Luxury Group by Marriott International and Sotheby's are deepening their global partnership with the launch of "The Art of Knowing," a masterclass series dedicated to rare craftsmanship and fine collecting, marking its first expansion into Asia-Pacific. Rolling out in Hong Kong from September 14 and in Shenzhen from October 15, the initiative pairs video content with immersive experiences at The St. Regis Hong Kong and The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. It illustrates the experience-led strategy the hotel group is building to strengthen the appeal of its luxury brand portfolio.

The Scottish estate Inverlonan will open a nine-bedroom landscape hotel and a 24-cover restaurant on the shores of Loch Nell, around 6.5km east of Oban, in November 2026. Built around the restoration of the historic Ballygowan farmstead, the project extends the off-grid bothy offering launched by the estate in 2020 into a more structured accommodation format, underpinned by a certified organic farming operation.

Hilton is stepping up the rollout of its premium-economy brand Spark by Hilton in the UK with the signing of ten hotels, representing almost 700 rooms. The deal, agreed with AG Hotels Group, marks the brand's entry into Wales and spans ten English and Welsh towns and cities, with openings phased between late 2026 and 2028.

Martijn Zengerink has been appointed General Manager of the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, taking up the role from September 2026. He joins the Mayfair property after just over three years with Marriott International, including two as Multi-Property General Manager in Edinburgh. The appointment comes a few months after the hotel was acquired by Evolution Investment Fund for £1.1 billion, as part of a wider development scheme for the Mayfair district.

Quebec's Superior Court has dismissed the opposition of Quebec investment group Varin and Lavy and authorised the sale of Château Montebello to Westmont Hospitality. The ruling, handed down on 10 September 2026, brings an end to several weeks of legal challenge over the transfer of the property, which was placed into receivership following the financial difficulties of its former owner linked to the Chinese group Evergrande. The transaction, expected to close by 15 November, confirms that Fairmont Hotels' management contract will remain in place until 2031 and hands one of the Outaouais region's leading tourism assets to Westmont Hospitality.

Private equity fund Ilanga Capital, chaired by Pelayo Cortina Koplowitz, and Goldman Sachs Alternatives' real estate arm have signed a €145 million senior financing facility for the construction of the Oakmond wellness and longevity resort in Marbella. The deal allows the project, built on the former Incosol hotel site, to enter its main development phase, with opening scheduled for the third quarter of 2029. It consolidates the financial structuring of a project whose execution budget stands at approximately €260 million.

🔎 Today's trend: the Gulf accelerates, France reinvents itself. While Rotana, Miral and Accor roll out a wave of expansion announcements across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Albania, France is experiencing its own ferment: a succession battle at the helm of Umih, restaurant openings from big-name chefs, and closures reshaping the fine-dining map.

Marriott International and Turkish group Özak GYO have signed an agreement for the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Kemer, All-Inclusive, the brand's first luxury all-inclusive resort in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Located in Kemer, in the province of Antalya, the 141-room-and-suite property is due to open in 2028. The project marks a milestone in the expansion of Marriott's luxury all-inclusive segment beyond the Caribbean and Latin America.

Atmosphere Core, the hotel group born in the Maldives, has announced the signing of its 10th resort in the archipelago: ONE BANYAN Amaraa Faru, due to open in March 2027 in Kaafu Atoll. This independent 118-villa property launches the new co-branded ONE BANYAN collection within Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts. The project reflects the group's strategy of catering to guests seeking personalised experiences rather than a simple accumulation of amenities.

Accor is accelerating the rollout of its franchise model, which already accounts for 61% of its global network and more than 3,500 hotels. Leire Leoz, Group Chief Operating Officer for Franchise, Premium, Midscale & Economy, sets out the drivers behind a strategy aiming for 75% of the portfolio under franchise by 2030 — a scale-up that forms part of the wider asset-light transformation under way across the hotel sector.

MGM Hospitality Group (Asia Pacific) opened MGM Shenzhen Prince Bay on 10 September, a 298-room property located in Shekou, in the Nanshan district. The hotel sits within a strategic cultural and port district of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, connected to the Shekou Cruise Home Port. The opening strengthens the group's presence in the Greater Bay Area and confirms MGM Hospitality's growing momentum in the Chinese market.

Alper Küçükbaycan has served as General Manager of Aqua Vista Bahrain, in the Seef district of Manama, since June 2026. The appointment within Marriott International draws on more than twenty years of international experience in luxury and lifestyle hospitality, including three years leading the Aloft Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. It underlines the property's intent to build its operational and commercial leadership around a seasoned regional profile.