Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that Executive Chairman Thomas J. Pritzker is retiring with immediate effect. Mr Pritzker will also leave the Board of Directors this May. Mark S. Hoplamazian, Hyatt’s President and CEO, has been appointed to succeed him as Chairman. The transition follows Pritzker’s forty-year career with the company, during which he oversaw significant global growth. Mr Hoplamazian will now lead the Board while continuing his duties as Chief Executive.
Marriott Bonvoy has partnered with Bank Mandiri to launch its first co-branded credit card in Indonesia. This move marks the travel program’s debut in the Southeast Asian credit market and Bank Mandiri’s first collaboration with a global hospitality group. The card allows Indonesian travellers to accumulate points through daily spending, which can be redeemed across Marriott’s portfolio of 10,000 destinations.
Dubai-based AI lab Smart Bricks has secured $5 million in pre-seed funding led by Andreessen Horowitz. The startup is developing agentic AI infrastructure to automate the global real estate investment process. By processing millions of data points, the platform identifies high-value opportunities and handles underwriting in minutes rather than months. The company aims to provide retail and institutional investors with the same sophisticated tools used by major private equity firms.
JLL has named Mouhammad Takieddin as the new Regional Head and CEO for the Middle East and Africa. Based in Riyadh, Takieddin brings 25 years of experience from Procter & Gamble to lead JLL’s expansion into high-growth sectors including data centres and AI-driven facilities management. This strategic move strengthens the firm's leadership alongside existing regional heads while deepening its established ties with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
Real estate giant REMAX has announced a major expansion of its global network with the sale of master franchise rights in Libya and a new office opening in Azerbaijan. The Tripoli-based Libyan operation is led by experienced owners Zyead and Alhareth Ghattour. In Baku, entrepreneur İdris Cengiz has launched a 2,000 square foot facility to serve a growing market. These moves increase the brand's presence to more than 120 countries and territories.
Hard Rock International has unveiled plans for an $850 million hotel, casino and residential complex in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Slated to open in 2029, the project features 415 rooms and 186 branded residences. The development aims to combine luxury hospitality with the island's vibrant music culture, offering a recording studio and event spaces. Construction will begin in mid-2026, creating over 3,500 total jobs for the local economy.
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