BWH Hotels GB rebrands to WorldHotels GB under a global masterbrand unification, while launching a combined loyalty programme with 53 million members from January 2027.
Tuesday brought a World Panel viewpoint on whether ARI plumbing is the main impediment to agentic AI, Burcin Turkkan Zencirli's seven-component governance architecture for hotel AI agents, and the HVS Lodging Tax Report finding RevPAR up in all but one of 25 major U.S. markets through August. Feras Habil on PMS data readiness, TRYBE's spa benchmark, and property news from Cape Town to Kathmandu rounded out the session.
Hotel Reynard is an eight-room hotel and restaurant in Historic Downtown Troutdale opening Nov. 3, 2026. Perched at the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge, along America’s first scenic highway, the countryside-style inn and tavern comes from the team behind The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse. Named for the Reynard the Fox fable, Hotel Reynard pulls inspiration from the open road, English countryside inns and Oregon’s natural beauty to create a destination for travelers and locals alike. Reservations for overnight lodging and dining are available now.
Outform argues for unifying physical design, FF&E, fabrication, and LED/digital technology under one integrated model to reduce coordination gaps and elevate the hotel guest experience.
Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa has reopened following its annual autumn closure, unveiling a US$14 million transformation of all 250 guest rooms in the adults-only Harmony Wing and family-friendly Splash Wing, now all Junior Suites. The investment is the largest room project in Coconut Bay’s over 20-year history.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts added 28 independent properties to its global portfolio in Q3 2026, its largest quarterly intake since 2024, spanning Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Maldives.
The Shepherd Mayfair opens its doors in Shepherd Market, introducing an 82-room boutique hotel shaped by the history and social character of one of London’s most distinctive neighbourhoods.
The author argues that true luxury is rooted in scarcity and human craftsmanship, not price inflation, and that hospitality's perishable, human-centred nature makes it one of the last genuine luxury products.
A PMS implementation expert argues that data readiness, not software selection, is the primary determinant of migration success, outlining a seven-step cleansing and validation framework.
LTI's 2026 ranking of 20 luxury hotel brands uses a 134-touchpoint algorithm with a max score of 4,792; Mandarin Oriental leads at 81.1%, followed by Oetker and Bulgari.
HVS's 16th annual US lodging tax study covers all 50 states and the 150 largest cities, finding more markets declining than growing in 2025 but broad RevPAR recovery through August 2026.
Meliá Hotels International won Best Practice in Employment Inclusion at Spain's 9th Diversity and Inclusion Awards for a programme that has brought 100+ formerly unaccompanied migrant youth into its Canary Islands hotel workforce.
Meliá Hotels International continues to expand its footprint in Latin America with the signing of Meliá Roatán, a spectacular new-build resort scheduled to open in 2029 on the Honduran island of Roatán. The project marks a new milestone for the company in Honduras, where, less than a year ago, Media Luna Resort & Beach Club joined its network under the Affiliated by Meliá brand and is set to become Sol Roatán. It also reinforces Meliá’s firm commitment to growth in Central America, a region with enormous tourism potential and a strategic opportunity to further increase awareness of its brands.
IHG® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, has signed a management agreement with Entry Point Hotels & Resorts Private Limited to develop Holiday Inn Raipur in Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Scheduled to open in Q1 2031, the signing reinforces IHG’s commitment to expanding its presence across high-potential travel markets in India and driving growth in demand-led destinations across the country.
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of Holiday Inn Express Reykjavik – Valhöll, further strengthening its Nordic portfolio and marking its second property in Iceland following the opening of Candlewood Suites Reykjavik. Signed with ALVA Capital, the hotel builds on the companies’ growing relationship and their shared ambition to expand quality branded hospitality across Iceland.
Metropolitan at The 9 is unveiling an extensive renovation encompassing all 156 guestrooms and suites, 10 guestroom corridors, the main lobby, elevator lobbies and cabs, and Ledger Bar. The redesign brings lighter finishes, custom furnishings and Cleveland-focused artwork to the hotel while preserving signature elements of its original design. All 156 guestrooms and suites are now complete, with the remaining renovations expected to be finished by November 5, 2026.
Trip.com Group's survey of 8,777 travellers across 29 markets finds 75% value sustainability, prompting the launch of My Travel Impact, an in-app dashboard consolidating sustainable hotel, flight and rail choices.
Framed by Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is defined by the interplay of nature and urban life, heritage and artistic spirit, and local identity and global influence. EDITION marks its African debut with The Cape Town EDITION – a gathering place poised to become a social nexus and a gateway to discover the city.
TRYBE's 2026 benchmarking report, using data from 400+ businesses, finds US spas generate 4.5x more revenue per location than UK counterparts, with utilisation and packaging outweighing price as performance drivers.
The only beachfront hotel on Lake Michigan in Illinois is now called The Dunes Hotel, previously known as Illinois Beach Hotel. Along with the new name and logo, the hotel has undergone significant property improvements inspired by its iconic location – Illinois’ last remaining section of natural shoreline. (TheDunesIllinoisBeach.com)