Mexico | Hyatt to Open First Grand Hyatt in Cancún with 500-Room All-Inclusive Resort
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening, planned for December 2026, of the Grand Hyatt Cancun Beach Resort, the brand's first property in the destination. Owned by Grupo Diestra, the 500-room all-inclusive complex will be located at Puerto Cancún, one of Mexico's most ambitious private beachfront developments. The opening strengthens Hyatt's presence in the fast-growing all-inclusive segment across the Caribbean and Latin America.
Australia | Mandala Hotels & Resorts Completes Renovation of Peppers Clear Mountain, Moreton Bay’s First Upscale Accor Hotel
Mandala Hotels & Resorts has completed the multimillion-dollar renovation of its Brisbane hinterland property, now rebranded Peppers Clear Mountain. Part of the Accor network, the hotel becomes the first 5-star property in the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, confirming the Australian group's growing development in the region.
2029-2030, Australia | IHG and Urban Property Group sign two hotels in New South Wales
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of two new properties with Australian developer Urban Property Group: a Crowne Plaza in Newcastle and a Hotel Indigo in Gosford, bringing to three the number of hotels the two partners have developed together in New South Wales. This third signing in just over a year, following the Crowne Plaza Parramatta agreed in 2025, confirms IHG's growing momentum in Australia's regional markets, underpinned by significant infrastructure investment.
Saudi Arabia | KAFD Unveils Atheel Hotel, Operated Exclusively by Saudi Talent in Riyadh
King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC) has announced the opening of Atheel, the latest addition to its hotel portfolio within Riyadh's mixed-use business and lifestyle district. Developed by KAFD DMC and operated by Adeera Hospitality Company, the 214-room and suite property is staffed exclusively by Saudi talent. The opening reinforces the district's mixed-use identity — spanning business, dining and neighbourhood life — as the Saudi capital accelerates the growth of its hotel offering ahead of 2030.
360°: Your Daily Round-Up | From Faa’a to Accra, via Bulle and Nîmes
🔎 Today's trend: expansion meets vigilance. From French Polynesia to Switzerland and Ghana, hotel openings keep multiplying, while in France and the UK, security at luxury hotels and local taxation are worrying a sector that otherwise remains in full swing.
France | How the AFD finances hotel and tourism projects around the world
Under the leadership of Christophe Lecourtier since May 2026, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) group is pursuing a strategic repositioning built on selectivity and tangible impact. Behind its international solidarity mandate, the institution also quietly finances hotel infrastructure and tourism training schools, from Morocco to the Dominican Republic.
France | HomeExchange raises funding from Verlinvest to grow home exchange
HomeExchange, the world's leading home-exchange platform, has announced securing a major investment from Verlinvest, an international family investment firm. The deal, unveiled on 15 September 2026 from Paris and New York, comes with a reshuffle of the shareholder base: Ternel renews its commitment as ISAI exits the capital. The stated ambition is clear — to turn home exchange into a mainstream way to travel, with a particular push into North America and Western Europe.
United States | JLL arranges refinancing of Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Fort Worth
JLL Capital Markets announced on 1 September 2026 that it had structured the refinancing of Bowie House, Auberge Collection, a luxury boutique hotel in Fort Worth's Cultural District, Texas. The deal, carried out on behalf of borrower Bowie Place Properties, involves a floating-rate loan provided by MetLife. It confirms institutional lenders' continued appetite for luxury hotel assets positioned in distinctive cultural markets.
United Arab Emirates | Majestic Hotels strengthens its Dubai foothold with a fourth property
Dubai-based hotel group Majestic Hotels inaugurated its fourth property, the Majestic Central Hotel, in Bur Dubai on 11 September 2026. The opening, held under the patronage of Matar Al Tayer, General Manager of Al Ghandi Electronics, confirms the group's steady rise in Dubai's mid-market hotel sector.
Saudi Arabia | Expo 2030 Riyadh and Mohammed Al Habib Sign €733m Joint Venture for the Expo Village
Expo 2030 Riyadh and Saudi developer Mohammed Al Habib Real Estate Company (MAHR) have signed a SAR 3.2 billion (approximately €733 million) joint venture agreement to develop and deliver the Expo Village, the site's future residential community. The project, which envisages around 2,300 apartments for some 5,500 residents, is set to house official delegations during the event before becoming a permanent neighbourhood in northern Riyadh. It is the first real estate partnership struck by Expo 2030 Riyadh with the private sector, as work on the site progresses at a steady pace.
Malta | Justin Trudeau and José María Aznar to Headline WTTC Global Summit in Valletta
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has completed the speaker line-up for its 26th Global Summit, which will bring together more than 1,000 delegates and 200 industry leaders in Valletta, Malta, from 7 to 9 October 2026. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar and Ambassador Nick Adams, the first US presidential envoy for tourism, join the roster of high-profile speakers. Held under the theme "FUTU[RE]SET", the event will examine the investment, resilience and competitiveness levers shaping the global travel industry.
United States | Liam Brown (former Group President, U.S. & Canada, Marriott) appointed independent director of Chatham Lodging Trust
Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT) has announced the appointment of Liam Brown to its board of directors as an independent director, effective immediately. The appointment follows a 37-year career at Marriott International, where he most recently led the group's operations across the Americas until his retirement in June 2026. His arrival is expected to strengthen the REIT's operational expertise and franchisor-franchisee relationships.




