Openings, remarkable properties, design and the market. The news desk reads the wires every morning, files one story a day and a handful of briefs, and every piece joins the current issue on its own page.
The iconic New York City hotel will shut its doors for an extensive four-year exterior renovation, beginning this January. The project aims to preserve its landmark-protected facade.
By Mariko Sato
Openings15 October 2026p. 241
Marriott Increases Maldives Investment to Attract Indian Travelers
Following a drop in arrivals from traditional markets, Marriott is expanding its footprint in the Maldives.
Design14 October 2026p. 238
Ora Hospitality plans Mykonos ultra-luxury brand debut
Ora Hospitality will debut a new ultra-luxury brand on Mykonos in May 2027. Its €100 million flagship resort is personally guided by founder Naguib Sa…
Design13 October 2026p. 235
Accor’s Emblems Collection lands in North America at Rimrock Banff
Accor has brought its curated luxury Emblems Collection to North America, debuting with the extensively redesigned Rimrock Banff in Canada’s iconic na…
Grande Lakes Orlando is preparing to unveil its newly renovated golf course ahead of the 2026 PNC Championship. The luxury resort also announced the return of its Christmas Market and Orlando’s only open-air ice-skating rink for the holiday season. These updates aim to enhance the guest experience across the property, according to the resort.
Source: PR Newswire — TravelBargello’s food and beverage director reflected on the restaurant securing its second consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. The achievement is attributed to independence from hotel brand mandates, sourcing low-production wines, and a community-focused service approach. This strategy allowed the restaurant to develop a distinctive wine programme, according to Hospitality Net.
Source: Hospitality NetThe Hoxton hotel brand is set to open its second property in Germany in 2027. This expansion follows the brand’s strategy to grow its presence in key European markets. Further details regarding the specific location or design elements of the new hotel were not provided, according to Hotel Designs.
Source: Hotel DesignsOTH Hotels Resorts has expanded its portfolio in the Southern U.S. with the addition of two hotels, totalling 275 guestrooms. The new properties include the Capital Plaza Hotel in Frankfort, Kentucky, which is set to rebrand as The Franklin Hotel in 2027, and the Four Points by Sheraton Greensboro Airport in North Carolina. This move strengthens the company's regional presence, according to Hospitality Net.
Source: Hospitality NetThailand’s Centara Hotels & Resorts aims to double its size by focusing on multi-property deals with major investors. The company seeks to expand its portfolio without significantly increasing its balance sheet. Centara’s chief operating officer identifies distress in the Gulf region as a potential opportunity for new deals, according to Skift.
Source: SkiftGOCO Hospitality is expanding its newly acquired Fivelements brand globally, with several new properties scheduled for development. The integrative wellbeing brand plans to open locations in Koh Samui in 2027, Bali in 2028, Switzerland in 2029, and Montenegro in 2030. This expansion marks a significant step for Fivelements as it establishes a wider international presence, according to GOCO Hospitality.
Source: Hospitality Netwebhotelier | primalres, a prominent European hotel technology group, has rebranded as revplus. The company, which serves numerous hospitality establishments, adopted the single identity to reflect its evolution towards a comprehensive e-commerce ecosystem for the hotel sector. This move signals a strategic unification of its offerings, according to the Athens-based group.
Source: PR Newswire — TravelHomeToGo has appointed Dr Christine Prauschke as its new chief business officer. She will assume operational responsibility for HomeToGo Originals, the company’s property management division, which includes Interhome. This strategic appointment aims to strengthen the leadership of a key segment within the European hotel technology group, according to the company.
Source: ShortTermRentalzNew research from Booking.com indicates a link between payment choice and booking conversion. Almost two-thirds of accommodation professionals reported that guests abandoned bookings when their preferred payment method was unavailable. This finding suggests that offering diverse payment options is crucial for securing reservations, according to ShortTermRentalz. The study highlights a key factor in online booking behaviour.
Source: ShortTermRentalzRevinate has launched what it describes as hospitality’s first data activation platform. The new offering unifies Pathways, Vault, and Chat, combining CRM, CDP, and AI execution capabilities. This platform operates across 1.25 billion guest profiles, according to Revinate. The company aims to provide a comprehensive solution for managing and utilising guest data effectively.
Source: Hospitality Net
One considered letter when a new issue lands: the month's stays news, and a new destination.
