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NEWCRESTIMAGE HAS OPENED its first Canopy by Hilton upscale hotel in north Dallas. The Canopy is part of Frisco Station, a four-brand, 600-room "lifestyle hotel campus" developed by the company. The 150-room, seven-floor Canopy joins the first two hotels, an AC Hotel and Residence Inn dual-brand with 150 rooms each that opened in 2019. The fourth hotel, a 150-room Hyatt Place, currently has no scheduled date for start of construction. "The opening of this Canopy symbolizes the story of hospitality's comeback around the country and around the world," said Mehul Patel, chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. "Our company's commitment to serve travelers is not a victim of coronavirus, and we have many hygiene procedures in place so guests can feel safe, comfortable, and special." Some of those procedures include disinfecting guest luggage on arrival; using technology to reduce physical interaction between guests and staff during check-in and check-out; and improving the hotel's HVAC system to prevent spread of microbes and virus.

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS has entered into a new agreement with Groups360 to bring instant online multi-room bookings to Wyndham hotels in 2023. Using Groups360's GroupSync Marketplace direct booking solution, Wyndham hotel owners will have the opportunity to integrate the platform with their hotel reservation systems, providing travel planners, including groups and events organizers along with those managing infrastructure, logistics and corporate accounts, with rates and availability as well as booking of rooms online, the company said in a statement. "Over the last three years, Wyndham has invested over $100 million in major technology initiatives, giving our franchisees access to best-in-class offerings that unlock new efficiencies while helping to grow their bottom line," said Lisa Checchio, Wyndham's chief marketing officer. "Bringing franchisees access to GroupSync is just the latest example and one we believe offers incredible opportunity for franchisees, particularly those in the economy segment, where such technology is an industry first." Hotels that publish live inventory and rates within the GroupSync Marketplace save travel planners' valuable time by allowing them to search, shop and book blocks of rooms. Possible users include short one- to-two-night group events such as youth sports, weddings and family reunions, as well as multi-week infrastructure or logistics projects such as commercial construction, bridge repair or highway expansion, Wyndham's statement said.

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of a new brand and a new prototype respectively during the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles this week. Choice bills its Everhome Suites as a new-construction midscale extended-stay brand while Wyndham's Arbor new-build prototype for its Wyndham Garden brand focuses on reducing construction costs. Choice broke ground on the first Everhome Suites in Corona, California, shortly after officially launching the brand. It also has agreements for the development of 13 more of the new brand in Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles, and the company expects the first opening in 2021. Everhome Suites is meant to fill a gap in the extended-stay market, said Patrick Pacious, Choice's president and CEO.

THE U.S. HOTEL construction pipeline ticked up in September for the third consecutive month, according to STR. Also, year-over-year declines have been lessening each month since May. In STR's pipeline, 156,861 rooms were in construction during the month, down 8.9 percent from the same time last year. Another 173,932 rooms were in final planning, down 15.5 percent, and 282,225 rooms were planning, up 7 percent. New York City, Phoenix and Nashville are set to see the largest supply percentage increases from current construction, according to STR. Among the chain scales, the luxury and upscale segments led in that measurement.

THE U.S. HOTEL industry will be well on the way to recovery in 2022, according to consulting firm HVS Americas. However, a full recovery in real terms, after adjusting for inflation, remains a few years away, it added. With more assets, both distressed and well performing, expected to come to market this year, 2022 will be an exciting year for the industry, said Rod Clough, president of HVS, in an article titled 'ALIS 2022 Takeaways - Our Industry Braces for a Big Year Ahead'. A near full recovery in RevPAR at $85 for U.S. hotels is likely to happen by the end of 2022 when compared to $86 in 2018-19. "The higher inflationary environment will continue to bode well for hotels, resulting in ADR pricing power leading to a lift in revenue on top of still lean operational models. Group travel is still lagging the recovery, but near-term, smaller-group bookings (at newly raised room rates) should help bridge the gap while the industry waits for larger meetings to return," Clough wrote in the article. "Rising development costs due to supply-chain disruptions, labor shortages, and overall inflation are leading to a general contraction in new hotel openings. Moreover, development challenges are intensifying for major CBDs, attributed to slow office re-openings, a lag in larger convention bookings, higher operating/labor costs, and even higher construction costs than your average project."

