California saw 21 hotels open during the first half of 2026, a 42% decline compared to the same period last year. IHG topped 200 open hotels in Canada and Hyatt Studios expanded. Plus, more hotel development news.
Alan Woinski and Kim Woinski | July 6th, 2026 at 6:06 PM EDT
Hilton celebrated the debut of Hilton Key West Resort & Marina, the newest addition to the Hilton Hotels & Resorts portfolio in the Florida Keys. Located on Stock Island, the waterfront resort features 175 guestrooms, including 86 suites, six saltwater pools, a fitness center, a boardroom, a 1,140 square foot outdoor patio, and two food and beverage concepts. As part of its debut, the property is undergoing enhancements, including refreshed guestrooms and the addition of a new Tiki Event Pavilion.
Hawkins Way Capital announced the launch of the fourth hotel in the U.S. under the new Series by Marriott brand – FOUND Hotels, Chicago. In tandem with the conversion, the hotel debuted several enhancements. This advances the partnership announced in September 2025 to convert a portfolio of FOUND Hotels in Series by Marriott properties. All are managed by FCL Management. The evolving pipeline will continue to expand across major U.S. markets. The Chicago hotel had guestrooms and public spaces updated, and Lost & FOUND, a new coffee concept, was introduced. Later this summer, the hotel will debut a new co-working space, meeting room, and gym spaces.
IHG Hotels & Resorts celebrated its continued growth in Canada across a portfolio that now includes more than 200 open hotels, a major milestone that underscores the company’s ongoing momentum within key global markets. Looking ahead, IHG will further expand its presence across key Canadian markets with nearly 40 hotels in the development pipeline. Six additional hotels planned to open this year include Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites properties in Barrie, Aurora East, Pembroke, and Woodstock. These openings will build on the seven new hotels that arrived in Canada in 2025, including a Crowne Plaza in Toronto and four Staybridge Suites properties. IHG’s growth in Canada additionally includes the introduction of several of its new and emerging brands. voco hotels recently signed its first Canadian hotels in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Niagara Falls. IHG is also capitalizing on growing regional demand for high-quality midscale conversions, with the Garner brand set to make its Canadian debut in 2027 with three planned southern Alberta hotels in Red Deer, Medicine Hat, and near Calgary International Airport.
Suburban Capital opened another Hyatt Studios in Virginia. The 121-room Hyatt Studios Chesapeake marks the sixth opening of the Hyatt Studios brand. Suburban Capital is the owner/developer and also opened the 121-room Hyatt Studios Harrisonburg a few weeks prior. Currently, the Hyatt Studios brand has 10 projects under construction with more than 70 in the development pipeline. Hyatt and HALL Structured Finance launched a financing program last month whereby developers can obtain financing solutions with the potential for greater leverage than conventional lending structures.
A new extended-stay hotel will open in Texarkana, Texas, next week. The 121-room hotel is scheduled to welcome its first guests on July 10 and is the ninth Hyatt Studios location to open nationwide. The opening also marks another step in DPN Collection’s recent expansion. According to a release, DPN has grown from operating two hotels a year ago to a portfolio of 13 properties across Texas and Arkansas. DPN Collection plans to expand into Louisiana and Oklahoma while working toward a goal of operating 50 hotels within the next three years.
Tachi Palace Casino Resort has rebranded its sister property, formerly known as Sequoia Inn, to Tachi Palace Signature Hotel. The new name reflects the quality, hospitality, and tribal ownership associated with the Tachi Palace brand. Located in Lemoore, California, Tachi Palace Signature Hotel is working on upgrades and amenities, including a coffee bar, a small conference and event space area, and evening check-in cocktails.
A downtown Milwaukee hotel that was foreclosed three years ago has been sold for less than half of its assessed value. According to a deed posted online by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, the four-story, 132-room Cambria Hotel was sold for $7.1 million to First MKO Owner LLC, an affiliate of First Hospitality. The Cambria was sold by an affiliate of Access Point Financial LLC. In 2023, Access Point Financial took control of the hotel after obtaining a $17.5 million foreclosure judgment against an affiliate of Murphy Development Group LLC, which opened the property in October 2019.
