Capella Hotel Group has appointed Lauren Tesch as regional director of sales for Australia and New Zealand. The appointment strengthens its commercial leadership across two important luxury travel markets. Based in Sydney, Tesch will focus on expanding relationships with travel partners and supporting the group’s regional sales activities. She will work with Capella Hotel Group […]
France is emerging at the forefront of Europe’s luxury countryside hotel boom as vineyards, historic estates and rural communities become premium tourism destinations. Burgundy is gaining particular momentum through new château hotels and wine-focused retreats. However, similar expansion is unfolding across Tuscany, Portugal’s Alentejo and Douro regions, inland Mallorca, Andalusia and the Greek islands. The
Venice, Paris and other leading European destinations are preparing a major wave of luxury hotel openings across 2026 and 2027. The pipeline includes restored palaces, lakeside retreats, alpine resorts and highly personalised urban hotels. Italy stands at the centre of this hospitality expansion. Venice alone is expecting several headline properties, while Florence, Cortina d’Ampezzo and
Luxury hotels are facing a fundamental shift as travellers place greater value on how a stay makes them feel than on the products surrounding them. Lavish interiors, premium amenities and high-end services remain important. However, a growing number of guests now expect luxury hospitality to deliver well-being, authenticity, emotional comfort and meaningful human connection. Vu
American Express Travel is significantly expanding its premium accommodation network, adding more than 400 properties across Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection as luxury travelers demand increasingly personalized and experience-led journeys. The expansion introduces hotels across 49 new destinations and takes the combined portfolio beyond 3,100 curated properties in 114 countries and territories.
Switzerland is reinforcing its position among the world’s leading premium travel destinations in 2026 as record hotel demand, internationally recognised hospitality and the enduring appeal of Alpine destinations strengthen the country’s tourism economy. St. Moritz is playing an important role in that momentum. The celebrated resort combines luxury hotels, winter sports, outdoor experiences, shopping, gastronomy
Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena offers travellers the opportunity to stay inside one of Colombia’s most historically significant hospitality landmarks, combining a former 17th-century convent with contemporary French-inspired luxury. Located within Cartagena de Indias’ celebrated Walled City, the hotel occupies a building founded in 1621 as the Convent of Santa Clara de Asís. Its transformation
Elegant Hotel Collection has transitioned to Elegant Hotels of the World, marking a significant repositioning for the HotelREZ-powered luxury soft brand as it seeks greater international visibility, stronger distribution and improved commercial performance for independent hotels. The rebrand represents more than a change of identity. It introduces a broader global positioning designed to help boutique
Capella Hotel Group has appointed Feisal Jaffer as Chief Development Officer, placing an experienced hospitality investment and development executive at the centre of its next phase of international growth. Jaffer will lead the group’s worldwide development strategy across Capella Hotels and Resorts and Patina Hotels & Resorts. His responsibilities will include identifying new destinations, building
Pemako Thimphu is undergoing a major renovation designed to strengthen its position within Bhutan’s luxury hospitality market while preserving the architectural and cultural identity of the Himalayan kingdom. Located in the heart of Bhutan’s capital, the hotel is reimagining guest rooms and public spaces through a design approach that combines contemporary comfort with traditional Bhutanese
Global tourism is entering a new era in 2026 as travelers from the United States and worldwide increasingly pursue experiences that combine luxury, authenticity, flexibility and cultural immersion. From ultra-premium penthouse suites and booming beer tourism destinations to scenic American road trips and innovative airline sleep concepts, the travel industry is rapidly adapting to changing
IHG Hotels & Resorts will introduce its luxury Vignette Collection brand to London with the opening of Canary Riverside Plaza in Canary Wharf in summer 2026. The 142-room property will mark both the first Vignette Collection hotel in London and IHG’s debut in Canary Wharf, offering premium accommodation, dining, spa, and event facilities.
