Every month, we at TravelPulse curate a list of the most important travel news you should know. This one’s all about hotels and resorts—from exciting new openings and developments to Marriott’s dramatic split with Sonder and an update on how hotels and resorts in Jamaica are doing following Hurricane Melissa.
Read on to get the short impact of these stories, and click the links provided to read the full information.
Hurricane Melissa Impacts Hotels & Resorts in Jamaica
Sandals Dunns River. (Photo Credit: Sandals Resorts)
Eight Hyatt properties across Jamaica suspended normal hotel operations in early November and stopped taking new reservations through January 31, 2026, including the following resorts: Breathless Montego Bay Resort & Spa, Dreams Rose Hall Resort & Spa, Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Secrets St. James Montego Bay, Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay, Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa, and Zoëtry Montego Bay Jamaica.
Additionally, Sandals expects to reopen most of its own resorts by December 6, 2026; Sandals’ Executive Chairman Adam Stewart told travel advisors that the majority of the Sandals and Beaches resorts in Jamaica had minimal damage, and the delay was to allow for staff and employees to recover personally before going back to work.
Three resorts will need repairs and renovations, however: Sandals South Coast, Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean will reopen on May 30, 2026.
Those already booked at impacted resorts or for stays prior to their reopening dates are being contacted by Sandals to rebook at different properties across the Caribbean.
New Hotel & Resort Openings and Renovations
Anantara Ushuaia Patagonia Resort (Photo Credit: Minor Hotels)
Every month, we pull together the list of top hotel and resort openings, announcements and renovations.
Iberostar celebrated the opening of its new 5-star Iberostar Selection Riviera Cancun, located near Puerto Morelos, this month.
Minor Hotels announced the development of the new Anantara Ushuaia Patagonia Resort, to open as one of the southernmost hotels on the continent in 2028.
Hyatt celebrated the opening of the new Hyatt Place Cancun Airport hotel, offering a new selection for those heading to and from the airport.
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas unveiled a $300-million renovation of thousands of rooms and suites, offering guests a refreshed, upscale new interior design.
Secrets Resorts & Spas announced its latest opening this month, too: the new Secrets Mirabel Cancun Resort & Spa, located directly within Cancun’s Hotel Zone.
Marriott News: Sonder and More
Sonder The Abbey Miami (Photo Credit: Sonder The Abbey Miami)
Marriott’s split with Sonder has been big news. Sonder went into default following poor financials, which was in violation of Marriott’s long-term licensing agreement with the brand, causing Marriott to immediately remove Sonder and all its properties from the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Guests with bookings were left in the lurch, and it was possibly the first time in recent history that a contract’s termination has impacted so many.
Beyond that, though, Marriott’s third-quarter financials were boosted by record development, higher fee revenues and strong demand for luxury properties around the globe.
Customer Service and Loyalty Shifts
Interior of a Vrbo rental. Copyright Expedia Group (Photo Credit: Courtesy Expedia Group)
Lastly, two brands have made changes to their customer service or rewards programs.
Vrbo has launched VrboCare, a new suite of booking protections that include the brand’s Book with Confidence Guarantee, but also builds upon it, helping rebook travelers in new accommodations up to 90 days before travel and providing a new designation for the most trusted hosts.
The Hilton Honors program has added a new Diamond Reserve tier, beginning in January as the most elite tier of membership. Diamond Reserve members will enjoy a free upgrade on their rooms, late checkouts and preferred service. The Gold tier is now considered the most desirable mid-tier in the loyalty program.
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