New Minor Hotels brands and properties, alongside strategic market entries, are set to fuel global expansion in 2026 and transform the way travellers choose where to stay.
The hotel owner and operator signed 40 new contracts and master agreements in 2025 — its highest annual total to date — and expects to secure a further 25 signings in the first quarter of 2026, underlining owner demand and signaling “another record growth year ahead.”
The group already boasts more than 640 properties globally and is entering a new phase of growth built on market depth, portfolio diversification and an asset-light expansion strategy. Four new hotel brands will join Minor’s global platform in 2026, with a heightened focus on franchising, branded residences and selective deployment in key travel destinations.
A new wave of hotels and brands
In 2026, Minor Hotels plans to debut multiple brands in North America, with openings in major cities including New York and Miami plus luxury properties in the Caribbean. The group’s move into these high-priority markets reflects a broader intent to balance its strong presence in Europe — where more than half of its portfolio already sits — and deepen its footprint across popular travel regions.
More than 60% of the expected Q1 signings will be in the Middle East and Asia, according to the company, illustrating where future travel demand is strongest. In Asia, pipeline growth continues with a focus on Japan after a joint venture for 21 properties across the country, while India remains a priority market with more than a dozen projects in development.
Minor Hotels will also strengthen its London presence, leveraging the existing footprint of The Wolseley Hospitality Group acquired in 2022, and expand in North Africa with demand-led growth in Egypt and Morocco. Across Europe, the group aims to broaden its reach beyond city hotels and increase exposure to resort destinations in the Mediterranean — an appealing proposition for summer holidaymakers and long-haul travellers alike.
Bringing new brands to market is central to this strategy. The Minor Reserve Collection and Colbert Collection will cater to independent owners seeking global distribution and loyalty benefits without surrendering unique property identities. At the luxury end, The Wolseley Hotels positions itself as a rarefied brand, launching in select global gateway cities with carefully chosen projects.
Franchising, residences and future travel trends
Franchising plays a core role in the group’s asset-right strategy, enabling capital-efficient growth while preserving operational control and brand standards. Around 87% of the extended pipeline is now asset-light, up from 70% last year, and franchising will be a key lever in mature markets such as Europe and the United States — especially for brands like NH Hotels & Resorts and iStay Hotels.
Branded residences continue to grow beyond their luxury niche into mainstream lifestyle offerings, with about 20% of Minor’s total pipeline now incorporating residential components. In 2026, the group will launch its first standalone branded residence project, anchored by luxury names like Anantara and Tivoli. Mixed-use developments in markets such as the UAE, Spain and India also signal the widening appeal of hotel-linked residential stays for long-term visitors and lifestyle buyers alike.
Underpinning this growth is a planned hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) targeting a mid-2026 listing, which aims to recycle capital from mature properties to fuel further expansion. As global travel demand evolves, the moves by Minor Hotels in 2026 point toward a broader array of stays for business travellers, families and leisure explorers — from luxe urban hotels to branded homes in vacation hotspots.
