Cynera Rodricks

🏨 Valor Hospitality expanded its UK operations from 17 hotels in 2021 to 40 by 2026. In January 2026, they added four hotels: Crowne Plaza Aberdeen Airport, Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Airport, Holiday Inn Express Trafford City, and Hampton by Hilton Liverpool John Lennon Airport, totaling 700 bedrooms and 17 meeting rooms. Established in 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia, Valor now oversees over 100 global properties, with the UK accounting for 7,000 bedrooms.

🎭 Bristol Hoteliers Association announced that the YTL Arena Bristol, a 20,000-capacity venue in North Bristol, will open in 2028 at the Brabazon Hangars. Initially set for 2022, its completion is now anticipated to boost local businesses. The venue will be in the top five largest in Europe and includes a train station with an 11-minute journey to central Bristol. The hospitality sector anticipates economic growth, with past events in Cardiff already benefiting Bristol hotels.

💪 Thainstone House, Inverurie, will invest £150,000 in gym refurbishment by April, introducing 30 new fitness machines for cardio, strength, and functional training. The strength area will expand due to high demand, and the reception will be upgraded. Existing facilities include a 13-meter pool and outdoor thermal features. This upgrade aims to enhance member and guest experiences as part of Crerar Hotels' focus on wellness.

🍳 Robert Aikens has been appointed executive head chef at The St. Regis London, opening in Mayfair mid-2026. The hotel will feature 195 rooms, including 66 suites, an all-day restaurant, a jazz bar, and private dining spaces, following the redevelopment of the former Westbury Mayfair hotel. Designed by Richmond International, it includes two new floors and expanded public areas. St. Regis operates over 61 hotels globally, with the London site being its latest addition.

🏨 Travelodge has opened a 151-room hotel in Stratford, London, its 86th property in the city. The hotel, converted from a vacant office building, avoids new construction's carbon impact. It features a Bar Café and is near Stratford Station and attractions like Westfield Stratford City and London Stadium. Travelodge operates over 600 UK hotels and plans 300 more. Tony O’Brien highlights the project's sustainability and financial benefits.

🏨 Compass Hospitality Group recently acquired the Angus Hotel in Blairgowrie, Scotland, expanding its UK portfolio. The hotel, located in the Perthshire market town near River Ericht, features 90 bedrooms, a restaurant, and leisure facilities, including a swimming pool and sauna. It also has a conference room for up to 150 guests. Harmil Singh, the CEO, emphasized the hotel’s strategic importance and community ties, enhancing their commitment to affordable, quality accommodations across the UK.