Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp. | Signed an Agreement to Open a 770 - Room Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand

Hotel101 Global Holdings Corp., an asset - light, pro - tech hospitality platform based in Singapore, a subsidiary of Double Dragon Corporation, which is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the ticker DD, has signed an agreement to open a 770 - room hotel in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital and largest city. a renowned destination, highlighted by a vibrant mix of ancient and modernity,  known for its opulent temples like Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho’s Reclining Buddha, Grand Palace, ornate shrines, juxtaposed with towering skyscrapers, bustling street life, iconic markets and street food, world - class shopping, and a famous nightlife scene.

For the joint development and future opening of Hotel101 Bangkok, the Singaporean company has signed definitive binding agreements with  Origin Property Public Company Limited (ORI), one of Thailand’s top property developers, highly recognized for its lifestyle - focused condominiums, a subsidiary of Origin Property PCL, which is listed on the Stock of Thailand. The signing ceremony took place at Origin property’s headquarters in Bangkok.

Scheduled for completion by 2029, the property is expected to be one of the top three largest hotels in Bangkok by room count.

The hotel will be located on Phahon Yothin Road, a major arterial road and one of Thailand’s four primary highways, stretching 30 km northward from Vixtory Monument to Don Mueaang Airport, serving as a bustling residential, commercial, and transit hub, famously focusing the Chatuchal Weekend Market and Central Plaza  Ladprao.

The location offers proximity to Don Mueang Interantional Airport and direct access to the Yaek Kor Por Aor BTS Station, as well as as nearby attractions including Save One Night Market, Chatuchak Market and the city centre.

The property will be jointly developed by Hotel101 Global Holding Corp. and Origin Property featuring approximately 770 rooms on a 8.336 - square - metre.

Planned amenities include all - day dining,  a swimming pool,  a children’s pool, a full - size gym, a business centre,  meeting spaces, a conference centre,  24/7 receptiom, luggsge storage and parking.

Hotel101 – Bangkok is expected top generate approximately 1.925 billion Baht (approximately US$58 million) in sales revenue once fully sold.

Link

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article141926.html

Hawkins Way Capital, LCC | Unveiled the Opening of a Hotel Part of the Series by Marriott in Chicago, Illinois

Hawkins Way Capital, LLC, a vertically integrated real estate company based in Los Angeles, California,  focused on value added and opportunistic investments across various asset classes and geographies, has unveiled the opening of a hotel as part of the Series by Marriott in Chicago,   vibrant metropolis and largest city of the U.S. state of Illinois located on Lake Michigan, famed for its bold architecture, a skyline punctuated by iconic skyscrapers, emblematic museums, a rich arts scene, and also recognized as a major financial and transportation hub.

FOUND Hotels, Chicago, Series by Marriott is the fourth hotel in the United States to join the Series by Marriorr. The conversion is part of an ongoing partnership between Hawkins Way Capital and Marriott International, American multinational hospitality company based in Bethesda, Maryland, established in September 2025, to convert a portfolio of FOUND Hotels into Series by Marriott properties.

The hotel is managed by FCL Management, a national operator and manager of select, full - service, independent and branded hotels, a third - party property manager specializing in boutique and flagged properties based in Los Angeles.

The property sits in the lively River North District at 613 N. Wells Street, a short 10 - minute walk to the Magmificent Mile and Michigan Avenue,  offering an easy access to Chicago Riverwalk and Millenium Park, Merchandise Mart Station and Chicago Station are both just a 5 - to 6 minutes walk away. The hotel ideally located for exploring the city with its walkable access to top spots and public transit.

The hotel has undergone a property - wide  6refresh, including enhanced guestrooms, updated case goods in full and queen rooms, refreshed public spaces, flexible co - working areas, and new design elements. The property has introduced a new coffee concept, “Lost & FOUND,”available to guests daily from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will debut new co – working accessible to guests 24/7, meeting and gym spaces this summer.

The property is now part of the Series by Marriott collection, a midscale/upscale soft brand focused on “well - executed basics,”allowing independent regional hotels to join the Marriott portfolio while retaining their local identity, offering clean, comfortable rooms and modern amenities.

