Landmark Marrakech hotel El Fenn may be under new Moroccan ownership, with the Benabbés-Taarji family having picked up the reins at the end of 2025, but Vanessa Branson’s 20-year relationship with the hotel is set to continue. As of January 2026, Branson will take on the role of Founder and Brand Ambassador at Large ensuring the continuity of the hotel’s creative spirit. What’s more, the boutique hotel is opening up its little black book and launching a range of independent

Ovolo Hotels , and elevated lifestyle brand Pretty Privilege have announced a standout new partnership, bringing together two brands that champion confidence, creativity, and modern luxury. Photo credits: Ovolo Hotels The collaboration celebrates a shared philosophy: luxury should be fun, expressive and all about experiencing the best of what life has to offer. Together, Ovolo and Pretty Privilege will deliver a series of content moments and exclusive activations designed to

Gencom , a U.S.-based investment firm that owns, operates, and develops prized real estate around the world, announces the acquisition of The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, a 253-key hotel at 50 Central Park South in Midtown Manhattan. This transaction marks the firm’s third luxury hotel acquisition in New York City in the last 16 months. Photo credits: Gencom Following Gencom’s acquisition of the Thompson Central Park in 2024 and its acquisition of the InterContinental

Mandarin Oriental is proud to announce that Simone Biles , the most decorated gymnast of all time and one of the defining athletes of her generation, has joined the brand as its newest Celebrity Fan and first-ever Global Wellness Ambassador. As Global Wellness Ambassador, Biles will collaborate with Mandarin Oriental’s Wellness Board, sharing her insights and perspectives with the Group’s recognised specialists in lifestyle performance, meditation, movement, nutrition and s

Vienna-based  Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group (FMTG) has signed an 18-year lease with Arbatax Park Resort in Sardinia to take on operational management of the resort from February 2026.   Photo credits: Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group Arbatax will be the group’s second property in Sardinia, strengthening its presence on the island alongside Falkensteiner Hotel Capo Boi 5* located on the island’s south-eastern tip.  A unique resort in a protected natural setting  

150 Scottish children get the chance to try skiing or snowboarding for the first time.  New year, new sports! Austria Tourism has partnered up with Snowsport Scotland to offer 150 primary school-age children across Scotland a chance to try out skiing and snowboarding for the first time. “First Tracks”, as the national schools project is called, aims to remove entry barriers and build a new generation of enthusiasts by allowing children to dip their toes into snowsports in a

At a time when the global tourism industry is being called upon to take greater responsibility for its environmental and social footprint, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is reinforcing a clear message: meaningful sustainability progress is not possible in isolation. Collaboration, transparency and partnerships are essential to achieving long-term impact.   Photo credits: Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives In 2025, the resort placed sustainability and regeneration fir

Meliá Hotels International , through a strategic alliance with Grupo Puntacana, has announced the signing of Paradisus Miches, an exclusive, newly built resort that will strengthen the company's presence in the Dominican Republic and support the positioning of Miches as one of the country's next major tourism destinations. Photo credits: Meliá Hotels International Paradisus Miches will become Meliá's eleventh hotel in the Dominican Republic, including properties currently in

Emirates Developments , one of the UAE’s leading developers specialising in distinctive branded residences, has announced the signing of a landmark agreement with Jumeirah , the luxury hospitality group, a member of Dubai Holding, to develop Jumeirah Residences Al Maryah Island – a new expression of elevated living that blends vibrant city life with unique and purposeful experiences in Abu Dhabi. Photo credits: Jumeirah This prestigious collaboration marks a significant mile

IHG Hotels & Resorts , one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Hanu Overseas to bring its distinctive luxury and lifestyle brand, Vignette Collection, to India. Scheduled to open early 2026, the Vignette Collection hotel in Panchkula reinforces IHG’s strategy to accelerate its growth within India’s high-potential luxury segment. Photo credits: IHG Hotels & Resorts Vignette Collection is a family of one-of-a-kind, exclusive hotels cur

Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Indochina Kajima announced today that Wink in Vietnam is joining the Unscripted by Hyatt brand. This strategic agreement between Hyatt and Indochina Kajima, a joint venture between Indochina Capital and Kajima Corporation, marks the global debut of the Unscripted by Hyatt brand and will expand Hyatt’s brand presence in Vietnam to new destinations including Can Tho, Tuy Hoa and Hai Phong. Photo credits: Hyatt Hotels Corporation Under the agreement

OTH Hotels Resorts (OTH), a leading hospitality management company with a growing national portfolio of branded, soft-branded, and lifestyle hotels, has been awarded the third-party management contract for the Courtyard by Marriott Manassas Battlefield Park, further strengthening the company’s presence in its home state of Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region. Photo credits: OTH Hotels Resorts Beginning in January 2026, OTH will assume full operational responsibility for the

Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels Ltd. has announced the signing of Regenta Suites & Residences Jaipur, a new 60-key property located in Jaipur City Centre. The hotel will operate under a management agreement, reinforcing the group’s asset-light expansion strategy and strengthening its footprint in Rajasthan. Photo credits: Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels Ltd. Royal Orchid & Regenta Hotels, one of India’s fastest-growing hospitality chains, continues to expand its portfolio with t

Hyatt Hotels Corporation today announced the closing of the sale of the real estate portfolio previously acquired from Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. (“Playa”) to Tortuga Resorts (“Tortuga”), a premier real estate and asset management platform focused on luxury beachfront hospitality across Mexico and the Caribbean, for approximately $2 billion. Hyatt can achieve up to an additional $143 million earnout if certain operating thresholds are met and has retained $200 million of pr

CoralTree Hospitality is proud to announce that it has assumed management of the DoubleTree by Hilton Park City - The Yarrow, a premier hotel located in the heart of Park City, Utah. Just minutes from historic Main Street and surrounded by world-class ski resorts, the property offers guests an authentic mountain experience with modern comforts. The hotel is an exciting addition to CoralTree’s already stellar collection of properties at world-class mountain resorts such as Va

Pivot, the lifestyle operating vertical of Davidson Hospitality Group , has been selected by Jordache Enterprises to manage Hotel Lincoln, JdV by Hyatt. Situated in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, Hotel Lincoln features 182 rooms and suites; 5,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event space, and four on-site dining experiences, including J. Parker Rooftop Bar and sushi speakeasy Sushi Suite 202. Photo credits: Davidson Hospitality Group “We are delighted to serve as ste

IHG® Hotels & Resorts , one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Club Chaulani Ltd. to develop Holiday Inn Dhangadhi, a 115-key hotel in Dhangadhi, Nepal. Scheduled to open in Q1 2028, the signing marks IHG’s entry into the Sudurpashchim Province and reflects the company’s strategy to expand its presence in high-potential, underserved markets across South Asia. Photo credits: IHG® Hotels & Resorts Renowned globally with over 1,200 ope

JW Marriott Las Vegas and Rampart Casino today announced a property-wide rebrand, officially uniting the celebrated resort and casino under a new identity, The Resort at Summerlin . Effective January 1, 2026, the rebrand marks a significant milestone in the property's ongoing $75 million, multi-year renovation and its evolution as a premier luxury destination in the heart of Summerlin. Photo credits: The Resort at Summerlin The extensive renovation reflects a renewed focus on

Dusit International , one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a Hotel Management Agreement with Earth & Shore Leisure Communities Corporation , a prominent real estate and land-development company in the Philippines, to operate ASAI Camaya Coast, a new 150-key lifestyle hotel set to open in 2029 within the expansive and fast-evolving 20 million sq m Camaya Coast development in Mariveles, Bataan. Photo credits: Dusit International The sig

Hilton has announced a stylish new addition to its Curio Collection in the UK with the signing of The BoTree London, Curio Collection by Hilton . Set in the heart of Marylebone, the hotel is the latest addition to Hilton’s expanding lifestyle portfolio and builds on its long-standing partnership with Shiva Hotels. Photo credits: Hilton Originally opened in 2023, The BoTree is a 200-room urban sanctuary with interiors buzzing with wild botanicals, vibrant colours, and natural