NEW YORK, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Flag Capital, the renowned Boston-based hospitality investment company, announces a transformative year of growth with a significant expansion of the portfolio, doubling its footprint with the addition of four new highly-anticipated properties with confirmed opening dates all set to debut in summer 2026. The new openings include Faraway Jackson Hole, Faraway Sag Harbor, Hotel Corduroy in Montauk, and Oyster Estate in Greenport. Known for its celebrated collection of hotels on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, the expansion reinforces Blue Flag's position as a design-forward hospitality group focused on long-term stewardship of beloved historic properties, thoughtful restoration, a strong sense of place, and culture-led, community-driven experiences in iconic leisure destinations.

The milestone year also marks Faraway's expansion to the American West and a deepened commitment to Jackson Hole. Following Blue Flag's 2023 acquisition of Snake River Lodge & Spa and the neighboring Alpenhof Lodge, two beloved properties at the base of Teton Mountain, Blue Flag has been actively operating and repositioning the hotels as part of its long-term vision for the destination. This summer, the former Snake River Lodge & Spa will be transformed into the new Faraway Jackson Hole, while Alpenhof Lodge will temporarily close in April 2026, re-opening in 2028 to introduce a new chapter that harkens back to its early upscale roots. Together, the properties anchor Blue Flag's growing presence in Teton Village, reinforcing its commitment to stewarding historic hotels while introducing its signature design-driven hospitality to a new generation of travelers.

Alongside Jackson Hole, Faraway is deepening its presence along the East Coast with the transformation of the historic Baron's Cove into Faraway Sag Harbor. A natural next chapter in Blue Flag's coastal story, the 67-room property is being reimagined as an elegant compound designed to feel collected over time. Blue Flag's growing collection also includes the new high-design beachside retreat, Hotel Corduroy in Montauk, and Oyster Estate, a boutique hotel drawing inspiration from the nautical history of its setting in downtown Greenport, NY. The expansion underscores the firm's commitment to acquiring and developing highly differentiated lifestyle hotels with bold design identity, compelling food and beverage concepts, and the operational infrastructure to be a key player in competitive and sought-after travel markets.

Founded with a mission to rediscover the soul in hospitality, Blue Flag combines strategic real estate stewardship with immersive brand creation, supported by distinct design, sensory guest experiences, and operational expertise through its in-house management company, Collared Martin Hospitality. The brand's current established operating properties include Faraway Martha's Vineyard, Faraway Nantucket, along with Beachside Hotel, Blue Iris, Brass Lantern, and Life House Nantucket.

"Hospitality is at its best when it connects deeply with guests and the communities around it," said Blue Flag Capital Co-Founder and CEO, Jason Brown. "For us, honoring historic properties goes far beyond preserving beautiful buildings, it's about honoring the people, traditions, and hospitality that make these places so meaningful. As our portfolio continues to grow, our mission remains the same: to steward these properties thoughtfully and help restore the soul of these remarkable destinations for both travelers and the communities that surround them."

Summer 2026 Openings

Hotel Corduroy | Montauk, NY – Set in a prime location on the edge of Montauk, Hotel Corduroy is a boutique hotel that has been reimagined for today's modern traveler. Offering a refined interpretation of Montauk's surf heritage, the East End escape offers 29 contemporary styled guest rooms with custom design accents across three buildings, a private beach, and an expansive central lawn space for leisure. Opening early May 2026 with guest room bookings available online HERE.

Faraway Sag Harbor | Sag Harbor, NY – Arriving on the Hamptons waterfront, Faraway Sag Harbor is an intimate 67-room boutique hotel rooted in maritime history and whaling heritage, featuring layered coastal interiors. The hotel's waterfront restaurant, Zagara, brings Amalfi Coast–inspired seafood and coastal flavors to the harbor's edge, complementing the hotel's overall vibrant food and beverage program also including a ground-floor bar and lounge. The property offers residential-style guestrooms, a pool and terrace, and intimate communal spaces that embody Sag Harbor's harborfront lifestyle. Opening early June 2026 with guest room bookings available online HERE.

Faraway Jackson Hole | Jackson Hole, WY – Expanding Blue Flag's geographic reach westward, Faraway Jackson Hole debuts as the first noncoastal property, bringing a contemporary mountain aesthetic to one of the country's premier year-round destinations. Located in Teton Village and opening with 90 rooms & suites and 48 residences, the hotel features warm, natural interiors and expansive alpine views. Sure Hand, the onsite restaurant, sits adjacent to a lobby lounge with a wood-burning masonry fireplace, offering seasonal dishes and craft cocktails inspired by the local spirit and ingredients of Wyoming. Key amenities include a year-round indoor/outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and direct ski access, offering a refined basecamp experience. Faraway Jackson Hole is in close proximity to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, bringing summer's hiking, wildlife, and outdoor adventures within easy reach of guests. A second phase, planned for 2028, will bring expanded guestrooms, a signature restaurant, and dedicated meeting and event space. Opening early June 2026 with guest room bookings available online HERE.

Oyster Estate | Greenport, NY – A reimagined 34-room boutique hotel in the heart of Greenport Village, Oyster Estate brings a bold, design-forward identity to the North Fork, inspired by both the historic harbor and the surrounding farms and vineyards. At its center is a newly built courtyard pool and patio that serves as the focal point and social hub of the property, complemented by Fortune Favors, a vibrant onsite cocktail bar and dining destination. Additional amenities include a gym and dedicated meeting space, making the hotel one of the most thoughtfully appointed boutique offerings in the village. Opening September 2026 with more information to come HERE.

