Aperture

🏨 BWH Hotels Italy and South-East Europe welcomes Hotel Garda di Affi to its network, marking the third BWH hotel in the Lake Garda area and the second addition this month. Located in Affi, near Verona and Valpolicella, the hotel is undergoing renovations to offer 72 updated rooms by spring 2026. With a strategic location and new facilities, including a lounge bar, meeting rooms for up to 120 people, and a gym and pool opening in summer 2026, it caters to both leisure and business travelers.

🏨 Meliá Hotels & Resorts plans to launch 23 new hotels globally by 2026, expanding in luxury and lifestyle. Key openings include Paradisus Bali in January 2026, Gran Meliá Dubai Jumeirah in December 2026, and sites in the Maldives and Seychelles. Argentina sees the reopening of Casa Lucia and Terrazas del Guitérrez in Patagonia by 2028. Europe is also targeted with projects in Italy, Spain, and Malta. Sustainability is prioritized through the Travel For Good program.

📍 Four Seasons, in collaboration with Gruppo Statuto, will transform the historic Hotel de Rome in Berlin's Mitte district into the Four Seasons Hotel Berlin by late 2027. Originally built as Dresdner Bank's headquarters in the late 19th century, the hotel will feature 140 renovated rooms. Christian Poda, previously from Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, will manage the transition. Until 2026, it will operate as Hotel de Rome under Rocco Forte's management.

📍 Ferruccio Tirone's Controvento – FT Collection enhances its luxury offerings in Zambia and Zimbabwe with three Anantara and Avani resorts: Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel, Avani Victoria Falls Resort, and The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara, near Victoria Falls. In April 2026, Zambia will see the opening of Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp, emphasizing sustainable luxury and ecotourism. ????️

📈 Ciel Dubai Marina, the world's tallest hotel, has opened in Dubai Marina, standing at 377 meters with 82 floors. It features 1,004 rooms and suites boasting panoramic views. The hotel includes 8 restaurants and the Tattu Skypool on the 76th floor. Additionally, Dubai is expanding Al Maktoum International Airport, aiming to manage 260 million passengers annually with 5 parallel runways by 2032, supported by a 128 billion dirham investment.

🏠 Gran Caffè Gambrinus in Naples completes restoration of its Chiaia Street halls, reconnecting them to the historic venue at Piazza Trieste e Trento. Original features like Carrara marble floors and period decorations were unveiled. The project, initiated in the '70s by Michele Sergio, is continued by Arturo, Antonio Sergio, and Massimiliano Rosati. Under Rosalia D'Apice's guidance, the restoration adhered to key conservation principles, reviving the café's historical identity and Belle Epoque charm.

🌍 Futura Vacanze's new Futura Club Invidia Coral Beach Tiran in Sharks Bay, Sharm el Sheikh, enhances their Red Sea offerings, which have doubled. This brings their overseas clubs to seven, spanning the Red Sea, Kenya, Tunisia, and Portugal. The resort features five restaurants, seven bars, four pools, and a wellness area. Weekly flights are available from seven Italian cities, including Milan and Rome, ensuring wide accessibility. General Manager Stefano Maria Simei highlights strategic growth in the Red Sea region.

📍 Marloes Knippenberg, CEO of Kerten Hospitality, announces the opening of their second Italian establishment, Colere 1600 by Cloud 7 Hotels, on December 20. Located in the Parco delle Orobie Bergamasche, it features 28 rooms. Kerten Hospitality manages 57 projects across 13 countries and plans further expansions in the Mediterranean, including France, Spain, Greece, and Morocco. The company targets lifestyle-focused ventures and collaborates closely with property owners to adapt to local markets.