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SAI LLC, LED by president Rajesh "Raj" Bhagia, recently won the 2023 Hilton Americas Development Award for New Build - Tru by Hilton in Brooklyn, New York. The 101-room Tru by Hilton Brooklyn, which opened in March, marked the brand's debut in New York city. The Hilton Development team selected 52 winners based on criteria such as quality of hotels developed and in operation, commitment to quality of projects, impact on local community and early adoption of newer brands, Hilton said in a statement. Along with the Development Awards by Brand, categories included Lifetime Achievement Award, New Developer of the Year, Conversion Developer of the Year, Multi-Brand Developer of the Year, Multi-Brand Deal of the Year and Developer of the Year by Category. "We are thrilled to celebrate our owner and development partners who are the recipients of the 2023 Americas Development Award," said Danny Hughes, Hilton's president for the Americas. "Over the last year, we've seen travel continue to grow across the Americas, creating even more opportunities for our partners to welcome guests to their hotels in exciting destinations across every corner of the region. From our legacy properties to our new developments, we are excited to see this continued growth and add even more exceptional hotels to our portfolio."

U.S. HOTEL DEVELOPERS have a new choice of brands now. InterContinental Hotels Group is now signing franchise agreements stateside for its Vignette Collection, previously focused on development in Asia with its first properties in Australia and Thailand. The Vignette Collection is part of IHG's luxury and lifestyle portfolio that includes more than 400 hotels and 100,000 rooms. Hotel owners and operators in the U.S. are invited to attend an online symposium on franchising with the brand on Dec. 7. "Vignette Collection gives owners and guests an inspiring new choice and, while each hotel in the collection will maintain its unique story and guest experience, guests will also enjoy the assurance of a consistent and high-quality experience backed by IHG," said Julienne Smith, IHG's senior vice president of development for the Americas. "There is outstanding potential in the Americas region for this brand, specifically in urban and resort locations, with Vignette Collection offering high value and flexibility for hotel owners."

MARKING 50 YEARS in the hotel business, Red Roof held its annual brand conference at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Nov. 11 to 13. During the conference, the company announced a new partnership with software company HotelKey to install a multi-functional, cloud-based system in its more than 675 properties nationwide. Other news from the conference included details of the company's financial position, which George Limbert, Red Roof president, said is strong. Company officials also discussed Red Roof's new dual brand development prototype, other partnerships and the latest charity efforts of the company's Purpose With Heart. "Red Roof delivered record revenue which is a testament to our resilience and ability to anticipate market trends," Limbert said. "Our financial position is strong, travelers are back and our owners and operators are exceeding performance expectations."

HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION has signed franchise agreements with 3H Group and Presidio Hotel Development to open Hyatt Studios in two states. Led by founder Hiren Desai, 3H Group will introduce the studios in Mobile, Alabama, while Guneet Bajwa heads the effort for Presidio Hotel Development in Marysville, California, and both are expected to open by late 2024 to 2025. Following its April launch, Hyatt has garnered letters of interest for more than 100 Hyatt Studios, marking its inaugural upper-midscale extended-stay brand in the Americas, the company said in a statement. "Hyatt's expansion into these new markets through Hyatt Studios hotels underscores our dedication to developers, guests, and World of Hyatt members," said Dan Hansen, global head of Hyatt Studios. "We've learned that when Hyatt guests stay with a competing brand, they appear to do so for one of two reasons: the absence of a Hyatt hotel within five miles or the choice to stay at a lower chain scale. By offering Hyatt options in these fresh markets, we foster brand loyalty without internal competition and present developers with untapped opportunities."