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT, development and management firm VMV Capital recently broke ground on the Extended Stay America Premier Suites Duncan in Duncan, South Carolina. It is the first such property for VMV, led by Vinny Patel as CEO. The four-story, 88-room hotel is in Spartanburg County between Greenville and Spartanburg near many businesses, including BMW, Michelin, and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, according to VMV. Other attractions include the Trapped in the Upstate Escape Rooms, Greer Heritage Museum and several parks. Construction is under way and the hotel is expected to open in summer 2023. Hotel amenities will include a fitness room and an onsite guest laundry.

THE U.S. HOTEL construction pipeline was slightly up at the end of the first quarter of 2022, according to Lodging Econometrics. Dallas was the top U.S. market for building. The pipeline stood at 5,090 projects containing 606,302 rooms, up 2 percent by projects, but down 3 percent by rooms, during the period. There are 961 projects with 128,784 rooms currently under construction in the first quarter, down 27 percent by projects and 28 percent by rooms compared to 2021, stated the latest trend report by LE. There are 1,911 projects with 223,030 rooms are scheduled to start in the next 12 months, up 2 percent by projects and 3 percent by rooms. Projects and rooms in early planning reached a record high in the first quarter, with 2,218 projects containing 254,488 rooms, up 24 percent by projects and 12 percent by rooms, compared to a year ago.

VISION HOSPITALITY GROUP recently broke ground on its Embassy Suites by Hilton in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The seven-story 184-suite Embassy Suites will be developed for $54 million and includes rooftop and street-level bars and a coffee area in an open lobby. The project also includes a leasable restaurant space and 5,000 total square feet of meeting space, Vision said in a statement. Vision said it will bring an economic boost to the destination with more than 100 jobs ranging from senior management positions, guest service agents, housekeepers and others. With a construction timeline of approximately two years led by Humphreys and Associates Contractors, LLC, the hotel is expected to open in the summer of 2025. "We are thrilled to begin construction on this project in our hometown of Chattanooga, just steps from our company headquarters," said Mitch Patel, Vision's president and CEO. "This project is our first Embassy Suites hotel, and we know the brand's value-added services are a perfect fit for this location welcoming both corporate and leisure travelers." Embassy Suites by Hilton, one of Hilton's 19 brands. Amenities will include a fitness center and an evening reception. Embassy Suites by Hilton has more than 260 open hotels, with 42 properties under development. The Embassy Suites Chattanooga is one among 15 projects in Vision's development pipeline expected to open in the next two years. The company's portfolio comprises 16 properties in Greater Chattanooga and 41 nationwide, the statement added.

THE DEBUT PROPERTY of Vision Hospitality Group's lifestyle The Tribute Portfolio, the Kinley Cincinnati Downtown, is now open in Cincinnati, Ohio. Two more are planned to follow in Vision Hospitality's hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and in Louisville, Kentucky. The 94-room hotel is in the city's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood with nearby attractions including the William Howard Taft National Historic Site, the Cincinnati Art Museum and Cincinnati Music Hall. Vision Hospitality, led by Mitch Patel as CEO, renovated the historic Denton Building, constructed in 1916 by Cincinnati architect Alfred Oscar Elzner, to house the hotel. Kinley Cincinnati Downtown décor features artwork showing local history local art pieces curated in partnership with the Cincinnati Art Underground. It includes the restored mural "Allegro" painted by artist Barron Krody for the 1971 series entitled Urban Walls: Cincinnati.