The series by Marriott pipeline managed by FCL Management is set to expand across major U.S. markets, including San Diego and San Francisco, and currently includes locations in Miami, Florida and Santa Monica, California.

Links

https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/chisf-found-hotels-chicago-series/overview/

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article141985.html

MGallery Collection | Announced the Opening of V Villas Maldives on the Private Island of Mirihi

MGallery Collection, a global brand of luxury boutiques hotels characterized by their unique stories, distinctive design and captivating features, owned by Accor S.A., a French multinational hospitality company based in Issy - les - Moulineaux, has announced the opening of V Villas Maldives on the private island of Mirihi located in the South Ari Atoll, a top Maldives destination features a Marine Protected Area that is world - famous for year - round shark encounters.    

Mirihi is a tiny luxury island in the Maldives. It measures just 350 metres long and 50 metres wide, guests get there via a 30 - minute scenic seaplane ride from Velana International Airport located on Hullhulé Island in Kanfu, nearby the capital island Malé.

The island is famous for a “no news, no shores” rule, this means no TVs in the rooms and a relaxed barefoot vibe, a destination highly rated for its quiet romance and natural beauty boasting, a vibrant coral reef surrounds the island where guests can snorkel just a few steps from their rooms to see tropical fish,  manta rays and turtles.

The opening of V Villas Maldives marks the brand entry in the Maldives. Studio Granda, an award - winning architecture headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland that builds modern spaces that perfectly match the wild nature of the country led the design, incorporating contemporary Maldivian artistry, handwoven lattices, coral – inspired ceramics by Maldivian artisans, and the Coral Ceramic Wall glazed in reef blue.

The property features 42 villas including four overwater villas with private pools, located across the lagoon and along the island’s beach. Eac4h villa offers ocean views and private butler service. The Mirihi Maa suites offers indoor - outdoor living, a private pool, and direct lagoon access.

Dining options at V Villas Maldives include Dhonvelli, an all - day dining venue, and Muraka, the overwater restaurant. Muraka’s signature dish is Maldivian lobster flambéed table -side with rum, coconut curry, kaffir lime, and palm sugar. The Aloya Sea Lounge is located at the centre of the property serves cocktails such as the Maldivian Glow, a signature, island - style tropical cocktail blends white rum, a splash of apricot brandy, and sweet fruit juices.

The Mirihi Spa provides treatments using island flora, including ocean mineral salt scrubs, body massages, infrared sea bath rituals, sound healing ceremonies, guided meditation, and serial yoga. The Signature Spa treatment features a full - body massage with warm seashells.

The property offers the Mirihi Thari, a yacht chartered for gusts, with full - day voyages across Ari Atoll and opportunities to observe marine life such as whale sharks, manta rays, and turtles.

V Villas Maldives joins MGallery Collection, a global brand of luxury boutiques hotels and resorts owned by Accor S.A.  characterized by their unique stories, distinctive design, architecture and captivating features.

Room rates start from US$600 per night, with suites available from US$2.100 per night.

Links

https://mgallery.accor.com/en/hotels/C4Z3.html

https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article141986.html

Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil | Inaugurated CTERSA, the Center for Technology in Renewable Energies of the Semi - Arid Region

The Government of Brazil inaugurated CTERSA (Centro de Tecnologia em Energias Renováveis do Semiárido) the Center for Technology in Renewable Energies of the Semi - Arid Region in Campina Grande, the second largest city in the state of Paraiba, after João Pessoa, considered to be the most important city of the Northeastern Brazilian subregion called agreste, boasting a unique blend of rich agricultural history, booming tech innovation, and world – class culture. The city is known as both the “Brazilian Liverpool” for its past as a global cotton hub, and the “Silicon Valley" of the Northeast for its top - tier tech industry.

CTERSA is an innovation hub focused on sustainable solutions backed by an approximate R$34 million investment (approximately $6.46 million) via the National Institute of the Semi - Arid Region (INSA), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation deep on (MCTI), and also financed by the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT).

With an area of 2.205 square metres and specialised laboratories, the centre seeks to strengthen innovation in areas such as on sustainable solutions, solar, wind, biomass, and green hydrogen, as well as running the OTERSA accelerator for deep - tech projects.

