Major redevelopments approved for Ashfield Hotel and Hurstville Ritz Hotel
Sonnel Hospitality secured DA approvals for $11M and $4M redevelopments of Ashfield Hotel and Hurstville Ritz Hotel, with works anticipated to commence from 2027.
Asia Pacific - Latest
Asia Pacific, Excluding China, Hotel Construction Pipeline Reaches Record Highs at the Close of Q2 2026; Plus, New 2028 Forecast
Lodging Econometrics reports APEC's hotel construction pipeline hit a record 2,506 projects and 452,972 rooms in Q2 2026, with India leading at 1,033 projects, up 36% YOY.
IHCL Signs Tree of Life in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) , India’s largest hospitality company, today announced the signing of a Tree of Life resort in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu. This is a greenfield project.
IHCL Signs A Gateway In Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) , India’s largest hospitality company, today announced the signing of a Gateway hotel in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This is a greenfield project.
Anantara Hoi An Resort Unveils Vietnam’s Latest Riverfront Suites, Reimagined Pool Experience and a Vibrant New Dining Destination
Anantara Hoi An Resort has unveiled its most significant transformation since opening in 2013, introducing a new collection of riverfront suites, a reimagined pool experience and a vibrant new dining destination overlooking the Thu Bon River.
IHG expands voco hotels to Muar, Malaysia
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) today announced the signing of voco Muar, marking the company’s debut in the Johor riverside town and introducing the first international‑branded hotel to the destination.
United Hospitality Management Accelerates India Expansion with Three New Hotel Signings with IHG Hotels & Resorts
UHM signs three IHG-branded hotels in India totalling 182 keys, bringing its India portfolio to 24 properties as it targets 100+ hotels across the country.
Elong Hotel Technology Group Sets New Milestone for China's Food Sustainability with Comprehensive Cage-free Eggs and Plant-Based Commitments
Elong Hotel Technology Group, operating 3,000+ hotels across China, commits to 100% cage-free egg sourcing by 2030 and expanded plant-based menus across its breakfast and F&B operations.
Tapestry Collection by Hilton Debuts in Vietnam with Opening of NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has opened NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, a tranquil riverside sanctuary in Central Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed port town, which is famed for its cobbled streets and winding waterways. The property marks the debut of Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Vietnam, introducing this brand collection of original, independent hotels to one of the country’s most culturally rich destinations.
Expert Views (9)
Erik Muñoz, Business Development Director EMEA, TrustYou
Hotels should continue reducing unnecessary rate leakage because it protects pricing integrity, strengthens partner relationships and improves profitability. But pursuing absolute zero leakage is increasingly unrealistic in a fragmented global distribution ecosystem.
Pablo Torres, Director, Torres Hospitality Consulting
Zero rate leakage is a bit of a fantasy: a room that never appears cheaper elsewhere.Distribution is a network. A room moves from hotel to wholesaler to bedbank to affiliate to OTA, and every layer that is added also removes visibility.
Mark Fancourt, Co-Founder & Principal Consultant, TRAVHOTECH
Asking whether hoteliers should stop chasing rate leakage suggests accepting contract breaches as a routine cost of doing business. The issue isn't technological complexity or API caching—it is a direct breach of written commercial agreements.Historically, wholesale rates resided in printed brochures as opaque, bundled packages—a volume trade-off generating incremental demand without exposing room pricing.What changed?
China: 1,100+ New Hotel Openings Forecast for 2026; Hotel Conversions Hit Record High
China's Q2 2026 pipeline holds 3,588 projects and 632,256 rooms, with 1,131 new hotel openings forecast by year-end and conversions hitting a record 245 projects.
Shangri-La Group Debuts Its First JEN by Shangri-La Hotel in Hangzhou
Shangri-La Group (“the Group” or “Shangri-La”) today announced the debut of JEN by Shangri-La (“JEN”) brand in Hangzhou with the soft opening of JEN Hangzhou by Shangri-La (“JEN Hangzhou”). Bringing the brand’s “Live New Asia” spirit to one of East China’s most vibrant destinations, where cultural heritage meets fast-evolving urban energy, JEN Hangzhou blends local character with contemporary lifestyle experiences. As the Group’s 10th JEN property globally, the hotel is designed as a lively hub for travellers and the local community to connect, exchange ideas and explore the city from a fresh perspective.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Brings Kimpton to Phang Nga, Expanding Luxury & Lifestyle Footprint in Thailand
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, today announced the signing of Kimpton Phang-Nga Natai Beach, a new-build resort, in partnership with Natai Venture Co., Ltd.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Opens first Vignette Collection in India and South West Asia with The Aarlis Hotel Panchkula
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, today announces the opening of The Aarlis Hotel Panchkula, Vignette Collection, marking the introduction of its collection brand to India and South West Asia. The 145-room hotel joins Vignette Collection, a growing family of one-of-a-kind hotels in destinations to remember and becomes part of IHG' leading Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio.
Sands China as World's First Integrated Tourism and Leisure Enterprise to Achieve ISO 14001:2026 Certification for Environmental Management
Sands China becomes the world's first hospitality and integrated resort operator to earn ISO 14001:2026 certification, covering all properties and backed by a 61% Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction since 2018.
Minor Hotels Introduces Avani Queenstown, a Lakeside Retreat in New Zealand’s Adventure Capital
Minor Hotels, a leading global hotel owner and operator, announces the upcoming opening of Avani Queenstown, a premium lifestyle hotel set to welcome guests from September 2026. Marking Avani’s debut in Queenstown, its New Zealand flagship and the brand’s second property in the country after Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences, the hotel continues Avani’s growth in New Zealand and across Australasia.
One Year On: The Sorcery Holds
One year after launch, South Palms Resort and Spa Panglao's 20,000-device IoT infrastructure has run without guest-facing failures, validating the invisible-by-design technology approach.
By Terence Ronson, Founder & Managing Director, Pertlink Limited
Expert Views (11)
David Salcfas, General Manager, Hard Rock
After more than 35 years in hotel leadership, I've seen our industry evolve through major technological shifts. I began my career as one of the youngest leaders in the hotel, and today I'm often the person with the deepest institutional knowledge and operational experience.
Chintan Dadhich, Complex General Manager, Hilton
My first honest lesson with AI was this: the technology was never the hard part. The people were. Our earliest AI applications were practical — sentiment analysis and review response support, demand forecasting tools, and pre-arrival personalization.
Rahul Nama, General Manager, Accor
As a General Manager, my biggest learning has been that AI is not a replacement for hospitality—it is an enabler of better hospitality.Our first steps with AI focused on improving productivity rather than replacing people. We have used AI to support content creation, communication, brainstorming, data analysis, guest feedback summarisation and operational planning.
Hilton Brings Canopy Hotels to South East Asia with Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has opened Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit, marking the debut of its lifestyle brand, Canopy Hotels, in South East Asia. Set in Bangkok’s vibrant Asoke neighborhood, the hotel brings together public spaces by award-winning interior design studio AvroKO, four distinctive dining concepts and city-curated experiences that reflect Bangkok’s layered character and creative energy. The opening represents another milestone in Hilton’s expanding lifestyle portfolio across Asia Pacific.
Taking Reservations: The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok
The Langham, Custom House, Bangkok is now accepting bookings for stays from 20 December. Set along the Chao Phraya River in the Thai capital’s Bang Rak District, the highly anticipated hotel centres on the city’s storied Custom House building, which is undergoing meticulous restoration. Established in 1888 under King Rama V, the landmark was once regarded as the country’s gateway to the world.