Fairmont Returns to New Orleans, Park Hyatt All-Inclusive Gets Closer, and More Hotel News

This week, Fairmont celebrated its 100th hotel with a return to New Orleans, while IHG debuted the Kimpton brand in Qatar and turned 6 Abu Dhabi hotels into 1 Vignette Collection resort. Marriott also arrived in Laos. December brings Park Hyatt’s first all-inclusive and Mama Shelter’s Latin American debut. Here’s what hotel news you may have missed this week.

Hotel Openings

Fairmont New Orleans

Fairmont is back in New Orleans after 2 decades, and Fairmont New Orleans is the brand’s 100th property. The 250-room, 17-story hotel is in the former Bank of New Orleans building within walking distance of the French Quarter.

Chef Emeril Lagasse runs 2 restaurants: Delmonico Steakhouse, its first location outside Las Vegas, and The Café by Emeril. December will see the debut of a rooftop pool, Fairmont Gold lounge, a spa, and 2 more venues.

Rooms start at $459, and 1,000 ALL – Accor Live Limitless Reward points take €20 ($22.30) off the bill.

Kimpton Al Rowda Doha — Qatar

IHG‘s Kimpton brand debuted in Qatar. Kimpton Al Rowda Doha is the brand’s second hotel in the Middle East after Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It has 223 rooms and suites, plus 60 serviced residences. There are 4 restaurants and a rooftop infinity pool.

Nights start at 20,000 IHG One Rewards points.

Yas World Resort, Vignette Collection — United Arab Emirates

The former Yas Plaza Hotels on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi are now Yas World Resort, the largest Vignette Collection property anywhere. There are 1,400 rooms across 6 hotels, including 21 restaurants and bars, 6 pools, 3 spas, and a private beach.

Rooms start at 35,00 IHG points.

La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa — Laos

Marriott debuted in Laos with the 36-suite La Résidence Phou Vao, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, above Luang Prabang. This is Marriott’s 800th hotel in Asia Pacific outside China. The longtime property has refreshed interiors, a French brasserie, and a cliff-edge infinity pool.

Nights start at 66,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

The Mindaro, a JdV by Hyatt Hotel — Portland

Hyatt opened The Mindaro, a JdV by Hyatt Hotel, near Portland International Airport (PDX). The property has 90 rooms, a 24-hour airport shuttle, and a complimentary grocery shopping service. The hotel shares a campus with Hyatt House Portland Airport, Jawfish Restaurant, and an 8,000-square-foot events center.

Rates at this Category 3 property start at 8,000 points.

Upcoming Hotels

Park Hyatt Riviera Maya — Mexico (December 2026)

You can book Park Hyatt’s first all-inclusive from December 3, 2026, earlier than planned. The 148-key Park Hyatt Riviera Maya sits next to the Waldorf Astoria Cancun, with rooms from 559 to 2,303 square feet, a steakhouse, a spa, and several pools.

Award nights cost 45,000 to 85,000 World of Hyatt points.

Mama Shelter Mexico City (December 2026)

Mama Shelter Mexico City is the Accor brand’s Latin American debut, opening in Roma Norte on December 1. There are 100 rooms behind the façades of 2 historic casonas, plus an Italian-American trattoria, a coffee bar, and a courtyard with DJ sets. Spring 2027 will bring a rooftop setting.

Bahia Principe Explore Jamaica (December 2026)

After a year-long renovation, the 647-room all-inclusive Bahia Principe Explore Jamaica resort will reopen on December 1 under Bahia Principe’s family-focused Explore line. Bahia Principe is now owned by a Hyatt and Piñero joint venture, and guests can save up to 50% right now.

Prices start at 20,000 Hyatt points per night.

Other Industry News

• The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, finally joins Marriott Bonvoy: The only Ritz-Carlton property not participating in Bonvoy will bring its 608 rooms into the program on December 1, 2026.
• Grand Hyatt Barcelona reflags: RIU bought the hotel and will run it as a Riu Plaza from April 1, 2027.
• IHG adds master bill earning: Members on group stays paid through a master bill can now earn points and elite qualifying nights at some properties. Eeach brand has a fixed number of points per night.
• Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) CEOs bet on AI: A survey shows 87% of the GHA brand CEOs expect AI assistants to be a top booking channel by 2030.

Final Thoughts

Fairmont’s New Orleans return and Marriott’s first hotel in Laos led a solid week of hotel openings. However, anyone holding a Grand Hyatt Barcelona reservation for April 2027 or beyond should check that reservation now to see what’s happening with it.