California saw 21 hotels open during the first half of 2026, a 42% decline compared to the same period last year, according to the California Development Survey Mid-Year 2026 from Atlas Hospitality Group. The survey also found the number of hotels in the construction phase grew by 16% year over year from 99 to 115. However, hotels in planning dipped by 6% from 1,180 to 1,106.
UNICO Hotel Collection is officially expanding to Jamaica with the upcoming debut of UNICO Montego Bay, a new boutique luxury all-inclusive resort scheduled to open in early 2027. The forthcoming resort is being developed under the UNICO Hotel Collection, part of AIC Hotel Group’s growing portfolio. While details are still slim, renderings show a collection of plunge-pool rooms, poolside cabanas, and sleek beverage concepts. Additional details are expected as the opening approaches. If the current timeline holds, the resort will welcome its first guests in early 2027.
Personnel Moves
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. announced the appointment of Christine Duffy to its board of directors, following the resignation of director David Sambur. Duffy is president of Carnival Cruise Line, where she oversees a global business serving millions of guests annually.
The PKF hospitality group announced the promotion of Akshara Walia to Managing Director of PKF research GmbH. In her new role, Walia will lead the group’s global hospitality research activities, further strengthening PKF hospitality group’s position as a leading provider of market intelligence, analytics, and strategic advisory services for the hospitality and real estate sectors. Walia joined the PKF hospitality group in 2016 and last served as Director of Research.
Corinthia Hotels appointed Peter Roth as President, Hotel Operations. In this newly created position, Roth will oversee the operational performance of Corinthia’s current hotel portfolio and lead operational readiness for future openings in Italy, Doha, Riyadh, Dubai, the Maldives, and Chengdu. Roth most recently served as Regional Vice President for Jumeirah, where he led an integrated luxury resort destination in the Middle East.
Chedi Hospitality has appointed Milos Nedovic as Chief Asset & Investment Officer. Nedovic will lead investment strategy and asset management across Chedi Hospitality’s growing portfolio, driving financial performance, sustainable growth, and long-term value creation, while supporting the company’s continued evolution into a fully integrated hospitality solution. Nedovic previously held finance leadership roles at Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Rikas Hospitality Group.
European Highlights
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has opened Parian Chronicle Hotel Paros, marking the Destination by Hyatt brand’s second property in Greece and its first on a Greek island. Located in the village of Kampos, the hotel features 50 newly built guestrooms and suites for guests aged 13 and above; a restaurant; Nipson Spa with a fitness center, two single-sex saunas, a double treatment room, relaxation spaces, and a large outdoor pool. Parian Chronicle Hotel Paros is managed by SWOT Hospitality.
Whitbread PLC started construction of its first Premier Inn hotel in Outer Dublin at Sandyford Business Park, D18. The eight-story property will feature 157 bedrooms and updated ground-floor spaces. Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months, with the hotel scheduled to open in the spring of 2028. Upon opening, the Sandyford Premier Inn will be the ninth Premier Inn hotel in Ireland. Whitbread is targeting four additional Outer Dublin locations as part of its plan to reach a 5,000-bedroom network across Ireland.
RBH Hospitality Management announced the signing of its first Hyatt-branded hotel after being appointed by hotel owner Sun Venture to manage Hyatt Place London City East. The hotel offers 276 guestrooms, two fully equipped meeting rooms, and two on-site food and beverage outlets.
French asset manager Eurazeo has sold its stake in the Spanish hotel portfolio FST Hotels to Extendam. The portfolio comprises three hotels in Madrid and Barcelona, with a combined 543 rooms. After the transaction, the hotels will continue to be operated by Grape Hospitality, Eurazeo’s pan-European hotel platform. Financial terms were not disclosed.
July 6th, 2026 at 6:06 PM EDT