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NOBLE INVESTMENT GROUP has acquired the Homewood Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City | Downtown in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company, led by Mit Shah as CEO,said the city represents a fast-growing market. The 137-room hotel is in Salt Lake City's central business and entertainment district, according to Noble. The area contains more than 15 million square feet of office space and several corporate headquarters, including Zions Bancorporation, Questar Corporation, and Goldman Sachs. Also nearby are the Salt Palace Convention Center, Vivint Arena, Gallivan Center, Temple Square and the Utah State Capitol. More than 26 million passengers annually pass through the Salt Lake City International Airport, which is 4 miles west of downtown. "Salt Lake City has seen some of the highest in-migration trends leading up to and continuing through the global health crisis," Noble said in its statement. "The city boasts more than ten ski resorts within an hour's drive, as well as more than a dozen national parks and monuments. With its world-class outdoor lifestyle, Salt Lake City is one of the most dynamic leisure and corporate travel markets in the U.S."

BOSTON IS THE most expensive city for hotel accommodations in the U.S., according to a recent survey by Cheaphotels.org. Portland was the cheapest city, the survey has found. The survey compared hotel rates across 50 U.S. destinations in October, which is typically the month with the highest hotel prices in most American cities. It specifically focused on hotels with a 3-star rating or higher, located in central areas, Cheaphotels said in a statement. Boston took the lead as the priciest city, with an average rate of $303 for the most affordable double room, the survey said. Following closely were New York City and Austin, with rates of $288 and $257, respectively. Cleveland claimed the fourth spot, with an average rate of $234 for the least expensive room. Notably, hotel rates in Ohio's second-largest city have surged by 25 percent compared to 2022.

Sonesta Essential Junction City is now open in Junction City, Kansas. The 119-room upper-midscale property is owned by Tapan Parekh. The hotel is near the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Geary State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area, and Milford Nature Center & Fish Hatchery, Sonesta said in a statement. Junction City is known for its proximity to Fort Riley, the Buffalo Soldier Memorial, and agritourism attractions. "We are excited to expand our Sonesta Essential brand with the addition of Sonesta Essential Junction City," said Keith Pierce, Sonesta's executive vice president and president of franchise and development. "Sonesta Essential has quickly become Sonesta's fastest-growing brand, and this opening continues the brand's momentum following its launch in January 2023." The new Sonesta Essential is near the Spring Valley Historic Site, South Park Junction City and the U.S. Cavalry Museum. It features a fitness center, the statement said.

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.

Covington City of Virginia - The mountainside city of Covington Va is an independent city within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Covington city lies within the confines of Alleghany County that lies along the East coast of Virginia.

THE CITY OF Los Angeles is not doing enough to regulate short-term rental properties, according to AAHOA and a report from local advocacy group Better Neighbors LA. Both groups say the city should do more to enforce its existing 2019 ordinance on home sharing apps such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Los Angeles' ordinance requires short-term rentals to register and sets other regulations on home sharing apps. However, the Better Neighbors report found that the city's enforcement of the ordinance has been dropping since 2022, evidenced by a 54 percent decrease in warning letters, an 85 percent decrease in fines and a 25 percent increase in non-compliant listings. "Every year we put out an annual report that gives a snapshot of how enforcement is going in the city of Los Angeles, how many short-term rentals exist, and how that's changed from the prior year. This year, we've found that non-compliance is up," Allison Kriste, a representative of Better Neighbors Los Angeles, said in an interview with the Santa Monica Mirror newspaper. "We found a high rate of non-compliance across the boards in the city of Los Angeles. In addition, we've also found that enforcement activity is down. We're identifying more non-compliant listings, as compared to last year. The city is issuing fewer warning letters, they're issuing fewer fines. They're not doing a whole lot."

A NEW GROUP, led by two Indo American hoteliers, has formed to oppose the New York City Council's proposed "Safe Hotels Act," otherwise known as Intro 991. The new group, the NYC Minority Hotel Association, joins other associations including AAHOA, the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the Hotel Association of New York City in saying the proposed ordinance would damage the city's hotel business. The bill, originally proposed by Councilwoman Julie Menin on July 18 and revised on Aug. 2, would require hotels to obtain a license in order to operate in the city. "The application term would be two years, and there would be an license fee of $200. Hotels would be required to maintain continuous front desk coverage and large hotels would be required to have continuous coverage by at least one security guard," the city says on its website. "All hotels would be required to maintain the cleanliness of each guest room. The licensee would be required to directly employ their core employees, subject to enumerated exceptions. Hotels that violate the license conditions would be subject to civil penalties."

