Hotel Openings

🏨 Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas, transitioned to Gunter Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Renovated for $57 million, the hotel reopened with 311 rooms, including 30 suites, and four dining concepts: Jots, Keystone Club, Bar 414, and Paris Baguette. Originally opened in 1909, the hotel is now part of Marriott Bonvoy’s independent hotels collection and remains a member of Historic Hotels of America. It features a recording studio, curated vinyl library, and in-room record players.

🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed franchise agreements for three new Holiday Inn Express hotels in Spain with Tikehau Capital. The hotels, located in Madrid, Málaga, and Barcelona, will offer a total of 653 rooms. The Madrid property, with 244 rooms, will open in Q1 2028, while the Málaga and Barcelona locations, with 259 and 150 rooms respectively, are slated for Q1 2029. These signings represent the largest partnership for Holiday Inn Express in Spain.

📍 OneIM, AENDRE, and LHC acquired three The Other House hotels in London from APG, with a total of 588 rooms. The South Kensington location has 236 rooms, Covent Garden will open next year with 146 rooms, and Belgravia Police Station is under development with 206 rooms. Revelop bought 10 Good Morning Hotels in Sweden, totaling 1,080 rooms. Leonardo Hotels opened a 510-room hotel at Vienna Airport on June 25, 2026, constructed in 13 months from wood.

📚 In Philadelphia's Old City, two buildings were renovated as the Diplomat by Studio MaRō, offering four-unit properties with four to five bedrooms each. Paying homage to Benjamin Franklin, the design incorporates themes of diplomacy and curiosity. The suites, featuring library-like warmth and rich decor, are located near historical sites like Franklin's printing press. The property is designed for groups, with unique experiences on each floor, blending American, European, and Asian influences throughout.

🏨 Hill House at Trailborn Mendocino, a 44-room property, marks Trailborn Hotels & Resorts’ first West Coast venture, opened in Mendocino, California. It is part of an 89-room plan, including The Mendocino Hotel, set to reopen in 2027. Renovations preserve historical elements while adding modern amenities. The venue offers diverse experiences, including events, local food, wine, and outdoor activities. The project collaborates with HBA San Francisco, enhancing both local and guest experiences.

🏨 By 2028, IHG Hotels & Resorts plans to expand its Luxury & Lifestyle brands across Saudi Arabia, aligning with Vision 2030. With 48 open hotels and 62 in the pipeline, IHG aims to enhance its presence with brands like InterContinental, Six Senses, and Regent. Notably, Six Senses Southern Dunes opened in December 2023, with more openings slated for 2026-2028. IHG opened its Riyadh office in 2023, fortifying its 50-year legacy in the region.

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corp. plans to open Alila Sengokuhara Hakone in 2028, marking the Alila brand's debut in Japan. Located in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, the resort will feature 60 guestrooms and 11 suites, each with private hot spring baths. Designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates, the hotel will integrate seamlessly with its natural surroundings. This addition will increase Hyatt’s Japan portfolio to 10 brands, aligning with their strategy to double their presence in the country over the next decade.

📈 BWH Hotels, led by CEO Larry Cuculic, is aiming for 5,000 hotels worldwide by 2030, despite a 9.7% room count decline since 2019, with 333,457 rooms currently. Last year, they added over 200 hotels, totaling 4,300. A pipeline of about 300 properties supports their upmarket shift, highlighted by acquiring WorldHotels in 2019 to enhance their upscale offerings and boost margins. The strategy is expected to leverage a "halo effect" across the group.

🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts plans to introduce all six Luxury & Lifestyle brands into Saudi Arabia by 2028, supporting Vision 2030. As of December 2023, with 48 open hotels and 62 in the pipeline, IHG is expanding in response to rising demand for unique luxury experiences. The recent opening of Kimpton KAFD Riyadh marked Kimpton's Middle East debut. IHG began its Saudi journey in 1975 and now targets the Kingdom as a strategic growth market.