Development
Crowne Plaza Manhattan Times Square opens after renovation
InterContinental Hotels Group's Crowne Plaza brand reopened its flagship property in New York's Times Square on September 2 — the fully renovated Crowne Plaza Manhattan Times Square. The 22-story, 685-room hotel, developed by Qatar's Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company and managed by Highgate, previously operated as The Manhattan at Times Square.
Lodging Lowdown: Hyatt House DFW Airport hotel tops out, Sheraton Tribeca completes multimillion-dollar renovation
This week's hotel industry highlights: Hilton launches the Signia Restore wellness concept, UMusic Hotels expands to Kansas City, the New York City Hotel Association calls for resolving the US-Canada trade dispute, and an AAA report predicts higher hotel rates over the Labor Day weekend. On the project front, the Hyatt Place at Dallas Fort Worth Airport has topped out, the Sheraton Tribeca has completed a multi-million dollar renovation, and IHG has extended its partnership with Timeshifter.
UMusic Hotels expands to downtown Kansas City
UMusic Hotels announced the transformation of the Scarritt Building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, into a 169-room music-themed hotel, with the project expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year, featuring residential units, a music venue, and recording studios.
US led record global hotel construction pipeline in Q2 2026
Lodging Econometrics reports a record global hotel construction pipeline of 15,976 projects in Q2 2026, with the US leading all countries. Conversions and luxury segments show strong growth.
Top trends from the hotel industry’s Q2 2026 earnings
In Q2 2026, hotel companies saw widespread RevPAR gains, supported by strong travel fundamentals and the FIFA World Cup. Luxury segments boosted Marriott and Hyatt. Development pipelines expanded, with IHG, Choice, and Wyndham reporting notable openings growth. AI tools launched by IHG and Wyndham, while Choice and Marriott advanced enterprise AI strategies. Leadership changes included Choice's CEO departure and Wyndham's CEO health update. Several companies raised full-year RevPAR outlooks.
Alum CEO on why he’s betting on luxury hospitality in college towns
Alum, a new luxury hospitality concept backed by Derek Jeter, targets college towns with a mix of condos, hotel rooms, and a members' club. CEO David Vialli explains the model, the market opportunity, and growth plans.
Series by Marriott adds boutique lifestyle hotel in San Diego
Stoa Lodging will reposition the Hotel Z in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter as Stellen San Diego Gaslamp, joining the Series by Marriott brand. The property, managed by Evolution Hospitality, is slated to open in early 2027 with 100 redesigned guest rooms and locally driven amenities.
Bally's 放缓 17 亿美元芝加哥赌场建设，因该市扩大博彩规则
Bally's 芝加哥因该市批准视频博彩终端而放缓其 17 亿美元综合开发项目的建设，影响酒店、活动中心和餐厅，但赌场开业时间仍定于 2027 年初。