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A CHANGING OF the guard is taking place at Marriott International as chairmanship of the company transitions from J.W. "Bill" Marriott Jr. to his son David Marriott. The senior Marriott has led the company for more than 60 years. Marriott announced the change in February. J.W. spent his high school and college years working in a variety of positions in the family's Hot Shoppes restaurant chain. He became a full-time associate in 1956, and soon afterward began overseeing the first Marriott hotel. He became president of the company in 1964 and CEO in 1972, a role he held for 40 years before stepping down in 2012. He was elected chairman of the board in 1985. "On behalf of the board and the hundreds of thousands of people who wear a Marriott name badge around the world, I'd like to thank Mr. Marriott for his outstanding leadership throughout his tenure with the company. He is truly an industry icon," Anthony Capuano, Marriot's CEO.

GUJARAT JHM HOTELS, owned by the Rama family along with U.S.-based Auro Hotels, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Gujarat to develop the JW Marriott Surat Resort & Spa in Surat in the state of Gujarat, India. It is GJHM's third Marriott hotel in the city after the Surat Marriott Hotel and the Courtyard by Marriott Surat. The upcoming property will feature more than 300 guestrooms and villas, according to a joint statement by GJHM and Auro Hotels, according to a release on the Press Trust of India website. "This transformative project, backed by more than $120 million (Rs 1,000 crore) investment, aims to create jobs for 800 individuals, offer crucial infrastructure for the city's growth, and establish Surat as the commercial capital of Gujarat," said D.J. Rama, director of GJHM and president and CEO of Auro Hotels. "Aspiring to be a 'Smart City,' this strategic investment underscores Gujarat JHM's commitment to fostering inclusive development. Surat is poised to emerge as a beacon of urban advancement, seamlessly combining financial strength with technological innovation."

Pradip Bhol is now promoted as the cluster director of engineering at Courtyard By Marriott Surat, following his tenure as chief engineer. In the new capacity, he will oversee operations at Courtyard By Marriott Surat, Surat Marriott Hotel, Auro University, and forthcoming projects at Earth Space, Courtyard Surat said in a statement. Courtyard Surat is managed by Gujarat JHM Hotels and owned by the U.S.-based Auro Hotels, founded by the Rama family. "Pradip's promotion is a testament to his remarkable contributions and underscores Courtyard By Marriott Surat's commitment to recognizing and empowering talent within its ranks," said Vikas Sharma, Courtyard Surat's area general manager. "His leadership will undoubtedly chart new heights of success and further solidify the cluster's position. " Bhol has previously worked at Hyatt Hotels Corp., Accor, Lemon Tree Hotels, and Marriott International, the statement added.

A LETTER APPEARING to be from Marriott International stating that the company was "re-evaluating" its official relationship with AAHOA over the association's new stance on franchise relations is causing some disruption on social media. Marriott and AAHOA have not responded to repeated requests for comment on the letter, but in an email to members AAHOA Chairman Neal Patel said the letter is a draft and the company and association are still in negotiations. The letter specifically cites AAHOA's request that the company reassess its franchising policies in light of AAHOA's recently released "12 Points of Fair Franchising." Also, it mentions AAHOA's support for New Jersey's proposed Assembly Bill 1958 that would make changes to the New Jersey Franchise Practices Act similar to the guidelines laid out in the 12 Points. "Ultimately, Marriott cannot support, either by endorsement and/or financially, any organization that is in direct opposition to our business model and interests," Marriott said in the letter. "We believe quite strongly that the longstanding relationship between Marriott and AAHOA has proven to be mutually beneficial, and we are deeply saddened that AAHOA has chosen to pivot its stance on these key issues in a way that is decidedly anti-franchising and anti-Marriott (especially since, as the AAHOA leadership shared with us in a recent meeting, neither AAHOA's leaders nor its members have any material issues with Marriott's approach to franchising or to our franchisees)."

