Hotel Openings

🏨 Scottish hospitality operator Buzzworks will acquire the Nether Abbey Hotel in North Berwick in mid-January, marking its first venture into accommodation. The hotel, a family-run establishment for over 60 years, will undergo a seven-figure refurbishment, transforming it into a venue with 12 rooms, a pub, and a restaurant. Construction is set for spring 2026, with reopening in late 2026. The redevelopment will create 25-45 jobs, retaining current staff during refurbishment. Buzzworks aims to expand its presence in East Lothian.

🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts launched its Vignette Collection in Africa with Fairview Hotel Nairobi's addition. The brand, introduced three years ago, now boasts 27 hotels and plans for 41 more. The 99-room hotel, in Nairobi's Upper Hill, features early 20th-century architecture and modern amenities. Dining options include Mukutan, Pwani, and Giuseppe. Fairview participates in the Vignette Collection's Memorable Rituals, like SimuStories, and community initiatives with Kenya National Library Service.

🏨 Omni Hotels & Resorts opened Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel on Thursday as part of the Broward County Convention Center District expansion. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway, it features 801 guest rooms, 82 suites, and over 120,000 square feet of meeting space. The project will boost the local economy by $450 million and create 3,000 jobs. Dining options include seven venues, with an Italian chophouse opening in 2026. Wellness amenities include the 8,500-square-foot Mokara Spa.

🏨 Marriott International plans to open The Cape Town EDITION at V&A Waterfront in 2026. This marks Africa’s first EDITION hotel, featuring 142 rooms, suites, and private residences. Designed by Neri and Hu with StudioMAS, it will offer dining venues, a rooftop bar, a spa, and a pool. Located in Granger Bay, it offers views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. This development is part of Marriott’s African expansion strategy focusing on luxury lifestyle brands.

🏨 Criterion Capital expands in London with Zedwell Underground Park Lane, a 133-room hotel in Mayfair, opened in 2025. As the second underground Zedwell hotel in the capital, it repurposes urban space to reduce environmental impact. Features include windowless “cocoons” and automated check-in. The company operates over 3,000 rooms in London, with plans for 6,000 more by 2029, extending to Oxford, Edinburgh, and Manchester, targeting leisure and business travelers.

🏞 The Waterside Hotel, owned by SimpsInns, is expanding with a new £3m spa, creating 30 jobs in West Kilbride, Ayrshire. Opening in early 2026, the spa will feature six treatment rooms, a Rasul experience, thermal area, and outdoor facilities. The hotel, 40 minutes from Glasgow, will increase its room count from 23 to 40. SimpsInns emphasizes career development and staff benefits, including discounts at their facilities across Ayrshire.

🏨 Met Hotel Leeds reopens Gott’s Bar and Kitchen after a major refurbishment of its Grade II listed building, originally opened in 1899. The refurbishment, which began in 2023, preserved the terracotta façade and Victorian detailing while updating interiors such as the entrance and function rooms. The hotel now includes nine function rooms with modern facilities. The renovation emphasized sustainability with locally sourced materials. General Manager Mike Liddle highlights the blend of historic charm and modern hospitality.

🍔 Melody Adams opens Maset in November on Chiltern Street, London, offering French coastal cuisine from the Occitania region. The menu reflects her experiences in Occitan, featuring dishes like Bouillabaisse croquettas and Pâtes au Pistou. Wines are sourced from small vineyards in France, Italy, and Spain. The design, by Parisian studio Haddou-Dufourcq, provides a welcoming, homey atmosphere. Maset aims to blend the warmth, style, and authenticity of South France with a modern twist.