Hotel Openings

🏨 Vision Hospitality Group and CBL & Associates opened Element Wilmington in the Mayfair Town Center, Wilmington, NC. The 139-room hotel is the second Element by Westin in Vision’s portfolio. It features eco-friendly amenities like electric car charging, filtered water systems, and bike rentals. Guests enjoy spa-inspired bathrooms, complimentary breakfast, and a fitness center. This marks Vision's second Wilmington hotel and their 43rd in the U.S., highlighting a commitment to sustainable hospitality.

🏨 Mama Shelter opens its first Asian property in Singapore in September 2025, its 20th worldwide. Situated on Killiney Road, the 115-room hotel offers a unique bunk room for families or friends. Designed by Dion & Arles, it features a vibrant mix of Singaporean cultural influences and Mama Shelter's signature style. Noteworthy elements include Peranakan-inspired carpets, a Parisian artist's mural, and rooftop mosaic pools. Future Mama Shelter openings are planned for Cape Town, Amsterdam, and Lake Como.

🏨 Connaucht Hospitality Group plans to open a five-star hotel, The Hawthorn by Galway Bay, in spring 2026, marking the first of its kind in over 20 years for Galway. Located on a coastal site west of the city, its design is inspired by local hawthorn trees. John Keating, with 30+ years in luxury hospitality, has been appointed general manager. The hotel's cost remains undisclosed but promises a new luxury standard.

🏨 The Albert Hotel in Kirkwall, Orkney, completed a 12-room expansion in July after obtaining seven-figure funding from the Royal Bank of Scotland. The hotel has been operating for over 20 years and aims to meet the growing demand for accommodation, especially during the peak summer season. Tourism contributes an estimated £114 million annually to Orkney's economy, according to Destination Orkney. The expansion includes modern, boutique-style rooms with luxury furnishings.

📍 Rocco Forte Hotels will open The Carlton Milan, its second Milan property and 16th worldwide, on 6 November. Located between Via Senato and Via della Spiga, the 71-room hotel accepts reservations by phone and email, with online bookings opening 2 September. Interiors are crafted by Philip Vergeylen, Paolo Moschino, and Lady Olga Polizzi. Amenities include a restaurant, cocktail bar, garden, Irene Forte Spa, fitness center, and salon. Chef Fulvio Pierangelini will oversee dining experiences.

🍳 Michael Caines MBE will open his first London restaurant, Michael Caines at The Stafford, on 17 September at The Stafford hotel in St James’s. Partnering with executive head chef Simon Ulph, the restaurant replaces The Game Bird. It will feature modern European “terroir cuisine” using British seasonal produce. The Stafford, established in 1912, has a rich history. John McLean of The Stafford Collection expresses pride in this new collaboration, aiming to offer unique dining experiences.

🍫 Läderach opened its first chocolaterie in a major UK transport hub at St. Pancras International, London, on July 4th. This 550 square foot boutique is their ninth London location. The station sees over 40 million passengers annually. Läderach, established in 1962, features handcrafted Swiss chocolates, including FrischSchoggi. The expansion highlights Läderach’s growth strategy, adding to locations like Canary Wharf and Regent Street. With 200 chocolatiers across 25 countries, Läderach remains a top Swiss chocolate retailer.

🏨 Dubai-based JA Resorts and Hotels expanded into the UK in 2024, acquiring Mar Hall in Renfrewshire and The Bruntsfield Hotel in Edinburgh. Mar Hall, set on 240 acres, reopened in May after a £25m refurbishment and offers 74 rooms, a cinema, gaming, and billiards rooms. The Bruntsfield Hotel, near Edinburgh Castle, completed a £1m refurbishment in 2022, providing 72 rooms and event facilities. This marks JA's first UK presence, joining its Dubai and Maldives locations.

📍 Since 2016, Tru by Hilton has expanded to over 300 hotels globally, with recent openings in Vietnam, Chile, and Colombia. Brand Leader Andrew Harp highlighted a refreshed prototype introduced in May and revealed another 300 hotels are in the pipeline. Known for its unique circular front desk design, Tru emphasizes personal service. Harp praised the brand’s team for high customer satisfaction, noting Tru’s momentum is stronger than ever, promising continued expansion worldwide.

📈 IHG Hotels & Resorts reported half-year 2025 results with a global RevPAR up 1.8% and total gross revenue reaching $16.7 billion. The company opened 207 hotels, signed 324 new properties, and surpassed one million rooms globally. Operating profit increased by 13%, and adjusted EPS rose 19%. The global pipeline has 338,000 rooms across 2,276 hotels. Net debt increased by $579 million, influenced by $605 million in shareholder returns. Adjusted EBITDA was $1,259 million.