GBTA will host forums in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, and Auckland between March and April to address industry challenges amid Australia's AUD 42.7 billion business travel market.
This article warns that tourism has already “wasted” one historic crisis (Covid-19) and is in danger of wasting a much bigger one: the current metacrisis of ecological collapse, geopolitical instability, and social rupture. Anna Pollock argues that mainstream tourism is still clinging to volume-driven, extractive growth and cosmetic “net positive” claims, while true regeneration requires a 100% shift in purpose – from mass industrial tourism to hospitality that helps hospice the dying system and midwife new, life-aligned ways of travelling, hosting and relating to place.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of an iconic Gold Coast hotel with Islander Hotel Trading Pty Ltd. The property will introduce LXR Hotels & Resorts to Australia in early 2027 after a renovation. The new hotel marks a significant milestone in Hilton’s expansion in Australia, bringing LXR Hotels & Resorts bespoke personal service and timeless pursuit of adventure to the South-East Queensland coast.
GHA adds 40+ Japanese hotels to its network through partnership with Tokyu Hotels & Resorts, gaining access to prime locations across Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Okinawa.
Minor Hotels, a leading global hotel owner and operator, has announced Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane, a design-led, premium lifestyle hotel set to open in Q2 2026. The property will become Minor Hotels’ second hotel in Laos, joining Avani+ Luang Prabang in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, further reinforcing the group’s presence in one of Southeast Asia’s most culturally rich and increasingly dynamic destinations.
As travellers increasingly seek slower, more meaningful ways to experience destinations, Centara Hotels & Resorts introduces a new gateway to the Himalayas with the opening of Himalayan Hideaway Resort Pokhara, The Centara Collection, its first property in Nepal. Set in the hills above Pokhara, the resort offers an alternative to high-intensity Himalayan travel — inviting guests to slow down, stay rooted in one place, and experience Nepal through everyday life, seasonal rhythms and a deep connection to landscape.
At its root, hospitality means something simple: to receive a stranger with generosity, to share what you have—food, shelter, warmth, knowledge—and in doing so, strengthen bonds of trust and reciprocity. It creates mutually rewarding relationships between humans and towards the place; ultimately it fosters conditions for life to flourish, deepens human connection, and leaves all parties enriched.
Bengaluru led with 15-17% ARR growth while Chandigarh posted highest occupancy gains of 7-9 percentage points.
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, today announced the opening of Gateway Dehradun, marking the debut of the Gateway brand in Uttarakhand’s capital city. Located in the heart of the valley, the 100-key Gateway Dehradun offers sweeping green views. Dine at The Pavillion, a cosy indoor all-day dining destination with Indian, Continental and Asian delicacies or Aanch, a specialty North Indian restaurant inspired by the kitchens of the North-West Frontier. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, a spa & wellness centre and versatile event spaces, including the city’s largest banquet hall. Guests can enjoy curated experiences such as the Uttarakhandi Pahadi Thali, Tibetan culinary specialties, local favourites like Bal Mithai and Singori and bespoke private dining. Nestled between the Shivalik foothills and the Himalayas, Dehradun, known for its pleasant climate and scenic vistas, offers a blend of nature, culture and heritage. Popular attractions such as Paltan Bazaar, Rajpur Road Market, Robber’s Cave, Mindrolling Monastery, Tapkeshwar Temple, and Sahastradhara provide enriching experiences. For more information, please visit: Gateway Dehradun
Hilton will open five new Malaysian properties in 2026, including debuts for Waldorf Astoria and Conrad brands in Kuala Lumpur.
Nina Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Chinachem Group, announces the launch of a major renovation at Nina Hotel Island South, which first opened in 2010. The project redefines the property as an urban oasis on Hong Kong Island’s south side, with proximity to all of the island’s attractions, where comfort meets value. Located five minutes from Wong Chuk Hang Station and moments from Ocean Park and Aberdeen, the hotel now presents a transformed lobby alongside 432 newly refreshed guestrooms and Nina Communal, a vibrant communal lounge with bar and pantry facilities designed for families, business travellers and leisure visitors.
For our founder, Yoshitaka Nojiri, hotels have always held a certain magic. From family celebrations to memorable meals, they were places where ordinary moments became extraordinary—both familiar and uniquely memorable.
This stage of AI evolution is not just predictable, it was inevitable as it addresses the very natural consumer expectation to be able to complete the transaction within the same app without having to click out. UCP in itself is not the biggest disruptor (AI search is).
Google's Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) absolutely could pave the way for a meaningful shift in hotel distribution in the next 24-36 months. Its impact will depend heavily on both technological readiness and traveler adoption.
There's a significant gap between what's technically possible and what consumers will actually adopt, especially for high-involvement decisions like hotel bookings. For commodity purchases (cables, everyday items), delegating the entire process to an AI agent makes sense, but hotel bookings for holidays is a different story.
The 150-room property will anchor a AUD $3.8 billion Burswood Point development opening in 2032, marking Anantara's first Australian location.
Capella Kyoto will open on 22 March 2026, just as Kyoto’s legendary cherry blossoms reach their fleeting peak. Set in the historic Miyagawa-cho kagai (geisha district), Capella Hotels and Resorts’ inaugural property in Japan is located steps from the Kenninji temple and the Kamo river where kabuki was born.
The 104-room property will be part of a mixed-use tower featuring 169 residences, opening in late 2027 near Hyde Park and Museum Station.
The 170-key property will open in 2030 near Phuket airport and extends IHG's Thailand pipeline to 37 hotels with AssetWise as development partner.
Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announced the opening of Le Méridien Dehradun Resort & Spa. Set along the tranquil Nun River, framed by the foothills of the Himalayas, the resort marks the brand’s arrival in Dehradun, an emerging leisure hub and key gateway to some of North India’s most sought-after hill destinations, including Mussoorie, Rishikesh, and Haridwar.
The 150-key hotel near Madurai International Airport will serve the city's 27 million annual visitors when it opens in early 2029.
Aavya Cove Villas, a twelve-villa coastal retreat on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, has recently joined the Aahaasa Collection, the design-led hospitality brand launched in late 2025 with its second property Aavya Cove Villas. The property, Aahaasa’s coastal flagship, occupies a naturally sheltered cove overlooking the Indian Ocean in Balapitiya, approximately 45-minutes north of the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort. Alongside its low-density, design focussed on exclusivity and privacy Aavya introduces several new signature experiences, wellness programs, and sustainability initiatives, reinforcing its position as a benchmark for thoughtful, inclusive luxury travel in Sri Lanka.