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STONEBRIDGE COS. LLC, a Denver-based hotel management firm with a diverse portfolio of full-service, select-service, and extended-stay properties, recently acquired Real Hospitality Group LLC, an Ocean City, Maryland-based hotel management company. Stonebridge is chaired and led by CEO Navin Dimond, while RHG was founded and led by Ben Seidel, president and CEO. Seidel will join Stonebridge as a principal and member of the board of directors, the companies said in a joint statement. However, the terms of the deal were not disclosed. "We're thrilled to join forces with RHG as we embark on this next chapter of our evolution," said Dimond. "The blending of these two companies will create a dynamic, leading hotel management group that will drive innovation and create exciting growth opportunities for our team members."

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."

ROB SMITH WILL become president and CEO of Stonebridge Cos. in July. He succeeds Navin Dimond, who founded the Denver-based hotel management company in 1991 and will now serve as chairman. In his new role, Smith will lead the development and execution of the organization's long-term strategies and report to the board of directors, Stonebridge said in a statement. "I am proud of the success our team has achieved as we've built the distinct Stonebridge brand over more than 30 years-and am confident that the best is yet to come," said Dimond. "Rob epitomizes our culture of leveraging innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit to enhance value for our owners, investors and other stakeholders. His extensive, successful track record makes him the ideal person to advance our growth strategy. I look forward to working closely with Rob to take Stonebridge to the next level of growth."