Hotel Openings

🏨 Raines announced the opening of the 118-room Courtyard by Marriott Sugar Mountain Banner Elk in Sugar Mountain, North Carolina. The hotel, owned by Sugar Mountain Hospitality LLC and co-developed by Clarendon Properties and Commercial Realty Advisors, offers a restaurant, meeting space, indoor pool, and fitness center. Located near Grandfather Mountain, it is managed by Raines, which is expanding in the Southeast with properties like DoubleTree Greenville Woodruff and Home2 Suites Charlotte.

🛠 Seven Dubai hotels will remove nearly 2,000 rooms for renovations after Iran war impacts occupancy, reducing it from 71.4% in March last year to 36.2% this March. Renovations include JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai's Tower A, half of its 1,608 rooms, until April 2027, with Tower B following by year's end. The closures range from budget to ultra-luxury hotels, affecting some of Dubai's iconic locations.

🏨 Conrad Athens The Ilisian, formerly Hilton Athens, debuts in Greece, located within The Ilisian complex. It features 278 guest rooms and suites, launching the Omega Penthouse with a private pool in late 2026. Amenities include a wellness zone, gym, and yoga studios. AvroKO, in collaboration with Mare Studio, designed the hotel interiors, showcasing works by atelier Saridis and Eleni Vernadaki. The opening adds to Conrad’s global portfolio of 50 hotels.

🏨 Virgin Hotels, in partnership with Drew Company, is set to open a 261-room hotel in Atlanta in 2027. Located within the 50-acre Centennial Yards development, the hotel will feature Virgin's 'Chambers' room concept, including grand king chambers, one-bedroom suites, and a penthouse. Amenities include a rooftop bar, pool deck, and 2,900 square feet of meeting space. This will be Virgin Hotels Collection's 18th property, reflecting their commitment to a dynamic Atlanta presence.

🏨 The Boca Raton plans to redesign Cloister's 297 guestrooms and 28 suites, completing by fall 2026. Curioso leads this, drawing on 1920s South Florida influences. Rockwell Group will refresh the 80,000 sq. ft. Mizner Center, starting this summer. Both upgrades celebrate the resort's 100-year history since opening in 1926. Previously, the resort underwent a $375 million transformation, including new dining options and a Harborside Pool Club, maintaining its unique quadruple Forbes Five-Star status.

🏨 Hilton's Conrad Athens The Ilisian opens in Greece, transforming the site of the former Hilton Athens since 1963, with 278 rooms at Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 46, Athens. AvroKO designed the interiors, preserving Yannis Moralis' 620 m² marble façades. The site includes nine dining concepts and wellness facilities like a 700 m² green roof. Executive Chef Angelos Lantos leads Byzantino. Hilton's Greek portfolio grows from a few hotels to over 50, driven by tourism demand.

🏖 Homestead Midway Utah, managed by Davidson Hospitality Group, is undergoing a major transformation. Located in Midway, Utah on 190 acres, it features 123 rooms and 85 residences under development. New amenities, including a championship golf course and event spaces, will debut from spring 2026 to fall 2027. Current features include a 400-foot-wide geothermal crater and six pools. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, it blends historic charm with modern luxury.

🏨 Hotel Daphne, located in Houston Heights, Texas, was designed by Bunkhouse Hotels and Blanchard A+D. The five-story building features 49 guestrooms with custom beds and psychedelic textiles. The lobby showcases a vintage Murano chandelier and onyx chess sets. Hypsi restaurant, run by chef Terrence Gallivan, reflects Prohibition-era styles. The hotel blends modernity with historic neighborhood aesthetics, aiming to create a community hub for both guests and locals.