Denis Stackeusky

📍 a&o Hostels acquired two hotel properties in Manchester's city center on Portland and Dickinson Streets, expanding to 44 European locations. The buildings, previously ibis and Novotel, cover 13,000 sq. meters with a 15-minute walk to the main train station. Post-£8.2 million renovation, they will offer 303 rooms and 1,218 beds by Q1 2027. Backed by StepStone and Proprium, a&o's €500 million plan added 5,500 beds in 2023. Manchester attracts 1.9 million visitors annually.

🏨 The Midtown Hotel, MOD Collection by Sonesta has opened in Boston's Back Bay, offering 159 rooms at 220 Huntington Avenue. This marks Sonesta's second property in the Boston/Cambridge area and first in Back Bay. The MOD Collection, launched in 2023, emphasizes modern lifestyle travel with flexible, creatively designed accommodations. Guests can earn or redeem points through the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program. Nearby attractions include The Prudential Center, Back Bay station, and Fenway Park.

🏨 Sonesta International Hotels Corporation opened Red Lion Inn & Suites Urbana on January 7, 2026, located at 1907 North Cunningham Avenue, Urbana, Illinois. The hotel features 127 guestrooms and is near the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and local attractions. Operated under the Red Lion Hotels brand, it targets travelers interested in campus activities and regional exploration. Guests can earn or redeem points via the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program, enhancing Sonesta's midscale portfolio in the U.S.

🏖 Hyatt Centric Delfina Santa Monica completed a major renovation in California, revamping 315 guestrooms and 15,000 sq. ft. of event space. Led by Waldrop + Nichols Studio, the redesign includes 11 event spaces, with the largest being the 4,526 sq. ft. rooftop Delfina Ballroom, accommodating up to 400 guests. A new restaurant, Coastal Harvest Bar & Kitchen, opened on Pico Boulevard. Updates also added Sunset Suites with balconies and hot tubs. The hotel offers a heated saltwater pool and easy access to Santa Monica's attractions.

📍 Hyatt Hotels Corp. and Indochina Kajima are expanding the Unscripted by Hyatt brand into Vietnam, increasing Hyatt's presence from 4 to 10 hotels. Wink, a Vietnam-based brand, adds six properties to the collection, with a seventh opening in Hanoi Westlake in late 2026. This expansion, featuring over 2,000 rooms, aims to cater to tech-savvy and social-centric travelers while leveraging Hyatt’s 61 million-member loyalty platform. Wink's properties maintain their unique identity while aligning with Hyatt's standards.

🏨 The St. Regis Singapore, led by FBEYE International, completed a multi-phase renovation of its 299 guestrooms, suites, and dining spaces, inspired by the nearby Singapore Botanic Gardens. New dining venues include Sophia, featuring Italian cuisine from Chef Angelo Sergio, The St. Regis Bar with a Time After Time cocktail menu by Kelvin Saquilayan, and The Tea Room. Event facilities now include the 7,638-square-foot John Jacob Ballroom. This follows earlier renovations completed by early 2024.

🏠 Six Senses Xala, located in Costalegre on Mexico's Pacific coast, begins vertical construction. Scheduled to open in March 2028, it includes 51 suites and 36 single-story oceanfront homes on 3.7-acre lots. Less than 20% of the 3,000-acre site will be developed. Ten out of the first twelve residences sold in the initial sales phase. Amenities feature a spa, fitness centers, and an Alchemy Bar. The Xala Foundation supports environmental and community initiatives, including coastline restoration.

🏨 Sonesta International Hotels Corp. opened Red Lion Inn & Suites Adairsville, a 41-room midscale hotel, at 1 Kortlyn Place NW, Adairsville, GA, located between Atlanta and Chattanooga. This new location extends Sonesta's presence in the U.S., targeting markets near national parks and outdoor activities. Guests can earn points through the Sonesta Travel Pass program. The Red Lion brand focuses on secondary markets with historical and recreational proximity.

🏖 Shangri-La Group plans to open a new luxury resort in Bodrum, Turkey, in the first half of 2029. Located in Yalikavak, the resort will feature 70 guest rooms and 10 private villas. This is Shangri-La's second property in Turkey, after Shangri-La Bosphorus in Istanbul. The agreement was signed with United Bodrum Turizm A.Ş. at Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong, attended by top executives from both companies. The resort aims to enhance Bodrum's luxury tourism appeal.