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Personnel Moves
Courchevel, France | Madeleine Munier appointed General Manager of Monte-Carlo One Courchevel
Madeleine Munier has been appointed General Manager of Monte-Carlo One Courchevel, the first property under Monte-Carlo Company des Bains de Mer's international brand outside the Principality. She takes up her role during the pre-opening phase, with the first guests expected for the 2026/2027 winter season. With nearly nine years at Airelles, including a spell leading La Bastide de Gordes, she brings solid experience in luxury hotel management and hotel openings to the project.
Development
USA | Access Point Financial and TMGOC Ventures inject €103m into New Orleans Fairmont/Element duo
Access Point Financial and TMGOC Ventures have co-financed the recapitalisation of the dual-branded Fairmont by Accor and Element by Westin complex in New Orleans to the tune of $120 million (approximately €103 million), via a bridge loan and a preferred equity investment. The scheme, led by local developer Kailas Companies, is the result of converting a former 31-storey office tower in the central business district. The Element opened in February 2026, while the Fairmont is due to follow in autumn 2026.
Explorer
Business
Saudi Arabia | The Helicopter Company Pivots into Business Aviation with Bombardier Deal for Up to 60 Jets
The Helicopter Company (THC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has signed a letter of intent with Bombardier at the Farnborough Airshow to acquire up to 60 business jets. The agreement marks THC's entry into business aviation and strengthens the PIF-led Tourism, Travel and Entertainment ecosystem, of which hospitality is one of the strategic pillars.
Insights
Development 🇪🇺 | Europe’s Pipeline Reaches 1,736 Projects, Lodging Econometrics Looks Ahead to 2028
Lodging Econometrics has released its quarterly report on Europe's hotel construction pipeline, recording 1,736 projects and 255,976 rooms at the close of Q2 2026, up 3% year-on-year. The American firm has unveiled an openings forecast through 2028 for the first time, confirming the European market's development trajectory for investors and operators across the sector.
Development
Immersive Hospitality, UK | Elysium Retreats Prepares Portfolio Rollout with 12 New UK Destinations
A subsidiary of the Sight Acre Group, Elysium Retreats plans to grow its portfolio by up to 12 additional destinations across the UK over the next two years. The growth programme, driven by acquisitions, refurbishments and new-builds, is underpinned by a recently strengthened operational team following the arrival of Matt Pressman as Operations Director.
Personnel Moves
Asia | Palladium Hotel Group Appoints Farah Jaber Managing Director, Southeast Asia
Palladium Hotel Group has appointed Farah C. Jaber to the newly created role of Managing Director, Southeast Asia, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Effective since March 2026, the appointment marks the Spanish hotel group's first structured foothold in the Asia-Pacific region, with Vietnam as the anchor point for its development.
Personnel Moves
Appointment, USA | Auberge Resorts Collection: Clayton van Hooijdonk named General Manager of The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern
Auberge Resorts Collection has announced the appointment/promotion of Clayton van Hooijdonk to the role of General Manager of The Inn at Mattei's Tavern, in Los Olivos, California. The appointment, effective since July 2026, follows a year spent by the hotelier at Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Telluride, Colorado. It reflects the internal mobility strategy the luxury group is pursuing across its North American portfolio.
Headlines
USA | Airbnb strengthens its hotel strategy and adds more than 75 Lark boutique hotels to its platform
On 4 August 2026, Airbnb announced a distribution agreement with Lark Hotels, a US boutique hotel operator, bringing more than 75 properties onto its platform. The deal confirms the hotel pivot the Californian company has pursued since the spring, as independent hoteliers look to diversify their distribution channels in the face of the major online travel agencies.
Headlines
360°, world tour of today’s hospitality news | From Nîmes to Rio via Aspen and Montreal
🔎 Today's trend: appointments are coming thick and fast across international luxury hospitality. From Mauritius to Aspen and Marbella, major groups are reshuffling their leadership teams to support renovations and growth ambitions, while occupancy figures confirm a strong summer in North America.
