Chains trade up in Bora Bora, spread out in Saudi Arabia, and post the numbers to back luxury pricing

IHG is reflagging InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso as a Regent when it reopens after renovation. Owner Pacific Beachcomber is behind the move. The resort steps up into IHG's luxury tier, so advisors should expect a rate and positioning change and a different sales pitch.

Le Moana stays InterContinental, which means IHG's two Bora Bora properties will now sit in different tiers. That gives advisors a cleaner good/better split within one brand family, but it also means clients who booked the InterContinental for its name may need to be reset on expectations.

Before quoting, check the reopening date, whether the property will be eligible for the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle Advisor program, and any change to commission or amenity terms under the Regent flag.

Hilton's EMEA president, Simon Vincent, says the luxury tier in Saudi Arabia is established. Conrad, Waldorf Astoria, Hilton, Curio and DoubleTree are already in the pipeline. Growth now shifts to Garden Inn and Hampton-style franchises, which Vincent frames as following the Turkey model.

For advisors, that points to more mid-tier inventory over time, and more Hilton Honors earn and burn options in secondary Saudi cities. It matters as Saudi leisure and religious travel grows. This is a statement of development strategy, not a change to commissions or availability, so there is nothing to action today beyond tracking openings.

Atlantis The Royal ranked No. 4 in the 50 Best Hotels 2026. It also took Best Hotel in the Middle East and Best Beach Hotel, and remains the UAE's only Three Key hotel. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab rose to No. 15. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing climbed to No. 7 from No. 14.

In the MICHELIN Key round, Pan Pacific London won its first Key. Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental and Anantara Mina RAK also earned Keys, among 25 UAE hotels recognised across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.

These are useful references for clients weighing Dubai, Beijing or London. Expect tighter availability and firmer rates at the top-ranked properties.

Shangri-La Asia reported first-half 2026 revenue of USD 1.124bn. Profit attributable to owners was USD 89.0m, up from USD 57.9m a year earlier, a 53.7% rise against 6.4% revenue growth.

The gap between the two growth rates suggests higher rates and better operating leverage rather than volume alone. For advisors, that points to firmer Shangri-La pricing and less discounting, and it suggests the group has more room to invest in its portfolio. Clients hoping for a rate break at Shangri-La properties should not count on one.

Accor is running a 20% discount plus a 20% points boost for ALL members at participating Greater China hotels. Stays must be completed through October 25, 2026, and bookings must be made by October 24.

For advisors with China-bound clients who are ALL members, the offer combines a lower price with extra points. The open question is channel: member-only promotions often exclude advisor-booked and commissionable rates. Confirm eligibility with Accor before promising the rate to a client.

Kempinski has appointed Noel Attard as chief development officer. A new head of development is a signal about how the group intends to grow its pipeline and management contracts, and which regions it will prioritise.

The source carries only the headline, so there is no detail yet on his remit, background or targets. Advisors who work with Kempinski should watch for opening and brand-strategy announcements under his leadership. The practical effect on advisors is still unclear.