Ayla Ghaffarzadehgan has been appointed Senior Investment Manager within Corinthia Real Estate Ventures (CREV), the investment arm of Corinthia Hotels, in London. She joins the Maltese hotel group after nearly five years at Blackstone as a Senior Associate. The appointment comes amid a broader management renewal at Corinthia Hotels, following Simon Casson's departure from the role of Chief Executive and the arrival of Peter Roth in a newly created operational leadership position.

A decree dated 12 June 2026 now regulates the length of medically prescribed sick leave in France, coming into force on 1 September. For a hotel industry structurally exposed to absenteeism in physically demanding roles, the measure is being greeted with both reassurance and questions from HR leadership.

Hôtelière du Couttet has announced the suspension of the refurbishment works at the Hôtel du Couttet in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, following an order from the Grenoble Administrative Court that calls into question the contractual framework allowing the works to continue. The ruling, issued in August 2026, blocks access to the €30 million financing line secured this past January — just two months after work resumed on the site.

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.

The French hotelier, who has led nine properties across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and North America over the past eighteen years, takes the helm of the hotel in a Dhaka market undergoing intense competitive restructuring.

Constellation Hotels has appointed Neil Jacobs, former CEO of Six Senses, to lead a new London-based luxury hotel management company. The new structure is set to eventually bring together The Connaught, The Emory and The Berkeley, along with forthcoming projects in Paris and Marrakech, following on from the split concluded this summer between Constellation Hotels and Maybourne.

🔎 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.

Blackstone is preparing to file its stock market listing application for Hotel Investment Partners (HIP), its Spanish hotel platform, with the CNMV, according to newspaper Cinco Días. The deal, which would combine a partial share sale with a €700 million capital increase, is expected to target a listing in late October or early November.

Savoyard hotel group Best Mont-Blanc has announced the acquisition of Hôtel Miura in Voglans, on the shores of Lac du Bourget. Following Annecy, Chamonix, Les Arcs and Grenoble, the deal gives the group a second lakeside foothold and brings it closer to its Chambéry headquarters.

Manuel Santos has taken over as General Manager of The Yeatman, the Fladgate Partnership's wine hotel in Vila Nova de Gaia, as of 31 August 2026. He succeeds himself under a new banner after four years and four months at the helm of the Monumental Palace in Porto, which he guided from the Maison Albar group through to its acquisition by H10 Hotels.

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, Airbnb announced the appointment of Pepijn Rijvers as Chief Business Officer, overseeing the Homes, Hotels, Global Markets and Enterprise Operations divisions. The former Booking.com and Tripadvisor Group executive succeeds Dave Stephenson, who is leaving the group after eight years in senior leadership roles. The appointment confirms the growing momentum behind Airbnb's hotel strategy, under way since spring 2026.