Gulf Hotels Group (GHG) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kenyan developer Silva Gigiri Ltd to develop the Silva Gigiri Hotel & Residence, a mixed-use hotel and branded residences scheme in Nairobi's Gigiri diplomatic district. The agreement, announced on 17 August 2026 from Manama, marks the Bahraini group's second hotel management contract in East Africa, following the Ocean Paradise Resort in Zanzibar. It forms part of GHG's 2026-2030 strategy, which aims to strengthen its management platform across the African continent through an asset-light model.

Accor and Indian developer Javi Group have announced the signing of Fairmont Rishikesh Himalayas, a 220-room resort due to open in 2031 in the Shivpuri region at the foot of the Himalayas. Set on the banks of the Ganges in Uttarakhand, the project strengthens Accor's luxury brand positioning in one of India's most dynamic tourism and spiritual markets.

IHG Hotels & Resorts and Harilela Group have signed a franchise agreement covering three hotels under The Hari brand, which will join Vignette Collection. The signing marks the brand's entry into Singapore and strengthens its presence in Hong Kong and London, bringing to six the number of properties jointly operated by the two groups. Announced on 17 August 2026, the agreement forms part of IHG's luxury and lifestyle development strategy, which targets 100 Vignette Collection hotels by 2031.

Within the space of two months, PT Pollux Hotels Group Tbk signed two separate strategic agreements with international hotel groups: Accor on 23 June 2026, followed by Marriott International on 14 August 2026. Both partnerships aim to combine Pollux's local market knowledge and property development capabilities with the two brands' global networks and operational standards. This dual alliance illustrates a multi-brand development strategy to serve an Indonesian tourism market underpinned by a population of more than 280 million.

Radisson Hotel Group has signed the Bloom Hotel Bali Ungasan, a 145-room property that will join the Radisson Individuals brand on the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali. Developed with Indonesian group HQC Group, the hotel is due to open by the end of 2029, further strengthening the group's portfolio in one of Southeast Asia's most sought-after leisure destinations.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation and RJR Investments & Holdings Inc. have announced the entry of the Hyatt brand into Guyana with the addition of the Atlantic Suites Hotel to the group's portfolio. Following a development project worth approximately €43.2 million, the Georgetown property will join the Hyatt Regency brand and the World of Hyatt programme in 2028.

The Austrian large-scale wellness destination specialist and the American hospitality giant have announced a strategic alliance to explore new health and longevity experiences. The initiative, unveiled on 13 August 2026, draws in particular on the Marriott Design Lab and aims to place wellness at the heart of the guest journey.

Marriott International has announced the rollout of its Series by Marriott brand in New Caledonia, in partnership with Company Hôtelière de Nouméa (SHN). Three resorts from the group — in Nouméa, on the Isle of Pines and in Bourail — join the portfolio, extending a collaboration between the two companies spanning more than thirty years.

Hilton has opened Conrad Nagoya, a 170-room hotel developed in partnership with Mitsubishi Estate atop The Landmark Nagoya Sakae, the new flagship tower of the Sakae district. The opening marks the debut of Conrad Hotels & Resorts in the capital of Aichi Prefecture, Japan's fourth-largest city, and confirms the luxury brand's growing momentum in the archipelago following Tokyo and Osaka.

Between April and June 2026, Preferred Hotels & Resorts welcomed 10 new member properties, from Bali to Kenya, via Belgium and Portugal. This latest wave of additions confirms the brand's strategy around independent hotels of character, amid strong demand for authentic, locally rooted experiences.

A subsidiary of UK-based UnderTheDoormat Group, TrustedStays is launching its platform in France through an exclusive GDS partnership with Amadeus. The move allows professionally managed accommodation, such as Veeve and Quartier Libre, to be booked through the same channels as traditional hotels, as French business travel spend is forecast to reach €31.6 billion in 2026.

🔎 Today's trend: hospitality rethinks its offering to meet new expectations. Between climate urgency, the quest for immersive experiences and the arrival of institutional capital, the sector is adapting worldwide — from Swiss hotels installing air conditioning to Vietnamese investors now prioritising sustainability over location.