St. Regis Aruba, Hyatt Growing Internationally, and Other Hotel News From This Week

If you missed out on the hottest hotel news last week, don’t worry. We have a round-up of new hotel openings, upcoming properties, and more.

Here’s our round-up of the most exciting hotel news you might have missed this week.

Hotel Openings

The St. Regis Aruba Resort, Aruba

The St. Regis Aruba Resort is finally open. The new resort has 252 guest rooms, including 52 suites.

True to any St. Regis resort, this property is ultra-luxe. It has 6 dining options, an infinity pool, private cabanas, the brand-signature St. Regis spa, plus 20,000 square feet of event spaces.

• Opening Date: Now open
• Typical Cash Price: From $900 per night
• Typical Points Cost: Between 79,000 and 121,000 Marriott Bonvoy points points per night

Hyatt Regency Nairobi Westlands, Kenya

Hyatt Regency Nairobi Westlands has opened in Kenya, making the brand’s debut in the East African country. Located in Nairobi’s city center, the hotel has 147 guest rooms and suites plus 72 apartments. Its 3 dining options include an all-day restaurant serving African, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines.

Amenities include a nearly 3,000-square-foot fitness center, an indoor pool, and one of the largest ballrooms in East Africa. Thanks to its low award category (Category 2), we recommend using points instead of cash to stay here.

• Opening Date: Now open
• Typical Cash Price: From $150 per night
• Typical Points Cost: Category 2 property; award nights cost between 6,500 and 9,000 World of Hyatt points per night (depending on dates)

The Midland Hotel, Chicago, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel Illinois

Formerly the W Chicago City Center, Marriott has opened a Tribute Portfolio hotel in the Chicago Loop. The Midland Hotel, Chicago, a Tribute Portfolio, has 400+ guest rooms currently undergoing renovation and updates to the hotel’s public spaces, signature restaurant, and meeting and events spaces.

• Opening Date: Now open
• Typical Cash Price: From $190 per night
• Typical Points Cost: From 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night

Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy, Florida

There’s a new option for Orlando travelers looking for apartment-like hotels. Villatel Orlando Resort, Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy is less than 10 minutes from Orlando’s theme parks and offers a wide range of activities and amenities to keep guests entertained. The 1.2-million-square-foot resort has a water park, fitness center, bar and grill, pool, kids’ wet playground, sports courts, and more.

The resort is designed to replicate the comforts of home with amenities you’d find in a standard resort. Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy properties feature private bedrooms, a separate living room, a kitchen, and an in-unit washer and dryer. You can choose between several 2- and 3-bedroom options, with cash rates starting under $250 per night. Unfortunately, points bookings don’t appear to be available.

• Opening Date: Now open
• Typical Cash Price: From $240 per night
• Typical Points Cost: Unclear

Hotel Saint Augustine, Texas

Hyatt has made some big moves with its new Bunkhouse Hotels brand. Hotel Saint Augustine in Houston has opened on a more than 2-acre strip in the Museum District. The hotel has 71 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant headed by a James Beard-nominated chef, an all-day lobby lounge and listening room, and a pool. 

Hyatt acquired Standard International, the parent company of The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels, last year. Unfortunately, Bunkhouse Hotels have not yet joined World of Hyatt, so there’s no way to book the hotel with points.

• Opening Date: Now open
• Typical Cash Price: From $430 per night
• Typical Points Cost: N/A

Universal Stella Nova Resort, Florida

The much-awaited Universal Stella Nova Resort has opened near Universal Studios. The resort is part of a larger project with 1,500 rooms in total.

Amenities include 4 restaurants, a pool, complimentary transportation to the parks and Universal CityWalk, and early park admission to select parks. 

• Opening Date: Now open
• Typical Cash Price: From $140 per night
• Typical Points Cost: N/A

Upcoming Hotels

Raffles Sentosa Singapore, Singapore (March 2025)

Raffles Sentosa Singapore is scheduled to open on March 1, 2025, to much fanfare. The hotel will become the first all-villa property to open on Singapore’s “island in the city.” The resort has 60+ villas with private pools and terraces, 5 dining options, a spa, a ballroom, and direct beach access. It is 25 minutes from Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN).

The Isolano, Cres, Autograph Collection, Croatia (March 2025)

Marriott’s Autograph Collection brand is coming to Croatia with the debut of The Isolano, Cres in the Adriatic Sea. The resort — open to guests 12 and over — has just 49 guest rooms and suites. There is also a restaurant with views of the sea, 2 outdoor pools, a spa, a fitness center, and direct access to the beach. The hotel is scheduled to open for guests on March 13, 2025.

Hotel News

Alila Brand Will Replace Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya

Last week, we reported that the Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, the popular Category 6 resort in Mexico, would close for renovations for much of the year. Now, we have some even bigger news. Not only will the hotel close for updates, but it will also reopen as an entirely different property. 

Hyatt announced on January 24 that the Andaz will rebrand as the Alila Mayakoba. The hotel will reduce the overall number of guest rooms while increasing the suite count to 40% of the total rooms. Amenities will include several food and beverage options, a spa, a new steam bath, meeting spaces, and more. The resort will reopen as Alila Mayakoba “later this year,” though Hyatt didn’t list an exact date. This will be the first Alila-branded hotel in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Hyatt Plans Europe, Africa, and Middle East Expansion

Between 2025 and 2028, Hyatt plans to open hotels in destinations without its presence. These include new hotels in Estonia, Iceland, Romania, Cabo Verde, and Mauritius. Hyatt has historically had a smaller presence in the region, particularly Africa and the Middle East, so these planned hotels will provide much-needed additions for guests looking to earn and redeem World of Hyatt points.

Hilton and Peloton Collaboration

Hilton recently announced an interesting collaboration with the stationary bike company Peloton. Through the Hilton Connected Room Experience program, you can access a collection of Peloton content directly from your room. The Connected Room Experience allows guests to connect to electronics in the room via their mobile phones.

3 Garner Hotels Open in Japan

IHG is growing the midscale Garner brand internationally. Three new hotels have just opened in Osaka, Japan: Garner Hotel Osaka Honmachi Station, Garner Hotel Osaka Honmachi Midosuji, and Garner Hotel Osaka Honmachi Kita Semba. All 3 hotels highlight Japanese culture through design choices, such as bright furniture and open spaces. The hotels all participate in the IHG One Rewards program, meaning you can earn and redeem points.

2 Hilton Hotels Open in North Carolina

Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown and its sister property Homewood Suites by Hilton Raleigh Downtown have opened in Raleigh, North Carolina, with 261 guest rooms between the 2. Both hotels should be popular with tourists and business travelers alike since they are near the downtown business offices and attractions like the Raleigh Convention Center and music venues. Tempo by Hilton includes amenities such as a fitness center and hydration station, while Homewood Suites is pet-friendly and has a bar and café.

Final Thoughts

This was an exciting week in the hotel industry. From Aruba to Kenya, you have more options than ever to earn and redeem your hotel points across the globe.

We’ll return next week with more interesting news in the hotel world!