Hotel Openings

🏨 HEI Hotels & Resorts upgraded all 214 guestrooms at The Westin Minneapolis in Minnesota. Whitespace Interiors designed the new look, featuring authentic materials and organic patterns. The hotel occupies the historic Farmers and Mechanics Bank building, originally built in 1941, with an 11-story office tower added in 1963. In 2006–2007, the building underwent adaptive reuse to preserve its historic features, including a 34-foot vaulted lobby and the original bank vault, now a private dining space.

🍴 KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar has secured 1a Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, in London’s West End, for a new 210-cover flagship site, opening early 2027. This will be the group's first Central London location and largest to date. The project is managed by Q&A Interior Design Ltd with murals by Martyna Sabadasz. KIBOU experienced its best trading year with double-digit revenue growth. The expansion is supported by HSBC UK, adding to locations in Battersea, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Clifton, Oxford, and Solihull.

🏨 Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire has opened "The Nest," a one-bedroom Garden Cottage Suite, within its 1830s walled garden. It's the largest bathroom at the Castle, featuring a roll-top bath and walk-in shower. Amenities include a private sauna, a natural barrel cold plunge, and an outdoor shower. The 110-acre estate offers forest bathing, wild swimming, and yoga. Rates start at £837.25 per night, increasing to £1575 in peak season.

🏨 In August 2026, BWH Hotels launched the GLō Best Western Olive Branch, an 80-room hotel in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The hotel features modern design, curated artwork, a fitness center, outdoor amenities, and is part of the Memphis logistics ecosystem. It caters to travelers visiting Memphis and is owned by Yogi DeSoto Corporation. Constructed by Patel Construction, it targets a region with strong economic growth and an expanding business landscape.

🍵 JENKI opens a new matcha bar in Soho, London, on Thursday, 3rd September 2026, at Berwick Street. This expansion continues JENKI's growth to 11 London locations by 2026. Founded by Claudia and Otto Boyer in 2020, JENKI's first permanent bar opened in 2021. The new bar's design by KAI Interiors echoes Japanese tea fields. Opening day features free matcha from 10 am to 6 pm.

🏨 Whitbread's Premier Inn is set to open a 187-bedroom hotel on West Street, Brighton in 2028. The project began in October 2025, with the structural frame completed by August 25, 2026. The hotel will include Premier Plus rooms and employ around 40 people. Part of Whitbread's expansion strategy, it addresses demand in city centers with a UK and Ireland goal of 125,000 rooms. The site was a former nightclub, showcasing Whitbread's redevelopment skills.

🍴 Chef Dom Chapman and restaurateur Nigel Sutcliffe will open The Jack O’Newbury in Binfield, Berkshire, on 2 September. Situated a few miles from Windsor, this 16th-century village inn underwent two years of renovation. It boasts an 80-cover dining room, 11 bedrooms, a kitchen garden, and a 20-cover terrace. The restaurant will serve Berkshire dishes daily and be led by Sutcliffe, who also co-founded The Crazy Bear and The Oarsman, with Chapman as the culinary head.

🏨 Nema Design Hotel & Spa opens Eéso, a self-contained enclave in Analipsi, Crete, featuring suites like Atrium, Sanctum, Pavilion, and Penthouse. Designed by OmniView, the enclave emphasizes privacy with unique architecture and earthy tones like charcoal and mineral grey. Central to this space is a pool with pergola seating, creating private retreats. Nà Le Ma restaurant is exclusive to guests. Materials are sourced locally, and rates start at £558 per night.

🏨 UK, August 2026: Paul and Emma Ainsworth's St Enodoc hotel in Rock, Cornwall, reopens after a 10-month renovation. The update introduces two new dining venues—Estuary Grill and The Flour Garden—and event spaces: The Oyster Salon (up to 130 guests) and The Porthilly Pavilion. The hotel offers direct access to St Enodoc Golf Club, tennis, and Padel courts, plus BMW shuttles. The next phase will enhance its 20 guest rooms.