Hotel Openings

📍 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.

📅 Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” won Best Art Direction at the 98th Academy Awards, featuring diverse set designs. DLR Group faces backlash for converting a Watonga, Oklahoma prison into an ICE detention center and will donate $300,000. Adrian Zecha's luxury resort, Azuma Farm Koiwai, opens next month in Iwate Prefecture. Residential bunker sales have surged 1,000% since 2018. The 22nd HD Awards finalists were announced, with winners revealed on May 5th in Las Vegas.

🎿 Deer Valley is facing one of its lowest snowfall seasons in 25 years with only 160 inches, compared to Utah's average of 300 inches. To counteract unpredictable winters, the resort has invested in expanding its snowmaking capabilities with 1,200 new snow guns and a 10-million-gallon snowmaking pond. Visitors can also enjoy year-round activities like guided snowmobile tours and winter hikes, enhancing the overall experience at nearby attractions like Park City.

🏖 Auberge Collection will open The Stockman in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, marking its fifth Colorado property in 2030. The nine-story development will feature 59 guestrooms and suites, 95 private residences, and provide ski-in, ski-out access. Groundbreaking is set for 2026, with residential sales starting the same year. Designed by OZ Architecture, with interiors by Nunzio Marc DeSantis Architects, it will include three dining venues, a spa, and a pool. Residences range from one to five bedrooms, including 13 rooftop "Barn" units.

📍 Hilton plans to expand its presence in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with seven new hotels. By 2028, the first Motto by Hilton in Paris will debut with 153 rooms, while Hotel Ventura in Saint-Tropez will open its 97-room facility in 2026. Other openings include locations in Cologne, Cork, and Plymouth, set between 2026 and 2027. The expansions emphasize local integration and lifestyle offerings, with many properties featuring extensive amenities like fitness centers, bars, and restaurants.