Hotel Openings

🚆 St Pancras London, opened in 1873, inspired global railway architecture. Initially the Midland Grand Hotel, it had 300 rooms but only eight bathrooms. St Louis Union Station Hotel, opened in 1894, transformed into a 539-room hotel in 1985 after a $150m renovation. Tokyo Station, built in 1914, covers 182,000sq m near the Imperial Palace. Indianapolis Union Station pioneered the union station concept in 1853 and now features 26 Pullman carriages as rooms at Crowne Plaza.

📅 Hotel Theme Upgrade Week is now underway, offering hotels a chance to enhance their guest experience with custom, sustainable products like key cards and table signs. Starting from 2011, GCSTIMES has evolved into a global leader in sustainable solutions, with operations in China, the US, UAE, France, and Australia, reaching over 140 countries. With no fees or obligations, hotels receive a customized theme proposal and demo, designed to reflect their unique brand identity.

🏨 November 2025, New York City: Sofitel New York unveils its extensive renovation, inspired by Art Deco elements from Manhattan and Paris. The hotel, featuring 398 accommodations (346 guestrooms, 52 suites), showcases redesigned interiors with French-inspired aesthetics. Highlights include the 28th-floor Penthouse, Social 45 Bar & Bistro, and updated meeting spaces. Nearly 30% of Sofitel hotels globally are undergoing revitalization, reflecting the brand's commitment to excellence and modern French luxury, blending elegance with New York's vibrancy.

📍 The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, reopens December 8, 2025, post $100 million renovation. 🏨 The overhaul includes 421 guestrooms with Atlantic views, revamped lobby, and enhanced leisure amenities. 🏖️ Upgrades feature the new Ritz-Carlton Spa, expanded water sports, and Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center. 🍽️ Culinary experiences boast six dining venues, including Luma and Paralía. 🥗 Wellness offerings align with Tremble fitness. 🌴 This is the first major update in nearly 25 years.

🏨 Choice Hotels International plans to enter Africa in early 2026, starting with three franchised locations in Kenya. An Ascend Collection hotel in Maasai Mara and two under the Clarion and Quality Inn brands in Nairobi are announced. At least 15 more sites are planned across sub-Saharan and southern Africa by 2030. The company aims to double its international profitability by 2027, with current gross rooms revenue at $3 billion.

🏨 Peachtree Group opened a 98-room Tru by Hilton in Huntsville, Alabama, near Boeing, NASA, and the FBI’s Huntsville campus. This is Peachtree’s sixth hotel opening in 2025. The hotel, located close to key government contractors and Redstone Arsenal, features open social spaces, complimentary breakfast, a 24/7 market, a fitness center, and lounge areas. Peachtree’s hospitality division manages the hotel, emphasizing the area's robust aerospace and defense industries.

🏨 Phoenix, Arizona—On November 13th, Ledgestone Hospitality opened the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Phoenix West/Glendale/Tolleson, a new 95-room hotel. Owned by Build AZ, led by Dr. Tushar Gohel and Shital Patel, the hotel held a ribbon-cutting with the West Valley Chamber of Commerce. Highlights include free WiFi, complimentary breakfast, and a fitness center. Alise Hannebaum is COO of Build AZ, with Steve Clinkenbeard attending to support the La Quinta Del Sol prototype launch.

🚢 Construction of the Orient Express Olympian began with steel cutting on January 30, 2025. The 220-meter yacht will see its keel laid in November 2025, launch in April 2026, and delivery by April 2027. Its sister ship, Orient Express Corinthian, begins sea trials in December 2025. The project is part of Accor's expansion, as the Orient Express brand also introduces luxury hotels in Rome by 2025 and Venice by April 2026.

🌴 Set on a 483-acre nature reserve, the newly refurbished Four Seasons Resort Puerto Rico opened with redesigned guest rooms and suites. Located 30 minutes from San Juan, it offers 11 km of trails and experiences including 10 dining options. The resort features an 18-hole golf course, expanded racquet centre, and two fitness centres. Ideal for families, it includes a kids' club, family-size cabanas, and guided tours in Old San Juan, celebrating Puerto Rican culture and conservation.