Hotel Openings

📌 Aleph Hospitality, the largest independent hotel management firm in the Middle East and Africa, announced at the 17th Annual API Property Investment Summit the opening of a regional office in Cape Town, South Africa. Currently operating 15+ hotels across seven countries, Aleph aims to tap into South Africa's tourism boom, with international arrivals projected to hit 10.5 million in 2025, an 18% increase. Plans involve enhancing operations and developing future hotels under Rob Kucera.

🏨 LivSmart Studios by Hilton opened its 114-room hotel in West Valley City, Utah, marking the sixth global location for the brand. Operated by Wittwer Hospitality, the four-story extended-stay property offers studio-style suites with full kitchens. Conveniently located about seven minutes from Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre and 15 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, the hotel features complimentary breakfast, free WiFi, and Salt Lake Valley access. It’s the first LivSmart to feature an indoor swimming pool.

🏗 Located in the tallest tower in Texas, Austin sees the debut of a new property blending nature-led design with local creative flair. This marks the brand's inaugural location in the state, featuring destination dining and wellness offerings.

🏨 G6 Hospitality announced a five-hotel construction deal with Kautilya Group for Studio 6 Plus in the Northeast. Construction for two hotels in Hartford, Connecticut, will start in Q1 2027. Studio 6 Plus, introduced in April 2026, focuses on owner economics and extended-stay guests. Each hotel will have 118 rooms with digital check-in. The development pipeline includes 25 properties. The brand emphasizes cost efficiency, transparency, and long-term profitability.

🏨 H World Group, one of the largest hotel companies globally with over 13,000 hotels, launched the Grand Ji Hotel, focusing on Chinese hospitality. As of June, two hotels with 441 rooms were open, and 18 more are planned. The brand emphasizes privacy, nature, and technology. H World operates 13,539 hotels worldwide, with 1,738 upper-midscale hotels in China as of Q2 2026. JI Hotel and Hanting ranked first and second globally by room count in a 2026 ranking.

🏨 The Pig hotel group is expanding with a new Georgian building acquisition on The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells. The expansion coincides with their 15th anniversary. No opening date or facility details have been announced yet. The project aims to integrate the brand's warmth and character into the new location while respecting the building's history. CEO Kevin Styles emphasizes the significance of this milestone and the brand's adaptation to a new setting.

📍 Cambridge House in Mayfair, London, opens reservations for its February 2027 debut. Located at 94 Piccadilly, the 102-room hotel is part of the Reuben Brothers’ £1bn regeneration of the Piccadilly Estate. This Georgian mansion, commissioned in 1756, was formerly a Naval and Military Club. It features a restaurant by Major Food Group, a three-storey wellbeing facility, and a members’ club. Designed by Jean-Louis Deniot and Laura Gonzalez, it focuses on preserving London's heritage.

🏠 Philippe Starck's upcoming project, A Serra, will debut in Serra de Grândola, Portugal, by Q2 2028. Developed with Larfa Properties, it features a 25-suite hotel and 22 villas on a 200-hectare site, with villa prices starting at $6 million. The project includes restaurants, wellness facilities, and creative studios, with interiors by local artists. Starck envisions a new hospitality model emphasizing meaningful experiences and cultural integration, blending private home intimacy with luxury retreat services.

🏖️ Field & Stream Lodge Co., founded by Starwood Capital Group and AJ Capital Partners, will open two renovated properties in 2028. A 151-room lodge in Bend, Oregon, and a 148-room lodge in Big Bear, California, are planned. The Bend location is near Deschutes River, with access to Mt. Bachelor and Smith Rock, while Big Bear is close to Bear Mountain Resort. Both lodges will focus on outdoor recreation and local design.