This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector. In this episode, we unpack the latest in hotel developments, deals, and leadership moves across the region. EVT debuts compact room types at Atura Adelaide Airport, while Peppers Docklands Melbourne gets a bold makeover under Panache Hotel Group. Major acquisitions include new assets for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Mandala Hotels, and Redhill Hospitality, alongside a REIT milestone from Japan’s Kasumigaseki Capital. We cover strong performance updates from Wyndham, inclusive tourism wins from Pan Pacific Hotels Group, and winter success for Langham Hospitality Group. Plus, key leadership appointments at IHG, Accor, St. Regis, Langham, and more round out a packed episode.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector. Marriott International acquires tech-forward brand citizenM 🏨, while TFE Hotels gears up for its UK debut with new Adina properties 🇬🇧. Travel + Leisure Co. expands with the launch of Accor Vacation Club Asia Pacific 🌏 and unveils a luxe revamp of Club Wyndham Mission Beach 🌴. Dusit International debuts its ninth brand, Dusit Hotels, and Salter Brothers reimagine Milton Park as Ardour Milton Park Bowral 🛁. We also highlight 1834 Hotels taking over resorts on K’gari 🏝️, BIG4 reaching 300 parks 🛶, and Seibu Prince Hotels entering Vietnam 🇻🇳. The “coolcation” trend is heating up ❄️ with MGallery leading the charge, Traveloka lands in Australia 🇦🇺, and Langham Hotels completes its global Pink Run 🎀. On the tech front, Travel Outlook’s AI agent Annette 🤖 is redefining guest service.

In this week's 5 Star Weekly Briefing, there are several key trends, including new developments, strategic investments, and a notable shift towards upscale conversions. Frasers Hospitality, in collaboration with UK-based YOTEL, has launched YOTEL Tokyo Ginza, marking its first ground-up development and investment in Japan. In Australia, Cabra-Vale Diggers is unveiling plans for Novotel Sydney Cabramatta as a central feature of the Cabravale Club Resort, with Sam Fakih leading as Pre-Opening General Manager. Salter Brothers is investing over AU$10 million to transform the Milton Park Country House Hotel and Spa into the flagship property for its new luxury brand, Ardour Hotels and Estates, reopening as Ardour Milton Park Bowral. IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding its luxury and lifestyle portfolio with the upcoming Kimpton Bali Ubud in Indonesia and rebranding two existing properties in Japan to ANA Holiday Inn hotels through an agreement with FET SYSTEM INC. Meanwhile, Las Vegas Sands has broken ground on an $8 billion resort in Singapore. The trend of upscale conversions is prominent, with IHG Hotels & Resorts and Salter Brothers planning to relaunch several Crowne Plaza and InterContinental properties as Regent/InterContinental brands, a strategy also observed by Marriott, where conversions represented approximately 40% of its new signings in APAC in 2024.Leadership shifts and recognitions are also a key trend across the industry. Michael Johnson, former CEO of Accommodation Australia, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his leadership. Jennifer Brown of InterContinental Sydney was named Executive of the Year, and Anthony Flowers from Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour received Chef of the Year at the Accommodation Australia NSW Awards. Significant leadership appointments include Emilie Couton as Chief Executive Officer of Accor Plus, and at Marriott International, Jen Mason will succeed Leeny Oberg as Chief Financial Officer, with Shawn Hill becoming Chief Development Officer upon Oberg's retirement. Other new General Manager roles include Dony Andrian at Crowne Plaza Sydney Burwood (IHG Hotels & Resorts), Dagmara Konieczna at Rydges Gold Coast Airport, Luke Roberts-Lalli at QT Newcastle, Michael Stamboulidis at QT Auckland, Jerry Feng at Imperium Group for its Luxury Collection, and Sunil Rawat at Hilton Adelaide. These movements underscore the dynamic nature of the industry's recovery and strategic growth.

🎙️This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector.In this episode, we cover big moves from industry giants like Marriott International, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Minor Hotels, Radisson Hotel Group, and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

Hear about exciting new openings—Courtyard by Marriott in Darwin, Fairmont Tokyo, and Radisson Don Mueang Bangkok—plus major rebrands and investments including Waldorf Astoria Bali, Six Senses Bangkok, and AC Hotels Gold Coast. We also explore strategic expansions in Japan by World Brands Collection, and the transformation of Brisbane’s Clear Mountain by Mandala Hotels.

We discuss standout research from CBRE and JLL on luxury lodges and market dynamics across Fiji, Southeast Asia, and Australasia. And we unpack the latest on AI in hospitality, workplace wellbeing, and purpose-driven travel trends.

