Construction of Anantara Siniya Island Resort and Anantara Residences Sobha Siniya Island has officially begun in Umm Al Quwain, in the presence of the emirate's Crown Prince. Developed by Sobha Al Siniya FZC and operated by Minor Hotels, the 125-key project with 125 branded residences, scheduled for 2030, marks Anantara's arrival in a new emirate and is one of the centrepieces of the Sobha Siniya Island masterplan.

The Shepherd Mayfair opened its doors in October 2026 in the heart of London's Shepherd Market. Owned through a joint venture between Bain Capital and Orka Investments, the 82-key boutique hotel takes a neighbourhood-focused, outward-looking approach in a Mayfair dominated by the major international hotel houses.

Six months after its fundraising, the Savoie-based hotel group founded in 2015 by the Vidoni and De Unger families announced its new name, The Sevener, from Albertville on 7 October 2026. The °Fahrenheit Seven and Roc Seven brands remain unchanged. Only the house that brings them together is changing its name, to support a portfolio spread between sea and mountains and the arrival of a third brand.

🔎 Trend of the day: from mountain peaks to seafronts, French hospitality is betting on experience. France's highest hotel in the Pyrenees, a hotel and thalassotherapy complex in Saint-Malo, a four-star hotel with spa in Saint-Nazaire and a family handover on Belle-Île: exceptional sites remain the favoured playground of investors and independent hoteliers.

In October 2026, Accor opens Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection, in the heart of Banff National Park, Alberta. Following a major transformation, the 320-room property becomes the second opening for the group's luxury collection and its first in North America. Accor is targeting 60 Emblems properties by 2032.

Marriott International has signed an agreement with FICO Corporation covering seven hotels in Thailand, totalling 1,262 keys across Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. The deal strengthens JW Marriott's presence in the capital. It also marks the arrival in the country of three of the group's brands: citizenM, Four Points Flex by Sheraton and Series by Marriott.

Kasada and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa announced a national strategic partnership on 6 October 2026, making the hospitality private equity platform the foundation's official hospitality partner. The agreement brings together five properties from Kasada's South African portfolio, in Cape Town and Johannesburg, around a shared goal: opening up hospitality careers to young South Africans.

Since 1 October 2026, Gregory Coquet has led Riveo Limited, the listed Mauritian investment company that owns Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita and Île aux Cerfs Leisure Island & Golf Club. He was previously the group's Chief Operations and Asset Management Officer. His appointment places Riveo in the hands of an executive who himself helped to shape the portfolio.

Radisson Hotel Group and Moroccan operator ALH Hospitality have signed the Radisson RED Casablanca Anfa, a 70-key lifestyle hotel scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2028. Coming two years after the Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier La Citadelle, the deal strengthens the group's presence in the Kingdom's economic capital, which it regards as its priority market in Africa.

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) announced on 6 October 2026 that its President, Drew Crawley, has become Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. He succeeds Paul Abbott, who joins Long Lake as Operating Partner. The transition comes as the global leader in business travel begins a new chapter as a privately held company, backed by its new shareholder.

EXTENDAM has announced the sale of the ibis Styles Paris Montmartre Nord, a 45-room, 3-star hotel on rue du Ruisseau in Paris's 18th arrondissement. Renovated and repositioned from 2021 onwards with MyHotels, the property will continue to be run by the operator, which remains a co-investor, now alongside an industrial family. The transaction forms part of the asset management company's asset rotation policy in the Paris market.

Hilton has hired Jeff Moore, until now Vice President of Software Engineering at Uber, as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. He will take up his post on 26 October and sit on the Executive Committee, reporting directly to Chris Nassetta. The group aims to accelerate its work on artificial intelligence and its technology platform, which it presents as a lever for owner efficiency and profitability.