Ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Marriott International brought together travel industry players, associations and survivors to strengthen the hospitality sector's response to this scourge. The Group highlights its training, emergency shelter and workforce integration programmes for victims.

Marriott International details its development agreement with Misr Italia Properties and People & Places: nine projects representing more than 1,500 keys across Egypt's most sought-after coastal and urban destinations. Combined investment exceeds EGP 56.7 billion, for a portfolio that now totals more than 1,800 rooms and branded residences.

Five entrepreneurs, four companies, three continents. One special feature exploring why, in an age of artificial intelligence and funding rounds, some still choose to build in hospitality in the name of a simple conviction: the human always comes before the experience.

PRISM, OYO's parent company currently preparing for an initial public offering, is expanding its premium hotel portfolio in the UK with the addition of 40 properties, including 16 Sunday Hotels and 24 Belvilla properties. This development illustrates the Group's strategy to move beyond its historic budget positioning and strengthen its presence in the upscale segment.

Vertu Hotels and Resorts announces the development of VERTU Residences Algarve, a mixed-use hospitality and residential destination in southern Portugal. The project, developed under the VERTU Residences brand, will comprise up to 64 luxury residences and marks a new milestone in Vertu Hospitality Group's international expansion.

MIDROC Ethiopia, the hospitality arm of MIDROC Investment Group, has secured $80 million in financing to fund the renovation of the Sheraton Addis, Luxury Collection, as well as the development of a new Sheraton-branded property in Addis Ababa. This financing forms part of a broader $116 million investment to strengthen the upscale segment of the Ethiopian hospitality market.

The Bettoja family, a fixture of Italian hospitality for nearly 150 years, partners with ACHM Hotels by Marriott to bring the Hotel Atlantico and Hotel Mediterraneo into its Rome portfolio. The two properties will become Italy's first Autograph Collection hotels, following a two-phase integration.

Tharaldson Hospitality Management announces the promotion of Geovanny Tello to Area Director of Operations for Southern California. He will now oversee seven hotels representing more than 820 rooms, across the Hilton, Marriott and IHG brands.

Fattal Group closes a three-year-old file while simultaneously opening a new lifestyle chapter. Ronen Nissenbaum, CEO UK, Ireland, Benelux, Spain, Portugal and US Development for the Group, announced the completion of the leasehold acquisition of the iconic Dilly hotel in London, while also unveiling the launch campaign for THE YACHT, the latest addition to the Fattal Limited Edition collection.

Leonardo Hotels Central Europe continues its growth in the French market with the acquisition of the former Hilton Evian-les-Bains, an iconic property on the shores of Lake Geneva. The deal marks a new milestone in the Group's growth strategy across France.

Expedia Group announces the acquisition of Layla, an AI-native travel planning and booking platform founded in Berlin in 2023. The deal strengthens the Group's strategy around a fully AI-driven travel experience, from inspiration to booking.

Patrick Bonnaure joins Manz Privacy Hotels Switzerland as General Manager of the Grand Hotel Euler Basel, the Hotel Metropol Basel and the Hotel City Inn Basel. A graduate of the École d'hôtellerie et de tourisme Lesdiguières in Grenoble, this professional with more than 25 years of international experience will notably lead the major renovation of the Grand Hotel Euler.