Hotel Openings

🏨 Onyx Hospitality Group opened Amari Colombo in Sri Lanka with 167 rooms, a rooftop pool, and sustainable seafood dining. Amari Vientiane in Laos, featuring 248 rooms and suites, is set to open in March, 4.8 km from Wattay International Airport. Amari The Tide Bangsaen, with 154 rooms opposite Bangsaen Beach in Bangkok, will open in May, offering a spa, fitness center, and event spaces. Amari Koh Samui in Thailand added a new pool and will launch updated room categories in May.

🏥 Marriott International to open the world's largest Courtyard by Marriott in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, by 2026, in collaboration with Al Qimmah Hospitality and Amwaj Real Estate, subsidiaries of BinDawood Trading. The Courtyard by Marriott Makkah Al Naseem will feature 2,179 guest rooms, a restaurant for 1,800+ guests, and align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to boost religious tourism, aiming for 30 million tourists annually by decade's end. Makkah received 13.5 million pilgrims in 2023. Marriott International operates over 1,300 Courtyard properties globally.

🍳 Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Benares in Mayfair, London, reopened after significant refurbishment, with a new menu by Executive Chef Sameer Taneja launching on 10 February. Interior designer Dale Atkinson conducted the makeover. The restaurant, established in 2003, combines British ingredients with Indian flavors. The tasting menu starts at £135; a la carte and set lunch menus are available too. The refurbishment aims to reflect Benares' essence—sophistication, vibrancy, and a welcoming atmosphere.

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corporation plans expansions into 13 new destinations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East from 2025 to 2028, following strong 2024 Q3 performance in EAME: RevPAR +12.1%, ADR +5.8%, occupancy +3.8%. Growth includes new projects in Estonia, Iceland, Romania, Cape Verde, and Mauritius, with a global goal of 50 new hotels by 2026. Spain's portfolio grew from 4 to 55 hotels since 2020, boosted by acquisitions like Apple Leisure Group in 2021, Standard International in 2024, and a joint venture adding five Bahia Principe properties. Spain, second in global tourism with 85.2 million visitors in 2023 and $92 billion in revenue, expects the Thompson Sevilla opening by 2026.

🏨 Hilton announces two new properties in Amsterdam set to open in 2027: Home2 Suites by Hilton (128 rooms) and Hilton Garden Inn (156 rooms), marking the first for both brands in the Netherlands and Amsterdam, respectively. These hotels will be located in Aalsmeer, near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and join the Hilton Honors loyalty program. Home2 Suites will offer extended stay facilities like fully equipped kitchens and pet-friendly amenities. Hilton Garden Inn will feature social spaces, meeting rooms, and a 24/7 self-service area. Both projects reflect Hilton's global expansion at airport locations and enhance the offering in the financial and business capital of the Netherlands.

📍 Western Addition Restaurant Group is expanding its Il Bracco Italian concept to Scottsdale, Arizona, marking its first venture outside Texas. The new location at Scottsdale Road and Rose Lane will feature a 5,000-square-foot indoor space and a 950-square-foot patio. With seating for 161 guests, including 10 patio tables and a 25-seat bar, the restaurant is set to open later this year. Construction begins this week, led by a design team that includes Kelly Wallace and Mary Lucille Quick. Il Bracco first opened in Dallas in 2019 and is led by Hillstone Restaurant Group alumni Robert Quick and Matt Gottlieb. The concept is known for housemade pastas, prime steaks, seafood, and a curated wine list.

🏡 Completed in January, the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, Hawaii underwent a renovation. Regan McLean, NCIDQ, senior designer at Parker Torres Design Inc., led the project emphasizing authentic Hawaiian design with locally sourced materials like monkeypod wood. The space features vibrant colors reflecting local flowers and sunsets, with suppliers like Valley Forge Fabrics and Neil Allen Industries contributing. Design elements include intimate lighting and patterns mimicking Maui’s landscape, with a focus on environmental impact reduction.

🏨 Aligned Hospitality Management added Spark by Hilton Tucson Airport to its portfolio, supporting its strategy to expand in Tucson, Arizona. Previously a Comfort Suites, it closed during the pandemic and was purchased in Q4 2024 for renovation. The 87-key property offers breakfast, WiFi, an indoor pool, fitness center, streaming entertainment, and is pet-friendly, located near Tucson Airport with a shuttle service. Opening is set for February 2025.

🍔 Not a Damn Chance Burger (NADC), co-founded by professional skateboarder Williams and chef/restaurateur Frankland Lee in 2022, offers a menu with a $16 wagyu beef burger, $5 fries, and $8 "beast mode" fries. The chain aims for consistent quality across its seven locations in Austin (4), Houston, Chicago, and Denver—the latter opened in December 2024. The Denver spot was chosen due to Williams' affinity for the area and the availability of space in Larimer Square. Their concept emphasizes speed, targeting a 20-minute dining experience. Williams and Lee met through social media and bonded over food and skateboarding, which led to their business partnership.

🍴 Duro Hospitality opened its first concept, The Charles, in 2018 and now includes Mister Charles and a European-inspired steakhouse named The Chumley House, which opened on November 25 in Fort Worth. Partners Benji Homsey and Chas Martin have personal connections to the city. The Chumley House, occupying 3,500 square feet with 90 indoor seats and 25 outdoor, is located on Camp Bowie Blvd near new hotels and the Culture District. The menu features European cuisine with global influences, including Indian dishes, and offers a variety of steaks and a cocktail menu with wines from Napa, Bordeaux, and Burgundy.