July Hotel News: Openings, Renovations & Marriott CFO Change
July brought significant developments in the hotel and resort industry, from major leadership changes to new openings, renovations, and brand expansions.
Marriott International announced that CFO and EVP of Development Leeny Oberg will retire on March 31, 2026, after 26 years with the company. Jen Mason will step in as CFO, and Shawn Hill will become Chief Development Officer. Club Med also appointed a new President and CEO, Stéphane Maquaire, succeeding Henri Giscard d’Estaing after two decades.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts welcomed 18 new member properties, including Austria’s Imlauer Hotel Schloss Pichlarn, while Relais & Châteaux added eight, such as the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, Italy. Marriott also finalized its acquisition of CitizenM, a brand with 37 hotels in 20 locations, soon to be integrated into the Marriott Bonvoy program.
In North America, J.D. Power’s 2025 Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index ranked Ritz-Carlton, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Drury Hotels, and Hyatt House highest in their categories. New openings included the 795-room Hyatt Regency Times Square, while the Waldorf Astoria New York revealed a major restoration. Playa Hotels completed a $50 million renovation of Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, and Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura will debut in August as the first all-inclusive on the island.
Industry data also highlighted challenges from Trump’s immigration policies, with hospitality employers increasing background checks by 36% in the first half of 2025, as ICE targets hotels, restaurants, and farms—industries heavily reliant on immigrant labor.
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