"We're incredibly excited to bring Faraway west to Jackson Hole, it's one of the most iconic, year-round leisure destinations in the country," said Blue Flag Capital Co-Founder and CDO, Brad Guidi. "Similarly, expanding across Long Island felt like a natural progression from Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. These are legacy markets with enduring demand, and we believe there's room for design-forward hotels that feel deeply connected to their surroundings. We've partnered with celebrated collaborators in the design space, including interior design firms Ward + Gray, Jenny Bukovec Studio, ISLYN Studio, and architects Workshop/APD, across these four openings to deliver a product that's elevated, welcoming, and intentionally crafted to introduce fresh, unique experiences to each market while honoring the local character and culture."

The addition of Jackson Hole and substantial presence in Long Island represent a meaningful next chapter for Blue Flag, Collared Martin, and the Faraway brand, which has plans for international expansion in the near future. With four openings in one season and continued strategic acquisitions underway, Blue Flag is quickly emerging as a distinctive new brand in lifestyle hospitality, blending meaningful property investment, clear brand vision, commitment to exceptional hospitality, and enriched guest experiences in the communities and destinations where they operate. As the company grows, its mission remains clear: to steward meaningful experiences and restore the soul of these remarkable properties for travelers and the communities that surround them.

It is the utmost pleasure of Mercury publications to support the efforts put forward by Jason Cheskes and Above the Line Solutions, to host tremendous Canadian Hotel Leadership Dinners for well over the last decade. These dinners have become a unique Canadian hotel industry tradition of hosting varied hotel professionals in a casual social environment where building and strengthening relationships across the industry is facilitated. We are thrilled be part of these initiatives and providing support with a photographer at each to capture the events. Our great thanks on behalf of the hotel industry, to Jason for his tireless efforts and creating these fantastic events tied to the timing of key industry conferences.- Frank Yeo, Publisher, Mercury Publications.

In March, 60 hotel leaders gathered for the Hotel Association of Canada’s “Welcome Back” Canadian Hotel Leadership dinner held following the HAC conference’s opening reception at the newly reopened Keg Toronto Airport, and recognizing the conference’s return to the Toronto area.

This year’s attendees included representatives from the HAC, Wyndham, Coast, Marriott, Travelodge, Realstar, Bayview Hospitality, Silver Hotels, IHG, Diamond Hotels, Aimmbridge, Synvest, Crown, Superior Lodging, Choice, Best Western, ZS Holdings, ORHMA, Vrancor, Holloway, Accor, Pomeroy, the Gupta Group, SilverBirch, Sandman, MasterBuilt, LHM, Oxford, and Listel Hotels.

Sponsors for the event included Foodbuy, Ecolab, Imperial Dade, RHB, LOC International, Moby TV, Eden Textiles, and Nerval.

Upcoming 2026 Canadian VIP Hotel Leadership Dinners are being held April 28th following the CHIC conference, and October 29th following WCLC.

Photos from the HAC Conference Opening Reception, March 4, 2026. Photography by Phillip Chin, Photographer at Large.

From October 14–15, the iconic JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District was buzzing with energy, as over 170 hotel owners, executives, and investors came together for Ascend 2025, and what a success it was!

This year, AHLA’S flagship event delivered cutting-edge insights into tourism trends, unlocked fresh investment opportunities, and sparked bold conversations around workforce strategy. Ascend wasn’t just a conference; it was a launchpad for the future of hospitality.

Keynote Highlights: Doug Stephens on The Business Archetypes of the Future

The day kicked off with an insightful keynote presentation from Business Futurist, Doug Stephens, who spoke about the Business Archetypes of the future. He challenged attendees to rethink the foundations of competitive strategy in today’s market and unpacked the shifts and trends that are currently reshaping consumer behavior and market competition. His key takeaway was that brands must differentiate themselves in either Design, Culture, Expertise, and Entertainment to maintain a competitive advantage in the current market.

Valuable Insights on Short-Term Rentals, Artificial Intelligence and Tourism Strategy

AHLA’s Laurie Chandler Vice President, Public Affairs led an engaging and interactive session on the impacts of unregulated short-term rentals on communities and hotels. Hoteliers across Alberta have made a significant effort to make their voice heard, and the results have been strong. Laurie encouraged attendees to take a stand and continue to speak to their local government concerning this issue.

Several key sessions centered around the importance of maintaining a strong workforce strategy.The Accommodation Outlookshared by Kirstin Hallet, CBRE’s Vice President of Valuation and Advisory Services, delivered valuable insights into factors that impact operational performance. She highlighted that Alberta's economic growth is expected to lead the country, with tourism identified as a key sector poised to support and accelerate the province’s growth.

As workforce strategies and operational excellence took center stage, AHLA’sElevate Hotel HR & Safety Programemerged as a timely resource for hotels. Elevate offers expert guidance, compliance support, and recognition tools, helping hotels to strengthen their operations and workplace culture.

The day ended with a session on Alberta’s Fiscal Landscape, led by ATB Senior Economist, Siddhartha Bhattacharya, where he covered various financial trends impacting the industry.

Sponsors and Acknowledgements

The success of the Ascend conference was made possible by the support of our varioussponsors and program partners. We also appreciate the JW Marriott team for their support in hosting the conference.

Final Thoughts

Ascend 2025 showcased the impact of innovation and a shared vision in shaping the future of Alberta’s hospitality sector, equipping attendees with actionable insights, tools, and connections to lead with confidence in this rapidly changing industry. For those looking to build on that momentum, theElevate programis a powerful next step to help hotels meet HR and Health and Safety obligations and earn recognition for doing so. We also encourage hotel owners to stay engaged as the conversations around short-term rentals continue to evolve.