CTERSA will also promote research on desalination, carbon capture, circular economy and smart energy management.

The launch highlights the strategic importance of the Northeast region in the global transition, heavily focusing on transforming scientific research into applied industrial and socioeconomic solutions.

During the inauguration, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, stressed that the centre will contribute to consolidating the role of the Brazilian Semi - Arid in the energy transition, promoting solutions adapted to the needs of the region and promoting sustainable development.

The initiative is part of the Government’s strategy to turn the Semi - Arid region into a hub of innovation in renewable energies and is part of the Strategic Agenda for 2032, a plan based on technical studies that identifies challenges and opportunites in the energy sector in the region, defining more than 300 actions aimed at promoting the energy transition and technological development in the territory.

Between 2023 and 2025, the Ministry of Sciences, Technology and Innovation allocated more than R$513 million (approximately $97.47 million) to research and innovation projects in the state of Paraiba.

Link

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/brasil-inaugura-un-centro-de-innovaci-n-en-energ-as-renovables-en-el-semi-rido/

Cancún, Mexico | Taxi Security Reinforced with AI, GPS and Video Surveillance to Prioritize Tourist Safety

Cancún, a premier Caribbean resort city located on the northeast coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, renowned for its 22 kilometres of white - sand beaches and vibrant nightlife, through the “Andrés Quintana Roo” Taxi Driver’s Unit in Benito Juárez is modernising its taxi fleet to prioritize its tourist safety and fare transparency.

The Taxi Union launched the Flywheel technology platform, a new exclusive application for taxi service that seeks to reinforce the safety of users and operators integrating connected technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), real - time GPS tracking linked central command centres, and 360 - degree video surveillance cameras, built - in panic buttons.

These integrated features operate as follows:

·       Video & AI Surveillance: Upgraded cabs features 360 - degree cameras to record the interior and exterior of the vehicle, backed by built - in video analytics to monitor suspicious incidents.

·       Real - Time GPS Tracking: The union continuously monitors vehicle geolocation, enabling immediate emergency responses and providing an exact record of travel routes.

·       Passenger Panic Buttons: In the event of a threat of emergency, drivers or passengers can trigger a built – in alarm that alerts the police and central dispatch.

·       Digital Taximeters: To avoid overcharging and haggling, digital taximetres are being rolled out to guarantee that fares are strictly calculated by distance.

With this measure, the union seeks to strengthen confidence in the taxi service in Cancún, improve the surveillance of the units and expand the digital options available to users and operators.

Secretary General of the taxi union, Rubén Carrilo, reported that implementation of this technology will be gradual. So far the first 50 taxis have already been equipped with the system, while more units will be added daily, without there being an established limit for their incorporation.

The taxi union leader explained that Flywheel has security cameras connected to the C5, a geolocation system and permanent monitoring, as well as a renewed chromatic system to identify the units that are part of this platform.

The Secretary General pointed out that this innovation is part of a strategy to open new income and work opportunities for the concessionaires and operators that are part of the union and that the association opens the doors to all those who believe in the union and see it as an area of opportunity to have more sources of income and more job opportunities.

The union head also clarified that Flywheel does not replace eTaxi, but that both applications continue to operate in parallel as exclusive tools for taxi drivers affiliated to the“Andrés Quintana Roo” Union.

The leader of the entity also stressed that about 80 percent of the he union’s vehicle fleet is in a position to be incorporated into the new platform, because they are modern units that meet the necessary characteristics to install the technological equipment.

As reported by REPORTUR.mx, in May, new incidents related to the taxi service in Cancún once again generated controversy on social networks and among visitors, amid the efforts of authorities and tourism sectors to strengthen attention to destinations such as Cancún and Playa del Carmen towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Link

https://www.reportur.com/agencias/2026/07/02/cancun-refuerzan-seguridad-de-taxis-con-videovigilancia-ia-y-gps/

Durbanville, South Africa | Stellenbosch University Partners with Cape Winelands Airport for a Planned R8 Billion Expansion

Stellenbosch University (SU), a public research university situated in Stellenbosch, a town in  South Africa’s Western Cape province surrounded by the picturesque vineyards of the Cape Winelands and the mountainous nature reserves of Joenkershoek, has entered into a formal partnership with Cape Winelands Airport (formerly Fisantekraal Airfoeld) located at Lichtenburg Road (R312), approximately 13 kilometres northeast of Durbanville.

