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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."

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.

FOUR PROPERTIES JOINED the hihotels by Hospitality International portfolio during the first quarter. The new additions are in Maryland, Oregon and Texas and are all conversions. The four hotels signed or activated are: A former Econo Lodge turned Red Carpet Inn in College Park, Maryland, signed. A former Rodeway Inn turned Scottish Inns in Ashland, Oregon, signed and activated. A former Americas Best Value Inn turned Scottish Inns in DeSoto, Texas, activated. A former Econo Lodge turned Scottish Inns & Suites in Spring, Texas, signed. 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.

SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Corp. recently launched Sonesta Essential, a new upper-midscale select-service brand. The company now offers 15 brands. Sonesta Essential is meant to offer easier new builds and conversions with modest brand standards, limited food and beverage requirements and simplified conversion processes, according to the company. "Sonesta Essential is a fresh, new brand carefully designed by Sonesta to deliver a core selection of services compared with other hospitality experiences," said Brian Quinn, Sonesta chief development officer. "With tremendous demand in the select-service category, we are confident that Sonesta Essential will become a leading brand in an exciting, timely and relevant segment." The first two Sonesta Essential hotels will be a franchise in Vacaville, California, which is set to open in late spring 2023, and a managed property in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which will be converted from a Sonesta Select in the fall of 2023.

"BE ONE BODY" and roar like a pride of lions, Pujya Brahmviraharidas Swami, one of India's leading saints, told attendees of the 2023 AAHOA Conference and Trade Show in Los Angeles last week in his keynote speech. However, his call for unity came at a time when several large hotel companies boycotted AAHOACON23 over AAHOA's support for franchising reform. The association's new chairman, Bharat Patel, will have to lead the effort to follow Pujya Brahmviraharidas Swami's guidance and unite the membership in light of the split with Marriott Hotels International, Choice Hotels International and others. The leadership required will take courage, said Pujya Brahmviraharidas Swami, who spearheads the global outreach of BAPS in the U.S. to spread harmony and collaboration and who the Indian government and heads of state have called upon for guidance. "This is not just a story of celebrating the past or creating the future, but also of recalibrating the present. This is not a story of a motel and a mouse," Brahmaviharidas said. "This is a story of an empire of hospitality and a pride of lions. Roar in the right direction, in the right way, and the world will listen." Also during AAHOACON23, which set a record level of booth sales for the trade show, members elected new board members. The association also announced a new charity organization dedicated to helping victims of natural disasters, and software company Virdee took the top prize in the inaugural AAHOA Tech Pitch Competition. Change of command New Chairman Bharat Patel officially moved into the top spot on the board on the last day of the conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center. He replaced Nishant "Neal" Patel and will be followed next year by Miraj Patel, who is now vice chairman. "Like the theme from AAHOACON23, I look forward to honoring the past and creating a bolder future by working with AAHOA's nearly 20,000 members to ensure we reestablish strong partnerships with our state associations

Dorothy Dowling, Best Western Hotels & Resorts' senior vice president and chief marketing officer, received the Albert E. Koehl Lifetime Achievement Award by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International. The Albert E. Koehl Award, part of HSMAI's Adrian Awards, is given to individuals for their contributions to the advancement of hospitality marketing. Dowling has worked in the industry for 30 years and currently oversees Best Western's loyalty program, consumer and field marketing activities, advertising, public relations and e-commerce. "It is an honor to be joining the list of previous winners, which is filled with the names of industry icons who I have admired throughout my career in hospitality," said Dowling. "I can only hope my contributions to the industry will one day be as iconic as those who have come before me. I am particularly honored to be following in the footsteps of Best Western's President and CEO, David Kong, who won this same accolade in 2014."

THE AMERICAN FRANCHISE business model is in trouble, according to a recent survey commissioned by AAHOA. The survey was inspired by a webinar AAHOA co-sponsored to gather public comment on the state of franchising for the Federal Trade Commission. The survey found that only 5 percent of the franchisee respondents are satisfied that their current franchise agreements provide fair terms representing a balanced relationship between themselves and their franchiser. Also, 72.6 percent of respondents would "possibly" or "probably" terminate their current franchised business within the next year if they could do so without penalty. "Franchising is in dire straits unless changes are made," said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO. "Franchising is still a powerful tool for economic mobility for America's small-business owners, including AAHOA Members. But franchising only works when both franchisors and franchisees are committed to its success, which requires transparency, fairness, and sustainable business practices. As this survey shows, there is much room for improvement when it comes to relationships that allow our small-business owners to thrive." Blake recently wrote an editorial supporting AAHOA's 12 Points of Fair Franchising and its promotion of a proposed New Jersey law that would reform that state's franchising regulations in ways similar to the 12 points. Several large hotel companies, including Choice Hotels International and Marriott International, protested AAHOA's recent annual convention in protest to its position on franchise reform The survey was conducted among owners of hotels, restaurants, retail stores and other small businesses that had participated in the FTC webinar. It was co-sponsored by the American Association of Franchisees and Dealers, and the Coalition of Franchisee Associations, conducted the survey after a recent webinar with FTC Chair Lina Khan. The FTC is soliciting comments through June 8 about

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.

