Q: We’ve seen a number of exciting hotels joining the Best Western Signature Collection this year. What’s driving this momentum? Tim Rumney: This is a really exciting time for BWH Hotels. We’re seeing more and more independent, higher-end hotels joining our Signature and Premium Collections because they recognise the power of partnership. These aren’t hotels looking for a rescue plan – they’re ambitious businesses investing heavily […]

Luxury hotel brand Brionj has signed a management agreement for Venari Lodges, a boutique resort in Janja Gora, Croatia, marking an expansion of its portfolio in a region known for its forests, waterfalls and proximity to the Plitvice Lakes National Park.  Grand Metropolitan Hotels, which operates Brionj, said the development will open in 2027 and […]

A&O Hostels has acquired Berlin-based Schulz Hotels as the budget accommodation group accelerates its expansion across Europe. The deal forms part of A&O’s plan to broaden its offering in core markets and build scale across a sector it says is benefiting from stronger tourism flows and rising demand from budget-conscious travellers. The firm cited forecasts […]

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has welcomed the government’s new five-year National Tourism Policy, which aims to boost the sector’s economic and social contribution and expand its role as a major employer.  The plan sets out targets for revenue growth, regional development and lower emissions as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the industry. […]

BWH Hotels GB has reported record trading across several parts of its business in 2025, with room revenue, meetings income and direct digital sales all rising in the year to date. Britain’s largest group of independent hotels generated more than £140m in total room revenue through its channels so far this year – a 7% […]

The Kensington Hideaway, a refurbished 59-room boutique hotel, is set to reopen in Kensington, London, in January 2026 following a multi-million-pound redevelopment. The new hotel, previously known as the Seraphine Kensington, has been redesigned around a literary theme that references the borough’s historic links to writers including William Makepeace Thackeray, Agatha Christie, T.S. Eliot and […]

Small hospitality venues face a £318m rise in business rates over the next three years, according to analysis from UKHospitality, which says the increases will outweigh more than half of the £634m typically spent each year on Small Business Saturday (6 December). The organisation said properties with a rateable value below £51k are set for […]

Mobile-first experiences have quickly become an expectation of the hospitality sector. Guests desire seamless digital integration that allows them to book, check in, navigate, and dine with only their smart device, pushing venues to rethink how they approach safety, comfort, and the customer experience.The contactless interactions of the pandemic proved to be an expedient and […]

A 140-bedroom hotel in the north-east has been sold off market to private investors in a deal handled by hotel sector advisers. The Sporting Lodge Inn, around 4.5 miles south of Middlesbrough town centre and close to the A19 in Stainton, was acquired for an undisclosed sum.  The sale forms part of retirement plans by […]

The Pig Hotels has launched its first teatime experience, introducing Buttered and Baked across The Pig, The Pig-near Bath and The Pig-at Combe from December 2025.  The new addition marks the group’s first move into afternoon tea-style dining. The menu offers a “more relaxed” interpretation of a traditional British teatime, featuring homemade sweet and savoury […]