Hotel Openings

🏨 Hotel Equities and Legendary Capital plan to convert a Grand Rapids, Mich., hotel into The Gerald under the Ascend Collection by Choice Hotels. The full renovation, finishing in late 2026, will feature walnut millwork and oxblood leather. Located near the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, the rebranded hotel will include The Commons, a retail and dining area. Grand Rapids is identified as a growth market for underserved travelers.

🏨 Marriott International opens its 10,000th property, JW Marriott Ranthambore Resort and Spa, in India near Ranthambore National Park. The resort features 127 accommodations and enhances JW Marriott's global presence to 130+ properties. The company now boasts nearly 700 luxury locations across 74 countries. This milestone comes as Marriott approaches its 100th anniversary. Recent openings include properties in Budapest, Mexico, China, and near Greensboro Airport, as company leaders and owner Nilesh Gadhiya celebrate the occasion.

📍 Marriott International opened its 10,000th property globally with the JW Marriott Ranthambore Resort and Spa in India. Located near Ranthambore National Park, it features 127 accommodations. This milestone aligns with Marriott's 100th anniversary, highlighting its growth to nearly 700 luxury properties in 74 countries. This year, Marriott also launched properties in Hungary, Mexico, China, and the USA. Key figures at the Indian opening included David Marriott and Rajeev Menon.

🏖 The Villas at Canyon Suites, designed by Cooper Carry at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, feature eight single-story casitas within a 200-acre property. Offering 20 luxury accommodations, each villa includes two to four suites with kitchens and private terraces. Designed with desert adaptation in mind, they incorporate stone, stucco, and heat-resistant materials. Guests enjoy exclusive amenities such as a serene pool and spa, while patios capture scenic sunset views over a golf course.

📅 In 2031, Marriott International, Inc. plans to open three new hotels in South Asia with CG Hospitality Global, adding nearly 450 keys. The Ritz-Carlton Kathmandu and The Westin Kathmandu will debut in Nepal, while JW Marriott Hotel Siliguri will open in India. The agreement was signed by key executives from both companies, including David Marriott and Dr. Binod K Chaudhary. These projects aim to enhance tourism, local employment, and economic development in the region.

🍳 Fonab Castle hotel in Pitlochry launched the 1892 Grill, a new restaurant concept. The five-star hotel, part of Crerar Hotels Collection, installed a Spanish Josper grill and two meat-ageing fridges. Executive head chef Paul Tyrrell collaborates with John Gilmour Butchers for seasonal cuts and rare-breed selections. The restaurant overlooks Loch Faskally. Tyrrell emphasizes working with top Scottish suppliers to provide guests with high-quality, locally sourced produce.

🏨 Architects Lado Alexi-Meskhishvili and Teimuraz Mikashavidze designed the Telegraph Hotel in the 1970s as a post office and telegraph center in Tbilisi. Awarded the National State Award in 1983, it was transformed into a hotel by Neri&Hu and Silk Road Group, featuring 239 guestrooms and nine dining venues. A pivotal courtyard integrates Soviet history with modern design, offering communal balconies and lush greenery. The 2,790 sq. ft. presidential suite includes a terrace and plunge pool.