MORE THAN A thousand hotel owners, workers and small business owners from the newly formed "Protect NYC Tourism Coalition" rallied on the steps of New York's City Hall on Sept. 12 to protest the city council's "Safe Hotels" bill. The coalition also sent a letter urging the council to reject the bill, also known as "Int. 991", arguing that the bill threatens the sustainability of New York City's hotel and tourism industries and jeopardizes the livelihoods of thousands of workers. The coalition includes members from AAHOA, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Hotel Association of New York City, the Real Estate Board of New York, the Coalition for Hotel Subcontractors, the NYC Minority Hotel Association, the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators, and Developers, along with other groups and stakeholders supporting New York City's tourism industry. First introduced by Councilwoman Julie Menin over the summer, Int. 991 is presented by supporters as a "simple licensing bill." Opponents argue it would impose operational mandates that could drive many hotels out of business, jeopardizing 42,000 hotel jobs and nearly 260,000 jobs supported by the industry, along with billions in revenue for New York City.

ATLANTA-BASED EV Hotels, a new technology-centric hotel brand founded by Ken Patel, has partnered with Spanish firm CLERHP to construct a luxury resort in the new Larimar City & Resort project in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic. The 400-room hotel will be built on an area of nearly eight acres, the company said in a statement. Larimar City & Resort will be on the Promenade on the Farrallón de Verón, which has a view of Punta Cana, said Leonardo Padron Hermes, CEO of Blacklions International Group, a company associated with CLERHP in the development of real estate projects in the Dominican Republic. The area includes restaurants, clubs, shops and an 18-hole golf course. "After many years of working behind the scenes to develop a hotel brand that both innovates and revolutionized the industry, it is truly rewarding to now see EV make an impact across the globe. And believe me, we are just getting started," Patel said. "Larimar City & Resort will be one of the best tourist attractions around the globe and our team at EV is excited to be part of this Smart-City. Growth doesn't come with a single action. It is the consequence of persistence, courage, and hard work. What we are accomplishing here is to create an experience that brings hospitality back and gives it life again. Innovation is a team sport."

DRIVE-TO DESTINATIONS, such as beach towns, have seen steadily rising occupancy this summer as people seek to escape the restrictions of life in the COVID-19 pandemic. That is driving a wave of developments of Choice Hotels International's upscale Cambria brand around the country, including Cambria Hotel Ocean City - Bayfront in Ocean City, Maryland, developed by Mihir Wankawala of The Wankawala Organization. The eight-story, 137-room Cambria Ocean City - Bayfront, the fourth Cambria in the state, is near the city's Boardwalk and the Inlet event forums as well as other attractions like the Outlets Ocean City shopping center, Splash Mountain Water Park and Northside Park. Wankawala, who partnered with Tauhid Islam of PiNNacle Hospitality Group on the hotel, said he has confidence in the market despite the current pandemic related downturn. Work on the hotel had just been completed when the pandemic hit.

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT competition She Has a Deal (SHaD) started a 10-city tour of U.S. cities to raise equity capital under the name "SHaD Prosperity Fund I." The funds will support women-led hotel projects, a statement said. The tour kicks off in Miami on Feb. 11 and will be open to small groups of qualified individual investors, family offices, small entities and trusts. Cities on the tour include Cleveland, Phoenix, Dallas, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, as well as Oakland, California; Louisville, Kentucky; and Washington, D.C. It will finish in the first week of April. According to SHaD, each event will include a preview of the women-led hotel deals being pitched by participants in the 2022 She Has a Deal pitch competition. "Launching SHaD Prosperity Fund I is the next logical step in the SHaD mission. Now that we have created a powerful platform to expose more women to hotel ownership and educate them about the process, I want to ensure that capital is available for the women to close their hotel deals," said SHaD founder Tracy Prigmore. "This investment vehicle marries two of my passions: creating investment vehicles that open the doors of hotel investing to more people and increasing the number of women owning and developing hotels. The ability to create passive income for investors while leading social change is inspiring."

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association has announced the dates, cities, and registration information for its "On the Road" State Hotel Conferences for 17 states in 2023. The conferences will provide hoteliers, suppliers, and service providers opportunities to connect with their peers as well as hospitality and policy leaders to learn about the latest news and information affecting the hotel and lodging industry, AHLA said in a statement. Anyone who works in the hotel industry can attend these half-day, free events, it added. "AHLA's 'On The Road' State Hotel Conferences are designed to help local hoteliers connect with their peers, gain insights on national and local market business performance trends and learn from top hospitality leaders, service providers and policy experts," said Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO. "The events are also a vital tool to help AHLA build coalitions, grow our grassroots network and rally hoteliers around the industry's goals and initiatives. We are excited to bring AHLA's successful On The Road State Hotel Conference series to a record number of cities in 2023." AHLA will host these conferences in partnership with its state or city lodging association partners. Since starting with four events in 2021, AHLA's On The Road State Hotel Conferences have brought together thousands of hoteliers in cities across the nation. Last year, 11 events were held.