The expansion project with an investment of R8 million aims to create a second major international airport for the Western Cape and will blend infrastructure development with cutting - edge academic research.

The airport is designed to serve as an alternative to Cape Town International Airport,  featuring s planned 3.5 kilometres runway capable of handling wide - body aircraft and offering more direct access to the Western Cape’s wine regions.

The collaboration will span spatial planning, transport and logistics, aviation research and agricultural and food processing with construction scheduled to begin in late 2026 and expected to begin commercial operations in early 2028. 

The terminal will be built in a park - like environment featuring vineyards, a conference centre, a hotel, and outdoor entertainment spaces. The airport will also include advanced prototyping labs, pilot training facilities, and smart aerospace zones.

In addition the air hub introduces dedicated agri - processing zones to optimize cold chains and farm - flight efficiency for exports.

The partnership will create applied research and practical learning opportunities for students with initial proposals including Master’s - level engineering research projects linked to the airport’s development.

Over its first 20 years of operation, the airport is projected to support 35.000 direct and !00.000 indirect jobs, positioning it as a significant economic driver for the region.

For the tourism industry, the development adds wave of aviation investment in the Western Cape - Cape Town International Airport is currently undergoing s separate R10 billion upgrade under ACSA’s national infrastructure programme, while the private Atlantic Aerodrome near Philadelphia, a village located 23 km north - east of Durbanville is scheduled to open in September 2026.

Link

https://atta.travel/resource/stellenbosch-university-partners-with-cape-winelands-airport-in-r8-billion-development.html

Cabarete, the Dominican Republic | Surf Schools and Local Businesses Requested Urgent Government Intervention to Ban Vehicles from Playa Encuentro

Surf schools and local businesses at Playa Encuentro,, located in Cabarete, a lively beach town on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast renowned as the adventure and water sports of the Caribbean, as well as one of the most consistent surf breaks in the region, just a 25 - minute drive from Gregorio Luperón Airport, formally requested urgent government intervention to ban vehicles from the beach.

The request is calling on Dominican authorities to immediately enforce existing regulations that prohibit vehicle access the protected coastal strip, warning the uncontrolled traffic in Cabarete, endangering visitors, damaging the environment and harming the beach’s reputation as a world - class surfing destination.

Playa Encuentro is located 4 km west of Cabarete centre, and is the Caribbean’s premier surfing destination. The narrow, 1.1 km stretch of sand features a lush jungle canopy, casual beach shacks, and consistent, year - round morning waves and it is unswimmable for casual bathers due to strong currents.

The beach offers distinct breaks for all levels, ranging from the forgiving white waters of “Bobo’s Point” for beginners to the intense, expert - only reef barrels at “Coco Pipe” and “Destroyers”.

The coalition of surf schools, including Dominican Surf School, Buena Onda Surf School, Cabarete Surf Co., and local businesses delivered a joint letter to the Ministries of Tourism (MITUR),  the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MMARENA), the Ayuntamiento del Distrito Miunicipal de Cabarete (Cabarete municipal council) and Politur (Tourism Police) demanding a ban of all vehicle traffic and parking within the restricted 60 - metre maritime zone (the 60 metres from the pleamar,  or high tide line), which is protected by Dominican environmental and constitutional law.

The unregulated circulation of cars and motorized vehicles on the narrow strip of sand poses severe physical riks to surfers,, children, tourists and families while accelerating dune erosion, degrading the local ecosystem, changing coastal vegetation, and damaging the area’s tourism image.

The group is requesting stronger enforcement, including coordinated inspections, visible signage, designated parking areas outside the beach, physical barriers to block vehicle access and a permanent management plan developed with local businesses and authorities.

They warned that protecting Playa Encuentro is essential to preserving Cabarete’s reputation as one of the Caribbean’s premier surfing destination and ensuring the long - term sustainability of its tourism industry.

Link

https://dominicantoday.com/surf-schools-urge-dominican-authorities-to-ban-vehicles-from-playa-encuentro/