Hotel Openings

🏨 HEI Hotels & Resorts added the Embassy Suites Palm Beach Gardens PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to its portfolio. This marks HEI's 21st property in Florida. The 160-room hotel, located off I-95, recently completed guestroom renovations with future lobby updates planned. CEO Anthony Rutledge emphasized maximizing asset value. Principal Joseph Lubeck, a Palm Beach Gardens resident, highlighted local partnerships. HEI's expansion continues in Florida and the Southeast, managing premium-branded hotels nationwide.

🏨 Urban Street Development completed the Stadium Tower expansion of Hotel Indigo Tallahassee CollegeTown, increasing the hotel to 237 rooms, including 94 new guestrooms and six two-bedroom suites. They added 5,500 sq. ft. of retail space. Located at 826 W. Gaines Street, the expansion opens before graduation season for Florida State and Florida A&M universities. The grand opening is set for May 21, 2026. The hotel features on-site dining, meeting space, and a fitness center.

🏨 Sonesta International Hotels Corporation announced a franchise agreement for a new 168-room hotel in La Romana, Dominican Republic, with openings in fall 2027 and fall 2028. This adds to two other properties under construction: The James Larimar City and Sonesta ES Suites Jarabacoa. The MOD Collection brand, launched in 2023, aims to blend local influences in hotel design. Guests can earn points through the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program.

📈 Hilton reported a 3.6% increase in global RevPAR for Q1, with net income at $383 million. By 2026, system-wide RevPAR is projected to rise 2-3%. Despite Middle East conflicts, impacts are minor, as the region forms 3% of Hilton’s business. In Q1, Hilton opened 131 hotels, adding 16,000 rooms. The luxury/lifestyle sector saw 20% of openings. Hilton plans 6-7% net-unit growth, with 36% from conversions. AI innovations enhance customer engagement, driving 80% of Hilton’s direct business.

🏨 The decline of dynamic city life is linked to the evolution of hotel lobbies, which once facilitated diverse interactions among people of various backgrounds. This vibrant mix is vanishing due to the rise of ultra-luxury hotels in the past decade. These establishments cater to a homogenous clientele, leading to a loss of the unique and spontaneous energy that characterized earlier 20th-century hotel scenes.

🏨 Urban Street Development completed the Stadium Tower expansion at Hotel Indigo Tallahassee – CollegeTown, Florida, before graduation season. The expansion adds 94 guestrooms, including six two-bedroom suites, to the existing 143-room hotel, totaling 237 rooms. The property, located near FSU and Doak Campbell Stadium, now includes 5,500 square feet of retail space and features on-site dining, meeting space, and a fitness center. The hotel is operated by Park Place Hospitality Group under the IHG brand.

🏨 Hotel Equities announced management of three properties: TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Woodstock, Ontario, opened March 26, 2026, near the Toyota plant; Reflections Hotel, Ascend Collection in Kissimmee, Florida, set to open fall 2026 near Walt Disney World; and Courtyard by Marriott Dallas DFW Airport North/Irving in Texas, recently renovated, expanding their Dallas-Fort Worth presence to seven properties. Each location targets corporate and leisure markets.

🏨 St Ermin’s Hotel reopens its redesigned outdoor terrace on 28 April 2026, in partnership with Louis Pommery English sparkling wine. Located in the courtyard, it coincides with the Chelsea Flower Show. The terrace offers a new sushi menu with English sparkling wines and cocktails featuring honey from the hotel’s bee terrace. The 331-room, Grade II-listed hotel, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, will host a weekly wine hour with artisan cheese and charcuterie tastings.

🍺 Mayfair: The JW Marriott Grosvenor House London has revamped its JW Steakhouse and Bourbon Bar with a multimillion-pound refurbishment. Spearheaded by Executive Chef Patrick O'Sullivan since 2025, the menu features classic American steakhouse dishes, including over 40,000 servings of JW Cheesecake annually. With 500+ rare bourbons, the bar offers exclusive bottles, tastings, and masterclasses. Throughout 2026, themed menus and events will enhance the dining experience, reflecting the venue's American roots and heritage.