WorldHotels Accelerates Growth Across Its Portfolio

The collection of independent luxury hotels builds momentum with strategic global expansion and portfolio diversification

Phoenix, Arizona (January 8, 2026). WorldHotels, a global brand of independent luxury and lifestyle hotels, today announced an impressive year of growth in 2025 fueled by increasing demand for authentic, experiential travel. WorldHotels has significantly expanded its footprint, welcoming nearly 100 new luxury and upscale hotels across 12 countries, new glamping locations, and the development of WorldHotels Residences, now under construction.

"Last year was a watershed year for WorldHotels. We didn't just grow our portfolio; we continued to innovate and transform our offerings to accommodate the changing luxury traveler's needs," said Ron Pohl, President of WorldHotels. "Each property has its own independent soul, history and unique offering which continues to resonate with today's guests. The luxury travel industry is on track to reach $1.7 trillion by 2032, and we're seeing consumers in this category crave more personalized, one-of-a-kind experiences. That's why we're expanding into branded residences, glamping and wellness offerings, providing them with the flexibility and authenticity they're seeking."

Notable Growth

New additions in 2025 showcase WorldHotels' growing strength across boutique cultural properties in Europe, vibrant urban lifestyle hubs in key global cities, and sought-after island and coastal escapes, including:

Boutique Properties That Celebrate Culture and History:

Collini Rooms, WorldHotels Crafted, Milan, Italy. Velvet Hotel, WorldHotels Crafted, Manchester, England. Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa, WorldHotels Distinctive, Inverness, Scotland.

Urban Lifestyle Hubs Across Global Cities:

Wenlan Hotel Northern Hangzhou, WorldHotels Elite, Hangzhou, China. The Florian Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, WorldHotels Crafted, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands. Acueducto Hotel, WorldHotels Crafted, Guadalajara, Mexico.

Leisure Islands and Coastal Escapes:

Arya Hotel & Suites Coconut Grove, WorldHotels Distinctive, Miami, FL. Acqua di Mare Resort, WorldHotels Distinctive, Roatan, Honduras. Van der Valk Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire, WorldHotels Elite, Kralendijk, Caribbean Netherlands.

Portfolio Diversification

In 2026, WorldHotels will continue its growth, with approximately 40 hotels in development and a robust pipeline, catering to the experiences luxury consumers seek, including:

Branded Residences: The brand will debut its new WorldHotels Residences portfolio with the opening of Essensia Sky and Parkway Saigon WorldHotels Residences in Ho Chi Minh City, offering flexible living paired with elevated hotel-style amenities.

Glamping: Building on momentum from its first glamping resort in 2025, WorldHotels will further expand into the experiential travel sector with new nature-focused retreats including Asheville River Cabins in North Carolina and The Lodge at Pico Bonito in Honduras.

Wellness: Soul Spring Sanctuary, WorldHotels Luxury, will open a second resort in Cabo in March as the brand's second wellness destination, strengthening its commitment to restorative and transformative travel.

About WorldHotels

WorldHotels is a privately held hotel soft brand within the BWH Hotels global enterprise. Founded by independent hoteliers dedicated to the art of hospitality, WorldHotels offers one of the finest portfolios of independent hotels and resorts around the globe, curated to inspire unique, life-enriching experiences that connect people and places. WorldHotels is comprised of four collections, each with its own personality and style: WorldHotels Luxury, WorldHotels Elite, WorldHotels Crafted, and WorldHotels Distinctive.