SSN HOTELS, A Delaware-based hotel management and ownership company, recently acquired its 31st property, the Residence Inn Atlantic City Airport/Egg Harbor Township in New Jersey. A full renovation of the property, set to begin at year's end, will focus on upgrading guest amenities, SSN Hotels said in a statement. SSN Hotels is led by co-founders Peter Bhai as CEO and Pinky Bhai and president. "We are excited to expand our presence in the Atlantic City area and look forward to transforming this property into a premier destination for business and leisure travelers alike," said Peter Bhai. "This renovation will allow us to offer an even more exceptional stay for our guests while continuing to grow our portfolio." SSN currently operates 31 hotels across five states-New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, and Florida-with seven more in development, according to its website. It owns and manages properties under brands from Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Red Roof and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

THE U.S. SUPREME Court overturned a lower court ruling that found Grants Pass, Oregon's ban on outdoor sleeping on public lands violated the constitution's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. AAHOA expressed concerns over the ruling in the case that could push the homeless population into hotels. Previously, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court held that enforcing city ordinances banning outdoor sleeping did violate the Eighth Amendment's Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause "whenever the number of homeless individuals in a jurisdiction exceeds the number of 'practically available' shelter beds," according to the Supreme Court ruling. This led to several lawsuits against cities filed by homeless advocates, including one against Grants Pass that led a district court to file an injunction prohibiting the city from enforcing the ordinance. The Supreme Court overturned the district court's holding, saying the city's punishments for violations, including fines in first offenses and imprisonment for multiple violations, did not meet the Eighth Amendment's definitions of cruel and unusual. That ruling has an immediate impact on cities and counties in Oregon and other Western states, according to Oregon media.

SOUTH INDIAN CITY Hyderabad topped the list of most-booked cities in India for 2024, according to a recent study by OYO. Religious tourism remains strong, with Puri, Varanasi, and Haridwar as key spiritual destinations, drawing large numbers of pilgrims. OYO's annual "Travelopedia 2024" report analyzes travel trends using its booking data. "2024 has marked a year of transformation in global travel," said Shreerang Godbole, OYO's global chief service officer. "Travellers are embracing flexibility, whether for business or leisure. Remote work trends are driving demand for both quick getaways and long stays." Hyderabad led bookings, with growth in both leisure and business travel, followed by Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata, the study found. Uttar Pradesh remains India's top travel state, with Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka also showing strong booking volumes. Smaller towns like Patna, Rajahmundry, and Hubli saw up to 48 percent year-on-year booking growth, indicating rising interest in non-metro destinations.

U.S. HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES reported a 108.2 percent year-over-year health metric for the fourth quarter of 2024, the highest in four quarters, according to the Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index by Cendyn and Amadeus. Tampa, Houston, and Miami led the top 10 cities in rankings. The index combines event data from Cendyn's Sales Intelligence platform, formerly Knowland, with hotel booking data from Amadeus' Demand360, covering group, corporate negotiated, global distribution system, and events performance, the companies said in a joint statement. Top 10 cities by index: Tampa - 121.4 percent Houston - 120.6 percent Miami - 116.8 percent New York City - 112.0 percent Chicago - 111.6 percent Phoenix - 110.4 percent Detroit - 109.8 percent Louis - 109.6 percent San Diego - 109.6 percent New Orleans - 108.3 percent

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL IS introducing its "City Express" brand to the U.S. and Canada, marking its entry into the midscale transient segment. Previously known as Project Mid-T, this expansion underscores Marriott's commitment to enhancing its midscale offerings and providing lodging options for all travel purposes. The brand has attracted interest from owners and franchisees and expects to sign agreements, with potential hotel openings in the U.S. and Canada in the coming months, Marriott said in a statement. "Since entering the affordable midscale space with the acquisition of City Express in the Caribbean and Latin America just over a year ago, we have seen significant interest for the brand and are pleased with its growth across the region," said Diana Plazas-Trowbridge, Marriott's senior vice president and global brand leader of select brands. "With this announcement, Marriott aims to continue growth in the affordable midscale segment and provide a new option for value-conscious travelers in the U.S. and Canada."

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You need to get the French Schengen Visa before you visit the Pink City of France. A world Class city with the historic background. Showing the true spirit of France.

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