2025/12/28 – 2026/01/11
Korea
- Sale of Grand Hyatt Incheon West Tower: KAL Hotel Network has sold the Grand Hyatt Incheon West Tower, located on Yeongjong Island in Incheon, to Paradise SegaSammi for KRW 210 billion. The transaction is viewed as part of broader airline industry restructuring and balance-sheet strengthening efforts, while Paradise Group is expected to maximize synergies from its integrated resort cluster on Yeongjong Island.
- Residential lodging allowed to register with as few as one unit: The government has introduced a special measure easing the registration threshold for residential lodging (lifestyle accommodation), lowering the minimum requirement from 30 units to just one unit. This change enables small-scale owners to operate legally through online platforms and is expected to mark a turning point in addressing vacancy issues and expanding tourist accommodation capacity.
- Asia’s first Maison Delano to launch in Seoul in 2026: Global hotel group Accor, in collaboration with Ennismore, plans to introduce the first Asian Maison Delano brand in Seoul’s Gangnam district. Targeted for a full opening in 2026, the hotel will focus on a luxury lifestyle concept and is expected to reshape competitive dynamics in Korea’s high-end lodging market.
APAC
- Centara Hotels to open first luxury resort in Pokhara, Nepal: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s largest hotel operator, has officially launched Himalayan Hideaway Resort Pokhara in Pokhara, Nepal, in January 2026. Marking Centara’s entry into the Nepali market, the resort aims to expand its presence in the high-end wellness lodging segment by leveraging panoramic Himalayan scenery.
Americas
- Hyatt completes sale of Playa Hotels portfolio: Hyatt has completed the sale of a portfolio of 15 all-inclusive resorts located in Mexico and the Caribbean to Tortuga Resorts, an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, for USD 2.0 billion. Through this transaction, Hyatt has advanced its asset-light strategy and plans to redeploy proceeds toward brand expansion and strengthening operational capabilities.
- Gencom reacquires majority stake in Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove: Investment firm Gencom has repurchased a controlling stake in the 115-room Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove in Miami. The transaction was supported by financing from Banco Inbursa and is regarded as a symbolic deal highlighting strong institutional investor appetite for luxury hotel assets in early 2026.
Europe
- Trinity and Partners Group acquire Barcelona hotel: Trinity Investments and Partners Group have acquired The Hoxton, Poblenou in Barcelona, Spain. The deal reflects a strategy to secure prime assets in major European cities amid recovering tourism demand and a stabilizing interest-rate environment, with value-add initiatives planned through upgrades to ancillary facilities.
- A&O Hostels to develop 1,218-bed project in central Manchester: A&O Hostels is pursuing a 1,218-bed hostel development through a double-deal involving two adjacent buildings near the entrance to Manchester’s city center. The project underscores a scale-driven strategy targeting urban tourism and transit demand and is interpreted as a clear signal of continued expansion in the UK market.
