system.

📍 Marriott International plans to expand its Series by Marriott brand to Europe, signing 11 projects focusing on midscale conversions. In the UK, five properties will partner with Splendid Hospitality in London, including Earls Court and Kings Cross. In Italy, Marriott collaborates with Amapa Group to rebrand five properties and build a new hotel in Valmontone. This expansion targets the midscale segment to provide affordable accommodation, leveraging the company’s loyalty programme with 271 million members.

🛌 The Edinburgh Grand, a five-star hotel, launched a new spa in the old Bank of Scotland vaults beneath St Andrew Square, Edinburgh. It features three treatment suites and integrates oak and limestone. Managed by Catriona Ross, with 12 years in luxury hospitality, the spa partners with Skeyndor for science-led treatments. The facility emphasizes clinical facials and body therapies over traditional wet facilities, serving both hotel guests and locals. Architectural preservation and fitness center enhancements were key project elements.