modusPR Weekly丨 Westin Debuts in Suzhou, Langham Jinan Signed & More

01 Marriott International Expands in Suzhou with The Westin Suzhou, Wuzhong Signing

On April 14, the signing ceremony for The Westin Suzhou, Wuzhong took place by the picturesque Dantai Lake. As a premium brand under Marriott International, the highly anticipated Westin marks the brand’s debut in Suzhou. Located in Phase III of the Liuchuang Park in Wuzhong Taihu New Town, the hotel covers an area of over 20,000 square meters and is scheduled to open in 2029, aiming to set a new benchmark for the Westin brand. The Wuzhong District government stated it will vigorously promote the project to add momentum to regional development, while Marriott highlighted that the new property will elevate Wuzhong’s urban profile and cultural tourism appeal, achieving a win-win outcome.

02 Mushou Zhujing Hotel Shanghai Opens, Joining Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH)

On April 10, the Mushou Zhujing Hotel Shanghai officially opened its doors. Situated in Zhujing Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai, the hotel embraces the brand philosophy of “measured relaxation and effortless chic.” Blending the heritage of the ancient town with the mystique of a cedar forest, it creates a secluded urban retreat and has proudly joined the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) alliance. Located in northern Jinshan, adjacent to the upcoming Legoland and connecting to Jiaxing, Zhejiang, the property was designed by goa and Spring & Autumn Design, with landscape architecture by Z&T Studio. Covering nearly 50,000 square meters, it is surrounded by vast flower seas and dawn redwood forests. The 64 villa suites are nestled amidst winding waterways and woods, offering a serene wilderness experience. As both an urban resort and a designer hotel, Mushou Zhujing adopts a courtyard layout, seamlessly integrating the texture of the ancient town with rustic luxury.

03 The Langham, Jinan Officially Signed, Slated for 2029 Opening

On April 15, 2026, the highly anticipated signing of The Langham, Jinan project took place, marking the London-born luxury hotel brand’s debut in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province. Strategically located in the core area of the Honglou TOD urban renewal project (Phase II) in Licheng District, the hotel aims to seamlessly blend Langham’s British elegance with Jinan’s profound cultural heritage. With the management contract officially signed, The Langham, Jinan has entered its preparatory phase and is expected to make its grand debut in 2029, inviting guests on a journey of classic luxury and cultural exploration.

04 The Standard to Open Its First New U.S. Hotel in a Decade

Recently, The Standard announced that its newest property, The Standard, Austin, will officially open in spring 2027. This marks the brand’s first new opening in the U.S. market in nearly ten years and its highly anticipated debut in Texas. Developed jointly by Hyatt and Timberline Real Estate Partners, the project will be operated by an Austin-based creative team, with full support from Hyatt’s Austin-based Bunkhouse brand team.

05 Burj Al Arab Dubai Announces Year-and-a-Half Closure

On April 15 local time, the iconic Burj Al Arab in Dubai, UAE, announced it will close for a year and a half to undergo extensive restoration work. This follows a previous incident on March 1 where the hotel caught fire after an attack.