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Legacy Mekong in Vietnam, New Maldives Resort, and Other Hotel News This Week

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Victoria M. Walker
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
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It was a busier-than-usual week in the hotel industry. Several hotel chains opened new hotels across the world, including Puerto Rico, Mexico, Vietnam, and more. 

A handful of new hotels were also announced, including some set to open soon in the Maldives and Santorini, Greece.

To catch up on everything you’ve missed, read below for our roundup of the most exciting hotel news this week.

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Hotel Openings

Legacy Mekong, Can Tho, Autograph Collection, Vietnam

Legacy Mekong, Can Tho, Autograph Collection, has officially joined the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio in Vietnam. The hotel is located on a small island in the Mekong Delta, accessible only by boat, and is approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City.

The pool at the Legacy Mekong, Can Tho. Image Credit: Marriott
The pool at the Legacy Mekong, Can Tho. Image Credit: Marriott

The property features a mix of rooms, villas, and bungalows. Amenities include 2 restaurants, a lounge and bar, a spa, and a fitness center.

  • Opening date: Now open
  • Typical cash price: From $151 per night
  • Typical points cost: From 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night

Hyatt Place Mérida / Vía Montejo, Mexico

The 142-room Hyatt Place Mérida / Vía Montejo has officially become the second Hyatt-branded hotel in the Yucatán. 

Hyatt Place Merida King Guestroom
An affordable Hyatt hotel has opened in Mérida, Mexico. Image Credit: Hyatt

Amenities include a complimentary breakfast, a 24/7 market, a lobby bar, and over 1,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel is just 20 minutes from Mérida International Airport (MID) and directly across from the U.S. Consulate.

  • Opening date: Now open
  • Typical cash price: From $120 per night
  • Typical points cost: Category 1; Between 3,500 and 6,500 World of Hyatt points per night

Spark by Hilton Ponce, Puerto Rico

Spark by Hilton Ponce has become the brand’s first property in the Caribbean and Latin America, and is officially open for guests after a rebranding.

Spark by Hilton Ponce Room
A guest room at Spark by Hilton Ponce. Image Credit: Hilton

Amenities found at this 120-room hotel include a lobby designed for work and play, complimentary breakfast, free parking, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and event spaces.

  • Opening date: Now open
  • Typical cash price: From $128 per night
  • Typical points cost: From 45,000 Hilton Honors points per night

Metropole, Bangkok, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Thailand

Marriott has officially debuted its Tribute Portfolio brand in Thailand with the opening of Metropole Bangkok, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel.

Metropole Bangkok Lobby Bar
The lobby bar at the Metropole, Bangkok, which recently joined Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio. Image Credit: Marriott

This rebranded hotel features 116 guest rooms and suites, each offering a kitchenette. Amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, an outdoor pool, and a sauna.

  • Opening date: Now open
  • Typical cash price: From $89 per night
  • Typical points cost: unknown (award rates unavailable)

Marriott International Enters the Democratic Republic of the Congo With 2 Hotels

Marriott has debuted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 2 hotels opening in the capital, Kinshasa. The hotels will appeal to both business and leisure travelers, given that Kinshasa is a hub for diplomats and commerce. Plus, Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to earn and redeem points at the properties, with award nights starting at 7,500 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Protea Hotel by Marriott Kinshasa features 88 guest rooms, many of which offer private balconies, and is located near the Congo River. Amenities include an indoor pool — a first for Kinshasa — an all-day restaurant, and a lobby bar.

Four Points by Sheraton Kinshasa features 134 guest rooms. Amenities include a restaurant, a sky lounge bar, a fitness center, and a rooftop outdoor pool.

3 New Hyatt Hotels Debut in Shanghai

Hyatt has opened 3 new hotels in the rapidly growing Lingang neighborhood of Shanghai. All 3 hotels offer easy access to museums, shopping, theme parks, and downtown Shanghai.

Here’s what to know about each hotel: 

Bottom Line:

What’s interesting — and exciting — is how affordable these 3 hotels are with World of Hyatt points. All 3 are Category 1 hotels, which means award rates can be found as low as 3,500 points per night!

Upcoming Hotels

The BoTree London, Curio Collection by Hilton, United Kingdom (December 2025)

The BoTree London, Curio Collection by Hilton, will join Hilton in mid-December with over 200 guest rooms. The eclectic hotel features a restaurant, a daytime-to-nighttime bar, a nightclub, and a screening room for private events.

The hotel is minutes from Bond Street station and the Elizabeth Line, giving guests seamless connections to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), Canary Wharf, and more. Rates start at $600 or 110,000 Hilton Honors points nightly.

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi – MGallery Collection, Maldives (2026)

Accor’s luxury MGallery Collection brand is opening a new resort in the Maldives early next year.

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi – MGallery Collection will offer 42 villas, including a mix of beach villas, overwater villas, and multi-bedroom suites with private pools. Each villa will feature a dedicated butler.

The resort is a conversion of Mirihi Island Resort. Accor has made significant updates to the resort, including the addition of a spa and wellness sanctuary, a new gym, a yoga pavilion, and enhancements to each villa. 

Sandblu Santorini, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Greece (Summer 2026)

Sandblu Santorini, the debut of the LXR Hotels & Resorts brand in Greece, is expected to join Hilton next summer.

The resort, located in eastern Santorini, offers 66 rooms, suites, and villas. More than 2 dozen have private pools. Amenities include beach access, 2 infinity pools, a spa, a fitness center, a kids’ club, 2 restaurants, a wine bar and cellar, and a bakery.

Rates start at $320 per night or 95,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Mangala Estate Kuantan, Vignette Collection by IHG, Malaysia (2027)

IHG this week announced that it had inked a deal for the Mangala Estate Kuantan, a 67-villa resort in Malaysia that is currently part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World through Hilton. The resort will be rebranded to Mangala Estate Kuantan, Vignette Collection, by IHG in 2027.

Amenities will include an all-day restaurant, a poolside bar, a spa, a wellness center, and water sports activities.

Kyoto Brighton Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, Japan (2028)

Hilton will open its second Curio Collection hotel in Japan later this decade.

Kyoto Brighton Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, will have approximately 160 guest rooms, 4 dining outlets, and a fitness center. The property is currently the Kyoto Brighton Hotel and will be converted to Hilton’s Curio Collection, scheduled to open in winter 2028.

InterContinental Prague, Czech Republic (2029)

InterContinental Prague is scheduled to open in 2029. The 137-room hotel will be located in a historic building dating back to the 19th century. The building has served as a dance hall, theater, and more. 

Amenities will include a spa, pool, bar and restaurant, lounge, and private garden.

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Final Thoughts

December got off to a strong start in the hotel industry. The year is closing with some exciting hotel openings in Mexico, Vietnam, and London. We’re also excited about upcoming resorts, including the opening of an MGallery in the Maldives and an existing property joining LXR in Greece.

As always, we’ll be back here next week with more hotel industry news.

Victoria M. Walker's image

About Victoria M. Walker

Victoria holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from the Howard University School of Communications and is an award-winning journalist, travel reporter, and the founder of the “Carrying On with Victoria M. Walker” newsletter.

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