Renovate or decline? While a Nîmes palace hotel pays the price of a renovation that was not enough, others are betting on the complete transformation of their assets to start again from scratch.
Today’s hospitality news, 8 October 2026: between acquisitions, upscaling projects, openings and appointments, here is what you needed to know in the sector today.
🇫🇷 France
🏗️ Transformation | Groupe HIS has begun works on the iconic Hôtel Le Majestic, set to become the 4★ Mercure Majestic Luchon in summer 2027. On the programme, in the heart of the Pyrenees: around fifty rooms, a restaurant, a meetings and seminars offer, a spa area and an outdoor pool. #Pyrenees #Mercure #Renovation
⛺ Outdoor hospitality | In Vauville (Calvados), Galactus, owner since 2022 of the L’Orée de Deauville campsite, is preparing its reconstruction: 275 pitches, €25 million of investment and 50 jobs. Now closed to the public, the former three-star site is aiming for five stars, with a public consultation under way. #Normandy #OutdoorHospitality #Upscaling
⚠️ Palace | According to La Gazette de Nîmes, the Imperator is going through a difficult period: falling occupancy, cost-cutting and a strike by room attendants now in its fourth week. Despite some €15 million of works in 2019, Maison Albar has had the property up for sale for a year. #Nimes #Palace #MaisonAlbar
🏠 Short-term rentals | The Var has 42,000 short-term furnished rentals compared with 432 hotels and 13,343 rooms – one hotel room for every three rentals. Christiane Thibault, president of GHR Paca, is calling for a mandatory licence for hosts, based on the Spanish model. #Var #Airbnb #GHR
🌍 International
💼 Investment | The CapMan Real Estate / AP Pension joint venture is acquiring the Scandic Webers (152 rooms) in central Copenhagen from Jeudan, just weeks after buying the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen. A full renovation programme will be carried out with operator Scandic. #Copenhagen #Denmark #Transaction
🕋 Development | Jabal Omar Development has signed the Plot S7 agreement in Mecca, a SAR 3.5 billion hotel project led by Azhar Company. The five-star complex will comprise three towers and more than 1,900 rooms close to the Grand Mosque. #SaudiArabia #Mecca #Investment
🏨 Opening | The Shilla Hotels & Resorts will open the Shilla Monogram Hanoi Westlake, with 319 rooms near West Lake, on 23 October. The fourth address worldwide for the lifestyle brand, it is its second in Vietnam after Da Nang. #Vietnam #Hanoi #Lifestyle
💰 Finance | In India, Fleur Hotels, the asset-owning arm of Lemon Tree Hotels, plans to invest close to US$1 billion by the end of the decade, ahead of a separate stock market listing expected in late 2027. Meanwhile, Zerodha is taking a 6.7% stake in Viceroy Hotels & Resorts. #India #LemonTree #IPO
👜 Branded hospitality | At the Italian Hospitality Investment Conference in Milan, Kerten Hospitality discussed fashion- and design-branded hotels. To succeed, the developer, operator and guest must move forward together in a spirit of trust, delivering an experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else. #BrandedResidences #Luxury #Italy
🌍 Africa | Deprived of part of their international clientele by the security crisis and the decline in development aid, Sahelian hotels are turning to local guests. From Bamako to Ouagadougou by way of Niamey, Azalaï and its competitors are rethinking their offer. #Sahel #Mali #BurkinaFaso
Appointment | Goran Macanović has been appointed general manager of Novotel Zagreb. With more than 15 years of international experience, notably in Croatia, the United States and the cruise sector, he will be tasked with strengthening the hotel’s positioning in business travel and events. #Croatia #Novotel #Appointment
✨ Appointment British coach holiday group Daish’s Holidays has appointed Michael Davies general manager of the Somerset Hotel in Llandudno (Wales). He will lead the 86-bed property and its 40 staff, having previously overseen eight lodges for Zip World. #UK #Wales #Appointment
🍽️ Food service Subway is rolling out Blueprint across Europe, the Middle East and Africa: from 1 January 2027, every new or refurbished restaurant will adopt the format, featuring self-order kiosks, breakfast and Grab & Go in railway stations. The chain is aiming to almost double its regional estate within five years. #Subway #EMEA #FoodService
