Marriott International continues to expand its portfolio in the Philippines with the opening of the Sheraton Manila Hotel. The property is located at Resorts World Manila and is the first landmark seen upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

JW Marriott Hotel Harbin River North opened. The property is the first for the brand in Northeast China and is located in the city’s business center, the Harbin Songbei district. The hotel's 345 guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, offering views of the islands and rivers that run throughout the city.

The Last Hotel St. Louis will open the spring of 2019 with 142 guest rooms and more than 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The downtown property will debut a bar and restaurant and a rooftop bar and lounge as well the Pantry stocked with local and house-made goods.

Renaissance Minneapolis Bloomington Hotel opened following a multimillion-dollar renovation. The hotel debuted a minimalist design across all 253 newly-designed guest rooms, 4,000 square feet of meeting space and public areas. The property also offers a new Club Lounge. An expanded fitness center and the addition of a new restaurant LARS (Local, Authentic, Relaxed, Social).

Executive Chef Ben George of Savor… at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, shared his Bourbon Espresso Glaze recipe that he said works well on any type of beef or on top of smoked brisket.

Last March 2018, Ben George was feeling the madness. As executive chef for Savor… at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, he was preparing food for the first and second rounds of the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, hosted by Wichita State University. George led the efforts to provide meals to more than 45,000 guests during the event, including more than 4,000 boxed lunches.

Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach reopened following a multimillion-dollar renovation. The resort features a redesigned lobby, new Ocean View Studio suites, first floor Cabana Terrace rooms and a remodeled pool terrace.

Delta Hotels by Marriott Dallas Allen & Watters Creek Convention Center is now open. This is the first Delta Hotels branded property in the DFW area and the first new build in North America. The hotel features 90,000 square feet of convention, ballroom and meeting space, 300 guest rooms and suites and a restaurant by celebrity Chef Stephan Pyles.

PHI Hotel Group announced the opening of The Westin Calgary Airport. The 247-room hotel boasts a 30,000-square-foot conference center.

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa completed its renovation with the debut of six new pool suites. According to Steve Hart, general manager and area general manager, the addition of the six new poolside suites rounds out a compilation of enhancements the resort added in 2018, totaling $8 million.