News

Starwood Capital’s luxury lifestyle 1 Hotels brand has launched a unique loyalty program called Mission Membership, a purpose-driven concept designed to reward guests. The program focuses on personalization, environmental impact, and “deepening the guest experience in meaningful ways.”

Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp. topped off its 482-room Hotel101-Niseko project in Hirafu, Hokkaido, Japan on December 5, 2025, marking the structural completion of what will become the largest hotel in the area by room count.

Marriott International has entered the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the opening of Protea Hotel by Marriott Kinshasa and Four Points by Sheraton Kinshasa.

South Korea’s hotel industry is expanding sales of private brand (PB) bedding and household goods as they seek to capture consumers wanting to replicate luxury hotel stays at home.

Silversea Cruises has delayed the opening of its hotel on the southern tip of South America until October 2026.

Argentina has taken luxury travel to new heights – literally. The country recently unveiled a one-of-a-kind hotel inside two retired commercial aeroplanes in Oncativo, Cordoba. Named Air Damasco, the hotel combines modern amenities with a themed decor that promises a unique stay. 

Hospitality group IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a deal to open InterContinental luxury brand hotel in Prague, marking the brand’s return to the Czech Republic. The 137-room luxury hotel is anticipated to open in the first half of 2029.

Croatian hoteliers recorded a strong 2025 season with high occupancy rates, but rising costs, especially for labour and food, outpaced revenue growth and are squeezing investment capacity and competitiveness, speakers said at the annual hoteliers' congress.

Viceroy Hotels, through a sales and marketing affiliation agreement, is expanding into Africa with three luxury safari lodges across Zambia and Botswana.

Marbella's ability to attract investment is endless. Its latest project for the development of a residential complex and a luxury hotel, however, has an interesting twist: it dates back 30 years, according to town planning councillor José Eduardo Díaz, who explained how they will revive it.

Wealth inequality activists caused a festive disturbance at an iconic London hotel by upending a bag of manure beneath the lobby’s Christmas tree.

Founded by hotelier André Seiler, whose family legacy includes two landmarks of Swiss hospitality, Mont Cervin Palace and Monte Rosa in Zermatt, and leading entrepreneur and architect Christian Constantin, the collection brings a fresh perspective to Swiss hospitality, with the ambition to create contemporary, understated hotels that offer space to think, breathe and reconnect with the landscapes that make Switzerland so exceptional.

Guests are challenged to visit the ‘Haymarket Hundred’ – a list of 100 curated neighbourhood discoveries – to receive rewards as part of the Supersolid campaign, LBB’s Lilya Murray writes.

Emirates Gold and Malaysia’s Public Gold have launched what they describe as the world’s first fintech-enabled gold ATM in the UAE. The machine was unveiled at the Dubai Precious Metals Conference 2025 at Atlantis, The Palm.

An engaged couple, set to be married in a month, was arrested at 1:30am in a hotel room in Kluang, Johor, by the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ).

Accor, a world leading hospitality group, has appointed Karelle Lamouche as CEO for Europe & North Africa for its Premium, Midscale & Economy brands. In her new role, Karelle will lead Accor’s business in the region, which includes more than 3,000 hotels across 40+ countries, representing approximately 40% of Accor’s entire global network.

A wholly owned subsidiary of City Developments Limited (CDL) – Copthorne Hotel Holdings – has completed the acquisition of Holiday Inn London on Kensington High Street for £280 million (S$480.2 million).

EVT Limited has officially launched EVT Connect Hospitality after successfully completing its Pro-invest Hotels (PIH) acquisition, enhancing the group’s status as the second largest hotel operator across Australia and New Zealand, operating a network of over 100 hotels and resorts, including confirmed pipeline properties.

Whitbread has purchased Victory House, a freehold office building located at 30-34 Kingsway, WC2, in Central London. The acquisition was made from a private overseas investor for an undisclosed sum. 

A security manager at Taj Samudra, Colombo, has been arrested following a viral video that showed him slapping two trainees inside a room and addressing a group of trainees in an abusive manner.

The first-ever Chelsea Football Club (CFC)-themed hotel suites in Asia have been unveiled by Ascott, a renowned international hospitality company, in an exciting new chapter for travel experiences that blend luxury and sport. 

The policy, first committed voluntarily by the CEO Ranjit Batra in 2024, positioning Ventive Hospitality as the first Indian hospitality group to implement a structured minimum pay threshold, claimed a company release.

BLINK Design Group has officially landed in London, marking a significant new chapter for the globally acclaimed interior design studio. With established hubs in Bangkok, Singapore and Dubai, the company – founded and led by visionary designer Clint Nagata – continues its international momentum with the opening of its first UK outpost. The new studio brings together a curated team of top-tier creatives and strategic leaders, reinforcing BLINK’s reputation for design excellence across continents.

Oberland, a new hotel group, is entering the UK market with a planned opening in central Glasgow in April 2026.