Park Hyatt Riviera Maya is set to open in November 2026 as the luxury brand's first all-inclusive resort. Located between Cancún and Puerto Morelos, the 148-room property will combine Park Hyatt's luxury positioning with the convenience of an all-inclusive stay. The resort will feature seven food and beverage venues, a spa, beach and pool facilities, wellness experiences, and access to nearby golf. Its design will also use regional materials, Mexican construction techniques, and work from Yucatán-based artists and artisans. The opening marks a new direction for the Park Hyatt brand as it expands its presence and service model. Read more.

Kansas City's 117-year-old Scarritt building is set to be transformed into a UMusic Hotel, marking the brand's first property in the US. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the project combining hospitality, music, entertainment, and residential space. Plans include 169 hotel rooms, a 309-unit branded residential tower, a live entertainment venue, and a professional recording studio. The development will also feature retail, multiple food and beverage outlets, a rooftop venue and pool, plus a spa and fitness center. The project reflects the growing interest in turning historic buildings into experience-led destinations. Read more.

Minor Hotels is planning a global network of wellness retreats, hubs, and residences built around continued care after guests leave the property. The strategy builds on the success of Life by Anantara, the group's medi-wellness concept launched in Phuket in 2024. According to Minor Hotels, guest nights at Layan Life by Anantara grew more than threefold year-on-year during the first half of 2026. The company is now expanding the model, with Bangkok Life next in line and a global wellness membership planned to encourage repeat visits. The shift shows how hotel groups are increasingly treating wellness as a core revenue driver rather than an added amenity. Read more.

Major Marriott hotel owners are pushing the company to share more of the revenue generated by its Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program and co-branded credit cards. A group of 51 owners representing nearly 1,000 Marriott-branded hotels has raised concerns that property owners bear much of the cost when guests redeem points, while Marriott benefits from rapidly growing credit card revenue. Marriott has forecast nearly $1 billion in co-branded credit card fee revenue for 2026 and has made some changes to reimbursements, but owners are seeking greater transparency and a larger share of the income. The dispute highlights a growing question for hotel loyalty programs: how should the financial rewards be shared between the brand and the owners providing the rooms? Read more.

Artificial intelligence is often seen as a threat to the human side of hospitality, but this article argues that the technology itself is not the issue. AI can help staff remember preferences, reduce repetitive tasks, and respond faster to guest needs. The real difference lies in how hotels use it and whether it gives employees more time and information to serve guests better. The article also warns against turning personalization into automation, where a past preference becomes a permanent assumption. Authentic hospitality still depends on staff being able to read the guest and adjust their response. Read more.

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