Spanish owner-operator Riu Hotels & Resorts has acquired the four-star, 464-room Westminster Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton in London, UK, from Canadian owner-operator Westmont Hospitality, Slovakian hotel investor Best Hotel Properties (BHP) and PPF Real Estate, the property arm of Czech investment group PPF Group, for £290 million (£625,000 per...
Uga Ghiri to Open in Ella, Sri Lanka in June 2026
Uga Resorts, the boutique Sri Lankan hotel group renowned for its world-class hospitality, is delighted to announce the upcoming opening of its eighth property, Uga Ghiri, in Sri Lanka’s central highlands region in June 2026. Nestled within the grounds of Ella’s historic Sutherland Estate, Uga Ghiri will consist of 15...
HBX Group and Professors from NYU Analyze How Gen Z Travels: Experiences as a Priority, Technology as a Partner, and a Budget Dedicated to Leisure
HBX Group (HBX.SM), the leading B2B travel technology marketplace, has unveiled new trends that are shaping Gen Z’s relationship with personalization in travel. The study, conducted in collaboration with consultant professors Dr. Recep “Richie” Karaburun and Dr. Olena Ciftci from New York University’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, explores...
HVS Asia Pacific Hospitality Newsletter – Week Ending 9 January 2026
US-based alternative investment firm, Blackstone Inc. (“Blackstone”), is acquiring Hamilton Island, an integrated resort destination in the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia from the Australia-based Oatley family. Market sources indicate that the transaction is valued at approximately AUD1.2 billion, representing a significant uplift from the Oatley family’s original acquisition of...
Inn-Flow Captures Top Honors in 2026 HotelTechAwards as the Industry Leader in Hotel Accounting and Workforce Management Technology Solutions
Inn-Flow, the leading all-in-one back-office platform built for hotels, today announced that it has been awarded top honors in this year’s HotelTechAwards, earning first place in two categories, including Hotel Accounting Software and Scheduling & Workforce Management solutions. In addition, Inn-Flow was recognized by Hotel Tech Report as one of...
Japanese Brand MIMARU to Offer Sumitomo Corporation’s “Any Wear, Anywhere” Clothing-Sharing Service for Inbound Family Travelers
MIMARU, Japan’s leading apartment-style hotel brand for families and groups, has announced that guests staying at MIMARU will be able to use Sumitomo Corporation’s “Any Wear, Anywhere” clothing-sharing service, giving inbound family travelers a new way to lighten luggage and travel more sustainably in Japan. The service will be available...
Springhill Suites By Marriott Opens In Orange Beach, Alabama
Vista Host announced the opening of the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orange Beach Gulf Shores, a 120-suite hotel designed to capture the relaxed beauty of Alabama’s Gulf Coast while delivering thoughtful, purpose-driven hospitality.
Where to Invest: A Pragmatic View of Hospitality in 2026
It’s that time of year again. Crystal balls are out and pundits are busy predicting whether hospitality transactions will rise or fall. No one knows for certain, though everyone seems to have an opinion.
Lighthouse Wins HotelTechAwards for Sixth Consecutive Year, The Hotels Network Secures Fourth Straight Win for Best Direct Booking Tool
Denver, CO - Lighthouse, the leading commercial platform for the travel and hospitality industry, today announces its sixth consecutive year of category leadership in the HotelTechAwards, winning top honors in the following categories:
Hilton’s South East Asia Playbook: Secondary Cities, Design-Led Stays, and Wellness by Intention
As South East Asia’s travel momentum accelerates, the conversation is shifting from pure volume to the quality of the journey. Guests are looking for locally connected experiences, more deliberate itineraries, and hotels that function as gateways to destination discovery. For Hilton, this shift is playing out across everything from where...