Deadly Resort Fire, New Openings and Top Hotel & Resort News From June

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Fri June 26, 2026

This June had a lot of big hotel and resort headlines, from the deadly resort fire in the Dominican Republic that claimed one life and displaced nearly 1,700 guests, to exciting new resort openings and developments announced from Mexico to Jamaica and beyond.

We curated the biggest headlines you shouldn’t miss from June right here.

Inside the Hospitality Industry

Hotel executives at the NYU International Hospitality Investment forum were “guardedly optimistic,” with researchers raising the projected U.S. hospitality revenue. Hilton predicts that the economy and midscale segments will recover, citing large construction projects like AI data centers as helping these segments recover.

Other corporations, like Accor and IHG, reported that some destinations in the Middle East are already beginning to recover from the major drop in travel that occurred earlier this year with the onset of the war. Read the full insights from hotel executives in our in-depth analysis here.

The World Travel & Tourism Council also announced in June that it would transition its Hotel Sustainability Basics program into an independent certification program. The program, which launched in January 2024 and boasts over 8,000 hotel members, is transitioning to align with new global sustainability standards.

New Hotels & Resorts

Marriott International, St. Regis hotels, St. Regis resorts, luxury cancun resorts, luxury resort costa mujeres

There were several new hotel and resort openings and announcements in June, including new waterside bungalows at an all-inclusive private island resort, Ambergris Cay. The resort, located in Turks & Caicos, now offers six one-bedroom and six two-bedroom private bungalows, each with its own terrace, ocean views, plunge pool and complimentary paddleboards and kayaks.

Marriott has opened its 10,000th property worldwide, celebrating the milestone with the opening of the JW Marriott Ranthambore Resort & Spa in Rajasthan, India. The hotel giant is nearing its centennial and operates hotels and resorts in 146 countries and territories.

In June, all-inclusive resort brand Club Med announced it would redevelop the Carambola Beach Resort in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, transforming it into Club Med St. Croix. The all-inclusive property is expected to open as part of the brand’s Exclusive Collection in late 2027.

Accor’s Handwritten Collection reached a major milestone in June, reaching 50 member properties worldwide. The Handwritten Collection is an independent hotel brand focusing on unique, bespoke stays. New additions include Château de Mazan – Handwritten Collection, located in Provence, France, and boasting a noble history, as the former home of the Marquis de Sade.

Sandals Resorts International is continuing its redevelopment with a $200 million investment into renovating three Jamaican resorts following Hurricane Melissa last year. Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Caribbean Cay (formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean), and Sandals South Coast will reopen in December, 2026.

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts welcomed the addition of the new The St. Regis Costa Mujeres Resort, Cancún, in late June. The resort offers both room and suite options, providing luxury travelers with a new option in the popular destination.

Deadly Resort Fire

We can’t highlight the biggest hotel and resort news of the month without talking about a tragedy: the deadly resort fire in the Dominican Republic that claimed one life and displaced nearly 1,700 guests.

It occurred at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic. Resort employees are working with Dominican authorities and embassies worldwide to repatriate guests, many of whom lost their passports and other papers in the blaze.

Hotel Acquisitions, Brand Launches and More

Luxor and Excalibur on the Las Vegas Strip

The People Inc., the media company that runs People magazine, and its chairman, Barry Diller, are considering acquiring MGM Resorts for over $18 billion. MGM Resorts, which owns roughly 40% of all hotels and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, has struggled recently. The media corporation currently owns over a quarter of all stock in MGM.

In June, Hilton added a new upper-midscale brand, Undergraduate by Hilton, to its portfolio, building on the Graduate Hotels acquisition. The hotels will be located in cities near college and university campuses, with the first property expected to open in 2027 and long-term potential development of up to 500 hotels.

Sandals and Beaches Resorts have also launched a new integrated loyalty program for repeat guests, called the Island Insiders Club. Launching July 1, 2026, current members of its former program will be automatically transferred to the club and retain their current status, although the program offers new benefits.

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