Hilton’s Major Expansion in Aruba, Several U.S. Hotels Join the Big Chains, and Other Hotel News

A busy week in the hotel world featured a sizable expansion of an iconic Aruba resort, several U.S. hotels joining big chains, and several major hotel signings in Europe.

Here’s a look at the hotel news you may have missed this week.

New Openings and Launches

The Luce, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio, Opens in Early June on St. Pete Beach

A new Marriott Bonvoy property is coming to Florida. The Luce, St. Pete Beach, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is slated to open its doors on June 11, 2026. The hotel recently received a thorough transformation and now offers 200 guest rooms, including bungalow-style studio suites.

Rates start from $242 or 49,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

A Nashville Icon Joins Marriott

After an extensive $40 million renovation, Nashville’s Hutton Hotel has joined Marriott Bonvoy as a member of the Tribute Portfolio.

To celebrate, the hotel is offering a special package for Marriott Bonvoy members. Called “Soundcheck at Hutton,” it offers a $100 property credit and 5,000 bonus points per stay.

Rates start from $256 or 63,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Historic Richmond Hotel Becomes a Hilton

The Berkeley Richmond, a historic 55-room boutique hotel in downtown Richmond, Virginia, has joined the Outset Collection by Hilton following a thorough renovation. It now features updated guest rooms, refreshed common areas, and a new restaurant called Parlor Bistro.

Rates start from $166 or 48,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

A New Oceanfront Tower Opens at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino

Hilton announced the opening of The Westerly, a new oceanfront tower at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino. It adds 161 “oversized” rooms and suites to the property. Guests staying in The Westerly also get access to exclusive arrival and concierge services, as well as to Terrace on 10, an exclusive adults-only rooftop experience.

Rates in The Westerly tower start at $677 or 243,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

Future Hotels and New Signings

Spark by Hilton To Debut in Italy

Spark by Hilton, the chain’s “premium economy” brand, will debut in Italy with the Spark by Hilton Milan Linate Airport later this year. The 118-room hotel will be located less than a half-mile from the airport and will also offer guests convenient access to Milan’s center via the M4 metro line.

IHG’s Vignette Collection Coming to London, Expands in Portugal

IHG has signed a deal to convert an existing hotel in London’s Canary Wharf district to the Canary Riverside Plaza, Vignette Collection by IHG. This will be the brand’s first property in London and IHG’s first in Canary Wharf, a hub for global banking.

The property is slated to open this summer and will boast 142 guest rooms and suites with views of the River Thames, a restaurant and bar, meeting and event space, and access to a fitness center and spa.

Further south, Vignette Collection by IHG will also expand its footprint in Portugal with the signing of the Esperança Hotel, Vignette Collection, in Braga. The property will have just 58 rooms and will come to life via the conversion of 2 existing buildings. It’s slated to open in September of this year.

Hotel Industry News

There’s a new case of a hotel behaving badly. The Park Hyatt Sydney has been reclassified as a resort property, meaning it can skirt rules dictating elite perks, such as guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout for World of Hyatt Globalist members.

Finally, Marriott has signed a deal with ResortPass, a platform that provides day access to hotels worldwide, to expand the offering at Marriott properties. We have more to learn, including how the product will be priced and sold, but expect more information soon.

Final Thoughts

This week brought us news of several U.S. hotels joining some of the world’s largest hotel chains, an expansion of an iconic Caribbean resort, and much more.

We’ll be back next week with more hotel news.