Ireland has not always had a strong reputation with luxury brands – both Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton came to the Dublin area. And left, leaving the stage to such globally-recognised independents as The Merrion. But now Accor’s Carton House, a Fairmont Managed Hotel, is here, ready to welcome those who want to live like an Irish lord, at least for a memorable few days.

Dubai’s icon, the equivalent of Sydney’s Opera House, has for 23 years been the sail-shaped Burj Al-Arab, but upstarts continually intrude. There’s 829.8-metre tall Burj Khalifa, and now also Ain Dubai, at 250 metres high the world’s tallest Ferris Wheel.

Sofitel Melbourne will undergo a refurbishment of all of its 360 guestrooms and the transformation promises to bring the ‘Live the French Way’ essence to life.

Accor has introduced another brand to its vast hospitality empire, this time targeting independent “unique luxury” hotels.

Members of Qantas Frequent Flyer and Accor’s loyalty program, ALL – Accor Live Limitless, can for the first time be rewarded twice when they fly with Qantas and stay at one of Accor’s hotels.

Accor Asia Pacific CEO Simon McGrath has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer of Crown Sydney and Crown Resorts Group Head of Hospitality.

Sofitel Adelaide welcomed its first guests today [4 November 2021], becoming the first new-build, international five-star hotel to open in Adelaide’s CBD in 30 years.A ceremony was held to mark the $150 million hotel’s official opening by The Hon. Steven Marshall MP, Premier of South Australia and Minister for Tourism, and Daniel Palumbo, Managing Director of Palumbo, the hotel’s owner and developer.

Fairmont Windsor Park in the United Kingdom held an intimate soft opening this week ahead of an official launch on 1 January 2022.

Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel & Serviced Residences has opened as the first French luxury hotel brand in South Korea. The property is also the first Sofitel-branded hotel and serviced-residences complex globally, allowing guests to experience the French art of living in their choice of luxury hotel room or fully serviced residence.

One of Accor’s flagship luxury brands, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, is set to debut in Djibouti, Africa in 2024. Fairmont Djibouti will be located in Djibouti City, the capital of the country and one of the African nation’s most affluent areas. The property will feature 155 hotel rooms and 10 serviced apartments, five restaurants and bars, spa and fitness facilities, a Fairmont Gold Lounge, a salon, kids club, beach water sports centre and all the amenities to become a destination.

Accor’s luxury brand SO/ Hotels & Resorts has opened a new address in Sotogrande, the brand’s very first property in the Spanish market. Located in Costa del Sol, the lifestyle property features 152 rooms and suites, a diverse gastronomic offer and luxurious swimming pools overlooking the Mediterranean.

Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles returns to centre stage on 27 September 2021 following a US$2.5 billion renovation. The luxury hotel now forms part of a mixed-use development project consisting of two 44-storey towers for boutique shopping and 268 private residences. Fairmont Century Plaza’s 16 floors house an additional 63 privately-owned Fairmont residential units, as well as 400 guestrooms, including 49 suites.