Another busy week in the hospitality world has seen the entry of luxury brands into new markets, changing flags of iconic hotels, and the opening of a number of much hyped properties drawing nearer to opening dates. With a historic waterfront hotel in Cape Town becoming part of a giant international brand, new stuff in Cartagena, Amsterdam, and Mexico City, there is a lot to keep an eye on by a traveler and hotels loyalty enthusiast.

The following is a complete list of the most significant hotel openings, rebranding and industry news and how they impact future stay and redemption of points.

Hotels that have just been opened and others that have changed branding have just been introduced.

InterContinental has left its mark in the South African city of Cape Town

A change of the week, which is the most discussed, is that of the iconic waterfront of Cape Town. The Table Bay Hotel has been transformed into the InterContinental Table Bay Cape Town, and this is the first arrival of the InterContinental brand into the city.

The hotel was first opened in 1997 and inaugurated by Nelson Mandela, and is situated in the ultimate location, where it overlooks the V&A Waterfront and has an overlooking view of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel has 306 guest rooms and suites with most of them focusing on the panoramic view and traditional design of luxury.

The guests will enjoy a variety of luxurious facilities, such as numerous restaurants, a poolside bar and terrace, a spa and wellness facility, executive-level services and an exclusive lounge. The hotel also has a significant customer base of business travelers and high end leisure travelers as a newly branded InterContinental.

Currently, the base rates begin at approximately 680 and award stays begin at about 129,000 IHG One Rewards points per night, which would firmly classify it as ultra-luxury in the redemption of points.

Kimpton Entering Malaysia With Sleek Kuala Lumpur Hotel

IHG has also increased its lifestyle presence in Southeast Asia by launching Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur, the first hotel in the brand in the country of Malaysia.

The hotel is situated in the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), one of the fastest-expanding lifestyle and business areas in Kuala Lumpur, and it has a total of 466 rooms along with suites which have been furnished in the usual Kimpton fashion of a blend of the modern outlook and leisurely luxury.

Facilities comprise of four unique restaurants and an outdoor pool, as well as a full fledged fitness center. As the Kimpton brand would require, the hotel is focused on social spaces and locally inspired design features.

The rate of cash is starting at about 120 dollars in a night hence it is among the more affordable Kimpton hotels in the world. IHG points have not been released yet at this point in terms of award booking.

Hilton establishes a resort at the periphery of the main airport of Bangkok

The tourists who travel through Thailand will probably be in a position to give Thailand a new excuse to lengthen their stay soon. The Hilton Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Golf Resort and Spa has been launched in the vicinity of the main international airport at Bangkok making it only a 15 minutes drive away.

The property, which was located as an urban resort, consists of 223 guest rooms and is situated on landscaped grounds to provide an alternative to the more conventional airport hotels. The services comprise full-service spa, swimming pool (large outdoor pool), fitness center, kids club and over 12,000 square meters of meeting and event facilities.

This blend makes the resort quite appealing to conferences, business retreats and travelers who want to get on a short wellness holiday in the city. It begins at approximately 130 per night and award stays are available starting at 36,000 Hilton Honors points.

Mandarin Oriental gains entry into Netherlands through Amsterdam re branding

The Mandarin Oriental portfolio has officially acquired one of the most esteemed luxury hotels in Europe. Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium, Amsterdam is the new name of the former Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam, the first hotel of the brand in the Netherlands.

The hotel will comprise 129 rooms and suites and will be renovated in phases to match the global standards of Mandarin Oriental, and at the same time, will be able to maintain its historic architecture. The location of the property is close to Museum Square and, therefore, one of the most prestigious addresses in Amsterdam.

The guests have a variety of restaurants and bars, a large spa and fitness space, and a separate meeting and event space. The starting nightly rates are around 720 and this makes the hotel to be at the uppermost range of the luxury market in Amsterdam.

Marriott and IHG Map Future Plans of Expansion

Marriott international has declared to introduce some 2,700 rooms in Saudi Arabia, and five new hotels in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. The growth shall also bring the first Four Points Flex by Sheraton in the country, however no opening dates have been established.

In the meantime, IHG announced expansion plans in India. The company targets to have 400 open and pipeline properties in five years, which is a huge burden against its current presence of 50 operating hotels and 80 under construction. This move shows increasing significance of India in the international hospitality market.

A New Eco-Conscious Resort opens in the Maldives

The opening of new resorts in the Maldives is never insignificant, and this week Eri Maldives was launched, a hotel with a focus on the environmental friendly design and affordability.

Many Maldivian resorts need the use of seaplanes in order to reach their location, but Eri Maldives is accessible through a 45-minute boat journey to the capital of Malé hence making it easier to access by the tourist. The resort offers eco-chic lifestyle, but the description of rooms and costs are yet to be completed.

Final Thoughts:

The hotel news of the week was so rebranding-heavy and strategic expansions, that there was a lack of completely new openings. Nevertheless, the events are meaningful. An iconic Cape Town hotel is now rebranded as InterContinental, Mandarin Oriental has introduced itself into the Dutch market and big brands are preparing to expand in the future into Asia, Middle East and Latin America.

To the travelers, these changes imply more quality, better access to the loyalty programs, and new and exciting destinations to visit in 2026 and beyond. The hotel scene is constantly changing fast, as we know, and we will be keeping our eyes on it to see what is the next one to be opened.