Aman has announced the launch of Aman Seoul, its first address in South Korea, developed in partnership with Shinsegae Property. Located in Cheongdam, in the Gangnam district, on the banks of the Han River, the project will bring together a hotel, branded residences and an Aman Club. The announcement, made on 2 September 2026, marks the ultra-luxury brand's entry into a Korean market increasingly asserting itself in residential luxury.

🔎 Trend of the day: private members' clubs, luxury hotels' new weapon. After decades of Soho House's dominance, palace hotels and lifestyle properties are now investing in this format too, from London to Geneva via Barcelona and Vienna, turning their facilities into genuine living spaces open to local residents.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of a franchise agreement for the future Garner Hotel Ahmedabad Motera, a 40-key property developed by Devpriya Buildcon and operated by United Hospitality Management (UHM) India. The opening is scheduled for 2029 at the Motera-Sabarmati junction in northern Ahmedabad, close to the Narendra Modi Stadium and the future Sabarmati Bullet Train hub. The signing marks the Garner brand's first entry into the city and strengthens the development partnership between IHG and UHM in India.

On 1 September 2026, JetBlue unveiled BlueFirst, a new domestic first-class experience opening for booking this autumn. Driven by the American carrier's JetForward strategy, the offering combines seats designed with Tuft & Needle, 33.8 cm touchscreens and seatback ordering. It marks a further step in the premiumisation of North American airlines, a trend closely watched by international hospitality players.

Pacific Century Premium Developments (PCPD) and Hyatt Hotels Corporation have announced ONE HANAZONO VILLAS, a collection of 13 private residences within the Hanazono estate in Niseko. Designed by Kengo Kuma and André Fu, the villas are the first Park Hyatt-branded residences in Japan and extend the American group's presence in one of Asia's most sought-after alpine destinations.

Continent Hotels & Resorts has signed a master franchise agreement with Elite Hospitality Group to develop its brand across North Africa. Driven by Spectator Consultancy FZ LLC, the agreement targets more than 20 hotels over a ten-year development period, in a North African market undergoing rapid tourism development.

Flexible-living operator Urban Rest is entering the UK hotel market by taking over operations at 1 Dorset Square, a 14-room boutique hotel in Marylebone, London. The property occupies a building that once served as an espionage training site for the French Resistance during the Second World War, a heritage link that reinforces the project's distinctive positioning.

Odyssey Hotel Group (OHG) has signed a new operating mandate for the Mövenpick Hotel Münster, a 224-room property in North Rhine-Westphalia. This marks the first Mövenpick-branded hotel to join the Dutch group's portfolio, just one month after it signed four management mandates with Covivio covering an additional 1,200 rooms in Germany. The deal takes OHG's European portfolio past 5,600 rooms across 30 hotels.

🔎 Today's trend: global hospitality is balancing expansion with HR tensions. While Accor, Hilton and Azur Hospitality announce new appointments and Spain and Egypt notch up fresh openings, Japan is easing its overtime rules and Brussels Airlines faces a strike notice — two stories with direct implications for a sector still under pressure over staffing.

Hilton has announced the opening of the Motto by Hilton Guadalajara Centro Historico, a 154-room lifestyle hotel housed in a restored 1950s Art Deco building, one block from Plaza Fundadores. Developed and owned by Grupo Megaterra, the property marks the brand's second Motto address in Mexico and forms part of the group's continued growth across the Caribbean and Latin America region.

The German operator has taken over long-term management of three boutique addresses in Marbella's historic centre, installing there the first chapter of its new upscale brand.

Marriott International has opened the Kampala Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Kampala, marking the simultaneous debut of both brands in Uganda. Located in the Nsambya district, around 40 kilometres from Entebbe International Airport, the dual-branded complex brings the group's portfolio in the country to seven properties. The opening underscores Marriott's growing footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa's business and diplomatic markets.