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS and lifestyle hospitality developer sbe launched a new soft brand during the American Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles last week. Temporarily dubbed "Project HQ Hotels & Residences," the new brand aims to attract younger travelers looking for an experience. Project HQ is meant to represent sbe's "smart lifestyle" hotel category that is designed to draw in Millennial and Gen Z guests by providing memorable experiences at more affordable rates, according to Wyndham. The name is based on the idea that Project HQ hotels, which will be affiliated with Wyndham's Registry Collection Hotels, will serve the guests' headquarters in the heart of cities where they are located. Project HQ hotels will include pre-approved FF&E packages, supply chain, technology integrations, OS&E packages and programming to monetize otherwise underutilized spaces of the property. Led by Sam Nazarian as chairperson, sbe provides F&B packages that include Casa Dani from Chef Dani García; MXO, a Mexican Steakhouse by Chef Wes Avila; and Katsuya by Chef Katsuya Uechi.

n the bustling metropolis of Delhi, where the skies intersect with commerce, stands the Airport Advertising Agency Delhi - a guiding beacon for brands seeking to soar to new horizons. With an unparalleled blend of innovation and strategic insight, they harness the captivating realm of airport advertising to elevate brands to greater heights. Unveiling Airport Advertising's Potential: At the heart of Airport Advertising Agency Delhi's mission lies the art of revealing the untapped potential of airport advertising. They recognize airports as dynamic hubs of global connectivity and view their spaces as canvases for brand stories. With an astute understanding of traveler behavior and preferences, they curate campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences traversing these bustling terminals.

TWO HOTELS HAVE joined Hospitality Lodging Systems' AmeriVu brand. One is a 61-room former Fairfield Inn in Grand Forks, North Dakota and the other is an 80-room former Super 8 in Aberdeen, North Carolina. The new additions bring the number of AmeriVu properties to 23 operating in nine states, according to HLS. The AmeriVu brand was started in 2015 by Nick Rai, CEO of Vishav Hotels, who signed a long-term exclusive licensing agreement with Atlanta-based HLS in 2016. "In today's uncertain economy and recovering hotel environment, hotel owners want lower costs, higher profits, and more peace of mind," said Doug Collins, Chairman and CEO of HLS. "Our brands effectively deliver dependable results."

IT'S BEEN SIX decades of keeping the light on for guests by Motel 6. To mark the occasion, the economy brand is thanking its team members, owners and guests, with plans to stick to the same business model for the next 60 years. Motel 6 began in 1962 in Santa Barbara, California, for just $6 a night in keeping with the philosophy of providing affordable, clean and comfortable lodging, according to the company. Since then, the brand, owned by G6 Hospitality, has followed a strategic development plan that has led it to expand more than 1,400 Motel 6 and Studio 6 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, said Rob Palleschi, G6 CEO, in a video for the June 25 anniversary. "Years later, our value proposition remains rooted in the same belief, that everyone has the right to travel," Palleschi said. "As we look to the next 60 years, I want to thank every team member and owner for their dedication to our brand."

HOTEL BRAND HIHOTELS by Hospitality International has launched changes to its INNcentive Instant Rewards program, a statement said. The program offers members access to thousands of discounts and special offers from nationally recognized companies, the company said in a statement. The benefits under the rewards program include a 15 percent discount during each stay (based on availability), early check-in and late checkout, discounts and special offers for dining, shopping, entertainment and travel and weekly emails with special offers for traveling and everyday activities. "A major initiative has been to enhance the structure and offers of the INNcentive program to benefit our franchisees," said Chris Guimbellot, hihotels president and CEO. "These added perks and discounts will help our hotel owners retain current guests and attract new ones, increase repeat visits and brand loyalty, drive direct bookings to our hotels and allow us to compete more effectively with other brands and OTAs - all without any additional fees to franchisees."

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.

NEWCRESTIMAGE RECENTLY ACQUIRED the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Dallas Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. It is the most recent acquisition for the Dallas-based investment firm led by Mehul Patel as managing partner and CEO, and the company plans to fully renovate the property, which opened in 1998 and was last renovated in 2014. The 3-floor, 135-suite property offers three types of guestroom: studio, one-bedroom, and two bedroom, according to NewcrestImage. It is near two major airports, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field, and two major convention centers, the Irving Convention Center and the Gaylord Texan Convention Center. Amenities at the hotel include a fitness center and an outdoor pool. "This extended-stay property is in the heart of a high-traffic corridor that's a popular destination for both corporate and leisure travelers," Patel said. The acquisition of the TownePlace Suites is important to Marriott, said Loren Nalewanski, the company's vice president franchising for the Element, Residence Inn, Fairfield, TownePlace and SpringHill Suites brands. "Our industry is built on strong partnerships between brands and owners," Nalewanski said. "This acquisition enhances the long, valued, and successful partnership between Marriott and NewcrestImage, which has owned and operated 30 Marriott-branded properties since 2013."

