Hotel Openings

🚢 Four Seasons' first yacht, "Four Seasons I," officially set sail today, marking a significant milestone 65 years after their first hotel opened. The yacht naming ceremony occurred in Málaga, Spain, with Founder and Chairman Issy Sharp and his wife Rosalie serving as Godparents. The project exemplifies collaboration between Four Seasons, Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings, and other partners. This expansion from land and sky to sea emphasizes Four Seasons' commitment to genuine care and human connection.

📍 Capella Kyoto opens in the Miyagawa-cho kagai district, Kyoto, Japan, marking Capella Hotels' first Japanese venture. The 89-room hotel, designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates, is near Kenninji temple. The development includes the Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo Theatre and community center. Dining is highlighted by SoNoMa by SingleThread, partnered with the three-Michelin-starred Sonoma restaurant. Bookings begin March 22, 2026, with opening packages offering JPY 10,000-20,000 hotel credits.

🏨 Zedwell plans to convert a vacant office building at 39 Bell Lane, Spitalfields, into a flagship hotel with 143 rooms and 7,500 sq ft of affordable workspace. The six-storey, 40,000 sq ft building will be transformed with a vertical extension and enhanced façade. Construction will reuse existing structures to reduce carbon. Located near Liverpool Street Station, the project is part of a pipeline aiming for 9,000 rooms by 2028, with recent expansions in Oxford and York.

📍 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.