This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector. In Australia, Crowne Plaza Geelong has officially opened its 200-room hotel connected to the convention centre, boosting regional business travel, while TFE Hotels confirmed Adina Apartment Hotel Chermside will open in February 2026 as the largest hotel in Brisbane’s northern corridor. Sydney is preparing for the arrival of Waldorf Astoria Sydney in late 2026, marking Hilton’s first Waldorf Astoria in Australia, while the historic Ardour Milton Park is nearing completion of its luxury transformation. Across Asia, Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the global debut of Unscripted by Hyatt, with Wink Hotels joining the brand through a partnership with Indochina Kajima, expanding Hyatt’s Vietnam presence to ten hotels and more than 2,000 rooms. Meanwhile, IHG Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its largest new-build project in Japan — an 817-room, triple-branded development near Universal Studios Japan combining InterContinental, Kimpton, and Holiday Inn Resort, opening in 2029. Investment activity remains strong, led by Taiwan-backed Forest Endeavour, which acquired Novotel Surfers Paradise and Paradise Centre for AUD 370 million, while Quest Ipswich has changed hands following a recent refurbishment. Market trends point to a “supercharged” 2026, driven by foreign capital, rising construction costs, and a shift toward refurbishing existing assets. Brisbane leads the country in RevPAR growth, and Park Hyatt Sydney has earned a place on Condé Nast’s Gold List 2026. Finally, on the tech front, hotels are being reminded that traditional SEO is no longer enough — visibility in AI-driven search now depends on clear, current, and authoritative content optimised for Generative Engine Optimisation.
