Hotel Openings

🏨 Historic ribbon-cutting ceremony last week in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, unveiled Kempinski Hotel Brazzaville, the first purpose-built luxury hotel in the capital. Developed by Al Othman Holding, the hotel offers 197 rooms with panoramic views, culinary options blending European and Congolese flavors, and over 870 sqm of event space. Key attendees included the President of Congo, Denis Sassou N'Guesso, and Kempinski executives. This opening marks Kempinski's first African property since 2015.

🏨 Upper House and EAST, part of Swire Hotels, started in 2006 as a subsidiary of Swire Properties, a Hong Kong developer established for over 50 years. By 2009, Upper House began in Hong Kong with 5% mainland China guests, doubling yearly by 2015. Planned openings include Shenzhen (2027), Xi’an (2028), and Tokyo (2029). EAST emphasizes gyms and community, hosting events like coffee raves. By 2030, Swire aims for 6-7 properties, with long-term goals of 15-18 hotels.

🏨 Premier Inn opened an 84-bedroom hotel in Hastings on December 12, 2025, located on Cornwallis Street. Officially opened by MP Helena Dollimore, the development replaced a former car park, spanning 3,000 square meters and constructed in 15 months. This project created 25 jobs. Whitbread contributed £9,000 to local charities, and the hotel team engaged in community activities. Premier Inn plans further expansions in Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, and Rye.

🏨 Dominus has secured approval in September 2025 to convert a telephone exchange on Judd Street, Camden, into a 240-bed hotel. Designed by Stiff + Trevillion, the project retains 80% of the building’s framework and aims for BREEAM Excellent standards. The ground floor will include a public restaurant, café, and bar. Dominus Hospitality will manage the hotel, creating over 100 jobs and launching the Camden Hospitality Academy with Springboard Charity and Hilton.

🛒 Premier Inn, operated by Whitbread plc, opened a new 84-bedroom hotel in Hastings Town Centre, England. Located on Cornwallis Street, the hotel was built in 15 months, replacing an under-utilised car park with a 3,000 sq m building. The launch enhances Premier Inn's presence in Hastings to two hotels, with 25 new staff members. The brand plans more openings in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. Whitbread contributed £9,000 to local charities and organized community volunteer events.

🍳 La Folie Douce transformed a disused ski lift station at 2,400 meters into La Petite Cuisine - Gare Centrale in Val-d'Isère, France. Over two years, a 30-meter kitchen piano centerpiece—France's largest—was installed to create a culinary theatre. Chef Christophe Lancelot leads the team, ensuring all dishes are made in-house with fine dining ingredients. This immersive experience blends food and performance, reinventing self-service dining into an interactive, theatrical event.

🏨 Sonesta International Hotels Corporation opened the Dry Creek Inn, part of the MOD Collection by Sonesta, in Healdsburg, California. Located at 198 Dry Creek Road, this upscale hotel features 103 rooms. The MOD Collection caters to modern travelers with an emphasis on creativity, flexibility, and eclectic design. Guests can participate in the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program to earn or redeem points. For more details, the hotel can be reached at +1 707-433-0300.