Nakul Anand, former executive director of ITC Hotels, is named as the patron-in-chief of the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality. Anand served as the federation's chairman from its inception until recently. He represented the Hotel Association of India within FAITH, the umbrella body comprising 10 trade associations in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors of the industry, FAITH said in a statement. Rajiv Mehra, general secretary of FAITH, said that the decision has been taken considering Anand's "exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication to the tourism & hospitality industry" as former chairman of FAITH and former executive director of ITC Ltd. Under his leadership, FAITH drafted and presented a vision document for Indian tourism for 2035 and 2047, the statement added. Additionally, the International Travel Mart of India was launched. The federation also made interventions to address anomalies in GST, the ECLGS scheme of the government and more.

NOBLE INVESTMENT GROUP signed an agreement with Choice Hotels International to develop nine WoodSpring Suites hotels in Georgia and South Carolina in two years. The companies say the agreement represents an increased institutional interest in the economy extended-stay brand. Noble, led by Mit Shah as founder and CEO, is a real estate investment manager specializing in select-service and extended-stay travel and hospitality with over $5 billion in assets. "Noble continues to add substantial scale to our extended-stay travel and hospitality platform," said Ben Brunt, Noble's chief investment officer. "WoodSpring Suites has an outstanding track record of high performance across economic cycles, and we are pleased to welcome these new investments into our portfolio."

KEVIN JACOBS, HILTON's CFO and president of Global Development, is the 2024 chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The association also named new officers, executive committee and board of directors, including Mitch Patel, president and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, as vice chair. The association also named other new officers, executive committee and board of directors. They include Liam Brown, group president for Marriott International, U.S. and Canada, as secretary/treasurer and Julienne Smith, chief development officer, Americas, for IHG Hotels & Resorts, as the chair of the AHLA Foundation Board of Trustees, AHLA said in a statement. "It's an honor to serve as chair and help build upon AHLA's impressive record of accomplishments on behalf of the hospitality industry nationwide," said Jacobs. "I look forward to helping AHLA advance policies in support of our incredible industry, deliver exceptional member services and communications support, and rally the industry around our shared priorities."

The Home2 Suites by Hilton-Richmond is open in Richmond, Indiana. It is owned by The Witness Group led by Sachin Patel, Sagar Patel and Aakash Patel as principals and executive leadership team. It is managed by Hotel Equities of Atlanta. The 100-room extended-stay hotel is near Richmond Mall, the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, and Indiana University East. Dayton International Airport. Amenities include an indoor saline pool and electric vehicle charging stations. It is pet friendly. "The hotel staff has prioritized the health and safety of patrons by implementing HE's industry leading HEalth First standards of cleanliness and safety protocol as part of the early operations training," said David Rosenberg HE's vice president of operations. "These protocols, which are above and beyond brand standards, along with the team's delivery of superior customer service will give guests complete confidence during their stay and will position the hotel as a leader in the Richmond market."

The TownePlace Suites by Marriott San Antonio Northwest at The RIM in San Antonio, Texas, opens on Aug. 17. It is owned and managed by Satesh Limited, led by Sunil Wadhwani, president. The 109-suite hotel is 15 miles from San Antonio International Airport and 20 minutes from downtown San Antonio. Nearby attractions include Six Flags Fiesta Texas, The Shops at La Cantera and the University of Texas San Antonio. Hotel amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center and a meeting room. The hotel is pet-friendly.

Mark Sergot is InterContinental Hotels Group's new vice president for global sales operations and enablement. Previously he was chief sales officer for Associated Luxury Hotels International. Sergot spent 16 years at FRHI Hotels & Resorts, the parent company of the Fairmont, Raffles & Swissotel brands. He became FRHI's senior vice president for its global sales organization. He will be based on the company's Americas headquarters in Atlanta and report to global sales Vice President Derek DeCross.

La Quinta by Wyndham Selma is now open in Selma, North Carolina. Owned by Jay Sai Corp., it is the 120th hotel to open using the La Quinta Del Sol prototype. The 80-room hotel is near Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Smithfield Community Park. Amenities include an outdoor pool. Another Del Sol hotel is expected to open in Galveston, Texas, this summer, according to Wyndham. There are 175 La Quinta hotels in the development pipeline and openings scheduled this year in several markets, such as Nashville, Tennessee; Santa Cruz, California and Denver.

