IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the signing of two new properties with Australian developer Urban Property Group: a Crowne Plaza in Newcastle and a Hotel Indigo in Gosford, bringing to three the number of hotels the two partners have developed together in New South Wales. This third signing in just over a year, following the Crowne Plaza Parramatta agreed in 2025, confirms IHG's growing momentum in Australia's regional markets, underpinned by significant infrastructure investment.

King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC) has announced the opening of Atheel, the latest addition to its hotel portfolio within Riyadh's mixed-use business and lifestyle district. Developed by KAFD DMC and operated by Adeera Hospitality Company, the 214-room and suite property is staffed exclusively by Saudi talent. The opening reinforces the district's mixed-use identity — spanning business, dining and neighbourhood life — as the Saudi capital accelerates the growth of its hotel offering ahead of 2030.

🔎 Today's trend: expansion meets vigilance. From French Polynesia to Switzerland and Ghana, hotel openings keep multiplying, while in France and the UK, security at luxury hotels and local taxation are worrying a sector that otherwise remains in full swing.

Under the leadership of Christophe Lecourtier since May 2026, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) group is pursuing a strategic repositioning built on selectivity and tangible impact. Behind its international solidarity mandate, the institution also quietly finances hotel infrastructure and tourism training schools, from Morocco to the Dominican Republic.

HomeExchange, the world's leading home-exchange platform, has announced securing a major investment from Verlinvest, an international family investment firm. The deal, unveiled on 15 September 2026 from Paris and New York, comes with a reshuffle of the shareholder base: Ternel renews its commitment as ISAI exits the capital. The stated ambition is clear — to turn home exchange into a mainstream way to travel, with a particular push into North America and Western Europe.

JLL Capital Markets announced on 1 September 2026 that it had structured the refinancing of Bowie House, Auberge Collection, a luxury boutique hotel in Fort Worth's Cultural District, Texas. The deal, carried out on behalf of borrower Bowie Place Properties, involves a floating-rate loan provided by MetLife. It confirms institutional lenders' continued appetite for luxury hotel assets positioned in distinctive cultural markets.

Dubai-based hotel group Majestic Hotels inaugurated its fourth property, the Majestic Central Hotel, in Bur Dubai on 11 September 2026. The opening, held under the patronage of Matar Al Tayer, General Manager of Al Ghandi Electronics, confirms the group's steady rise in Dubai's mid-market hotel sector.

Expo 2030 Riyadh and Saudi developer Mohammed Al Habib Real Estate Company (MAHR) have signed a SAR 3.2 billion (approximately €733 million) joint venture agreement to develop and deliver the Expo Village, the site's future residential community. The project, which envisages around 2,300 apartments for some 5,500 residents, is set to house official delegations during the event before becoming a permanent neighbourhood in northern Riyadh. It is the first real estate partnership struck by Expo 2030 Riyadh with the private sector, as work on the site progresses at a steady pace.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has completed the speaker line-up for its 26th Global Summit, which will bring together more than 1,000 delegates and 200 industry leaders in Valletta, Malta, from 7 to 9 October 2026. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar and Ambassador Nick Adams, the first US presidential envoy for tourism, join the roster of high-profile speakers. Held under the theme "FUTU[RE]SET", the event will examine the investment, resilience and competitiveness levers shaping the global travel industry.

Chatham Lodging Trust (NYSE: CLDT) has announced the appointment of Liam Brown to its board of directors as an independent director, effective immediately. The appointment follows a 37-year career at Marriott International, where he most recently led the group's operations across the Americas until his retirement in June 2026. His arrival is expected to strengthen the REIT's operational expertise and franchisor-franchisee relationships.

Adagio, Europe's leading aparthotel operator, has announced the renewal of its partnership with the London Stadium in east London. In place since 2022, the agreement strengthens the group's accommodation offering for spectators, event professionals, teams and partners attending the venue, as part of its FIRST 2030 strategic plan.

Adagio, Europe's leading aparthotel operator, announced on 8 July 2026 the three-year renewal of its Gold partnership with the Plenitude Arena, Europe's largest indoor arena, located in La Défense. Launched in February 2024, the collaboration forms part of the group's FIRST 2030 strategic plan and aims to combine flexible accommodation with proximity to the capital's major sporting and cultural events.