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🏨 Mohamed Elbanna appointed as Executive Vice President of Global Operations for Auberge Resorts Collection, bringing over 20 years of experience. His previous roles include COO at Fort Partners US and leadership positions at Citadel and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Auberge Resorts Collection opened Collegio alla Querce in Florence and The Woodward in Geneva in Q1 2025, with upcoming openings such as Cambridge House in Mayfair, London, and urban locations like The Shore Club in Miami Beach, The Knox in Dallas, and The Birdsall in Houston. Elbanna will lead operational strategies to ensure the brand's success in luxury hospitality.

🏨 Travelodge opens a new 111-room hotel in Aston, Birmingham, targeting both leisure and business travelers. Located near cultural sites, the hotel is 10 minutes from Birmingham Football Club and closer to Villa Park. Business travelers benefit from nearby M6 and M42 junctions, and Birmingham Airport, 20 minutes away by car. The brand's UK expansion includes 20 hotels in Birmingham, with recent openings in London Chiswick and nationwide acquisitions.

🏖️ Starhotels acquires Hermitage Hotel & Resort in Forte dei Marmi, Italy, marking its first resort in the luxury Starhotels Collezione. Founded in the 1970s, renovation by architect Vittorio Maschietto, the resort will join the portfolio by summer 2025. It features 59 rooms, suites, a restaurant, a pool, and a dedicated vegetable garden. Upcoming enhancements include a new spa and extended seasonal openings. This strategic addition bolsters Starhotels' presence in Italy's high-end hospitality sector. Further expansion includes reopening Hotel d’Inghilterra in Rome and launching Hotel Gabrielli Venezia and Teatro Luxury Apartments in Florence by 2025.

🏢 Georges Nagelmackers founded the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits in 1872. The first Orient Express journey, from Paris to Constantinople, occurred in 1883. A new route through Switzerland and Italy began in 1919. The last Paris to Istanbul trip was in 1977. Belmond Group revived the train in 1982, operating between Paris, Venice, and London. The Venice Simplon-Orient Express still runs today, visiting European cities such as Rome and Amsterdam. In 2022, the Accor Group acquired the Orient Express brand and announced the upcoming Orient Express La Dolce Vita.