Hotel Openings

🏨 Santa Barbara, California—In March 2026, Best Western Plus Pepper Tree Inn rebrands as FOUND Hotels, Santa Barbara, Series by Marriott. This 150-room hotel is strategically located near downtown, offering courtyards and two pools. In September 2025, Hawkins Way Capital and Marriott International announced a partnership to convert six properties to FOUND Hotels, Series by Marriott. Guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast and parking. Santa Barbara remains a popular destination for weddings and events.

🏨 OTH Hotels Resorts added management of Courtyard Gettysburg and Wyndham Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, adding 400 guestrooms. The Courtyard offers 152 rooms, 2,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and a bistro. The Wyndham features 248 rooms, 62,500 sq. ft. of event space, and a 9,000 sq. ft. ballroom for up to 600 guests. This expansion brings OTH's portfolio to 18 hotels across the eastern U.S. Both hotels are near Gettysburg National Military Park.

🏨 Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel company, is investing in Limerick, Ireland's third-largest city, with a 156-room Premier Inn at Opera Square. This is part of their strategy to expand to 5,000 rooms in Ireland. The hotel will feature seven stories, offering 'Premier Plus' rooms and a lounge. Expected to host 60,000 guests annually, it aligns with Limerick's urban regeneration. Planning submission is anticipated before summer for a potential 2027 construction start.

📍 Minor Hotels plans to launch the Colbert Collection, a soft brand targeting independent premium hotels, in Italy by spring 2026. The initiative supports hotel individuality while leveraging the global systems of over 640 properties like Anantara and Avani. The brand's identity is influenced by European café culture, focusing on culinary and creative curation. Properties are planned for the UK, Spain, Austria, and the UAE, aligning with Minor Hotels' asset-light strategy for scalability.

🏨 Travelodge reported a 0.7% revenue rise to £1.04bn for 2025, despite a drop in EBITDA to £176.7m due to inflation. The hotel chain opened 21 UK hotels, with 12 rebranded sites. UK RevPAR grew 1.8% in H2 after a 5.6% decline in H1. Spanish revenues increased by 22%, with £10.3m EBITDA. They launched an AI assistant, Ara, and a room selection feature. Cash balance was £113m. Trading in 2026 started with revenues 3% higher than 2025.

🏨 Hotel Gotham in Manchester will reopen as The Rex on April 23, 2026, featuring 60 rooms over seven floors. The hotel retains its Art Deco heritage with a modern twist and will introduce 'The Reserve', a private club on the seventh floor. Guests can also access The Treasury, a secret events space. Refurbishments extend to the restaurant and bar. Initially designed by Edward Lutyens in 1928, Leonardo Limited Edition UK Hotels acquired the hotel in May 2024.

🏠 In 2026, Blue Flag Capital, based in Boston, will double its hospitality portfolio by opening four properties: Faraway Jackson Hole, Faraway Sag Harbor, Hotel Corduroy in Montauk, and Oyster Estate in Greenport. The former Snake River Lodge will become Faraway Jackson Hole this summer. Alpenhof Lodge will close in April 2026, reopening in 2028. This expansion reinforces Blue Flag's commitment to preserving historic hotels and offering design-driven, community-focused experiences.

📍 Minor Hotels, with over 640 properties globally, launches the Colbert Collection, a premium soft brand uniting independent hotels with a shared philosophy. Inspired by Parisian cafés and the London-based Colbert bistro, this brand fosters authentic travel experiences. Focused on culinary and cultural expression, each property retains its uniqueness, driven by creativity and local culture. Colbert emphasizes "the art of gathering, place, and taste," offering hotel owners global expertise while celebrating individuality and emotional connection.

🏨 Marriott International and Sun Group have inked a deal to open 10 hotels and resorts in Phu Quoc and Vung Tau, Vietnam, marking the debut of W Hotels and Moxy Hotels in the country. These properties, totaling nearly 4,500 keys, are set to open from 2026 to 2030. The agreement involves eight Marriott brands, with the largest being the 826-key Phu Quoc Marriott Resort & Spa. This expansion aligns with Vietnam’s booming tourism market.

🏨 Hilton expands its Tapestry Collection by adding hotels in Plymouth and Cork, set to open in 2027. The New Continental Plymouth, with 120 renovated rooms, and Cork City Centre, featuring 103 rooms, will create around 100 jobs. This move enhances Hilton's UK and Ireland lifestyle brand, which includes recent signings like Motto by Hilton in Manchester. The Plymouth hotel is a franchise with Elevate Hotels, while the Cork property partners with JMK Group.