Hotel Openings

🏨 Loews Hotels & Co opened the Universal Helios Grand Hotel on April 16 in Universal Epic Universe, Orlando. This 500-room hotel is part of three new hotels launched within 100 days, totaling 11 properties and 11,000 rooms. The hotel features Mediterranean design, a statue of Apollo, and celestial themes. Dining options include Flora Taverna and Lotus Lagoon. Offering 4,648 sq ft of meeting space, it caters to small to mid-sized groups.

🍴 Dear Olivia Bar & Kitchen opened in Parkland, near Boca Raton, Florida. Led by Eddie and Christina Pozzuoli, and Paul Greenberg, it seats 82 inside, with an additional 36 seats at the indoor/outdoor bar. The deck, overlooking a lagoon, accommodates 90 patrons. Named after Greenberg's daughter, the venue offers diverse menu options and is not a traditional sports bar. The beverage program is by Jose Gill. Designed with soft tones, it replaces the former Déjà Blue space.

🏨 Vision Hospitality Group and CBL & Associates, on August 2025, opened the Element Wilmington hotel in North Carolina. This is Vision's second Element by Westin hotel and their 43rd overall. The hotel, located at Mayfair Town Center, features 139 rooms with amenities like spa-inspired bathrooms, a fitness center, and a pet-friendly environment. It’s the first Element by Westin on North Carolina's coast, offering sustainable features such as EV charging stations and bike rentals.

🍴 The Chancery Rosewood hotel in Mayfair is launching five new restaurants and bars in September. Four venues—Serra, Jacqueline, Eagle Bar, and GSQ—will open on September 1, and Tobi Masa will follow on September 16. The hotel, housed in a renovated former US Embassy, features 144 suites. Each venue offers unique experiences, from Mediterranean dishes at Serra to a rooftop bar with curated music at Eagle Bar. Tobi Masa marks Masayoshi Takayama's London debut.

🍴 Nik Fields, aka "The Chic Chef," is opening The Collective, a multi-concept venue in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 25. It combines a coworking space with two culinary brands, The Mix and The Grind, and features an Entrepreneurial Hub. The menu includes unique offerings like the S.H.E.O Biscoff Caramel Breve and Boss Babe latte. Fields aims to expand in Phoenix and NYC, possibly adding new concepts like a smoothie bar. Currently, she owns four businesses in Phoenix.

🍽 Chef Ji Hye Kim expanded her culinary footprint with Little Kim, a vegetarian fast-casual spot, opening on August 1, 2025, in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown. This 24-seater embraces Korean and other Asian influences and features build-your-own bowls, daily kimbap, and a fried tofu sandwich. Despite proximity to her full-service Miss Kim, Little Kim thrives with its distinct menu and lunch hours. Miss Kim has been open since 2016 and has received five James Beard Award semifinalist nominations.

🏨 Mainland Capital and Russell Property Group will inaugurate the Sheraton Christchurch in mid-2027, located alongside the Avon River. With over $150 million invested, the 14-story hotel will offer 240 rooms, a rooftop bar, and a club lounge. The venture is backed by Emmons Developments New Zealand Limited, with architectural input from Dalman Architects. This marks Marriott International's expansion in New Zealand, adding to its existing two hotels. Construction is underway, adhering to A-Grade standards.

🏨 Hilton debuted in the U.S. Virgin Islands with Hampton by Hilton St. Thomas, a 126-room hotel opposite Havensight Mall, overlooking Long Bay. The hotel includes a 3,800 sq. ft. patio, 2,000 sq. ft. pool deck, and 850 sq. ft. event space. Amenities feature a fitness center, full-service bar, and lounge known as The Helm. Charlotte Amalie is 1.5 miles away, Cyril E. King Airport is 4.1 miles, and Magens Bay Beach is 4.5 miles.

🏨 Capella Hotels and Resorts opened its first property in Macau as part of a partnership with Galaxy Macau. The soft opening features exclusive stays and previews. Designed by Paris-based Moinard Bétaille, the hotel has a tropical jungle theme. It includes 95 accommodations with suites and Capella Penthouses. Highlights include private infinity-edge pools and outdoor lounges. Clive Edwards, SVP, calls it the pinnacle of luxury hospitality in Macau.