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES of 2020, hihotels by Hospitality International added 18 properties throughout the U.S. Most are conversions owned by Asian American hoteliers. The five hihotels brands include Red Carpet Inn, Scottish Inns, Master Hosts Inns, Downtowner Inns and Passport Inn. Hospitality International said the brands' franchising model includes customized support, advanced technology and overall value. "Last June, we announced a new branding identity for the company that expanded franchisee services and development opportunities and refocused our goal of becoming the best choice for economy hotel franchising. The response has been tremendous and we look forward to building on this great momentum in 2021," said Chris Guimbellot, hihotels president and CEO.

FOUR HOTELS HAVE converted to the AmeriVu brand founded in 2015 by Wisconsin hotelier Nick Rai. Amerivu is now part of Atlanta-based Hospitality Lodging Systems. The 51-room AmeriVu Inn & Suites in Cisago City, Minnesota, is a conversion from a Comfort Inn. Nearby attractions include Bloom Lake Barn wedding venue, Wild Mountain Ski Area, Trollhaugen Outdoor Recreation Area, Cedar Lake Speedway and Somerset Amphitheater. Amenities include an indoor heated pool with hot tub and is ADA accessible. "In the post-COVID environment, hotel owners don't want to work hard to recover and rebound, just so they can send bigger checks to their brand," said Doug Collins, Chairman and CEO of HLS. "Instead, more owners are deciding to work smarter - by switching to a brand that keeps hard-earned money in their pocket." In 2017, Rai opened the 40-room AmeriVu Hotel in Cumberland, Wisconsin, the 42-room AmeriVu in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and two other conversions.

NOBLE INVESTMENT GROUP has acquired the dual-brand Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Denver and Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown Denver in Denver. Atlanta-based Noble is led by founder and CEO Mit Shah. The dual-brand hotel has a combined 302 guestrooms and suites, an indoor pool and whirlpool, a bar and more than 7,000 square feet of meeting and boardroom space. It is near the Colorado Convention Center and the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall, as well as the Union Station multimodal transportation hub. Downtown Denver also includes more than 25 million square feet of office space, three major sports stadiums, the Pepsi Center, the Denver Performing Arts Center, restaurants and museums and other attractions.

MAGNUSON HOTELS HAS added a new hotel to its Magnuson Independent Collection portfolio, the Studios & Suites 4 Less Charlotte, in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the sixth hotel added to the Independent Collection by owner Ray Patel of Charlotte. The 126-room hotel is near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, The Billy Graham Library, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the Levine Museum of the New South, according to Magnuson. The new hotel looks to draw a 52-week nonseasonal business base from the regional banking, finance, software, and biotech sectors. Charlotte is also home to the Research Triangle Park, a globally prominent research center with over 170 companies and federal agencies in the U.S. "When Ray Patel called us in 2005, he wanted to build his own brand called Studios & Suites 4 Less, and that is exactly what Ray did," said Thomas Magnuson, CEO of Magnuson Hotels. As Patel's team manages the Studios & Suites 4 Less brand and operations, Magnuson Hotels provides the technology, distribution, and marketing for the brand. "We appreciate our partnership with Magnuson Hotels, which is now entering its 17th year of consecutive increases," said Patel of Charlotte. "It is a pleasure and privilege to continually add new properties in our home market of Charlotte, North Carolina," he added.

