Hotel Openings

🏨 Líbere Hospitality Group (LHG) will launch its first UK property, a 44-unit hotel on Edgware Road, London, in May 2025. LHG, founded in 2019, operates over 1,900 units across 50+ properties in Southern Europe, expanding to 1,200 units by 2025, a 135% increase from 2024. LHG's asset-light model focuses on tech-driven, design-led accommodations. The company targets strategic urban markets, expecting a 66% annual growth, aiming for a 3,000-unit pipeline.

🏖 Shinta Mani Mustang, located in Nepal’s Lower Mustang, opened in August 2023 with 29 suites designed by Bill Bensley. The architecture by Prabal Shumsher Thapa uses local stone, blending with the Himalayan landscape. Featuring Nepalese handcrafted interiors, the resort incorporates sustainable practices by upcycling materials. The design includes 2,000 apple and apricot trees, offering activities like trekking and yoga, while maintaining harmony with local culture and the environment.

🏨 InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, near Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, designed by BENSLEY, repurposes decommissioned train carriages for luxury accommodations and public spaces, reflecting King Rama V's railway era. Eco-friendly practices include upcycling, using local materials, and integrating natural surroundings. Features like a train-themed spa, vintage railway memorabilia, and collaborations with Thai artisans enhance the guest experience. This project exemplifies how luxury and sustainability can harmoniously coexist in hospitality design.

🏖️ Located on Nai Yang Beach, The Slate in Phuket, Thailand, designed by Bensley, reimagines the island's tin-mining past. The resort combines industrial aesthetics with lush landscapes, featuring materials like steel, concrete, and raw timber, creating a steampunk and tropical modernism fusion. Highlights include the Black Ginger restaurant accessible by raft, multiple pools, and the Coqoon Spa's tree-wrapped treatment rooms. Bensley's narrative-driven design tells Phuket's history through space, texture, and atmosphere.

🌴 Rosewood Luang Prabang, Laos, designed by BENSLEY, features 23 accommodations, including waterfall pool villas and hilltop tents. It blends traditional Laotian architecture with sustainable luxury. Using local materials like teak and bamboo, the resort supports local artisans. Eco-friendly techniques, water conservation, and waste management minimize its environmental impact. Communal areas like the Great House restaurant offer panoramic views. The resort narrates French explorer history through eclectic design elements, offering an immersive guest experience.

🍺 Sheraton Grand London Park Lane partners with "The Great Gatsby: A New Musical" at the London Coliseum for an exclusive afternoon tea and cocktail experience from 16 May to 7 September 2025. Located in Mayfair, the hotel offers a themed dining experience in its 1920s Palm Court, with prices starting at £65. The musical runs from 11 April to 7 September 2025, featuring stars like Jamie Muscato and Frances Mayli McCann.

🏝️ May 16, 2025, South Florida, USA: Ben Wolff, co-founder of Onera and CEO of Oasi, plans to develop a modular tropical landscape resort. This venture is highlighted in the Hospitality Daily Podcast, providing insights into his strategic expansion within the hospitality industry.

🍖 Cedric the Entertainer and Anthony Anderson opened AC Barbeque, a fast-casual barbecue restaurant, last week in Los Angeles at Westfield Century City. This venture extends their "Kings of BBQ" TV show and retail brand. Partnering with Robert Earl and chef Burt Bachman, they offer dishes like Riverfront Ribs and AC Chopped Brisket. Previously, they launched a campus kitchen at Jackson State University and a food truck at Howard University. Future plans include expanding and franchising.

🍴 Fish Cheeks, established in 2016, opened a new 2,200 sq ft location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on May 13, 2025. Part of 55 Hospitality, it offers coastal Thai cuisine. The Brooklyn venue, designed by Space NY, features new dishes like tom yam noodles and marinated raw crab. Executive chef Dustin Everett, with experience from Momofuku Ssam Bar, leads the kitchen. Future expansions are planned, and 55 Hospitality will also debut Bub’s Bakery, an allergen-free concept, later this year.

🏠 Kronos Homes launched sales for 96 luxury residences at Salgados Resort, Algarve, Portugal. The residences include 42 Westin and 54 Marriott units, managed by Highgate Portugal. Located near Salgados Beach, each unit is fully furnished with a balcony. Amenities include pools, fitness centers, and an 18-hole golf course. Prices start at €675,000 for Westin and €330,000 for Marriott. With limited availability and growing demand, these properties offer a unique investment opportunity.