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InterContinental to Return to Manila, Magnus Walker’s Rare Porsche Sale, Jim Irsay’s Historic Rock N’ Roll Collection & More

Thoughtful upgrades, storied objects, and brands that know exactly where to place their bets.
March 20, 2026
A signed Beatles Sgt. Pepper poster, dated 1967 Photo: Christie’s

This week in sees a mix of strategic repositioning and notable releases across sectors.

Marriott continues to refine its hospitality portfolio with developments in Hawaii, while InterContinental signals its return to Manila with a long-term project. In India, The Leela expands into nature-led with a new resort acquisition in Coorg.

On the auction front, Magnus Walker’s Porsche collection and select pieces from the Jim Irsay Collection head to market, highlighting continued demand for collectibles with strong provenance.

Magnus Walker’s Porsche Collection Heads to Auction

Photo: RM Sotheby’s

A selection from Magnus Walker’s storied garage heads to auction, offering buyers a chance to acquire that same irreverent spirit as part of the Outlaw Collection.

Photo: Darin Schnabel, courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Highlights include a 1976 Porsche 911 Turbo, equal parts brute force and cultural icon, alongside a razor-sharp 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI, prized for its mechanical purity. Even a 1968 Porsche 911 “Urban Outlaw” starter kit—complete with Walker’s signature provenance—makes the cut.

Place your bids here.

The Leela Bets Big on Coorg

The Leela Palace Bengaluru Photo: The Leela

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is doubling down on India’s growing appetite for nature-led , acquiring a resort in Coorg for up to ₹560 crore (approximately P380 million). Set in the mist-laced hills of Karnataka, the property is expected to lean into low-density design. So yes, expect private villas, expansive decks, and architecture that dissolves into the landscape rather than competes with it.

InterContinental Returns to Manila

Designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin, it held the distinction of being the longest-running international chain hotel in the Philippines. Photo: Patrick Roque

InterContinental is making its way back to Manila, carrying with it the memory of its former home in Makati. For decades, the property set the tempo for the city’s idea of international before its quiet exit in 2015.

This new iteration, slated within a mixed-use development, arrives with a longer horizon and a different brief. Less nostalgia, more calibration. The timeline stretches into the next decade, signaling confidence rather than haste.

More information here.

The Jim Irsay Collection Goes on Tour—and Under the Hammer

The Fender Mustang guitar Kurt Cobain used in Nirvana’s music video for the 1991 single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sold for US$6.9 million (approximately P412 million). Photo: Christie’s

Part rock ‘n’ roll archive, part Americana fever dream, the Jim Irsay Collection sent select pieces to auction, with total sales closing at US$84 million (approximately P4.7 billion). Collectors encountered artifacts that became witnesses to some of music history’s most pivotal moments.

The original typescript scroll for the first draft of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road sold for US$12,135,000 (approximately P713,000). Photo: Christie’s

Highlights included David Gilmour’s famed Black Strat, Bob Dylan’s electric guitar from the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, and handwritten lyrics from Prince. Irsay notably first gained prominence as a collector in 2001, when he acquired the 120-foot scroll on which Jack Kerouac typed the original draft of his seminal novel, On the Road.

St. Regis Stakes Its Claim in Kapalua Bay

Hotel Imperial in Vienna, Austria is part of Marriott International’s Luxury Collection. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Marriott International is sharpening its portfolio in Hawaii, with plans to convert the Resort at Kapalua Bay into a St. Regis. The shift suggests a softer, more residential take on island luxury. Expect low-slung architecture, generous lanais, and interiors that favor restraint over spectacle. Service, as always, will carry the weight, with St. Regis’ butler tradition anchoring the experience.

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