Hotel Openings

🏨 Strand Palace in London will open a £2m meetings and events facility on 10 November, part of a £55m refurbishment. The hotel, over 115 years old, added 12 new spaces, totaling 16. Renovations were completed in 2020, including public areas and 788 bedrooms. Strand Palace, under L+R Hotels, aims to enhance its hospitality market position. L+R Hotels manages over 112 hotels worldwide with 22,000 rooms across the UK, Europe, the US, and the Caribbean.

🏨 Whitbread received planning consent in November 2025 to transform Verity House in Leeds' South Bank into a 131-room hotel. The planning application was submitted in May 2025, with construction expected from early 2026 to Spring 2027. A section 106 agreement with Leeds City Council was signed last week. Verity House will join three existing Premier Inns in Leeds city centre. Whitbread seeks similar opportunities in northern England.

🏨 Hilton's Conrad brand will debut in Corfu in Q1 2026 through a franchise with the Troulis family, managed by Numo Hotels & Resorts. The luxury hotel will feature 136 rooms, a four-bedroom villa, heated pools, and lagoon access. Amenities include a 200-meter beachfront, wellness center, open-air cinema, and three restaurants. This marks the third collaboration between Hilton and Numo Hotels & Resorts, following successful projects in Crete. Design by Cube Concept, Hotel IM, and Place in Space Architects.

🏠 In Rome, StudioTamat revamped the 80-square-meter RA House on Viale di Trastevere with glass floors, mirrored ceilings, and a stained glass facade. The late-19th-century structure features a chestnut wood staircase, Verde Alpi marble, and a blue volume for kitchen and utility spaces. The RA House serves as an urban base for a couple, offering a visual connection between floors and a sense of spaciousness with pure volumes and reflected surfaces.

🏨 Luca Virgilio, named HOTELS Magazine's 2025 GM Hotelier of the World, is steering The Dorchester in London through a multimillion-dollar renovation that began in 2022. The Dorchester, open since 1931, is famed for hosting luminaries like Elizabeth Taylor and Ian Fleming. The renovation reduces room count to 240, with design by Pierre-Yves Rochon. Despite construction challenges, up to 400 workers on-site, transparency and guest involvement maintained loyalty. Virgilio emphasizes affability, collaboration, and autonomy in management.

📖 Marriott Bonvoy’s Sheraton Hotels & Resorts launched the “Goodnight Room” campaign on November 3, inspired by "Goodnight Moon." Created with Wieden+Kennedy New York, it runs across various media. A “Goodnight Moon” Suite at Sheraton Boston Hotel, renovated and bookable from November 3 to February 28, features themed decor. Members can bid for a special two-night stay from December 26-28, with curated experiences like moonlit dinners, stargazing, and s’mores.

🏖 Gurney’s Resorts will expand to the West Coast by acquiring The Beach Retreat and Lodge in South Lake Tahoe. By spring 2027, it will debut as Gurney’s Lake Tahoe Resort & Spa after a multi-year renovation. The resort will feature 206 guestrooms and suites with signature experiences including a spa, new dining concepts, and private beach access. This expansion complements their Montauk property, establishing them as a bicoastal luxury brand.

🌍 Autograph Collection Hotels has launched The Halcyon Private Isles, its first Maldives property, located on Gaafu Alifu Atoll, 90 minutes by seaplane from Malé. The resort features 38 villas (220-1,250 sqm) with private pools. Dining and wellness options include an overwater spa and various restaurants. Guests have access to a personal "Halcyon Butler" for tailored experiences. Part of Marriott's portfolio, Autograph Collection includes over 300 hotels worldwide.

🏨 Sofitel London St James, located on Pall Mall, has unveiled four redesigned suites as part of a transformation by Paris-based architecture firm Pierre-Yves Rochon. The Prestige Suites, influenced by 1970s London, feature modern art and smart technology. Two Flagship Suites, including Suite 70 and Opera Suite, are set to launch in January 2026. General Manager Marie-Paule Nowlis emphasizes the blend of French sophistication with London's cosmopolitan spirit.