Accor has entrusted the commercial leadership of its South Asia region to Vipin Khattar, until now General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah. His career spans more than twenty years across India, the Middle East, Africa and the United Kingdom, with Marriott International, Hyatt and Atlantis. An executive with both commercial and operational credentials, he joins the group as it accelerates its growth across the subcontinent.

A 20-year Four Seasons veteran, previously at the helm of Rancho Encantado Santa Fe, will lead the opening of the brand's first property within a Sports & Entertainment District, with Tony Rodriguez appointed Commercial Director.

On 28 September 2026, Preatoni Group published its first-half accounts. EBITDA rose by 21.5% to €13.3m, driven by its Hospitality/Tourism division in Egypt and Italy. The Paris-listed group also announced a change in its governance: Oscar Crameri will become Chairman of the Management Board on 16 October 2026, and the two sons of founder Ernesto Preatoni will join the board.

🔎 Trend of the day: time for capital decisions. A stock-market listing or refinancing for Ennismore, a successful exit for Crescent in Alpharetta, EKN's withdrawal in Petaluma, a fresh bet from Corinthia in the Turks and Caicos: investors and operators are reshuffling the deck.

Glion Institute of Higher Education has announced a redesign of its three full-time Master's programmes from 2027, featuring new specialisations, a stronger focus on artificial intelligence and deeper immersion in industry. The Swiss institute is responding to the spread of hospitality skills beyond the hospitality sector itself, into luxury, wellness and the wider experience economy.

Hilton has appointed Hendrick Calles General Manager of Casa Alba, LXR Hotels & Resorts, in Casablanca. He takes up the post in September 2026 to lead the pre-opening of the property, expected in 2027. After nearly twenty-two years with the group, beginning in France, he leaves the Seychelles, where he oversaw Hilton's six properties across the archipelago.

In September 2026, Ali Nassila took up the post of General Manager of Maysan Doha, the Qatari address of LXR Hotels & Resorts, Hilton's collection of independent luxury hotels. Trained in Morocco and then in France, this operations specialist has built most of his career with Marriott International, from Paris to Fez and on to the Gulf. He now leads an urban resort set in a former palace in the Qatari capital.

On 25 September 2026, IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of Garner Hotel Jim Corbett, a 50-key property in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2027. Owned by Victorian Corporation and operated by United Hospitality Management (UHM) India, the project is the brand's sixth signing in India. It confirms the group's strategy of establishing a presence in leisure destinations beyond the major metropolitan areas.

Hilton has announced the opening of Montara Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, in the mountains of Heredia, Costa Rica. With this fully renovated 97-room property, the group's lifestyle brand makes its debut in Costa Rica and in Central America. Hilton thereby strengthens its presence in a region where it already operates 315 hotels.

Prince Resorts Hawaii, the Hawaiian division of Japan's Seibu Holdings, has appointed Yusuke Ishii as president. He succeeds Shigeki Yamane, who is returning to Japan, and takes charge of a portfolio of three hotels and three golf courses spread across Oahu and the island of Hawaii. The internal promotion places the Hawaiian assets in the hands of an executive who has directly shaped the group's investment strategy in the archipelago.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has brought its premium voco hotels brand to East Africa with the September 2026 opening of voco Nairobi Airport Suites. The 112-suite property sits on Mombasa Road, close to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It marks the brand's debut in Kenya and targets both transit guests and long-stay travellers at one of the region's main gateways.

Brazil bans online sports betting and digital casinos. In New York, the Attorney General is taking on Polymarket, which has hit back in federal court. In France, the platform is challenging its block in the courts. Meanwhile, the prediction market leader has raised $1bn from Donald Trump Jr's fund, raising the question of the balance of power between states and the new players in online gaming.