MAJOR U.S. HOTELS firms Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced that they are ceasing operations in Russia due to its ongoing invasion in Ukraine. Also, AAHOA issued a statement condemning the war. The hotel companies also emphasized their efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their employees and guests in both Ukraine and neighboring countries who face these 'unconscionable challenges'. "We have made the decision, effective immediately, to close our corporate office in Moscow, and pause the opening of upcoming hotels and all future hotel development and investment in Russia," Marriott said in a statement. "We have been closely monitoring the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, Russia and neighboring countries, and remain in regular contact with our teams on the ground, as we work to comply with sanctions and applicable laws. Our hotels in Russia are owned by third parties and we continue to evaluate the ability for these hotels to remain open."

The Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Tampa Riverview is now open in Riverview, Florida. It is owned by Riverview Hotels & Resorts LLC led by manager Singh Japinder and managed by Naples Hotel Group of Naples, Florida. The 108-room hotel is near James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, Topgolf and Bass Pro Shops. Hotel amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center and 512 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 40 people. "The Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Tampa Riverview is a truly stunning example of the brand's contemporary look and feel, and we are pleased to introduce Fairfield by Marriott hotels in the Riverview area," said Janis Milham, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader, Classic Select Brands at Marriott International.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING points are becoming a standard amenity at hotels, akin to the rise of Wi-Fi in the early 2000s. Benefits for the hotel owners and franchisers can include additional revenue, carbon credits as well as attracting guests from the growing number of electric vehicle drivers. A 2022 Green Lodging survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association revealed a surge in the deployment of EV chargers within the hospitality sector, with 26.6 percent of all U.S. hotels equipped with charging stations. The EV charging facilities are more commonly found at luxury hotels (nearly 90 percent offer them), while only about one in five limited-service hotels provides charging, representing significant growth opportunities. Hotel brands such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, BWH Hotel Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels International, Hyatt Hotel Corp. and G6 Hospitality have prioritized deploying EV charging based on customer preferences. Their franchisees have begun incorporating EV charging infrastructures into their properties. "We've heard from our owners that offering EV charging solutions is increasingly influential for guests when choosing hotels," said Brian McGuiness, IHG's senior vice president of global guest experience. "This is backed by our observation of guests using EVC filters on the IHG One Rewards mobile app and website. Our integrated EV-charger search filter within the IHG One Rewards mobile app allows travelers to easily find properties with EV charging capabilities, empowering them to plan their journeys conveniently and confidently."

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.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL and IHG Hotels & Resorts scored 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index. The CEI is a benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality in the U.S. The index rates companies on criteria falling under four central pillars. That includes non-discrimination policies across business entities, equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families, supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility. This was the ninth consecutive year for Marriott to make a perfect score on the index. This year the index included 1,200 U.S.-based companies and 242 Mexico-based companies. "Marriott International has a more than 90-year history of fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging," Ty Breland, Marriott executive vice president and chief human resources officer, said in a statement. "We are proud of this recognition for the ninth consecutive year and will continue to implement policies and programs that create a welcoming workplace for all."

SAVANNAH-BASED IMAGE Hotels recently acquired the Courtyard by Marriott North Charleston Airport/Coliseum in South Carolina. The hotel development and management company, which was founded in 1978, is led by Jay Patel as chairman and CEO and Kal Patel as president and COO. "We are thrilled to add the Courtyard by Marriott in North Charleston to our growing portfolio and to expand our footprint into South Carolina," said Kal Patel. "We expect the hotel to appeal to travelers coming to Charleston seeking a popular brand with modern amenities." The hotel, near Charleston International Airport, provides access to the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center, Charleston Tanger Outlets, Charleston Area Convention Center, South Carolina Aquarium, and various shopping, dining, and entertainment options, Image Hotels said in a statement.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL IS withdrawing its support for AAHOA in opposition to the association's 12 Points of Fair Franchising, according to an alert to AAHOA members. Indications of the split began in July, when a letter to this effect was circulated but not confirmed, and AAHOA said its efforts to make the situation right in the meantime have failed. The AAHOA member alert also said Marriott had expressed opposition to AAHOA's support for legislation proposed last year in the New Jersey legislature that would strengthen protections for franchise businesses in the state, including hotels. In its alert, attributed to Neal Patel, chairman of AAHOA, said most hotel franchisers did not take issue with the association's support for the New Jersey legislation nor the 12 Points. "Many of our other hotel brand partners have taken an open-minded and collaborative approach to fair franchising. We appreciate their willingness to work together to ensure better outcomes for AAHOA members, the industry, and hotel customers," Patel said. "However, we wanted to inform you that Marriott International - one of our longtime brand partners - has decided to take a different position."

