Landingplace Hotels launched Borderless Hotel Alliance, a platform giving independent hotels access to tech, distribution, and loyalty resources without requiring a brand change, signing a Virginia Beach property as its first member.
Explora Journeys signed a Letter of Intent with Dutch shipbuilder Den Breejen Shipyard to build its first luxury river ships, with sales planned to open in 2027.
KKR has sold 16 Four Points Flex by Sheraton hotels across 11 Japanese cities to an unnamed global institutional investor, following a renovation and repositioning program launched after its 2024 acquisition from Unizo Holdings.
MGM Resorts' Board reaffirms its standalone strategy after People Incorporated withdrew its acquisition proposal, citing Las Vegas leadership, regional properties, BetMGM, and MGM Osaka as key value drivers.
Jesús Parrilla, former CEO of Explora Hotels, launches Experiential Hospitality Group, a multi-brand company focused on remote and urban-edge destinations designed around guests' emotional state on arrival.
Aroundtown signed 20-year leases with Leonardo Hotels for two Berlin Alexanderplatz properties totaling 624 rooms, rebranded from the former H2 and H4 hotels.
My Place Hotels relaunched Trend by My Place at its 2026 Miami convention as a three-tier franchise platform targeting independent owners and conversion candidates seeking national distribution without heavy capital requirements.
HVS data shows 200,000 rooms worth $90B in the GCC and North Africa pipeline, with Saudi Arabia leading at 110,000 rooms and over 55% of supply due by 2030.
Minor Hotels and Grupo Petra signed two agreements in Madrid: a strategic partnership to develop NH, NH Collection, and Tivoli hotels across Paraguay, plus a management contract for a 116-room NH hotel in Asunción due in late 2029.
IHG signs a two-hotel franchise deal in Malaysia, introducing the Garner brand and its franchise model to the country, with properties in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau opening between 2027 and 2029.
Stonebridge takes over management of the 282-room Courtyard and Element by Marriott Atlanta Midtown, with plans to grow F&B revenue and leverage 11,000 sq ft of event space.
Mulpha Australia acquires a one-third stake in the 781-room Novotel and ibis Sydney Darling Harbour alongside Sun Hung Kai Co. and Wentworth Capital, with Accor continuing as operator.
The author argues that asset-light franchising and management contracts have permanently replaced real estate ownership as the dominant growth model, citing Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott expansions as proof.
Burt and Alex Cabañas launch Astound Ventures, a $30M collaborative investment fund targeting hospitality companies that improve net unit margin, with $8M raised and 10 portfolio companies so far.
Former Remington Hospitality CEO Sloan Dean launches AIHG, an AI-native hotel management company using 60-plus autonomous agents to cut back-office costs and target 500+ basis points of GOP margin improvement for owners.
Royalton Hotels & Resorts has reopened all five Jamaica properties across Negril and Montego Bay after significant renovations, with a sixth adults-only resort set to debut in summer 2027.
HVS Europe's weekly bulletin covers three hotel portfolio acquisitions across Germany, England, and Greece, totalling over 1,350 rooms changing hands.
Frasers Hospitality launches Fraser Suites Reserve, a luxury serviced living brand debuting with a 255-room Bangkok property at One Bangkok tower, opening December 2026.
LHS acquires a majority stake in Freiburg-based Viato, a channel manager and booking engine provider serving ~2,000 hotels in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, to strengthen Brandnamic Unlimited's Marketing-Tech portfolio.
HVS survey of 1,313 hotels (305,500 keys) across MEA finds owners shifting toward franchise and performance-aligned structures, with 63.6% of respondents expecting more franchise agreements in the next three years.