Today’s news in brief – 4/2/25
Northern Ireland’s Galgorm Resort has become the newest member of the Elegant Hotel Collection, a network of 32 luxury independent hotels. Situated on the North Antrim Coast, the resort spans 500 acres and offers 201 diverse accommodations, including suites, lodges, and forest dens. It features award-winning restaurants, bars, and corporate event spaces. Part of the broader Galgorm Collection, which includes Roe Park Resort and The Rabbit Hotel, the resort aims to expand its reach in UK and North American markets through this partnership. Elegant Hotel Collection executives praised Galgorm as an ideal addition to their exclusive network.
Hilton has significantly strengthened its global portfolio, signing over 1,430 hotels (154,000 rooms) in 2024, marking its biggest single-year growth in over a century. The company’s development pipeline now exceeds 3,600 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms, an 8% increase from the previous year. Key expansions include new lifestyle brands (Graduate and NoMad), an exclusive partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and the rapid growth of Spark by Hilton, which now operates over 100 hotels. CEO Chris Nassetta expressed confidence in sustained growth, with a projected net unit growth of 6-7% in 2025.
Real estate advisory firm Saxbury has appointed Andrew Shaw to lead its development advisory team, focusing on aparthotels. Shaw, formerly head of development at Leonardo Hotels, brings extensive experience from IHG and Accor. Saxbury aims to support developers and landlords looking to repurpose vacant office buildings into hotels. Real estate director Ben Davis emphasized the growing demand for adaptive reuse strategies amid shifting market conditions. Shaw expressed enthusiasm about enhancing Saxbury’s advisory services, particularly in operator selection and site development.
OYO has announced a £50m investment in the UK over the next three years to expand its premium hotel portfolio. The initiative is expected to create 1,000 jobs and attract international travelers. OYO is shifting its focus to premium inventory, securing long-term leaseholds and management contracts, and is in advanced negotiations with hotel chains and real estate firms. The investment aligns with the UK government’s “Showcase Britain” initiative, aimed at boosting economic growth. OYO’s expansion includes launching premium European brands and opening 40 new self-operated hotels in key cities.
