Ouvertures d’hôtels

🏡 The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid, joins The Luxury Collection after a meticulous two-year restoration. Previously The Westin Palace, Madrid, it now offers an unmatched luxury experience with exceptional service. Located in Madrid's Barrio de las Letras, near the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, Retiro Park, and Plaza Mayor, The Palace is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Paisaje de la Luz. Marriott International's VP, Helen Leighton, highlights The Palace's over-a-century contribution to Madrid's cultural landscape.

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corporation plans to add 20 new hotels in Europe and Africa by 2026, a 20% growth in these regions with over 4,000 new rooms. Expansion includes destinations like Paros, Greece; Seville, Spain; Zadar, Croatia; and Palase, Albania. The portfolio expansion follows Hyatt's strategic growth since 2017 in areas noted for natural and cultural beauty. Additionally, Hyatt's acquisition of Mr & Mrs Smith expands luxury property options for World of Hyatt members across 700 partner hotels.

🏠 Meliá Hotels International is expanding its presence in Argentina with Casa Lucia, a newly renovated hotel situated in the iconic 1928 Mihanovich building in Buenos Aires' Retiro district. The hotel features 142 rooms inspired by Argentina's Golden Age, blending historic elegance with contemporary touches. Guests can experience cultural immersion through activities reflecting the area's artistic vibrancy. The hotel includes wellness facilities like an indoor pool and spa. Meliá currently operates five hotels in Argentina and plans to open two more. Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, CEO of Meliá Hotels, sees Casa Lucia as a milestone for the company's expansion in Latin America.

🏨 Marriott International achieved 7% net room growth in the EMEA region in 2024, with a record 291 signatures representing over 34,000 rooms. They expanded their operational portfolio by over 180 properties last year, entering new markets in Luxembourg, Angola, and Senegal. Satya Anand, President of Marriott International EMEA, highlighted the region's exceptional growth and entry into emerging markets, aiming to connect people through travel and offer more unique experiences and travel options.

🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed eight new hotels in the UK and Ireland, adding over 900 rooms in strategic locations such as London, Leeds, and Reading. With hotel investment at a five-year high, IHG is leveraging hotel conversions to accelerate expansion. The voco and Gardner Hotels brands demonstrate growth, exceeding the number of their currently open properties in these regions. IHG's 2024 development saw high demand for its brands and enhancements in customer experience through innovations and the IHG One Rewards program. Key openings include Hotel Indigo Leeds with 107 rooms, set to open in 2025 after a full renovation, and voco London – Marylebone, the first voco in London, with 93 rooms opened in 2024. Voco Corby is scheduled for late 2025.

🏖 TUI Group announced the launch of their 500th hotel project, TUI Magic Life Agadir, at the International Tourism Trade Fair (ITB). Aiming to expand its portfolio from 433 to 600 hotels, the group plans the new Agadir club's construction in partnership with Tikida Group to start this spring, with an opening scheduled for summer 2027. The all-inclusive brand's 16th edition, TUI Magic Life Agadir, will feature 427 rooms, three restaurants, four bars, and three pools in a prime Atlantic coast location in Morocco.

🏠 Radisson Hotel Group partners with Manchester City Football Club to launch The Medlock, a 401-room hotel, slated for opening by late 2026 as part of the Etihad campus's £300 million expansion. Located near Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live, UK's largest indoor arena, The Medlock aims to cater to sports fans, concert-goers, and business travelers with amenities including deluxe rooms, suites, a luxury penthouse, food and beverage outlets, a rooftop walkway, a museum, and commercial offices.

🏦 Hilton's LXR Hotels & Resorts is launching its first location in Paris, the Sax Paris, managed by Compagnie de Phalsbourg. The luxury hotel, set in a former Belle Époque central telephone office, boasts 118 rooms and suites with views of the Eiffel Tower. The Sax Paris will offer a library bar, Japanese restaurant, and panoramic rooftop. Hilton aims for 10 new French openings by 2025, expanding their 30 hotels in France and 275 developments in Europe, competing with Accor amidst rising Paris hotel demand due to the 2024 Olympics.

🏖 Centara Hotels & Resorts, a leading Thai hotel operator, extends its family travel expertise to the Maldives with the Mirage brand, known for success in Thailand, Vietnam, and Dubai. The Mirage resort is part of Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts, a multi-island destination, and will be joined by Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, opening early next year. The recently inaugurated Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives features the longest artificial river in the Maldives and a large water park. The survey by Survation reveals that while the Maldives are popular for "once in a lifetime" trips (50%), overwater or beach villas (38%), and local culture (35%), it's often seen as expensive and not family-friendly.

🏠 The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam, has elevated Morocco's luxury hospitality landscape with the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Spa, a 2,600-square-meter wellness destination that blends legendary Ritz-Carlton service with Moroccan traditions. The spa's architecture, inspired by the opulence of the 1930s and oriental heritage, centers around a patio with Art Deco glasswork. It offers a transformative experience that fuses ancient Moroccan beauty rituals with cutting-edge care.