MANDARIN ORIENTAL GROWS PRESENCE IN JAPAN: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced its second location in Japan with a trio of new boutique hotels around Setouchi. Located around the Seto Inland Sea, the three resorts will open between 2027 and 2030. The three resorts include the 92-room Mandarin Oriental, Setouchi at Takamatsu (slated to open in 2027), the 22-key Mandarin Oriental, Setouchi at Naoshima (to open in 2027) and a 50-room property (to open in 2030) which will be located on a separate island. Design Studio SPIN will serve as the interior designer and design architect of the Takamatsu and Naoshima properties. Yamashita Sekkei and Takenaka Corp. will serve as the lead architects, while SOLA Associates will oversee landscape architecture for the project. To connect these three resorts, Mandarin Oriental, Setouchi will curate a cruise for guests on board a private yacht. A member of the Jardine Matheson Group, Mandarin Oriental currently operates 38 hotels and 10 residences across 25 countries and has several hotels and residences under development.
MONDRIAN LAUNCHES IN GREATER CHINA: Mondrian, part of Ennismore, has launched in Greater China with the opening of Mondrian Hong Kong. Located in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui neighborhood, the 40-story hotel features 324 rooms, including 12 two-bay suites. The hotel offers views of Victoria Harbour and island vistas and includes rooftop space on the 40th floor, a fitness center and multiple dining venues. The hotel is owned by Peterson Group. With Karin Krautgartner leading the hotel’s design concept, the property showcases art and installations from local and international artists. Currently, Mondrian has 11 properties globally and is set to open more hotels in Ibiza and Australia’s Gold Coast.
MARRIOTT EXPANDS IN CHINA: Marriott International, Inc. has signed an agreement with Zhejiang Wanhao Wanjia Group to develop two hotels in Qiandao Lake in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province. The St. Regis Qiandao Lake and AC Hotel by Marriott Qiandao Lake will open in December 2026, marking the debut of the St. Regis and AC Hotels by Marriott brands at the “Thousand Island Lake.” The 80-room St. Regis Qiandao Lake will be atop the Tianyu Mountain in Chun’an County. Offering views of the Qiandao Lake, the resort’s landscaping and interiors are being spearheaded by Bill Bensley. The hotel will include 36 villas, including a presidential villa with an outdoor pool and a sun deck. The property will offer four dining options, a children’s club, multiple swimming pools, a fitness center and 235 square meters of meeting space. AC Hotel by Marriott Qiandao Lake will be located on Chunyang Road, overlooking a greenway over the lake. The hotel will have 145 rooms and suites, multiple dining venues, a kid’s club, a library, a fitness center, a pool and meeting rooms. Currently, Marriott operates more than 20 hotels under 10 brands in Hangzhou.
PM HOTEL GROUP ADDS TO TEXAS MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO: PM Hotel Group, the Washington, D.C.-based hotel management company, has been selected to manage the Aloft Katy Mills in the Katy Boardwalk District outside Houston. The hotel features 104 loft-inspired rooms along with a fitness center, an outdoor swimming pool, three dining venues and over 6,000 square feet of event space across seven venues. The inclusion of Aloft Katy Mills to PM Hotel Group’s Texas portfolio comes after the addition of the Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center. Currently, the company operates 70 hotels and resorts across the U.S.
CRESCENT HOTELS TO MANAGE THE JOSIE HOTEL:Â Crescent Hotels & Resorts has added The Josie Hotel, An Autograph Collection, to its Latitudes: Lifestyles by Crescent portfolio. The ski-in/ski-out boutique hotel is located at the base of the independent RED Mountain Resort in Rossland, British Columbia. The 106-room hotel has dedicated ski concierge services, fire pits, fitness facilities, a restaurant and more than 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space.