Group items tagged

Mary Beth Cutshall is the new chief growth officer at Vision Hospitality Group. In this role, she will oversee the expansion of the company's U.S. hotel portfolio. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Vision Hospitality is led by founder and CEO Mitch Patel. "With 35 years of hospitality experience across sales, marketing, acquisitions, and business growth, Mary Beth is the perfect candidate to lead Vision's growth into new markets and segments with new partners," said Patel. "She has worked at all levels of the industry-from property-level sales to C-suite positions with major hotel management companies-providing her with invaluable industry insights and meaningful relationships with brands, owners, operators, and virtually every other hotel stakeholder. Mary Beth shares Vision's purpose-driven mentality, and we have no doubt she will help us achieve our expansion goals."

VISION HOSPITALITY GROUP will celebrate its 25th anniversary in April. The company, led by Mitch Patel as president and CEO, is now making plans for the next quarter century. Founded in 1997, Vision Hospitality began with a Homewood Suites by Hilton, Chattanooga/Hamilton Place Patel developed in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the company is still headquartered. Then, as the U.S. economy struggled to overcome the 9/11 attacks of 2001, Patel went on to develop 10 more hotels. "Here, VHG learned agility and how to pivot, gaining a deeper understanding of how to successfully adapt to the ebb and flow of the hospitality and financial industries," the company said in a statement. "These lessons, along with a solid foundation of core values - dedication, integrity, respect, excellence, community, teamwork, and spirit - were the guiding principles that led to continued growth through the Great Recession and the unprecedented challenges of the last few years."

Home2 Suites by Hilton is now open in Chattanooga/East Ridge, Tennessee. The 101-room, four-story hotel is owned by Vision Hospitality Group, led by President and CEO Mitch Patel. This is Vision Hospitality's second hotel opening this year. Construction of the hotel began in February 2023 and was completed in just over a year in collaboration with Wolftever Development, Vision Hospitality said in a statement. The hotel is located next to the company's Hampton Inn in a mixed-use area of East Ridge. "We are proud to continue our partnership with Hilton and broaden our presence in the East Ridge area by launching this Home2 Suites by Hilton," said Patel. "East Ridge continues to see significant growth with new developments, which creates a demand for quality accommodations. We are pleased to meet this need."

Nakul Anand, former executive director of ITC Hotels, has been named chairman of the advisory board for Tricone Luxury Hotels, a subsidiary of U.S.-based Tricone Engineers. Anand brings four decades of hospitality experience. He will oversee the company's continued growth in India, Tricone said in a statement. "We are thrilled to welcome Nakul Anand to our team," Alok Aggarwal, Tricon Luxury Hotels' CEO, said in an article on ANI. "His unparalleled expertise in the hospitality industry will be instrumental in shaping our company's vision and integrating sophisticated hospitality services and sustainability initiatives into our hotels and real estate projects." Tricone Luxury Hotels recently executed memorandums of understanding with Indian hotel brands and acquired land for a real estate project in Alibaug near Mumbai, which will be marketed soon. The company is set to launch luxury hotels and hospitality-oriented real estate projects in Alibaug.

Stuckey also worked for ShawContract where he directed that company's partnership with AAHOA. He also worked for InterContinental Hotels Group. "[Stuckey] brings substantial experience to his position and a sound strategic vision for the association's important business development work. He has an exceptional understanding of our members and the hospitality industry," said Cecil Staton, AAHOA president and CEO. Now is an important moment in the hospitality industry, Stuckey said. "AAHOA, its members, and industry partners have always been an important part of my hospitality career, including working and consulting directly with members," he said. "Feedback, partnership, growth, and innovation will be my mantra as we look to grow our value and connection with AAHOA members and industry partners, carrying out AAHOA's 2021-2023 Strategic Plan, and continuing down the road to recovery for the entire AAHOA community."

HYATT HOTELS CORP. reported $26 million in net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 and $220 million for the year. Comparable system-wide RevPAR grew by 9.1 percent during the same period and 17 percent for the full year of 2023, outperforming figures from 2022 and exceeding the previous full-year outlook. Adjusted net income reached $68 million in Q4 and $276 million for full-year 2023, Hyatt said in a statement. "The fourth quarter marks the completion of a transformative year and demonstrates the progress towards our strategic vision and earnings evolution," said Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's president and CEO. "RevPAR growth exceeded the high end of our guidance range and we had industry-leading net rooms growth for the seventh consecutive year. This led to a record level of fees and the highest free cash flow in Hyatt's history. We returned $500 million to our shareholders and achieved an asset-light earnings mix of approximately 76 percent for the full year, a testament to the successful execution of our strategy."

Melissa Ross Smith is now chief operating officer for Peachtree Group. She will be responsible for the overall performance, strategy and organizational development of Peachtree and its operating businesses. Before joining Peachtree, Smith held several high-level positions at organizations. Most recently, Smith was managing director of OS National, where she managed more than 250 professionals and was responsible for evaluating performance management systems and devising improvements to strengthen controls and optimize results, Peachtree said in a statement. "As Peachtree continues to evolve, improving our foundational processes is imperative to the future growth of our business," said Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree Group. "Melissa is an excellent complement to our team as she has an exceptional blend of leadership, vision and execution needed to be Peachtree's COO." Smith will report to Friedman, and will be a key executive team member, Peachtree's statement said. Peachtree Group is led by Jatin Desai and Mitul Patel as managing principals. "I am deeply impressed by Peachtree's success," Smith said. "Not only am I excited about the future opportunities, knowing that I can help execute and bring operational excellence across all segments, but I am also pleased to be joining an executive team representing some of the best people in commercial real estate."

Lisa Checchio is the new chief commercial officer of Miami-based EBG, an e-commerce provider specializing in travel and entertainment. She joins from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, where she was executive vice president and chief marketing officer. In the new role, Checchio will oversee marketing, customer experience, revenue growth, and related functions, including creative services, loyalty and CRM, corporate sales, client services, data analytics and communications, EBG said in a statement. She will report to Founder and CEO Brett Reizen and be based in EBG's New York office. "Lisa's proven track record in building brands and customer experiences will drive growth at EBG as we execute our strategic vision," said Reizen. "Ahead of our 25-year anniversary, her expertise will help us chart future success and strengthen EBG's leadership in the industry."

INDIANAPOLIS-BASED MHG HOTELS recently acquired Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown, its first purchase of 2025. The 92-suite property, located in the historic Weber Building, serves extended-stay guests. MHG Hotels is led by Sanjay Patel as president and CEO. "This acquisition aligns with our vision to invest in properties that reflect MHG's commitment to quality," Patel said. "With its downtown location and Hilton's trusted brand, this hotel is a strong addition to our portfolio. We look forward to enhancing guest experiences and supporting growth in the Indianapolis market." The hotel is near Lucas Oil Stadium, Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the Indiana Convention Center. Amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, and event spaces, MHG said in a statement.