The Best Western Plus Brooklyn-Prospect Park is now in Brooklyn, New York. It is owned by Mahesh Ratanji and is near several major attractions. The 67-room property provides easy access to the area's top attractions, including Barclays Center, Flatbush Avenue, Luna Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Zoo, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Brewery and many more. The hotel is also nearby popular Brooklyn neighborhoods like Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, Dumbo, Red Hook, Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay. The new construction hotel provides amenities including a 24-hour fitness center and a business center. The hotel guestrooms are designed in bright colors and has 55-inch flat-screen televisions, mini fridges and coffee makers. Free wireless internet is available throughout the property.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE fell slightly in the first week of February from the week before, according to STR. Occupancy was 55.3 percent for the week ending Feb. 4, down from 56.3 percent the week before and decreased 7.3 percent from 2019. ADR was $145.35 during the week, increased from $142.66 the week before and up 13.9 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $80.45 in the first week, slightly up from $80.32 the week before and up 5.6 percent from January 2019. None of STR's top 25 markets saw an occupancy increase during the week. Las Vegas came closest to its 2019 occupancy at 78.2 percent, down 1.4 percent. It also reported the highest ADR, up 79.5 percent to $221.38 and RevPAR, up 76.9 percent to $173.20, over 2019 mainly due to Design & Construction Week 2023 and the NFL Pro Bowl Games.

FOUR HOTELS RECENTLY joined Hospitality International's hihotels brand, including three Red Carpet Inns along the East Coast and a new-build Scottish Inns outside of Houston, Texas. The company expects more growth in the future. Hihotels includes five brands Scottish Inns, Red Carpet Inn, Master Hosts Inns, Downtowner Inns and Passport Inn. The new properties include. Red Carpet Inn in Elkton, Maryland, 55 rooms, former Days Inn Red Carpet Inn in North Brunswick, New Jersey, 50 rooms, former independent Red Carpet Inn in Edison, New Jersey, 42 rooms, former OYO Hotel Scottish Inns in Richmond, Texas, 35 rooms, new construction While three of the four are conversions, the property in Richmond is the latest new build to join the brand. Two other Scottish Inns construction projects are currently ongoing in Texas in Houston and Forest Hill. Another new build recently opened in Hitchcock, Texas.

Rodney Williams is retiring from his position as principal and chief investment officer at Noble Investment Group at the end of the year. He will continue to serve on the firm's investment committee as a senior advisor. Williams joined Noble in 2004 as the company's first CIO overseeing the company's sourcing and investment underwriting as well as executing project developments. Prior to joining Noble, he was a managing principal with Hardin Capital, a joint venture between DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners and Hardin Construction, and held senior executive roles with Coopers & Lybrand, InterContinental Hotels, and Laventhol & Horwath. "Rodney's impact on our Noble organization has been profound," said Mit Shah, Noble CEO. "His vision, integrity, and devotion have made us a better team. His benevolence and grace have made me a better person. Perhaps Rodney's most important legacy will be his most valued endeavor - helping to develop and inspire our next generation of Noble stewards to lead lives that matter."

NATALIE ROBINSON IS now vice president of people and culture for Peachtree Group. Also, the Atlanta-based company, led by Jatin Desai and Mitul Patel as managing principals, also says it's on the way to a record year for new hotel construction. Good with people Previously, Robinson was the human resource director of title company OS National, according to Peachtree Group. She began her career developing accounting and billing policies and procedures, as well as human resources systems for two Atlanta law firms. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and criminal justice from the University of Georgia. "It's an exciting time at Peachtree as our organization expands and evolves," said Vivian Clarke, Peachtree's senior vice president of people and culture. "Natalie's strong leadership skills will advance our culture, drive our growth and talent strategy, and strengthen our reputation as an employer of choice. We are proud of Peachtree's high team member engagement, and the company culture built and recognize the opportunity to improve our people processes and discipline as we further scale the business." Peachtree made several changes to its structure and leadership in September.

