Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation is to invest around PHP 44.5bn (c. €620m) in Ayala Corporation, the oldest conglomerate in the Philippines, lifting its economic interest from 4.7% to 15%. Through its property arm Ayala Land, the Philippine group is also one of the archipelago's leading hotel owners and operators.

🔎 Trend of the day: labour relations reach the front desk. A room attendants' strike at the Imperator in Nîmes, the threat of a historic strike across 46 Chicago hotels and an undeclared-work trial in Sarlat: pay, workload and employment conditions are back at the top of the hotel agenda on both sides of the Atlantic.

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is now offering US hotel owners and developers the Home2 Suites by Hilton Clean Energy Prototype. The optional, turnkey model combines all-electric systems, renewable energy and an enhanced building envelope. It is the group's first prototype designed for zero operational emissions to be made widely available. It arrives as utility costs for US hotels have risen by 28% over five years.

On 23 September 2026, IHG Hotels & Resorts signed a two-hotel agreement with King Park Hotel Sdn. Bhd, a subsidiary of investment group Hass Enterprise, in the Malaysian state of Sabah. The deal marks both the arrival of the Garner brand in Malaysia and the launch of IHG's franchise model in the country, a lever designed to unlock more conversion opportunities.

Since 1 September 2026, the agency MAIA has represented a selection of Michel Reybier Hospitality properties across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The mandate covers two Swiss Alpine resorts, La Réserve Paris, La Réserve Genève and the forthcoming La Réserve Private Homes Seychelles. MAIA will handle press relations, communications and influencer partnerships with a regional clientele of strategic importance to European luxury hospitality.

Zambia will host AviaDev Africa in 2027, the continent's only conference dedicated to air service development, with Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) as official host partner. The announcement coincides with the launch of Airlift Zambia, an air access programme designed to attract new airlines and support a target of 3 million international visitors.

EVT Hotels & Resorts will bring LyLo, its affordable lifestyle brand, to Bangkok in 2028. The group has signed a management agreement for a 387-bed property in the Sukhumvit district. It marks LyLo's first move outside Australia and New Zealand, and the Australian group's third brand to enter South-East Asia as part of its asset-light growth strategy.

On the Riviera Maya, the North American operator takes over management of a 355-room resort set within a 138-hectare nature reserve. The opening takes Kimpton into the all-inclusive segment and marks Hotel Equities' own entry into this niche, as part of the development of its Caribbean & Latin America platform.

Galaxy Macau, Galaxy Entertainment Group's integrated resort on Cotai, unveiled the Galaxy Resort App and its Galaxy Rewards membership programme on 23 September 2026. The platform brings accommodation, dining, entertainment and retail together in a single guest journey, and makes the resort's culinary offer, which spans more than 120 outlets, its main loyalty lever.

Luciano Sozzo took over as General Manager of Hyatt Regency Istanbul Ataköy in August 2026. The Italian hotelier brings more than forty years in the industry. His career includes leading the opening of The St. Regis Astana and running operations across an 800-room portfolio in Cyprus. The appointment marks his return to a major international group, at the helm of one of the leading business and conference hotels on Istanbul's European shore.

The Board of Directors of H10 Hotels has appointed Jordi Espelt as Chairman of the Spanish hotel group. He succeeds his father, Josep Espelt, the group's founder, who becomes Honorary Chairman after more than half a century in the hotel industry. Jordi Espelt also remains CEO, ensuring a seamless handover within the family at the helm of a 70-hotel portfolio.

On 22 September 2026, Chedi Hospitality announced the appointment of Tristan Delmas as General Manager of Chedi Wadi Safar, the brand's forthcoming ultra-luxury property in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. With experience at Burj Al Arab, One&Only One Za'abeel and Barnes International, the French hotelier will lead the pre-opening of the first hotel set to fully roll out the new Chedi brand identity.