HOS Management, led by President Kris Patel, recently acquired Residence Inn Savannah Midtown in Georgia. The 66-key hotel is near City Market, Oglethorpe Mall, Candler Hospital, historic downtown Savannah, River Street, SCAD, and Memorial Health University Medical Center. The property also provides easy access to the beaches of Tybee Island, St. Simons, and Jekyll Island. "We had a great experience working with Hunter Hotel Advisors, especially Mayank Patel and his team, on this acquisition," said Patel. "The Residence Inn Savannah Midtown is the perfect Marriott addition to our portfolio." HOS Management, based in Savannah, Georgia, is a family-operated hotel development and management company with properties under brands like Marriott International, Hilton, IHG Hotels and Resorts, and Wyndham. Founded by brothers Anil and Kirit Patel, the company began with the acquisition of the Benton Motel, their first independent motel, in 1985.

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."

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC did not slow Magnuson Hotels' growth as it added 80 franchise agreements for its Independent Collection in the U.S. and United Kingdom in 2021. The company said its business model and focus on local markets and dynamic pricing helped it weather the storm. Magnuson is expecting continued strong performance in 2022 for the Independent Collection, which is made up of independent hotels receiving support from Magnuson. Occupancy for the collection rose 31.3 percent and RevPAR rose 43.5 percent over 2019 levels during 2021, according to a statement from the company. At the same time, according to data from STR, U.S. total occupancy for 2021 dropped 12.6 percent, ADR dropped 4.8 percent and RevPAR went down 16.8 percent. "The pandemic has seen a shift in hotel source markets, with corporate travel and international travel as we've known it removed from hotels' options. Our teams have instead looked domestically and locally at those businesses which are key to success and solid, long-term business," said Thomas Magnuson, the company's CEO. "Local government, medical, public safety, energy, transportation, construction, government, long-term corporate. The business market is now driven by essential business travel-the must-take trips, those small and medium-sized enterprises which have been getting in their cars and hitting the road."

Eight new Hihotels by Hospitality International properties recently opened in five states: three in Texas, two in Pennsylvania, and one each in New York, Vancouver, and Ohio. The company provides franchising options across its five brands including Scottish Inns, Red Carpet Inn, Master Hosts Inns, Downtowner Inns, and Passport Inn. In Texas, the three properties include Scottish Inns - Eastex Freeway North in Houston, owned by 59 Little York, Inc. under Sandip Sindha's leadership; Scottish Inns in Decatur owned by Sunlight Partnership LLC led by Leena Patel; and Scottish Inns & Suites in Shenandoah/Woodland owned by Anjali Hospitality LLC under Mahesh Patel's guidance, Hihotels said. In Pennsylvania, two hotels have opened: Scottish Inns in Middletown, owned by Sky Hotels LLC led by Rajan Vesuwala; and Red Carpet Inn & Suites in Philadelphia, owned by Vrisha Lodging LLC led by Kiran Patel.

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL has named its eight nominees for the board of directors for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to be voted on in Wyndham's 2024 shareholder meeting. The nominees, including Jay Shah, executive chairman at Hersha Hospitality Trust, are expected to support Choice's bid to acquire Wyndham despite multiple rejections by the latter. In response, Wyndham said it will evaluate the nominees as part of its due diligence, but it also said the nominees were "hand-picked to push through their offer." Along with Shah, Choice's nominees are: Barbara Bennett, founder and principal executive of business consulting firm Bennett West LLC. Emanuel Pearlman, founder, chairman and CEO of investment management and financial consulting firm Liberation Investment Group. Fiona Dias, digital commerce consultant who served as the chief strategy officer of online shopping service ShopRunner from 2011 to 2014. James Nelson, CEO of real estate investment trust Global Net Lease, Inc. Nana Mensah, founder, chairman and CEO of food packaging and processing equipment exporter 'XPORTS Inc. Susan Schnabel, founder and co-managing partner of buyout fund advisor aPriori Capital Partners. William Grounds, principal of his advisory business Burraneer Capital Advisors LLC. "These nominees are proven leaders with wide-ranging expertise across relevant industries, including deep proficiency in the hospitality and franchising sectors," said Stewart Bainum, chairman of Choice's board of directors. "We are confident the nominees' industry, finance, governance and board experience will greatly benefit Wyndham shareholders. Most importantly, if elected, the nominees will exercise their independent judgment to serve Wyndham shareholders' best interests, which Choice believes is to move with urgency to maximize the value that could be created for them through a combination with Choice."