Three MICHELIN Keys? Tips for hotels aiming for luxury experiences
De L'Europe Amsterdam's GM shares insights on achieving MICHELIN three-key status through local identity, empowered teams, and visible leadership.
Europe - Latest
Hotel Cala Di Volpe Celebrates Reopens
Hotel Cala di Volpe reopened its doors on April 16, inviting guests to experience Sardinia at its most enchanting—mild temperatures, breathtaking views, and a sense of effortless elegance. Along Sardinia’s storied coastline, many of the region's most alluring hotels follow the rhythms of the island - shuttering in winter and opening again each spring when the light shifts and the sea turns that impossible shade of green.
An Icon Restored: COMO Le Beauvallon opens on the French Riviera
COMO Hotels and Resorts reintroduces one of the French Riviera’s most storied addresses with the opening of COMO Le Beauvallon. Once a celebrated Belle Époque palace, the 42-room landmark has been meticulously reimagined as a refined Riviera sanctuary—where historic grandeur, considered design and thoughtful gastronomy converge in effortless harmony.
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Debuts in the Heart of Budapest Honouring the Heritage of the Exquisite Klotild Palace
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts has debuted in Hungary with the highly anticipated opening of The St. Regis Budapest, gracefully set within the iconic Klotild Palace, one of the city’s most distinguished architectural landmarks. Moments from the Danube and the capital’s most admired attractions, The St. Regis Budapest revives a storied Belle Époque monument, introducing the brand’s timeless sophistication, signature rituals and anticipatory service to Budapest’s most distinguished address. The opening marks a defining new chapter for luxury hospitality in Hungary, introducing a sanctuary where historic grandeur meets contemporary refinement.
Villa San Michele, a Belmond Hotel, Florence, Reopens: The Legendary Renaissance Retreat Returns, Ushering in a New Era of Slow Luxury and Mindful Living
Perched high in the Fiesole hills, overlooking Florence in all its splendour, Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, reopened on 28 April 2026 following a meticulous 18-month renovation. Once a Renaissance convent, the legendary retreat — renowned for its Michelangelo-inspired façade, terraced gardens and one-of-a-kind sweeping views — begins a new chapter as a destination for wellbeing and reconnection.
Minor Hotels introduces Tivoli President Milano, expanding its luxury presence in Italy
Minor Hotels, international hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of more than 640 hotels and resorts in 63 countries, announces the official debut of Tivoli President Milano, the new five-star property of Tivoli Hotels & Resorts in Italy.
The Luxury Collection Debuts on Rhodes with the Opening of Amoh, a Luxury Collection Resort, Rhodes
The Luxury Collection announces the opening of Amoh, a Luxury Collection Resort, Rhodes, marking the brand's arrival on the storied Greek island. Poised above the Mediterranean Sea, Amoh, a Luxury Collection Resort, Rhodes welcomes global explorers to a destination shaped by epicurean experiences, wellness, and cultural immersion. Set along Kavos Beach in Pefki, just moments from the ancient town of Lindos, the hotel emerges from a landscape where layers of history are etched into the coastline, bordered by a Hellenistic-Roman limestone quarry that anchors the resort in its archaeological past. The hotel's design, curated by the award-winning London design firm Studio Lost, is deeply informed by Greece's enduring stonework traditions and artisanal craftsmanship, as well as its ever-changing movement of the surrounding sea. A restrained palette of minerals and tactile materials unfolds throughout the resort, while sculptural stone elements and artworks sourced from the nearby ancient quarry offer a quiet homage to the island's heritage.
Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Reopens for Summer 2026 Following Full Renovation
Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa will reopen on 22 May following a full renovation and repositioning, completing a multi-year transformation that firmly establishes it as the only luxury beachfront resort on Patmos.
Who you know is even more important for landing a graduate role in hospitality than what you know
Regent's University London research finds 58% of hospitality recruiters prefer hiring graduates with personal referrals over cold applications.
