Commis Chef

Hilton's Motto debut in Japan signals a bigger mid-market shift. Today at 6:00 PM PDT Hilton is debuting its Motto by Hilton brand in Japan, signing a Kyoto hotel, as it expands beyond its growing luxury footprint in the country. Motto by Hilton Kyoto Shijo Karasuma is scheduled to open in 2029 and will take Hilton's Kyoto portfolio to seven hotels. Hilton opened its first Kyoto hotel - ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts in 2021. An upcoming Curio Collection by Hilton hotel will add another lifestyle property to the city. Hilton is building out its luxury and lifestyle portfolio quickly in Japan, while also preparing to enter parts of the market where it has had less of a presence. The company is also preparing to bring more affordable brands to the country, including Hampton by Hilton and Spark by Hilton. "We expect luxury and lifestyle to remain a major growth driver in Japan's hotel market, with mid-market brands becoming a more meaningful part of the mix," Clarence Tan, Hilton's senior vice president of Peden Doma Bhutia is Asia Editor at Skift, covering aviation, hospitality, travel tech, and geopolitics, with a focus on how policy and consumer behavior are reshaping travel in the region. Based in India, she tracks the country's role in shaping global travel trends.

Hilton to launch new Loyalty tier 'Black Diamond' (above The Honors society/diamond Reserve). September 28, 2026 In late 2025 Hilton launched a new invite only tier above Diamond Reserve called 'The Honors Society'. Less than a year later it seems they are launching a new tier above The Honors Society called Black Diamond according to Loyalty Lobby. Not sure I really understand the strategy here from Hilton, I guess they have been getting push back from elites that status has become meaningless and this is the solution but adding a new tier after less than 12 months doesn't seem sustainable.

Hilton opens its first Tapestry Collection hotel in Central America. By Iuliia Tore / Sep 26, 2026 / 2 minutes of reading Table of Contents Hilton has opened the first Tapestry Collection property in both Costa Rica and Central America, expanding its lifestyle portfolio into the mountains of Heredia outside San José. Montara Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton opened on September 24 with 97 rooms overlooking Costa Rica's Central Valley. The hotel is around 20 kilometers from Juan Santamaría International Airport and central San José, giving it access to the capital while maintaining a more secluded mountain setting. The opening reflects a wider shift among major hotel groups toward collection brands that allow individual properties to maintain a distinctive local identity while still using a global reservation system and loyalty programme. Nature and wellness are central to the hotel's positioning. Montara is designed around views, nature and wellness rather than functioning simply as an airport or city hotel. Nearby attractions include Braulio Carrillo National Park, Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, allowing international visitors to combine the property with day trips into some of Costa Rica's most popular natural areas. The hotel is also targeting weddings, corporate retreats and small events, segments that can be particularly valuable for properties outside major urban centers because they generate food, beverage and meeting-space revenue in addition to room bookings. Costa Rica continues to attract international hotel investment. Costa Rica has long been one of Central America's strongest tourism markets, supported by its national parks, wildlife, beaches and established ecotourism reputation. That has increasingly attracted global hotel operators beyond the traditional resort areas of Guanacaste and the Pacific coast. Properties closer to San José can serve both international arrivals and travelers beginning or ending longer itineraries through the country. Montara's location gives Hilton a product that sits between a city hotel and a nature retreat. Collection brands are expanding rapidly. Tapestry Collection allows independently styled hotels to operate within Hilton's commercial ecosystem while retaining more design freedom than a conventional standardized brand. Guests can still earn and redeem Hilton Honors points, while owners gain access to the group's global distribution network. For Hilton, the Costa Rica opening adds another lifestyle property in a region where international hotel development continues to accelerate, while giving Tapestry Collection its first foothold anywhere in Central America. Iuliia is the editor-in-chief and oversees all editorial content.She was born and raised in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Iuliia is passionate about all aspects of travel and tourism and holds a Master's degree in International Tourism Management.Iuliia Tore lives for two houses in Kharkiv and in Valencia, Spain, and loves spending time outdoors. Work aside, she has a passion for travel, painting, arts, food, and culture.