Hotel Openings

🏦 Graduate by Hilton launched Graduate Princeton in Princeton, N.J., marking the first opening since Hilton's acquisition. The hotel, situated on Nassau Street, is housed in a 1918 dormitory converted into a 180-key boutique hotel with 6,000 square feet of public space. The project is a collaboration between AJ Capital Partners and Stonehill Taylor. Princeton has been a target for Graduate Hotels for a decade. Graduate Princeton is the first new hotel in the town in 90 years and features interiors with Princeton University references, including a Gothic-inspired lobby and a restaurant named Ye Tavern. Earlier in the year, Hilton acquired Graduate Hotels for $210 million from AJ Capital, with over 35 hotels currently open or planned near educational institutions in the U.S. and U.K.

🏖 Driftwood Hospitality Management completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, a 295-key hotel in Florida. The refresh includes seven floors, over 10,000 square feet of meeting space, a lobby with ocean-themed artwork, and guestrooms with blue tones and surfing photos. Amenities like Waves Craft Bar & Kitchen and Castaways Beach Bar are updated, and a redesigned pool with fire pits and a surf lounge is added. Located near Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center.

🏠 Filippo Brivio Sforza launched Casa Brivio in Milan, aiming to offer guests an authentic local experience. Gaining a deep understanding of cultures during his time at Glion Institute of Higher Education, Filippo's hotel reflects Milan's design heritage, featuring work by local designers Matteo Thun & Partners. Casa Brivio, which officially opened in April 2024, offers a hand-drawn map in every room to guide guests to local spots. Future plans include a bistro, event space, gym, spa, and potential expansion to cities like London and Paris.

🏠 In June, the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve unveiled a redesigned lobby lounge, library, and bar by Bishop Pass, featuring Italian-inspired neo-baroque and rococo furnishings. Custom damask, in three patterns, and a color scheme of reds, golds, greens, sage, and rosemary enhance the ambiance. Key elements include Murano Glass fixtures from Venice's Sogni DI Cristallo, custom-made lobby rugs by Blended LA, and local craftsmanship from Composition Hospitality and iWorks. The renovation maintains original stenciling, marble arches, and limestone fireplaces, supporting sustainability through reuse and refinishing.

🏠 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts launched Trademark Collection in South Korea with La Vie D’or Hotel and Resort in Hwaseong-si, 30 minutes from Seoul. This addition brings Wyndham's presence to 30+ hotels in the country and nearly 20 Trademark hotels in Asia Pacific. The 190-room property covers 330,000 square meters, featuring a nine-hole golf course, fitness center, spa, pools, saunas, fine dining, event spaces, and a business center. South Korea, focusing on tourism for economic growth, saw 3.4 million tourists Jan-Mar, nearing pre-pandemic levels, with March recovering 97%. In 2023, 11 million visitors were welcomed, with tourism projected to hit $13.66 billion.

🏨 Aligned Hospitality Management rebranded The Tuxon in Tucson, Arizona to voco The Tuxon, the first voco in its portfolio. Transition to IHG's voco took 90 days to attract business travelers in a market with solid corporate contribution. The 112-key hotel, located off I-10, features amenities like walk-in rain showers, WiFi, 50” TVs with casting capabilities, an outdoor pool, and is pet-friendly. Bryan Tubaugh, CEO of Aligned, emphasized the efficient transition and IHG's strength in the corporate sector.

🏦 Graduate by Hilton launched Graduate Princeton in June 2024, the first new hotel in Princeton, NJ, in almost 90 years—expanding the town's accommodations with 180 guestrooms. The hotel occupies a renovated 1918-era building with a 6,000-square-foot public space. It features the Ye Tavern restaurant and showcases designs reflecting the university's 275-year history. The hotel pays tribute to Princeton's culture, alumni, and traditions with detailed decor, including orange-and-black tiles and vintage Princeton Reunions Jackets.

🏖️ InterContinental Hotels & Resorts debuts in the Greek Islands with InterContinental Crete, featuring panoramic views of Mirabello Bay and contemporary amenities. Located near Agios Nikolaos and under an hour from Heraklion airport, the resort boasts two outdoor infinity pools, three restaurants led by Michelin-starred Chef Nikos Roussos, a wellness centre, and family-friendly features. Room prices start at €205 per night for IHG One Rewards members. The property is a vanguard of InterContinental's brand evolution, with 199 guestrooms and suites, some with private plunge pools. Guests can explore local culture and cuisine through the hotel's concierge services, connecting them with Crete's history, landscapes, and culinary delights.

🏠 Norton Park Hotel, Spa & Manor House near Winchester, set on 54 acres in Hampshire, reveals refurbishment of restaurant, lounge, and bar areas due to increased dining demand. Upgrades include a new look for The Scene Restaurant, more extensive works in The Scene Bar and Lounge, and a hot and cold buffet area for breakfast. The 17th-century barn and 16th-century Manor House on the site have also seen updates. Dinner inclusive stays offer £32 per adult for food, with children under 4 dining free. Facilities support up to 300 guests for events and feature an ELEMIS-partnered spa.

🏨 citizenM opened its third Miami location, citizenM Miami South Beach, joining the brand's 36th property portfolio. Recent openings include Miami Worldcenter in 2023 and Miami Brickell in 2022. The South Beach hotel offers 168 rooms, bleisure amenities, a 24x7 food and drinks bar, retail space, a gym, meeting rooms, a rooftop infinity pool, and an outdoor terrace. It features locally sourced art, XL king-size beds, and technology-controlled room ambience. Targeting LEED Gold certification, it reflects citizenM’s sustainability goals. The brand, launched in 2008, now has a presence in 21 cities worldwide.