Crowne Plaza has opened a new flagship hotel in New York’s Times Square, adding another major property to one of the city’s busiest visitor districts. ARTIC and Highgate converted a historic Manhattan building for the project, combining updated interiors with elements tied to its World’s Fair-era history. The opening reflects the continued use of historic buildings for new hotel developments while giving Crowne Plaza a stronger presence in a major tourism and business hub. Read more

A fire badly damaged Hotel Alto Nevados at Chile’s Nevados de Chillán ski resort on September 6. The blaze reportedly started on the top floor and spread through the five-story property, prompting the evacuation of around 150 guests and staff. No injuries or deaths were reported. The resort temporarily suspended operations while the damage was assessed, with the cause of the fire still under investigation. Read more.

Montcalm Royal London House has joined Marriott International’s Autograph Collection following a refurbishment of the 253-room property. Located at the former Royal Mail headquarters at Finsbury Square, the hotel has updated guest rooms and suites, including new Terrace Suites with private outdoor space. Its design continues to reflect the building’s postal history, while the move to Autograph Collection gives the independent-style property access to Marriott Bonvoy while keeping its own identity. Read more.

This piece explores how hotels can help turn small towns into stronger tourism destinations, using Healdsburg, California, as an example. It highlights how lifestyle hotels can serve both visitors and local residents by creating restaurants, gathering spaces and other community-focused offerings. Partnerships with local chefs, artists, makers and businesses can further connect a property with its surroundings. The result is a hotel that acts as more than accommodation and can help drive activity across the wider destination. Read more.

Portuguese hotel group Vila Galé is entering a new growth phase and aims to operate more than 60 hotels within the next three to four years. The group currently manages more than 50 hotels, with 14 projects under construction and another seven or eight in development. Expansion will include new concepts in Miranda do Douro, Penacova and Golegã, while the group continues to target Portugal’s interior regions. Vila Galé is also focusing on historic properties, having already converted 18 buildings and with five more heritage projects underway. Read more.

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