This week’s 5-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector.

A surge in annual earnings reports confirms a robust landscape for 2026. IHG, Wyndham, and Choice Hotels all posted record-breaking development pipelines, with a clear strategic pivot toward "asset-light" conversion brands and extended-stay segments. This global momentum is mirrored in our region; New Zealand hotels just recorded their strongest summer in two years, with Queenstown achieving a staggering NZD 371 RevPAR.

In Australia, the rise of third-party management is accelerating. Trilogy Hotels has taken the reins at the heritage Peppers Gallery Hotel Canberra, while also partnering with Deicorp and Marriott for Sydney’s first AC Hotel. Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast is entering a pre-Olympic "Growth Phase" with The Calile Noosa commencing construction. From Accor’s pioneering ChatGPT integration to the launch of IHG’s Noted Collection, the focus remains on high-margin, design-led expansion across the Pacific.

Stay informed and stay ahead in the hospitality industry.