IJR News

Dolly Parton Hotel, Museum Open in Nashville — 3dDolly Parton’s SongTeller Hotel and Life of Many Colors Museum have opened in downtown Nashville, offering a hotel, live entertainment and an expansive exhibition tracing her life and career. Parton helped shape the project, which also highlights her philanthropy and connection to the city; early museum tickets are reportedly selling out.

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Africa Hotel Pipeline Hits Record 104,444 RoomsTravel — 3dTravel developments include Pine Cliffs’ June wellness retreat, Myrtle Beach’s expanded autism-friendly offerings, and a 12% increase in summer flights to Madeira from the UK. Separately, Africa’s hotel pipeline reached a record 577 properties, while Kyoto’s Imperial Hotel named a general manager and joined The Leading Hotels of the World ahead of its 2026 opening.

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Hotels Across Five Regions Earn 2026 Michelin KeysTravel — 4dThe 2026 MICHELIN Guide has recognized hotels across several destinations with MICHELIN Keys, including Dar Tantora in AlUla, Four Seasons Resort Puerto Rico, Dorset’s The Priory and Waco’s Hotel 1928. Five Houston hotels also earned Keys, with the distinctions recognizing exceptional stays, service, character and connection to place.

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Choice Hotels Opens Six Properties, Portfolio Tops 300 — Sep 29, 2026Choice Hotels opened six upscale properties across Colorado, Florida, Vermont and Wisconsin: two Cambria hotels and four Ascend Collection hotels. The openings bring its U.S. upscale portfolio to more than 300 operating hotels, with nearly 150 more in development.

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Oregon Resort Plans Rare Midcentury Home TourTravel — 4dOregon offers travelers varied getaways, from Portland’s food and city attractions to Eugene’s boutique hotels, wine and farm-to-table dining. Along the coast, Salishan’s architect-designed midcentury homes add a distinctive draw, while Portland stays such as Hotel Lucia offer a downtown base for visitors.

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Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

IHG to cancel 2,000 shares repurchased in early October buybacks — 3dInterContinental Hotels Group repurchased 1,000 shares on both Oct. 2 and Oct. 5 under its existing buyback program and plans to cancel them. After the Oct. 5 purchase, 147,158,314 ordinary shares remained outstanding, excluding treasury shares.

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IHG to Debut Noted Collection Brand in Tokyo With Two Hotels — Sep 28, 2026IHG will bring its Noted Collection to Japan with two Tokyo hotels: a 207-room Shinjuku property to be renovated and opened in 2027, and an 81-room new-build in Ginza scheduled for 2029. The signings mark the brand’s first entry into Japan and East Asia-Pacific, pairing hotels’ distinct local identities with IHG’s global network and loyalty program.

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Chris Dalton Ginza getting an 81-room property in 2029 feels like a smart long-term move for IHG to build loyalty with travelers who want local character plus points.

Mike Tomlin unveils the Minecraft city he has been building for 12 years — 6dFormer Steelers coach Mike Tomlin posted a YouTube tour of the single Minecraft map he has worked on for more than a decade, from a boutique hotel to stadiums and aquarium high-rises.

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US Marine Arrested in Suspected Okinawa Robbery-Murder — 4dA 20-year-old U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa was arrested on suspicion of murdering 39-year-old Anna Yagi and stealing her belongings at a Naha hotel. Police say surveillance footage showed them entering together; the Marine has denied the allegations, and investigators are working with the U.S. military as the case continues.

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Christopher Tipton The Japanese are rather well known for not showing photos of any arrested subjects. So that is not a thing for you to worry about. I was a Marine MP on Okinawa many moons ago. If he did it, then his conviction is 99% assured. Japan does have the death penalty (hanging) although they often drag out the time between sentencing and execution as a form of punishment. The condemned often doesn't know when he'll be executed until literally a few hours before it happens. That is also on purpose.