Hotel Openings

🏖 BodyHoliday Algarve, a wellness resort in Portugal's Eastern Algarve, opens in 2029. Just 45 minutes from Faro Airport, it spans 26 acres with 175 accommodations and a 40,000-square-foot Wellness Center. The $9 trillion wellness economy by 2028 fuels this expansion. SunSwept Resorts' executive team, including COO Indu Brar and CFO Jean-Charles Denis, leads the project. The resort features a FIFA-standard soccer field and diverse wellness programs, designed by London's Gensler.

💰 Hilton will introduce the Diamond Reserve tier in January 2026, offering enhanced benefits like a confirmable upgrade reward and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout. Gold status will require 25 nights (down from 40), while Diamond status needs 50 nights (down from 60). Diamond Reserve necessitates 80 nights and $18,000 annual spend. Members gain premium upgrades at over 1,000 Hilton luxury properties. Hilton also offers no blackout dates and no resort fees on rewards stays.

📍 Crestline Hotels & Resorts will manage Georgetown University's Hoya Hotel in Washington, D.C., reopening in spring 2026 after a major renovation. The five-story, 146-guestroom facility will feature 13,000 square feet for events, an open lobby, and modern amenities. Crestline has managed university hotels for over 20 years, including those at Georgia Tech and Emory. As their fifth university property, the Hoya Hotel aims to integrate hospitality excellence with academic needs.

🛨 Sofitel London St James, located in London, completed refurbishments of six signature suites by Paris-based Pierre-Yves Rochon. Four prestige suites are available now, with Suite 70 and The Opera Suite launching in January 2026. The suites feature 1970s aesthetics, Klein blue and Wimbledon green themes, modern art, and smart amenities. The Opera Suite will be the largest, with a private bar. Marie-Paule Nowlis, the general manager, emphasized the blend of French sophistication and London's cosmopolitan spirit.

🏨 Duke Street Boutique Hotel reopened in Liverpool city center in October 2025, after a purchase by Golding Group for £2.25 million. Initially launched in 2021, it entered administration in early 2025. Now refurbished with a redesigned reception and resident's bar, it offers 30 en-suite rooms, full staffing, and a breakfast-to-go option. The hotel is located near key Liverpool attractions like Chinatown and the M&S Bank Arena.

🏨 Reservations for the Imperial Hotel, Kyoto, open November 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM JST, with the hotel welcoming guests starting March 5, 2026. Situated in Kyoto's Gion district, the hotel blends historic charm with modern elegance, housed in the 90-year-old Yasaka Kaikan. The hotel features 55 rooms, including Signature Suites ranging from 1,022 to 1,377 sq ft, and introduces tatami flooring in the North Wing. The hotel includes restaurants, a bar, spa, pool, and gym.

🏨 China's second-largest hotel group, also the world's fourth-largest, marks its 20th anniversary by launching Ji Icons, a premium version of Ji Hotel. This strategic move caters to the increasing domestic demand for upscale accommodations.

🏨 UAE: November 2025, the Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG, opens as the world's tallest hotel at 377 meters, featuring 82 floors, 1,004 rooms, and an infinity pool on the 76th floor. Developed by The First Group and designed by Norr, this property offers eight dining venues, a gym, meeting spaces, and a spa set to open in February 2026. Guests have access to Soluna Beach Club, making it a luxury destination.