Hotel Openings

🏨 Whitbread secures planning for a 421-room Premier Inn hub at Dorset House, Southwark. Acquired in May 2025, the 90,000 sq ft site will open in summer 2028. This marks Whitbread’s fourth Central London conversion in 2025, adding nearly 1,000 rooms. Investments exceed £100m, with aims for renewable energy use. Construction starts in the second half of 2026. Whitbread targets 125,000 UK rooms, with London housing 18% of its 86,000-room estate.

🏨 Roshan and Srishankar have acquired The Lion Hotel and Restaurant, a 17th Century property in Berriew, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Former operators, sculptor Andrew Logan and Michael Davis, launched it in 2018 as a boutique hotel with seven en suite bedrooms and three dining rooms. After eight years, they are stepping back. The new operators aim to highlight hospitality and Welsh produce, positioning it as a destination restaurant and hotel. The sale was managed by Christie and Co's James Dodd.

🏨 Liverpool is witnessing a surge in demand for aparthotels due to their flexibility and space, which traditional hotels lack. Aparthotels offer kitchens and living areas, attracting leisure visitors, business travelers, and remote workers. This model supports Liverpool’s dynamic cultural scene and enhances travel experiences, allowing guests to set their own pace. Operators benefit from varied stay lengths and efficient housekeeping. This accommodation type fits modern city breaks and bolsters Liverpool's visitor economy.

🎁 Hilton Molino Stucky Venice offers festive celebrations from 8th December to New Year. Guests enjoy Italian-style banquets, live music, and a Roaring 20s-themed New Year’s Eve party. Key events include a seven-course New Year’s Eve dinner at Aromi for €490 per adult and a Twixmas feast on 27th December for €120. Spa treatments start at €90. Skyline Rooftop Bar hosts a New Year's Eve party for €100-€150. Room rates begin at €240 per night.

🌟 From December 22, 2025, to January 9, 2026, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands hosts "Celestial Festive." Events include Cosmic Flow Yoga, Coral Garden Snorkeling, and the Michelin-starred MINIMAL Gelato from December 18–25. Key dinners: Starlight Dinner on December 27, Penfolds Wine Dinner on December 30, and Ocean Aroma Dinner on January 2. The Galactic New Year Countdown on December 31 offers fine dining and performances. Celebrate New Year's Day with Cosmic Sound Baths and Zodiac Crystal Sessions.

🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts and Sirayane Hospitality signed an agreement to open the first Kimpton hotel in Morocco by Q4 2026. Located 7 km from Marrakech–Menara Airport, Kimpton Marrakech will feature 67 rooms, a lobby lounge, dining venues, a spa, fitness center, pools, and a rooftop restaurant. Marrakech, accounting for 25% of Morocco’s tourism, is known for its historic sites and luxury tourism. This marks IHG’s third hotel deal in Morocco, introducing the Kimpton brand to the market.

🏖 Balfour Miami Beach, an 82-room hotel in Miami Beach's Art Deco District, joins Wyndham's Registry Collection Hotels. Originally designed in 1940 by Anton Skislewicz, it features pastel façades and terrazzo details. Public amenities include a pool terrace, restaurant, café, and beach chair access. Recent Registry additions include The Mining Exchange in Colorado Springs and Ajul Luxury Hotel & Spa Resort in Halkidiki, Greece. Wyndham plans to expand into India by 2026.

🏨 Hotel Daphne, a Bunkhouse Hotels property, opened in Houston's Heights in December 2025. The five-story hotel features 49 rooms and an Italian restaurant named Hypsi, led by chef Terrence Gallivan. Hypsi has 49 indoor and courtyard seats and serves Italian-Gulf Coast cuisine, including handmade pastas and spritzes. With a unique mozzarella cart, Hypsi blends classic service styles. The restaurant is currently open for breakfast, dinner, and room service, with lunch beginning in January.

🏨 Preferred Hotels & Resorts expands into Egypt, adding six Wings Encora Collection properties to its Lifestyle Collection. The new entries include Coral Sea Holiday Resort in Sharm El Sheikh and five luxury Nile cruise ships. These ships, like Mazaj MS Tamr (38 cabins) and Mazaj MS Tulip (47 cabins), highlight Preferred's delve into Egypt's luxury cruise segment. Saurabh Rai emphasizes this as a strategic expansion across the MENA region, enhancing local culture offerings.

🏨 Marriott International has opened Morea House, a 90-room boutique hotel in Cape Town's Camps Bay, marking the first Autograph Collection property in the city. Designed by Tristan du Plessis, it features ocean, mountain, and beachfront views. Dining options include Lebanese-inspired OMRI and a poolside restaurant. Wellness amenities include a spa, outdoor pool, and activities like yoga and guided hikes. The opening enhances Marriott's presence in South Africa, expanding its diverse brand portfolio.