Hotel Openings

🏨 Scottish hospitality operator Buzzworks will acquire the Nether Abbey Hotel in North Berwick in mid-January, marking its first venture into accommodation. The hotel, a family-run establishment for over 60 years, will undergo a seven-figure refurbishment, transforming it into a venue with 12 rooms, a pub, and a restaurant. Construction is set for spring 2026, with reopening in late 2026. The redevelopment will create 25-45 jobs, retaining current staff during refurbishment. Buzzworks aims to expand its presence in East Lothian.

🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts launched its Vignette Collection in Africa with Fairview Hotel Nairobi's addition. The brand, introduced three years ago, now boasts 27 hotels and plans for 41 more. The 99-room hotel, in Nairobi's Upper Hill, features early 20th-century architecture and modern amenities. Dining options include Mukutan, Pwani, and Giuseppe. Fairview participates in the Vignette Collection's Memorable Rituals, like SimuStories, and community initiatives with Kenya National Library Service.

🏨 Omni Hotels & Resorts opened Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel on Thursday as part of the Broward County Convention Center District expansion. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway, it features 801 guest rooms, 82 suites, and over 120,000 square feet of meeting space. The project will boost the local economy by $450 million and create 3,000 jobs. Dining options include seven venues, with an Italian chophouse opening in 2026. Wellness amenities include the 8,500-square-foot Mokara Spa.

🏨 Marriott International plans to open The Cape Town EDITION at V&A Waterfront in 2026. This marks Africa’s first EDITION hotel, featuring 142 rooms, suites, and private residences. Designed by Neri and Hu with StudioMAS, it will offer dining venues, a rooftop bar, a spa, and a pool. Located in Granger Bay, it offers views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. This development is part of Marriott’s African expansion strategy focusing on luxury lifestyle brands.

🏠 Rosewood Hotel Group will expand in 2025 with eight new properties across three continents, including Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills, its first standalone residential property. Openings include Rosewood Miyakojima in Japan (55 keys) and Rosewood Mandarina in Mexico (134 keys). The New World Jinzhou Hotel in China will feature 215 keys. The debut of Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin marks their first ski resort. Future openings include Rosewood locations in AMAALA, Rome, and Dubai.

🏨 Hyatt Studios Huntsville opened in December 2025, following the first Hyatt Studios in Mobile, Alabama, earlier this year. Located near major employers and attractions in Huntsville, Alabama, the hotel offers 120 studio apartment-style suites with kitchens and flexible workspaces. Managed by LBA Hospitality and developed by 3H Group, it includes amenities like a 24/7 market, free breakfast, fiber internet, EV charging, a fitness studio, and a 623-square-foot meeting room for up to 15 people.

🏨 Drury Hotels opened its first Nebraska location, the Drury Plaza Hotel Lincoln Downtown, in Lincoln. The hotel features 210 rooms, over 2,400 sq ft of meeting space, and on-site dining. Located near the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, it offers easy access to local attractions. Meeting amenities include free Wi-Fi and flexible policies. Guests enjoy a 24-hour business center, indoor pool, and complimentary meals. General Manager Megan Clark leads a staff of 55.

🏨 Criterion Capital expands in London with Zedwell Underground Park Lane, a 133-room hotel in Mayfair, opened in 2025. As the second underground Zedwell hotel in the capital, it repurposes urban space to reduce environmental impact. Features include windowless “cocoons” and automated check-in. The company operates over 3,000 rooms in London, with plans for 6,000 more by 2029, extending to Oxford, Edinburgh, and Manchester, targeting leisure and business travelers.