Hotel Openings

🎆 Farlam Hall in Cumbria celebrates Diwali with a two-night package from November 6-8, 2026, curated by Chef Hrishikesh Desai. Guests enjoy a Diya lighting ceremony, fireworks, street food feast, and entertainment. Saturday offers site visits or relaxation, followed by a seven-course gala dinner. Accommodation options for families are available, with a 10% discount for extended stays. Prices start under £475 per person per night. More details at farlamhall.com or 016977 46234.

🏠 Villa Eden, located in Merano at the Dolomites' gateway, is an adults-only wellness retreat founded in 1982 by Karl Schmid. Managed by Angelika Schmid, it accommodates 45 guests with 25 suites and offers personalized wellness programs. The Merano Wine Festival, established in 1992, and the Merano Grape Festival, since 1886, showcase local traditions and gastronomy. Villa Eden's room rates start at EUR 750, with health programs beginning at EUR 2,950, offering a 20% discount for 8-night bookings.

🌳 Treehouse Hotel Manchester, established in March 2025 by Starwood Hotels' Barry Sternlicht, unveils a major expansion. Located at Blackfriars Street and Deansgate, it boasts rooftop destinations on the 14th and 15th floors, including Sister Moon by Chef Sam Grainger. New additions feature nine premium suites on the 11th and 12th floors. Facilities include The Pollen Club's padel courts and The Good Sauna Co.'s outdoor sauna. The hotel hosts events for up to 400 guests, offering diverse dining, fitness, and entertainment options.

🏠 Filipe D’Avillez, General Manager of TRIBE London Canary Wharf, has been instrumental in building the hotel's success. With a four-year tenure, Filipe played a key role in launching TRIBE's first UK property. His career spans hotel launches, team development, and award-winning service cultures.

🏨 Britannia Hotels will reopen its historic Wolverhampton site on Lichfield Street in November 2023 after extensive refurbishment. All 118 bedrooms and bathrooms of the 135-year-old property have been remodelled. The hotel had been closed since 2021 to provide emergency accommodation for asylum seekers. Now, it returns to commercial use following the government’s winding down of hotel occupancy schemes. Director Prakash Sivarajan emphasizes the investment made to modernize and enhance visitor convenience.

📍 Aleph Hospitality, the largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa, took over Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan in Dubai on 1 July 2026. Aleph now manages over 50 hotels with 7,000+ rooms across 23 countries and 39 cities. Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan joins the Marriott Marquis and Hilton in Dubai under Aleph's management. This expansion aligns with Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and aims for operational efficiency and commercial success for hotel owners.

📈 Coury Hospitality, based in Dallas, is expanding with THE RIVVY in Chicago and Marriott Tacoma Downtown in Washington, managed for ACORE Capital. THE RIVVY, now a 297-room boutique hotel in River North, features 8,187 sq. ft. of event space. Marriott Tacoma Downtown offers 304 rooms and 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Coury, experienced with Marriott brands, now manages over 40 U.S. hotels. Founded in 1999, Coury is known for its hands-on management approach.

🏠 Indian hospitality company Royal Orchid Hotels launched Iconiqa Living on Wednesday, featuring 130 units in North Goa. Iconiqa, an upscale lifestyle brand, expands from hotel rooms to branded residences after one year. President Arjun Baljee emphasizes that service and personalization are crucial. This launch reflects Royal Orchid's portfolio expansion amid rising demand in pilgrimage towns, wedding destinations, leisure markets, and commercial centers. The group includes Regenta hotels, plans for 125 Hampton by Hilton locations, and four Iconiqa formats.

🏨 Concord Hospitality is set to manage over 12 hotels and restaurants in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. In D.C., they add One Washington Circle and The Satire in Alexandria, Va. Upcoming properties: The Union Hotel in Flemington, N.J. (100 rooms), and The Vintedge in Lyndhurst, N.J. In early 2027, The Wren will open in Raleigh and The Beckworth Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. (240 rooms). Concord emphasizes digital marketing and exceptional guest experiences.

🏨 The St. James Hotel in Selma, Alabama, originally opened in 1837, has reopened under Marriott's Series by Marriott collection, managed by Spire Hospitality. It's the only riverfront antebellum hotel left in the U.S. The 55-room boutique hotel features modern amenities, with proximity to Civil Rights landmarks. The reopening was financed by Sarah Feinberg and the Woodforest CEI-Boulos Opportunity Fund.