This week’s Five-Star Weekly Briefing highlights current trends, investments, and developments in the hotel sector.
Hear about exciting new hotel openings, including IHG’s first dual-branded property in Melbourne, Hyatt’s first Caption by Hyatt in Sydney, and Hilton’s continued growth in luxury and lifestyle hotels across Asia.

We also cover major acquisitions and investments, including Seibu Prince Hotels’ US$90 million acquisition of Ace Group International, creating a global portfolio of 94 hotels while preserving Ace’s creative identity.

The episode dives into industry trends and market highlights, from award-winning campaigns at PARKROYAL Parramatta to New Zealand hotels achieving occupancy growth and sustainability recognition. We also examine hotel investment activity in Thailand and broader Asia Pacific, and reflect on Accor’s Olympic legacy in Sydney.

Finally, we showcase people and tech in motion: key executive appointments across global hotel groups, innovations unveiled at NoVacancy Sydney 2025, and case studies like Kimpton Main Frankfurt’s implementation of SABA Hospitality’s Digital Compendium and Mobile Ordering, which have boosted operational efficiency, guest satisfaction, and staff productivity.