Hotel Openings

🏕 Dusit Hotels and Resorts opened Dusit Princess Chiang Mai in Thailand after a 3-year renovation, featuring redesigned guestrooms and upgraded facilities reflecting Lanna culture. The property participates in Thailand's tourism revitalization campaign "Nuea… Phrom Tiew". In India, Dusit marked its market entry with dusitD2 Fagu, Shimla, inaugurated on December 15, boasting 80 guestrooms, a temperature-controlled pool, and a spa. Dusit International operates 301 properties across 19 countries, including 57 hotels and 244 luxury villas.

🏦 Hyatt's The Unbound Collection expands to Southeast Asia with Keraton at The Plaza in Jakarta, offering 138 rooms and suites. The hotel, featuring traditional Javanese 'batik kawung' patterns, is connected to Plaza Indonesia mall and provides access to Grand Hyatt Jakarta's amenities. The Unbound Collection currently comprises 19 hotels, including the recently announced property in Nara, Japan, and the renovated The Bellevue in Philadelphia with 184 rooms and 38 suites.

🏡 Accor partners with DOJI Group to open Sofitel Diamond Crown Hai Phong in 2026. Located in Hai Phong, Vietnam within the Diamond Crown complex, the luxury hotel will feature a 45-story tower and 39-story residential tower. Offering 231 hotel rooms, 180 serviced apartments, and amenities such as an infinity pool, golf simulator, gym, restaurants, spa, and a conference center. This expansion strengthens Sofitel’s presence in northern Vietnam and aims to elevate Hai Phong as a prime luxury travel destination.

🍽 Big Hug Hospitality, founded in 2019 by David Schwartz and Brandon Marek, will open Mimi Chinese in Miami Beach by December 2024. The Michelin-recognized Toronto-based group offers modern Chinese cuisine inspired by Guangdong, Sichuan, Hong Kong, and Hunan regions. The new location is over 4,000 square feet with 88 seats. Mimi Chinese Miami will offer signature dishes and a beverage program with cocktails, wines, baijiu, and sakes. Schwartz received the Michelin Young Chef award in 2023.

🏖️ Hilton, in partnership with Parks Hospitality Holdings, will open Conrad Los Cabos in Mexico by 2027. This resort will be located in the Baja California Sur region and will become Conrad's first property on the Baja California Peninsula, joining Hilton's eight existing properties in the area. It will feature 175 rooms and residences, including 111 guest rooms with private plunge pools. The resort will offer a 3,000-square-foot spa, fitness center, several pools, five dining venues, and over 500 square feet of meeting space. Conrad Los Cabos will be part of the OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf community, and it will include Ernie Els’ first golf course in Mexico. Hilton plans to expand its luxury portfolio in the Caribbean and Latin America with over 270 hotels and 135 properties in development.

💼 Walter “J.R.” Dembiec, Jr. appointed as Brand President of ‘Reside, a Wyndham Residence’ on 17 December 2024. Reside, located in Seattle, has launched ‘Reside, a Wyndham Residence’ earlier in the year with five properties. Dembiec, with over 30 years of experience, will spearhead the expansion of the upscale extended-stay segment through a 10-year partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The expansion targets the top 50 U.S. markets, adding to the current locations of Seattle, Houston, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans.