Turkish hospitality group Kaya Hotels & Resorts has completed the acquisition of the ME Barcelona, a 164-room five-star hotel at the junction of Passeig de Gràcia and Carrer de Casp, from Spanish developer Actual Capital, for a sum exceeding €100 million. The property, operated by Meliá Hotels International under its ME by Meliá lifestyle brand, is set to be rebranded Kaya Palazzo Barcelona from 1 January 2028.

From Rome to Lagos, via Shura Island and Nice, the American group confirms a sustained pace of openings across its luxury and lifestyle segments

The hotel group strengthens its Taiwanese portfolio with the market debut of HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts and rolls out its loyalty services on the LINE messaging platform

LaPour Partners has unveiled a project to convert a 19-storey office tower at the Arizona Center complex, in the heart of Downtown Phoenix, into a 340-room JW Marriott. Led alongside owner Reliance Management and its principal Daryl Burton, the redevelopment aims to meet growing demand for luxury hospitality in one of the most dynamic urban markets in the United States. Opening is scheduled for 2029, with an estimated investment of €173 million.

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), a wholly owned subsidiary of Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), announced on 16 August 2026 the opening of SEVEN Tabuk, its second entertainment destination in the Kingdom after Abha. Fully indoor and air-conditioned, the site is aimed at both residents and visitors to north-western Saudi Arabia and forms part of the leisure sector development strategy driven by Vision 2030.

To mark its 25th anniversary, Anantara Hotels & Resorts, the experiential luxury brand of Minor Hotels, unveils a collection of signature experiences centred on stillness and wellbeing, rolled out across Italy, Thailand, the Maldives and Phuket. Available throughout 2026 across the brand's more than 50 properties, these experiences respond to growing demand from high-end travellers for a more measured relationship with time spent on holiday. The initiative forms part of Anantara's differentiation strategy amid the global rise of wellness tourism.

La Vie Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of seven executives to its Pacific corporate platform, covering marketing, human resources, technology, procurement, sales, finance and distribution. The build-up follows a series of openings and signings in Australia, including the Westin Gold Coast and the Holiday Inn Townsville. The group intends to structure its development in a fast-growing market.

IHG One Rewards, the global loyalty programme of IHG Hotels & Resorts, announced a partnership with Live Nation Asia on 17 August 2026 in Shanghai, covering the Greater China region. The agreement will give new and existing members access to exclusive travel experiences combining stays at IHG hotels with selected concerts in Hong Kong and Taiwan, reflecting the hotel group's ambition to diversify the value of its loyalty programme beyond the traditional hotel stay.

Gulf Hotels Group (GHG) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kenyan developer Silva Gigiri Ltd to develop the Silva Gigiri Hotel & Residence, a mixed-use hotel and branded residences scheme in Nairobi's Gigiri diplomatic district. The agreement, announced on 17 August 2026 from Manama, marks the Bahraini group's second hotel management contract in East Africa, following the Ocean Paradise Resort in Zanzibar. It forms part of GHG's 2026-2030 strategy, which aims to strengthen its management platform across the African continent through an asset-light model.

Between its Global Trends Report and a separate statement issued on 17 August 2026, the World Travel & Tourism Council takes stock of a record 2025, driven by global investment exceeding $1 trillion and a Southern Europe that remains the engine of leisure travel.

Gabriel Garcías Pardo has been named Vice President of Operations for Mexico and Jamaica at Royalton Hotels & Resorts, a role he has officially held since 1 August 2026. Based in Cancún, he takes responsibility for 11 of the group's hotels across both countries, just two years after joining the brand. The promotion underscores the rapid rise of an executive shaped by the upscale all-inclusive world of Mexico and the Caribbean.

Eight dead in a West Bengal hotel fire, a fresh alarm over fire safety in India just months after the New Delhi tragedy... On 17 August 2026, hospitality news alternates between tragedy and a game of musical chairs, with its share of appointments across the globe.