Also featuring leadership changes across Accor, TFE Hotels, The Langham, La Vie Hotels and Resorts, and more.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector. We cover a wave of new openings across Australia, including InterContinental Brisbane, Hyatt House South Melbourne, and a dual-branded IHG project in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall. Meriton makes its first move into Queensland’s management rights market, while Minor Hotels expands its Oaks portfolio with a resort in Thredbo. We also explore industry insights from Accor’s Pacific Leaders Conference and a new Marriott report showing a shift toward wellness-driven luxury travel. Plus, we celebrate Choice Hotels’ Tripadvisor wins and the boost Sydney hotels received from Vivid 2025.

This week's 5 Star Weekly Briefing highlights significant developments in the sector, including new hotel openings like the sustainability-focused 1 Hotel Melbourne and Paradox Sydney's Australian debut, alongside major refurbishments at properties such as QT Queenstown and W Brisbane. It details substantial acquisitions and investments, notably Star Entertainment Group's rescue package led by Bally's and Amora Group's purchase of Hilton Adelaide. The briefing also explores current industry trends, focusing on AI integration, cybersecurity, ethical AI, data management, and personalised loyalty programs, as discussed at HITEC Indianapolis. Finally, it notes the strong performance of luxury lodges in Australia and New Zealand, driven by high demand and investment, and announces key leadership appointments within various hotel groups.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector.

Including Paradox Hotels’ debut in Sydney, the relaunch of Hotel Diana in Brisbane by Samdoo Corporation, and Minor Hotels’ alpine expansion with Oaks Lake Crackenback. We explore the surge in tourism-driven investment across Australia and New Zealand, with insights from Global Asset Solutions and WTTC projecting strong sector growth through 2028. From the Lion Hospitality Awards – standouts like QT Auckland, Craggy Range, and Peekaboo Eatery were recognised for excellence, sustainability, and innovation. And at HITEC 2025, AI stole the spotlight – with Levee sweeping the E20X pitch competition and startups like Bookboost, Ediphi, and Vella AI showing how tech is reshaping guest experience and operations. Plus, new appointments from Four Seasons, JLL, Imagine Hotels, and more across the region.

🎙️This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector. Australia’s first Mondrian Gold Coast opens with oversized suites, private beach houses, and panoramic views 🌊, while W Brisbane unveils river-inspired suite upgrades blending bold design with luxe tech. In Canberra, Redhill Hospitality takes over Tall Trees Ainslie, promising soft refurbishments and elevated service, and in Perth, Residence on Langley Park repositions to meet long- and short-stay needs with flexible layouts and full amenities. We also cover Wyndham Hotels' powerful 🤖 AI rollout that’s cutting call times and boosting service efficiency , IHG’s voco reaching 100 hotels in just seven years with flexible conversion appeal, and Accor’s sustainability leadership and standout new properties like Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport and Wairakei Resort Taupō. Finally, we spotlight Mandarin Oriental’s wellness-first approach for Global Wellness Day, focused on reconnection, ritual and inner strength. A packed episode full of innovation, guest experience, and future-focused moves.

🎙️ This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector.

Hyatt expands with its new Unscripted brand and the launch of Hyatt House South Melbourne—marking its entry into Australia’s extended-stay market. Hilton celebrates a major milestone with its 1,000th luxury and lifestyle property, with more than 150 openings expected in 2025. 1834 Hotels grows its white-label footprint with 18 Elanor Group properties and a strong push on underutilised space and digital check-ins. La Vie unveils an $18M rebrand in Sydney, while Intrepid acquires boutique stays in Tasmania and Marrakech. In tech and trends, AI security and personalisation dominate headlines, while Marriott and Plantation Island Resort lead the charge on sustainability and community engagement.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector.Hotel brands are expanding across the region with new concepts and renovations. Marriott has launched Series by Marriott in India, targeting the midscale–upscale market. Hilton is marking 50 years in Australasia with a $40 million upgrade to Hilton Sydney and new growth initiatives. New Zealand welcomes Edit Hotels & Resorts, offering digitally enabled, value-driven stays. IHG’s Holiday Inn Express introduces its tech-enhanced 5.0 model with 30 projects already signed. In WA, The Sebel The Vines unveils a $3 million redesign, while Rick Stein will open a flagship beachfront restaurant at the rebranded InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. Meanwhile, Capella announces The Lands at Circular Quay, a major mixed-use development set to open in 2026.