The first eight months of 2026 have kept us busy. What's different this year is the wider range of advisory mandates, and the complexity of the projects we've been trusted with.
New Projects, Growing Scope
Our project pipeline this year reflects both broad geographic reach and depth of mandate, spanning projects completed and projects still underway:
- UAE — Portfolio strategy for a 5-star and a 7-star hotel
- KSA — Operational technical and brand standards for a high-end hotel brand
- Cyprus — Destination planning, concept and feasibility study
- Greece — Co-located hotel and branded residence project for an ultra-luxury resort hotel
- Malta — Strategic consultancy for a luxury mixed-use development
- UK — Strategic consulting
- Denmark — Repositioning strategy
- Bulgaria — Concept and feasibility study
- Albania — Destination and leisure amenity concept development
- Tajikistan — Owner representation and asset management, InterContinental Dushanbe
Strengthening the Team
We welcomed two senior appointments this year. Alejandra Resa Abad joined as Director in March, bringing over a decade of experience across strategic consulting, feasibility advisory, and luxury hotel operations, including as General Manager of two award-winning boutique properties, one of which earned a Michelin Key under her leadership.
In April, Henning Matthiesen joined as Non-Executive Director, adding more than two decades of experience as a General Manager and Managing Director across landmark European luxury hotels, most recently leading the largest redevelopment in the 150-year history of Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, all while maintaining uninterrupted five-star operations.
Being Part of the Conversation
Our Group CEO Roger Allen took part in a series of industry events across Europe in the first half of 2026. At AOHIS in Madrid, he moderated a panel on designing and building branded residences within multi-use projects. At HIDE in London, he joined leaders from Hilton, Marriott, and Nobu Hospitality for an investment-focused discussion on branded residences. At IHIF in Berlin, he led a Wellness Roundtable alongside SHA Wellness Clinic's Alfredo Bataller and served as a judge for Pitch Perfect. In April, we co-hosted the CEE Roadshow across Prague, Vienna, and Budapest alongside Global Branded Residences, Bogle Architects, and VMI Studio, in association with Minor Hotels. In May, Roger represented us at the R&R Forum Advisory Board Meeting in London, discussing investment trends, branded residences, and the future direction of the Forum.
Releasing the 2026 Wellness Real Estate Report
We also released the 2026 Wellness Real Estate Report, now in its seventh edition, offering data-driven insight for investors, developers, and operators navigating the wellness real estate sector.
Looking Ahead
Turns out clients keep coming back to us for the same reason: the ability to zoom out and see the big picture, while paying just as much attention to detail. We're grateful to work with clients who bring genuine openness to the table and welcome new ideas. We look forward to what the rest of 2026 will bring.
Have a project or vision in mind? We'd love to make it happen.
Get in touch at contactus@rlaglobal.com.