By Max Starkov
Expert Views (21)
Mark Fancourt, Co-Founder & Principal Consultant, TRAVHOTECH
Specific to the thrust of Max's question, in this context we are referring to search/find from the booking/transaction perspective. In that light...For me it is the next generation of search.Depending upon the user, we can now be far more specific with the input to get more targeted output.We will be able to speak and converse, which is more natural and a next gen over multiple queries or filters.I do believe that when the buying time comes after the research phase the customer will still 'come' to the point of booking.
Erik Muñoz, Business Development Director EMEA, TrustYou
The Internet enabled you to find things yourself. Agentic AI will do everything for you. That’s why it’s: Much bigger than blockchain or the metaverse. And closer to how big the Internet was.
Aethos Challenges the Conventions of Luxury Hospitality in ‘The Rules Are Different Here’ Brand Campaign
Aethos unveils its second brand campaign featuring celebrity models at Aethos Mallorca, with Milan pop-up activations and programming across all properties.
IHG Expands Reward Offering In Germany Through PAYBACK Partnership
German guests can now earn PAYBACK points instead of IHG points when staying at participating hotels, redeemable across retail partners.
A New Era Begins at Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today unveils the reimagined Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, marking a bold step forward for Istanbul’s most iconic hotel overlooking the Bosphorus. As the longest serving Hilton hotel outside of the Americas, the hotel’s transformation reflects how Hilton is redefining hospitality for today’s traveller and builds on seven decades of history as Istanbul’s original international host.
Marketbeat Greater Paris - FY 2025
Greater Paris hotel investment volume reached €1.9 billion in 2025 with 75 properties traded, while RevPAR held steady at €115.7.
LIVE HOTEL PANEL - Scotland - The reality of guest journeys
Scottish hotel GMs discuss AI adoption, digital transformation priorities, and balancing technology with human service delivery.
Ryan Haynes, Director/Lead Consultant, Hoteliers' Voice Podcast/ Haynes MarComs Ltd
Meliá Barajas reborn: an urban oasis elevating Madrid’s lifestyle scene
Following a €10 million comprehensive renovation, the iconic hotel unveils a new bleisure concept that blends Meliá’s resort DNA with the vibrant energy of the Spanish capital.
The Silent Twilight of The Greek "Filoxenia"
Small Greek hotels face closure as operational costs rise 30% by 2026 and short-term rentals now exceed total hotel bed capacity.
By Philia Tounta, General Manager, Apokoros Club Hotel & Villas
Cushman & Wakefield appoints Luis Arsuaga as Head of Capital Markets Hospitality in Spain
Spain recorded over €4 billion in hotel investment last year, 50% higher than 2024, ranking second in Europe behind the UK.
Conrad Athens The Ilisian Opens, Redefining an Athenian Landmark
Today, Hilton announces the opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian, marking the rebirth of one of Athens’ most iconic landmarks. Formerly the beloved Hilton Athens, the property has undergone a significant transformation to emerge as a contemporary urban resort in the cultural heart of Athens.
Expert Views (10)
Tanya Pratt, Global Vice President of OPERA Cloud Strategy and Product Management, Oracle Hospitality
The Cloudbeds data is striking, but let’s be honest — a 21.8% OTA cancellation rate isn’t just a distribution problem. It’s a relationship problem. OTA bookers aren’t disloyal by nature; they’re simply responding rationally to a system that hotels helped create. When a guest can book a hotel through five channels and find five slightly different prices, they begin to treat their reservation like a placeholder, not a commitment.
Max Starkov, Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist, Hospitality Net
What can hotels do to decrease their cancellation rates? Maintain Rate Parity! If travelers find a lower rate for your hotel on the OTAs, they can cancel their direct booking and be tempted to book your hotel on the OTA or be lured away by a competitor with lower rate or better value. Maintain Market Parity!
Michael Yeomans, Senior Vice President, Business Intelligence & Data Solutions, Hospitality, Amadeus Hospitality
High cancellation rates – particularly for OTA bookings – are a growing challenge for hotels. They make planning harder, put pressure on rates, and often lead to last‑minute discounting that hurts overall performance.