Development
Italy, 2028 | Meliá Hotels International signs its first hotel in Lerici, on the Italian Riviera
Meliá Hotels International has announced the signing of a new The Meliá Collection hotel in Lerici, on the Ligurian Riviera, under a franchise agreement with SoGes Group. The 80-to-90-room property will mark the group's first foothold on this stretch of coastline and become its 18th hotel in Italy, with opening scheduled within 24 months.
Development
Opening 2027, Malaysia | In Sabah, Minor Hotels Announces Avani Kota Kinabalu, the Brand’s First Hotel
Minor Hotels has announced Avani Kota Kinabalu, a 352-room lifestyle hotel due to open in the first quarter of 2027 in Sabah, East Malaysia. Set within the The Logg Luyang development led by KTI Landmark, the property marks the Avani brand's debut in the destination and strengthens the group's portfolio in the country.
Business
That’s a Wrap 🇨🇭| Grand Metropolitan Hotels: Kingstone Capital Exits VZB Joint Venture as Gravity Capital Takes Control
Kingstone Capital AG (Switzerland) has completely withdrawn from its former joint venture with Versorgungswerk der Zahnärzte Berlin (VZB), following Gravity Capital Hong Kong's acquisition of the Emirati subsidiary that held a 70.3% stake in Grand Metropolitan Hotels Holding B.V. The transaction, finalised on 30 June 2026, ends a shareholding structure that had been deadlocked for several months and frees the hotel group to refocus on its independent international development strategy.
Development
USA | HHM Hotels Strengthens Its Presence in Florida and Philadelphia with the Integration of Wurzak Hotel Group
HHM Hotels has announced a strategic combination with Wurzak Hotel Group, which joins its management platform with eleven hotels located in Florida and the US Mid-Atlantic. The deal, unveiled on 11 August 2026 in Philadelphia, does not change ownership of the properties but transfers their management to HHM Hotels, extending a professional relationship between the two groups that dates back more than thirty years.
Personnel Moves
Europe 🇪🇺 | Siim Karu Appointed Chief Commercial Officer Europe at Highgate
Highgate has announced the appointment of Siim Karu as Chief Commercial Officer Europe, based in London, effective from 10 August 2026. He will be responsible for driving the group's entire commercial strategy across the European region, spanning revenue management, sales, distribution, marketing and technology.
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Personnel Moves
Courchevel, France | Madeleine Munier appointed General Manager of Monte-Carlo One Courchevel
Madeleine Munier has been appointed General Manager of Monte-Carlo One Courchevel, the first property under Monte-Carlo Company des Bains de Mer's international brand outside the Principality. She takes up her role during the pre-opening phase, with the first guests expected for the 2026/2027 winter season. With nearly nine years at Airelles, including a spell leading La Bastide de Gordes, she brings solid experience in luxury hotel management and hotel openings to the project.
Development
USA | Access Point Financial and TMGOC Ventures inject €103m into New Orleans Fairmont/Element duo
Access Point Financial and TMGOC Ventures have co-financed the recapitalisation of the dual-branded Fairmont by Accor and Element by Westin complex in New Orleans to the tune of $120 million (approximately €103 million), via a bridge loan and a preferred equity investment. The scheme, led by local developer Kailas Companies, is the result of converting a former 31-storey office tower in the central business district. The Element opened in February 2026, while the Fairmont is due to follow in autumn 2026.
Personnel Moves
Amsterdam, Netherlands | Emmy Stoel Appointed General Manager of the Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium
Emmy Stoel, currently General Manager of the InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest, has been appointed to head the Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium in Amsterdam. The news, revealed by Dutch daily De Telegraaf, marks the seasoned hotelier's return to the Dutch capital, where she has already led two landmark properties. The appointment comes as the hotel continues its repositioning under the Mandarin Oriental banner.
Personnel Moves
Southlake, USA | Derek Sharp appointed SVP Lodging, Ground and Media at Sabre
Sabre (NASDAQ: SABR) has announced the appointment of Derek Sharp as Senior Vice President, Lodging, Ground and Media, effective 8 September 2026. He succeeds Chinmai Sharma and will be responsible for driving further growth in this strategic business, as the technology group expands its hotel distribution offering and its connectivity with agencies and suppliers.
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