The global hotel industry is witnessing a fresh wave of expansion, with major hospitality groups opening new properties, acquiring hotels, entering new markets and investing in new brands across several regions.
Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Minor Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Accor and Whitbread are among the companies announcing new developments and strategic moves, reflecting continued growth in international travel and demand for diverse accommodation options.
Hilton recently opened Hale Hōkūala Kauaʻi, its first Curio Collection property in Hawaii. The 210-room resort on the island of Kauaʻi adds to Hilton’s presence in the US leisure market.
Minor Hotels has also expanded its footprint in Japan with the opening of two Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites properties in central Kyoto. The two hotels have a combined 47 rooms and target travellers looking for accommodation suitable for longer stays and family travel.
In Africa, IHG opened voco Nairobi Airport Suites, the first voco property in East Africa. The 112-suite hotel near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport offers one- and two-bedroom suites, kitchenettes, workspaces and laundry facilities.
IHG is continuing its expansion in Europe and the Middle East. The company plans to open a 114-room Kimpton hotel on Rome’s Via Veneto in 2029. It has also signed agreements for two Garner hotels in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, which will together add 285 rooms and mark the brand’s entry into the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Choice Hotels International has agreed to acquire RV travel membership company Harvest Hosts for about $130 million in cash. The acquisition will expand Choice’s reach into the recreational vehicle travel market, including farms, wineries and other destinations used by RV travellers.
In the UK, Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn, has acquired two Future Inns properties in Bristol and Plymouth. The two hotels have 292 rooms in total and are expected to be converted into Premier Inn properties.
Minor Hotels has also agreed to manage the Dukes London hotel in the St James’s district. The 85-room property is scheduled to reopen in the second quarter of 2027 following renovation and will become the company’s first Reserve Collection property in the UK.
Investment is also continuing in the resort sector. Hoteles Elba is developing the €100 million Elba Corralejo Resort & Spa in Fuerteventura, Spain’s Canary Islands. Accor, meanwhile, plans to open five hotels in Argentina between 2027 and 2028, with around $50 million expected to be invested by local partners.
The industry has also seen several senior leadership changes. Andrea Vanni has been appointed chief financial officer of Kempinski Group, while Brian Regula has become CFO of OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group. Fabrice Moizan has been named president and general manager of Le Bristol Paris, and Sebastian Fischoeder has taken charge as hotel manager of Grand Hyatt Bali.
Technology is also becoming a growing priority for hotel companies. A recent survey of hotel groups found that 91 per cent of respondents are already using artificial intelligence, although many continue to face challenges related to expertise, strategy and data governance.
The latest developments indicate that hotel companies are increasingly looking beyond traditional hotel construction to expand their businesses. Acquisitions, hotel conversions, extended-stay concepts, lifestyle brands and technology are becoming important tools for growth as operators respond to changing traveller preferences and rising operating costs.