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL RECENTLY picked the Agilysys point-of-sale platform, InfoGenesis, as an option for its hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada. Marriott's luxury, premium and select tiers hotels in both countries can now use the platform for guest-facing and staff-facing operations in F&B, retail and activity centers at each property. Agilysys is led by CEO Ramesh Srinivasan. InfoGenesis consolidates guest and staff purchasing transactions onto a single comprehensive cloud platform tailored for the hospitality industry, Agilysis said in a statement. InfoGenesis POS integrates with Marriott property management systems, furnishing front desk operators with detailed POS transactional information aimed at enhancing operational efficiency. "Marriott International is a globally admired organization and we look forward to offering properties across the U.S. and Canada the opportunity to leverage our enterprise-grade InfoGenesis omnichannel point-of-sale technology platform," said Srinivasan.

Delta Hotels by Marriott Indianapolis Airport is open in Indianapolis. The hotel is owned by Blue Sky Hospitality Solutions led by President and CEO Naveen Shah. The 240-room hotel is near Indianapolis International Airport and eight miles from downtown Indianapolis. Other nearby attractions include Lucas Oil Stadium, The Indianapolis Zoo, the Indianapolis Children's Museum, Eli Lilly, Rolls Royce, Indiana University and Purdue University. The hotel has 5,193 square feet of meeting space, including a 4,370-square-foot ballroom and two smaller boardrooms. "This marks our second Delta Hotel in the Indianapolis marketplace, allowing for shared economies of scale and best practices," Shah said. "Our familiarity with the market and the brand will allow the hotel to ramp up quickly as Marriott continues the global expansion of Delta."

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association philanthropy branch AHLA Foundation has launched a trafficking prevention training program for the hotel industry in collaboration with ECPAT-USA and Marriott International to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons observed on July 29, a statement said. The program titled "Recognize and Respond: Addressing Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Industry" was developed by Marriott by partnering with non-profit organizations and survivor experts. It includes learning paths for associates and managers around increased guidance on responding to potential trafficking situations and interacting with potential victims. It is available to the hotel industry through ECPAT-USA's online learning platform for free, the statement said. The new initiative advances the American Hotel & Lodging Association and AHLA Foundation's "No Room for Trafficking" awareness program which raises awareness about human trafficking. "One of No Room for Trafficking's goals is to train every single hotel employee to identify and respond to a potential human trafficking situation. Through this innovative new training, the industry as a whole will be better equipped to help identify and stop cases of human trafficking," said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. "We are extremely grateful to Marriott International and leading trafficking prevention partners who are offering this free training with support from the AHLA Foundation."

IN MARCH, THE U.S. celebrated the achievements and history of women as part of Women's History Month. In recognition of the month, some hotel companies introduced or continued programs aimed at increasing women's role in the industry. In line with the Women's History Month theme this year "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories," Choice Hotels International kicked off its "HERtels at Choice Development Seminar" with nearly 40 franchise owners, general managers, and hotel associates in attendance. At the same time, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' "Women Own the Room" initiative has signed over 30 hotels across the U.S. and Canada in the first year of its launch. Also, California hotelier and philanthropist Sunil "Sunny" Tolani issued a special message for the month. HERtels by Choice Choice Hotels took the recently held Hunter Hotel Conference in Atlanta as a launch pad for its inaugural HERtels seminar. The event was held next door to the Marriott Marquis Atlanta, Hunter's venue, and is an enhancement of Choice's HERtels program that was launched in 2021. "While industry-wide parity is improving, with more female investors, directors, and leaders in hospitality than ever before, women entrepreneurs still face significant economic and societal barriers when it comes to hotel ownership and development. As an industry, we owe it to the next generation of hoteliers to change this statistic," said John Lancaster, vice president for emerging markets, franchise development and owner relationships, Choice Hotels International. "This initiative and the invaluable resources it provides is a natural extension of our industry-leading emerging markets program and our enduring commitment to helping growth-minded entrepreneurs further their unique ownership journey."

