This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector. From JW Marriott’s debut in New Zealand to Pan Pacific Perth’s $50M transformation, luxury and sustainability are defining the next era of travel. In Canberra, Crystalbrook Aurora and IHG’s Regent revival signal serious investment in upscale experiences. Meanwhile, Blackstone’s delay at Crown Melbourne raises questions about missed momentum in a competitive landscape.

📊 Market insights show Melbourne and Adelaide leading post-pandemic hotel growth, while the Sunshine Coast’s tourism excellence gains state-wide acclaim. Rydges Melbourne shines as a top meeting hotel, and Novotel’s WWF partnership highlights the industry’s sustainability focus.

💡 On the tech front, AI and digital compendiums are revolutionising operations, personalisation, and guest engagement. All eyes now turn to HITEC North America, where the latest in hospitality tech will be on display—joined by Brendon Granger and the GAIN team.

Hospitality is evolving fast—these stories show who's adapting, who's leading, and what’s next.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sectorWe cover the debut of boutique and lifestyle hotels across Australia and New Zealand, including The George Glenelg, Hyde Melbourne Place, and Edit Hotels. We also highlight key acquisitions from Trilogy Hotels and Accor’s major deal with Bayview International. Learn how global events like AHICE and TRENZ 2025 are influencing tourism, and how AI—from operational tools to guest personalisation, is transforming hotel marketing and management. Plus, find out which hotel took the top spot in Tripadvisor’s 2025 awards and catch up on leadership moves across the sector.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector.Marriott International announces its flagship 279-room Sydney Marriott Hotel Parramatta, opening in 2027, while IHG partners with Luxora and La Vie to bring Holiday Inn back to Townsville by 2026. Veriu and Riverlee unveil plans for a 100-key Punthill hotel in Melbourne’s New Epping, and Radisson continues its expansion across Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. Marriott also acquires lifestyle brand CitizenM for US$355M, and Park Hyatt Melbourne is sold to Shayher Group for A$200M. Cross-border investment into Australian commercial real estate hit US$2.46B in Q1 2025, second only to Japan, according to Knight Frank. Crowne Plaza reports a global shift toward blended travel combining work and leisure, while the Design Inn Symposium spotlights AI’s role in hotel design, adaptive reuse, and community impact. The fast-growing City of Moreton Bay is calling for 10 new hotel developments amid rising demand, and Ascott adds over 17,400 units globally through its multi-typology strategy. Key leadership changes this week include new appointments across corporate affairs and general management roles at major hotel groups, with several senior industry figures stepping into leadership positions.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector.Kittawa Lodge launches a new retreat and chef series, while IHG announces voco Darwin Suites and G’day Group acquires Discovery Parks – Bargara. CBRE’s forecast shows APAC’s hotel recovery strengthening, with New Zealand’s regions rebounding faster than its major cities. Accor earns 5-Star Employer status again, and Adelaide Marriott sets a sustainability benchmark with touch-free water stations. GAIN and Techne Infiniti Ventures form a strategic AI-focused partnership. We also cover new appointments at Accor, Rydges, Marriott, and more, plus how AI continues to reshape guest experience and hotel operations.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector. This week, The Ascott Limited expands its Lyf brand in Sydney; Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour proposes luxury penthouses; Brisbane unveils the Isoletto Pool Club at Queen’s Wharf; and Accor launches Wellness Studios at Mantra 2 Bond Street. IHG is set to open InterContinental Brisbane in June, transforming the former Hilton, while Accor Vacation Club is refreshing its Palm Cove properties with a $4.7M investment. In acquisitions, BWH Hotels signs its first Australian hotel management deal in Kununurra. AHICE 2025 is gearing up as the region’s top hotel investment event, and industry movements include leadership appointments across Ovolo, Crowne Plaza, Wyndham, Holiday Inn, The Star, and Baillie Lodges.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector . This week, the spotlight is on hotel openings and developments across Australasia, with Hotel Indigo launching in Auckland, Veriu announcing a new Punthill in Epping, and The George Glenelg opening its doors in South Australia. 1 Hotel Melbourne is set to debut in June 2025 with a focus on sustainable luxury, while Queenstown’s Nugget Point is being transformed into Coronet Ridge Resort. Plantation Island Resort in Fiji also announced a major upgrade. Radisson celebrates a major milestone with over 200 hotels in India. On the trends front, Maximum Occupancy West Coast returns to Perth, Darwin Airport Resorts sets new sustainability benchmarks, and Accor reports strong global growth. Wellness tourism is booming, with The Farm at San Benito leading the way, while luxury travel continues to thrive, fuelled by Gen Z and millennial travellers. Lastly, we’ve seen a number of leadership moves across the industry, including new appointments at Marriott, Accor, Minor Hotels, and Travel + Leisure Co.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector including major property openings from Minor Hotels, Momento Hospitality, and The Tasman, as well as Accor’s record-breaking global expansion. Industry trends explore the shift toward owner-friendly hotel management agreements, greater workplace diversity, and innovative guest experiences. Notable partnerships include Accor’s support for DV Collective and The Calile Hotel’s community initiative with Micah Projects. Tech news highlights AI integration from Canary Technologies and Amadeus, while updates on executive appointments round out a snapshot of leadership changes across leading hotel groups.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector. Including new hotel openings and developments, such as the upcoming InterContinental Barossa Resort and Spa, and Amora Hotels' acquisition of the Hilton Adelaide. The report also covers significant acquisitions and investments, including G’day Group’s purchase of Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village and Minor Hotels’ franchising growth strategy. Furthermore, it identifies current industry trends, like the surge in Adelaide hotel bookings for the AFL Gather Round and the expansion of Accor's loyalty program, alongside notable personnel appointments and the importance of all-in-one PMS technology for independent hotels catering to business travellers. The briefing concludes with announcements regarding upcoming industry events focused on revenue management and hotel design.

This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector.It covers new hotel openings and refurbishments in locations like Brisbane and Parramatta, alongside developments related to Western Sydney Airport and its impact on accommodation. The update also highlights sustainability initiatives with new certifications and net-zero carbon hotels, plus the evolution of hospitality design towards more adaptable and comfortable spaces. Finally, the briefing acknowledges industry achievements through tourism awards and notes key personnel appointments across various hotel and tourism organisations.

This week's 5 Star Weekly briefing highlights recent developments, investments, and trends in the Australian and New Zealand hotel industry. Recent activity includes new hotel openings and expansions by groups like Minor Hotels and Club Wyndham, alongside significant acquisitions and investments, such as Amora Hotels' purchase of the Hilton Adelaide. The briefing also highlights important industry trends, focusing on the increasing adoption of sustainability measures by major players like Accor and Ascott's partnership with Foodbank Australia. Finally, the report notes new appointments within hotel management and discusses the transformative impact of technology on the future of travel and tourism.