Hyatt Hotels will open the first Hyatt Select property outside the US in Berlin, Germany. The 140-room Hyatt Select Berlin Prenzlauer Berg hotel is scheduled to open in 2028 and will be near Alexanderplatz. Hyatt Select is an upper-midscale, conversion-friendly brand within the Hyatt’s Essentials portfolio and focuses on streamlined amenities for short-stay business and leisure travellers. The development is part of Hyatt’s strategic expansion across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, where the Essentials and Classics brands comprise over half of planned developments with targeted luxury growth in cities such as London and Rome.
Roomex, a workforce travel platform, has launched Insights Pro, a new analytics tool designed to help finance and procurement teams track hotel expenditure. Using data captured at the point of booking, the tool provides evidence-based comparisons rather than relying on hindsight. The feature highlights actual savings achieved and identifies potential savings where cheaper like-for-like options were overlooked. Users can filter data by city, hotel, policy or individual booker to address specific overspend. Roomex reports that customers using its savings suite have reduced travel costs by an average of 18%. The upgrade is available to UK businesses for £99 per month.
Star Alliance has welcomed ITA Airways as its newest member. The Italian airline’s entry into the alliance was celebrated at a ceremony held at the Piazza di Spagna Lounge in Rome Fiumicino Airport’s Terminal 3. ITA Airways’ Rome Fiumicino hub and Milan Linate airport are served by 17 Star Alliance members, collectively they connect more than 1,150 destinations worldwide. Travellers with the carrier can now take advantage of through check-in, reciprocal frequent flyer recognition and access to Star Alliance lounges.
arrangeMY has promoted Gemma Ryder to its board as Director of Bids and Account Management. With 20 years of experience, Ryder will oversee bid activity and client partnerships across corporate and public sectors. Her role focuses on aligning bid submissions with long-term commercial growth and strengthening account management capabilities. Ryder joined arrangeMY in November 2023 as Head of Bid Management and Business Development Specialist. She previously worked at TravelPerk, Click Travel and HRG.
Beyond Green has joined the Travalyst coalition as its newest accommodation partner. Travalyst, a non-profit founded by the Duke of Sussex, aims to standardise sustainability data to help travellers and businesses make informed choices. Beyond Green will contribute insights from its global portfolio of independent hotels to Travalyst’s working groups and policy discussions. The partnership aligns with the recent introduction of Travalyst’s Data Hub, which provides transparent sustainability information across the travel sector. The move strengthens the brand’s commitment to transparency and supports the development of credible frameworks for hotels of all sizes, according to company president Philipp Weghmann.
ITA Airways has a strategic partnership with Accelya, the airline technology provider that claims to process approximately 50% of global NDC transactions, to accelerate its digital and commercial transformation. By adopting Accelya-powered New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology, the Italian flag carrier will deliver dynamic, personalised offerings directly to travel management companies, agencies and tour operators. The implementation aligns ITA with the Lufthansa Group’s digital distribution strategy, providing greater control over its retail network and enabling access to customised content and ancillary services.
Marriott Bonvoy and Ethiopian Airlines’ new partnership enables travellers to earn and redeem points on hotel stays and flights. ShebaMiles, accrued through the African airline’s loyalty programme, can be converted into Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel stays, upgrades and more. Likewise, Marriott Bonvoy points can be transformed into ShebaMiles for flight bookings. ShebaMiles members can convert miles to Marriott Bonvoy points at a 2:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy members can convert points to ShebaMiles at a 3:1 ratio and will receive 5,000 bonus ShebaMiles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred in a single transaction.
Sofitel is transforming the Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema into its first flagship hotel in Brazil. Opening in late 2026, the beachfront property will have 172 rooms and suites. Designed by Patricia Anastassiadis, the hotel aspires to blend local culture with French elegance, featuring furniture by Oscar Niemeyer, Sergio Rodrigues, Zanini de Zanine and sculptures by Hugo França. It will have 360-degree views of the city, a rooftop infinity pool and a signature restaurant led by a Michelin-starred chef. The third floor will be dedicated to meetings and events under the Meeting Residence concept and offer state-of-the-art technology. The 21st floor Club Millésime executive lounge will offer personalised services and exclusive access for the club’s room guests and members of Accor’s highest loyalty tiers.