AURO HOTELS RECENTLY ACQUAIRED the Residence Inn by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead/Lenox Park. Hunter Hotel Advisors helped broker the deal, which it said is another example of the strength of the extended-stay segment that has been seeing increased interest from major hotel companies such as Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The 150-room Residence Inn is in Atlanta's upscale Buckhead neighborhood near shopping and dining outlets, such as Lenox Square Mall and Phipps Plaza, according to Hunter. Also, the hotel is across from AT&T corporate offices. "We are thrilled that the stars aligned on this acquisition - a smooth process with a highly professional seller, another collaboration with a trusted equity partner, and a further expansion of our relationship with Marriott," said D.J. Rama, CEO of Auro Hotels. "With the expertise brought by our investment, operations and design and construction resources, we believe strongly in the property's future performance potential."

The AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown is open in Greenville, South Carolina. It is owned by Auro Hotels led by Dharmendra D.J. Rama as president and CEO. The 8-story, 196-room upscale hotel is in Camperdown Plaza near Falls Park, the Reedy River, the Peace Center Performing Arts center, Kroc Center Greenville, the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Sirrine Stadium. It includes seven restaurants and bars, including the tapas bar Paloma, the rooftop Juniper and The Press Room speakeasy. "The opening of the AC Hotel Greenville Downtown and Paloma marks an exciting milestone for Auro Hotels," Rama said. "This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity due to its location, scale, level of detail and amenities, as well as a unique opportunity to celebrate our hometown of Greenville. The hotel, along with the thoughtfully-curated food and beverage concepts, will be treasured by visitors and the local community for generations." Also, the hotel features more than 100 works by 35 local artists and 29,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

NEXGEN HOTELS, LED by Chris Patel as president, acquired the 120-suite SpringHill Suites by Marriott Chicago Waukegan/Gurneein in Waukegan, Illinois. The purchase is part of the company's strategy in the market. The hotel is near to Naval Station Great Lakes, Six Flags Great America & Hurricane Harbor, Gurnee Mills Mall, Waukegan Municipal Beach and other shopping, dining and entertainment options, a statement said. "Acquiring the SpringHill Suites by Marriott strategically aligns our company's growth in the Waukegan area," Patel said. "Having an existing presence in the market with our TownePlace Suites by Marriott Chicago Waukegan/Gurnee, will help us collaborate between the hotels, and enhance our partnerships with other area businesses."

Sam Basu is the new general manager for JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida. Previously he worked at hotels in Puerto Rico. Basu worked in managerial positions at the Ritz-Carlton San Juan for 10 years, including holding the position of executive assistant manager of rooms and F&B. He also worked at Marriott International and St. Regis Bahia Beach, all in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Last week, Kristin Assad was named vice president and general manager at Stockyard Heritage Development Co.'s Hotel Drover in Fort Worth, Texas.

NEWCRESTIMAGE HAS SOLD most of its hotel portfolio, along with some other properties, in a $822 million transaction with Summit Hotel Properties. Dallas-based NewcrestImage will remain invested in Summit and will own and operate two historic hotels it recently acquired and plans to make new acquisitions in the future. The definitive contribution and purchase agreement includes 27 hotels with 3,709 guestrooms for $776.5 million, or $209,000 per key. It also includes $24.8 million for two parking structures and $20.7 million for the various financial incentives through Summit's joint venture with Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund GIC, made in 2019 to acquire hotels in the U.S. "NewcrestImage has assembled a collection of high-quality distinctive Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG hotel properties throughout the Sun Belt region, which will be a great addition to Summit's portfolio," said Mehul Patel, NewcrestImage's managing partner and CEO. "As we will become one of Summit's largest shareholders, we have confidence in Summit as one of the industry's leading owners with a highly regarded public platform. We believe the two portfolios create an excellent combination of hotels that have tremendous growth potential and are well-positioned to create long-term shareholder value as the lodging recovery continues."