PEACHTREE HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT has contracted with TEKMAK Development Co., a full-service hospitality development company, to provide third-party management services for a portion of its hotel portfolio. The three hotels are all in Texas. PHM will assume operations of the SpringHill Suites Dallas Rockwall in Rockwall, Texas, on Aug. 1, and is slated to manage two under-construction hotels, a dual-branded TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott in Paris, Texas, and a TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Forney, Texas, the company said in a statement. "This is the second long-term management agreement we've entered into already in 2023, and we will continue to seek best-in-class partners like TEKMAK as we pursue our own third-party management growth goals," said Patrick Short, PHM president. "Our third-party operated portfolio continues to expand, currently accounting for nearly a third of our entire managed portfolio. We expect to continue growing our third-party portfolio moving forward, ultimately surpassing our owned hotels." A division of Peachtree Group, which is led by Jatin Desai and Mitul Patel as managing principals, PHM operates branded, limited-, select- and compact full-service hotels primarily in the upper-midscale and upscale segments. The company presently manages 92 hotels across 28 brands with 11,186 rooms in 22 states. These three TEKMAK hotels increase PHM's third-party operations to 34 hotels, the statement added.

VISION HOSPITALITY GROUP, led by Mitch Patel as president and CEO, recently broke ground on a dual-branded Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton in Cleveland, Tennessee. The upcoming development, slated for completion in mid to late 2025, will comprise a combined total of 140 keys across five stories. The project will include 768 square feet of flexible meeting space and an outdoor pool, Vision Hospitality said in a statement. "We are thrilled to continue to strengthen our partnership with Hilton by expanding our portfolio with the addition of these two thriving brands and grow in a city that means so much to us," said Patel. "This development reflects our commitment to hospitality excellence and our dedication to providing our guests with exceptional service and experiences." Founded a quarter century ago, Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Vision Hospitality Group manages more than 4,500 rooms across 40+ hotels in nine states.

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS recently introduced new prototype options for its three suites brands - Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, and Atwell Suites - focusing on space and efficiency while maintaining key features from current designs. These prototypes are scheduled to be available by the second quarter of 2024, with the first properties featuring them expected to open as early as 2025, IHG said in a statement. Initially, the prototype designs will only be accessible to U.S. properties, with the possibility of future adoption in Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. "IHG continues to build on our nearly three decades of leadership in the extended-stay and suites space by evolving our prototype designs to increase owner value while offering the spaces and amenities short- and long-term travelers value most," said Kevin Schramm, IHG's senior vice president for development, mainstream brands, U.S. and Canada. "Our new concepts reflect guest and owner feedback, and enable new and existing owners to deliver our modern suite experiences-in various forms-to more markets without compromising consistency or quality."

HomeTowne Studios Yuba City and Red Roof Inn Yuba City are now opened in Northern California's Yuba City. The properties are owned by Surendra and Hema Patel of Greenleaf Hospitality from the San Francisco Bay area, Red Roof said in a statement. The HomeTowne Studios offers 76 extended-stay rooms, while the adjacent Red Roof Inn features 43 rooms, according to Red Roof. "The dual-branded HomeTowne Studios and Red Roof Inn Yuba City are important pieces in Red Roof's strategy to expand its presence on the West Coast," said Matthew Hostetler, Red Roof's chief development officer. "Surendra and Hema Patel have been leaders in the California hospitality industry for three decades, and we're confident this partnership, along with these newly renovated properties, will propel the brand forward in the region." The property is near Sutter Buttes, Toyota Amphitheatre, Bonanza Convention Center, Beale Air Force Base, Rideout Memorial Hospital, and Thunder Valley Casino. Additionally, Yuba County Airport, Auburn Municipal Airport, and Sacramento International Airport are also nearby. Amenities include a fitness facility, an outdoor hot tub and a seasonal pool.

PEACHTREE GROUP SECURED a $73 million construction loan and C-PACE financing to fund the development of a 263-key dual-brand Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton Hotel in San Diego, California, on behalf of the locally based Baxter Hotel Group. Baxter is set to commence construction on its 16-story, dual-branded hotel this month, with a projected 22-month construction timeline, Peachtree said in a statement. Peachtree facilitated a $50.4-million floating-rate construction loan with a three-year term and secured $22.6 million in fixed-rate C-PACE financing, amortized over 25 years. Collectively, these funds covered 64 percent of the total development cost, the statement said. "We were able to execute an innovative capital stack with the addition of C-PACE in an otherwise challenging financing market, providing ample capital for the construction to begin while saving the sponsor 200 basis points in interest rate spread," said Jared Schlosser, Peachtree's senior vice president, head of hotel origination and C-PACE.