Hotel Openings

🏨 Ardbeg House, a luxury hotel on Islay, Scotland, opens with 12 themed bedrooms inspired by Ardbeg distillery. A Stannah Stairiser CR2 lift ensures accessibility to upper floors. Designed with Russell Sage Studio and over 20 architects, it features interactive elements like "Press for Smoke." The compact lift, installed in two days, accommodates wheelchairs with an 800mm x 1000mm platform. Challenges included ferry transport and tight space. Custom green paint matches the hotel's decor.

🏨 Scheduled for February 2026, the K West Hotel in West London will transform into Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherd’s Bush. This strategic shift follows a 2023 agreement between Lancaster Landmark Hotel Company and IHG Hotels & Resorts. The revamped hotel will feature 231 rooms, a restaurant, bar, and wellness space. Inspired by its past as BBC’s Kensington House recording studios, it honors its musical legacy. Situated near cultural hotspots, it targets travelers seeking cultural experiences.

🏨 Crowne Plaza Budva is set to open in Budva's Slovenska obala promenade, offering 81 rooms, a sea-view restaurant, and meeting spaces. Developed with Uniprom Hoteli, it strengthens IHG's Adriatic presence. IHG operates 12 hotels in the Balkans, with 10 more in development. The project supports Montenegro's tourism growth, alongside global brands like Hyatt and Accor. Crowne Plaza brand has over 400 properties globally, enhancing its hybrid travel offerings.

🏖 The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts signed a management agreement with The Godwin Group for The Leela Jaisalmer, opening in 2026 on 30 acres in Rajasthan. Located near Jaisalmer Fort, the resort will have 80 rooms, tented villas, a spa, and a ballroom. It enhances itineraries with The Leela Palace Udaipur and Jaipur. Currently, The Leela operates 13 properties with 3,544 rooms, with plans to expand to 23 properties, including Jaisalmer.

🏨 Signia by Hilton aims to double its portfolio by 2028, with expansions in cities like Tainan, Jaipur, and Cairo. Signia by Hilton Amman, with 272 rooms, opened in January 2025. Tainan’s 344-room hotel opens July 2026, while Jaipur's 216-room property launches in 2028. Cairo will feature a hotel and residences, each with 200 units. In the U.S., San Antonio's 9,000th Hilton hotel opened, and Savannah's 444-room hotel opens mid-2028.

🏗️ HQ Hotels & Residences, partnering with Black Salmon, Boschetti Group, and Constellation Group, announced HQ Residences Miami at 422 NE 29th Street, Edgewater. The 35-story tower will feature 229 condos with eight penthouses. Amenities span 15,756 sq. ft. across two floors, including wellness facilities, a speakeasy, and dining venues. Designed by Arquitectonica, it boasts a diagrid façade and luxurious interiors. Sales are led by The Agency. Located near Wynwood, Midtown, and the Design District.

🏖️ The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort, Vail, in Lionshead Village, transformed with a $40 million renovation in 2021, offers 344 rooms, including 22 suites. Located 150 yards from the Eagle Bahn Gondola, it provides easy access to skiing and hiking. Features include a recovery-focused spa and four dining venues. Part of Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors, it includes 29,000 sq. ft. of event space, with the Grand Ballroom accommodating up to 1,000 guests.

🍴 Claro, London, opened a year ago in St James’s, receiving Michelin Guide recognition. Chef Shadi Issawy and Chef Patron Ran Shmueli offer modern Mediterranean cuisine. The anniversary Berkshire menu celebrated local producers. Dishes included venison tartare from Vicars Game and a lamb platter slow-cooked for 15 hours. Head Sommelier Ron Bronfman paired wines like the 2022 Unterebner Pinot Grigio. Claro plans East Mediterranean–inspired holiday menus, embodying thoughtful hospitality and culinary excellence.

🏨 Edinburgh's Code The Court hotel unveils new attic floor boutique rooms after multi-million-pound refurbishment. The 'Enlightened Rooms' blend bespoke interiors with local heritage, featuring 19th-century Crossley Engine Room. The launch follows a £500k renovation of John's Coffee House and Tavern. The full rebrand, including a new logo and website, marks Code's evolution from pod models to a boutique hotel with enhanced thermal upgrades and customer experience focus.

🏨 February 2026, Shepherd’s Bush, London: K West Hotel reopens as Hotel Indigo London K West. Formerly the BBC's Kensington House, the site hosted legends like Bowie and Marley. The hotel offers 231 rooms, suites, a restaurant, a bar, and an urban spa—the area's first. IHG acquired it in February 2023, partnering with Lancaster Landmark Hotel Company. Located near cultural spots like Westfield & BBC Studios, it aims to attract locals and visitors alike.