IHG Hotels & Resorts is bringing its luxury conversion brand, Vignette Collection, to London through a new property in the city’s Paddington area. The hotel will operate under a franchise agreement and reflects IHG’s wider push to grow its luxury and lifestyle portfolio through conversions rather than new construction. The Vignette Collection brand focuses on independent luxury hotels that want to retain their identity while gaining access to IHG’s global distribution and loyalty network. London remains one of the most competitive luxury hospitality markets in Europe, making the launch strategically important for the group. Read more.

Italy’s highest court ruled that the five-star Hotel Sassongher acted lawfully when it refused to provide tap water to a guest during the 2019 ski season. The tourist had requested tap water at the hotel restaurant but was instead offered bottled mineral water priced at €7. The guest later sought €2,700 in damages, arguing that access to water should be treated as a basic hospitality service. Italy’s Supreme Court rejected the claim, stating that Italian law does not require restaurants or hotels to serve tap water and that the decision remains at the discretion of individual venues. Read more.

Nobu Hospitality is expanding its hotel footprint with several new properties in development across global markets. The company, known for blending luxury hospitality with its restaurant brand identity, continues to grow despite broader economic uncertainty in travel and real estate. Upcoming openings include projects in major leisure and urban destinations, reinforcing Nobu’s strategy of targeting affluent travelers seeking lifestyle-focused stays. The company’s approach combines boutique-style hotels with branded dining and residential offerings. Read more.

Hotels need better net-zero measurement standards. Current sustainability metrics often fail to reflect the operational complexity of hotels, particularly factors such as occupancy rates, guest behavior, and energy-intensive services. The report suggests that many hospitality businesses rely on carbon reporting systems designed for commercial real estate rather than hotels specifically. This can create inaccurate benchmarking and weak sustainability planning. Read more.

Hotels increasingly use signature fragrances as part of their brand strategy. Luxury and lifestyle hotel groups use carefully selected scents in lobbies and common spaces to shape guest perception and create memorable experiences. Research has shown that smell is closely tied to memory and emotion, making scent marketing a powerful hospitality tool. Many hotels work with fragrance designers to create custom aromas that align with their brand identity and guest demographics. Read more.

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