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NEWCRESTIMAGE RECENTLY ACQUIRED the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Columbus Downtown in Columbus, Ohio. The 15-floor property features 194 suites with some of the largest square footage in the Columbus market, NewcrestImage said in a statement. "This acquisition underscores our continued appetite for transactions that offer strong growth potential in both market share and asset value," said Mehul Patel, NewcrestImage's managing partner and CEO. The hotel is near the Ohio State Capitol complex and the Greater Columbus Convention Center, two miles from Ohio State University, and seven miles from Columbus International Airport, the statement said. It includes concierge services, a business center, a fitness center, a lounge, a restaurant and 7,000 square feet of conference space. The deal was brokered by Hunter Hotel Advisors, with senior vice presidents Tim Osborne and Spencer Davidson representing the seller.

Sonesta Essential Columbus is now open in Columbus, Georgia. The 88-room property at Veterans Court is owned by Kamlesh Halvawala. "Sonesta Essential Columbus demonstrates our growing franchising capabilities and commitment to expanding our brand nationwide," said Keith Pierce, Sonesta's executive vice president and president of franchise and development. "The opening underscores our focus on delivering a strong guest experience while expanding the brand's footprint. As the fastest-growing brand in our portfolio, we're proud to offer franchisees a proven investment opportunity." The hotel is near the Springer Opera House, Chattahoochee RiverWalk, The Columbus Museum, the Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center, and Fort Moore. It features an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness center.

APERTURE HOTELS AND Satori Collective recently reopened the 120-room Hilton Garden Inn in Columbus, Georgia, following a multimillion-dollar renovation. The updates included public spaces, guestrooms, meeting space and fitness center, as well as parking improvements with EV charging stations. The full-service hotel also features an indoor pool with a hot tub and 3,500 square feet of flexible meeting space. Satori Collective is led by Andy Chopra as co-founder and managing partner. "With the completion of this full makeover, the Hilton Garden Inn Columbus now enjoys 'like-new' status, effectively making it the newest Hilton-branded hotel in Central Western Georgia," said Charles Oswald, Aperture Hotels' president and CEO. "We look forward to hosting a proper grand re-opening ceremony on Aug. 25 to fully embrace our position as a member of the community and to share our new offerings with guests and neighbors."

WHITESTONE CAPITAL, A subsidiary of Whitestone Cos., acquired the 189-key Westin Great Southern Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, in an all-cash deal-its 14th purchase in 24 months and first in downtown Columbus. The company selected ZMC Hotels to manage the property. Whitestone Cos. is led by CEO Jay Batra. "While we've acquired many assets nationwide, this one is especially meaningful as it's in our hometown," Batra said. "We're excited to add this historic property to our portfolio." The Westin Great Southern Hotel, built in 1896, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally the Great Southern Fireproof Building and Opera House, it has hosted figures including Presidents William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. "When you step into the two-story marble lobby, you feel a century of history around you," said Batra. "You see the craftsmanship that built it. They don't make them like this anymore."

The AC Hotel Columbus Downtown is now open in Columbus, Georgia. It is owned by locally based RAM Hotels led by brothers Rinkesh Patel as president and Mitesh Patel executive vice president. The 125-room, six-story upscale hotel is in the city's uptown district where there are many restaurants, bars and shops along the city's main throughfare. Nearby attractions include the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the National Civil War Naval Museum, Woodruff Riverfront Park and Mercer University. Hotel amenities include a curated art collection, the AC Café restaurant, the AC Lounge bar and the AC Library that provides novels and reading space for guests. It also features Kallpods, AC's wireless service buttons and a fitness center.

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS brand from IHG Hotels & Resorts has reached a milestone of more than 3,000 hotels across the globe, a statement said. The brand accounts for more than a third of IHG's global pipeline, and nearly 650 properties are expected to open in the coming years. According to the statement, Holiday Inn Express opened 100 new hotels every year and now offers 300,000 rooms in 2100 cities. Columbus, Georgia-based RAM Hotels, owns four Holiday Inn Express properties and Mitesh "Matt" Patel, executive vice president, described it as a power brand. "Holiday Inn express is and has always been a power brand. It performs very well in the markets we own them in," he said. "We always set Hampton as a benchmark for our Holiday Inn Express and tend to drive comparable RevPAR to Hampton Inn brand. Our Holiday Inn Express did very well during the pandemic and recovered within two to three months post pandemic."