STONEHILL CRE, THE commercial real estate group of investment firm Stonehill, has originated and purchased $200 million in first mortgage loans since being launched in the second quarter of 2022. The companies expect to complete an additional $100 million in loan originations and other transactions by year's end, based upon deals in its pipeline, and Stonehill CRE is targeting over $500 million in transaction for 2023. Stonehill CRE, formed in May with Daniel Siegel as its president, is designed to work in all real estate sectors to navigate ongoing market volatility and enable real estate owners to execute their business plans, according to the company. Its work has made Stonehill the 10th largest U.S. hotel lender in 2021, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Atlanta-based Stonehill and Stonehill CRE are affiliates of Peachtree Group, led by Jatin Desai and Mitul Patel as managing principals. "Stonehill CRE's formation came at a fortuitous time as market conditions have created a dislocated lending environment for commercial real estate," said Siegel. "Traditional lenders have not only slowed commercial real estate lending but also tightened underwriting standards, which allows us to provide needed liquidity for maturing loans, new acquisitions and construction projects."

GREATER ACCESS TO capital and addressing the severe labor shortage facing the hospitality industry were the major topics to address for AAHOA's Spring National Advocacy Conference last week. It was the final advocacy conference for Nishant "Neal" Patel as AAHOA chairman. "It was an honor to attend my final advocacy conference as chairman. We brought nearly 200 AAHOA leaders to Washington, D.C., to advocate on behalf of our industry and on behalf of AAHOA's 20,000 members," Patel said in a press release. "Creating relationships with our elected officials is a top priority for AAHOA, and we will continue to work on your behalf, strengthening relationships so we can continue to represent the entire hospitality industry with your best interests at heart." The AAHOA reps met with more than 200 elected officials. Their mission included educating those officials on the importance of hotels to their communities and the economy at large. The issues at hand were essentially the same as those addressed during AAHOA's Fall National Advocacy Conference in September. AAHOA's main advocacy objectives include: More access to capital by increasing Small Business Administration loan caps/limits - Currently, SBA 7(a) and 504 loan limits are capped at $5 million, but AAHOA wants that raised to $10 million, which would be the first increase in the cap since 2010. AAHOA said hoteliers' costs of constructing and purchasing properties have risen past that cap over the past decade.

PEACHTREE GROUP RECENTLY received I-956F approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency overseeing the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, for developing a Home2 Suites by Hilton in Boone, North Carolina. USCIS adjudicated the I-956F petition for the hotel development in five months, Peachtree said in a statement. "It is a testament to the due diligence of the Peachtree team that it was able to get the project approved so quickly, especially when the published processing time is over 15 months," said Adam Greene, Peachtree's executive vice president of EB-5. The company, led by Greg Friedman as CEO and managing principal, Jatin Desai as managing principal and Mitul Patel as principal, originated $21.7 million in fixed-rate construction financing over a five-year term for Narsi Properties to develop the 105-room Home2 Suites near downtown Boone, Peachtree said. Narsi Properties is led by Deven, Neel and Rupal Patel as principals.

Stonehill CRE, the real estate arm of Stonehill, has finalized a $52 million senior loan agreement with Starpoint Properties to fund the construction of Lotus Point Apartments, a 245-unit multifamily development in Mesa, Arizona, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area. The construction of this four-story building is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2025, Stonehill said in a statement. "This investment mirrors our sought-after strategy - a quality property with an experienced sponsor in a growing market," said Taylor Pike, senior vice president at Stonehill CRE. "Phoenix stands as a strong job growth market due to diverse employment opportunities. Single-family home development has not kept pace, and with rising mortgage rates, well-located multifamily projects will remain in high demand." This 6-acre site, adjacent to a retail center and within walking distance of the metro light rail, will provide studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, along with amenities such as a fitness center, clubhouse, co-working area, pool, and parking options, Stonehill said.

DURING HIS LIFE and career, Jayanti P. "J.P." Rama touched a lot of lives and inspired people on all levels of the hospitality industry. Below are tributes from some of Rama's many friends and colleagues, as well as two of his brothers, following his death on Thursday. Hasmukh "H.P." Rama, brother "My bother JP was man of principle and in his own way he pursued what he strongly believed in. He was man of tremendous courage and stood up for a number of causes, many of which he made his life's mission. He was, like a coconut : from outside he appeared tough but inside was very soft and willing to accommodate anyone and do the right thing at the right time. He was a great entrepreneur who willingly learned all trades of the hospitality business, be it technology, understanding all aspects of the construction process or absorbing or financial information.