Hotel Openings

🏖️ This fall, Marriott Bonvoy launched a new digital platform called Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors, connecting travelers with over 450 hotels and 50,000 Homes & Villas. It supports activities like glamping, hiking, and surfing. 75% of Marriott Bonvoy members took an outdoor trip last year, with 80% wanting more. The brand introduced Postcard Cabins and Trailborn Hotels, offering unique stays in the U.S. A promotional challenge with Dylan Efron awarded 10,000 points to the first 50 participants.

🏨 Hilton Milwaukee, Wisconsin, completed a $42 million renovation, updating its 1920s architecture. The project included a refreshed lobby and bar, 554 restyled guestrooms, and over 34,000 square feet of renovated meeting spaces. Guest rooms now feature Art Deco-inspired furnishings, motion-sensor lighting, and premium Kohler fixtures. The renovation preserves the hotel's legacy while welcoming new visitors for leisure, business, or conferences at the expanded Baird Center.

🏨 Lark Hospitality, alongside the Duettra family, will relaunch The Faust Hotel in New Braunfels, Texas, in spring 2026 after renovations. Originally opened in 1929, it will feature 45 rooms, including 6 corner suites and 9 junior suites. The hotel will include the restaurant Wilhelm & Werner, the Prince Solms Lobby Bar, and a speakeasy named Walter’s. The property retains its historic Spanish Colonial Revival style and includes a 2,000 square-foot Grand Ballroom.

🏨 Driftwood Capital completed an $11 million renovation of the Marriott Raleigh-Durham Research Triangle Park, a 226-key hotel in Durham, N.C., announced on Dec. 30, 2025. The project, in partnership with Hospitality Project Advisors, included room updates, an M Club lounge, an expanded meeting space, and a VTAC system upgrade. Located at 4700 Guardian Drive, the hotel serves nearby companies like IBM and universities, enhancing its appeal as a business and leisure destination.

🌎 Frequent traveler visited 128 countries and aims for 150. They stay over 4 hours per country, including Vatican City. They're loyal to one hospitality loyalty program for points and discounts but feel trapped despite top status. This traveler encounters limited choices due to loyalty program constraints. The hotel industry faces loyalty fatigue, needing diverse options to engage consumers beyond luxury-seeking Baby Boomers, and considering new strategies like branded credit cards to enhance customer loyalty and experience.

🏨 Puerto Rico: In December 2025, María Isabel Esteve and Carlos López-Lay opened Magdalena 1163, a boutique hotel in Condado, San Juan. The hotel features 10 suites across four floors, with studio, deluxe, and two-bedroom options. It offers amenities like a rooftop lounge, meeting space, and fitness area. Designed for business and leisure, Magdalena 1163 highlights local identity through partnerships and Puerto Rican artwork. It provides 24/7 digital guest support and concierge-style services.

☕ In early 2026, the Pierhouse Hotel is set to open a new cafe overlooking Castle Stalker and Loch Linnhe, on the A828 between Ballachulish and Connel. The former Castle Stalker View Cafe, closed in April 2025, will undergo winter refurbishment, creating 10 hospitality and retail jobs. The cafe will offer home baking, seasonal soups, and a small shop with Scottish products. General Manager Fiona McLean aims to preserve the venue's 20-year legacy while enhancing visitor experiences.

🌴 Autograph Collection debuts in the Philippines with The Farm at San Benito, Lipa, Batangas, spanning 52 hectares. Open for over 20 years, this wellness center offers 70 accommodations and five dining venues featuring farm-to-table cuisine. Signature programs include Pure Body Reset and Metabolic Reboot, utilizing evidence-based wellness. A team of doctors, therapists, and nutritionists provides personalized care. Guests earn Marriott Bonvoy points. With unique rituals, The Farm promotes holistic healing and rejuvenation.

🏨 RMS Companies plans to develop a 120-room boutique hotel in Port Chester, New York, as part of a mixed-use redevelopment of the former United Hospital site. The project, led by Boston Post Road Owner LLC, includes 775 residential apartments, 90 independent living units, and 110 assisted living apartments. Designed to boost tourism and economic growth, the scheme has received incentives from the Port Chester Industrial Development Agency, including tax abatements.