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The Radisson Hotel West Sacramento is open in Sacramento, California. It was developed by 365 Hospitality and West Sacramento Hospitality, led by Ankit Panchal as CEO and managing member respectively. The 140-room hotel near Sacramento International Airport underwent an extensive renovation converting to a Radisson, including the lobby, atrium, fitness center and restaurant. Nearby attractions include River Walk Park along the Sacramento River, the Crocker Art Museum, the California Highway Patrol Academy, the California Department of General Services and several other company headquarters. Amenities include a fitness center, indoor spa and hot tub and an outdoor pool. The hotel has 4,000 square feet of event space across four rooms for up to 250 guests.

The Best Western Gallup West is now open in Gallup, New Mexico. It is owned by Murad Mohsin. The 60-room hotel is near Veteran Memorial Pillars, Red Rock State Park, the Gallup Flea Market Fire Rock Navajo Casino and the Navajo Nation Museum. It is two hours from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, spa and free parking. "We are very excited to join Best Western and to have access to the brand's best-in-class support and resources that will strengthen our property and guest service," said Murad Mohsin, owner of the Best Western Gallup West. "Our hotel offers something for everyone and is near some of Gallup's most interesting sights. We look forward to providing the comfort travelers are looking for in our quaint town situated off Route 66."

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THIRD-PARTY HOSPITALITY management company Twenty Four Seven Hotels has added four California hotels to its West Coast portfolio, a statement said. A member of the Newport Beach, California-based company's executive team said it's part of a controlled growth strategy. The new properties are the 128-room Hyatt House Sacramento/Midtown, the 112-room Hyatt Place Newark/Silicon Valley, the 90-room Hampton Inn & Suites Marina and the 119-room Holiday Inn Express Chino Hills. Currently, the firm is providing pre-opening services and these properties are expected to be fully operational in December, the statement added. "We continue to expand our management footprint throughout California, with these four additions bringing our total Golden State portfolio to twenty. By focusing exclusively on the West Coast, our area operational expertise is unparalleled. This also allows for the ability to more readily share best practices and enact economies of scale," said David Wani, CEO, Twenty Four Seven Hotels. "Twenty Four Seven Hotels provides a full-suite of services, starting at the earliest phases of the pre-construction process to create advantages over companies acquiring or assuming operations at a later stage."

PEACHTREE HOTEL GROUP added seven hotels to its portfolio this week for $135 million. Three of the hotels also are part of Peachtree's third investment partnerships with San Mateo, California-based Verakin Capital led by partners Rupesh and Bimal Patel and Hiten Suraj. The new acquisitions include 829 rooms and are in five different states, according to Peachtree and its management division Peachtree Hospitality Management, which will operate all seven hotels. The new hotels are: The dual-brand Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Tempe, University Research Park, 120 rooms, and Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Tempe, University Research Park, 108 rooms, in Tempe, Arizona, which were built in 2017. Aloft Hillsboro-Beaverton in Hillsboro, Oregon, 137 rooms, built in 2017. Hilton Garden Inn Casper, 121 rooms in Casper, Wyoming, built in 2008. Home2 Suites by Hilton Eugene Downtown University Area, in Eugene, Oregon, 120 rooms, built in 2016. Home2 Suites by Hilton Pittsburgh/McCandless in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 119 rooms, built in 2013. Hilton Garden Inn West Lafayette Wabash Landing in West Lafayette, Indiana, 104 rooms, built in 2003.

THE HISTORY OF Indian immigrants in the U.S. could fill several books, but Mahendra Doshi has captured a core aspect of it with his book "Surat to San Francisco: How the Patels from Gujarat Established the Hotel Business in California 1942-1960." The book is, as the title says, the story of the individuals who first left their home for a roundabout journey to the American Dream. Doshi is journalist in San Jose, California, not a businessman himself, but he is originally from Vadia in the Indian state of Gujarat. His family moved to Calcutta in West Bengal where Doshi earned degrees from Presidency College and the University of Calcutta before moving to the U.S. in 1967 and eventual graduated with a master's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. "I have never even thought of business. I had a degree in journalism and I did marketing work for General Motors. That's where I made my living for 30 years," Doshi said. "At the same time, I pursued my journalistic impulses. I wrote for mostly all those ethnic papers, Indian ethnic papers like India Times of Chicago and India West and India Post." Doshi also published two "Who's Who among Indians" lists in 1976 and 1981. That whet his appetite for exploring his people's history.

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NEXGEN HOTELS RECENTLY acquired Holiday Inn St. Petersburg West in St. Petersburg, Florida. The 129-room hotel will be managed by St Louis-based Genuine Hospitality Group. The property, which is located minutes away from downtown St. Petersburg, is close to Tropicana Field, the Dali Museum, Morean Arts Center, Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater, and Al Lang Stadium, NexGen said in a statement. The hotel is also near the University of South Florida - St. Petersburg Campus, St. Petersburg College and Stetson University. "We are excited to expand our portfolio and enter the St. Petersburg area," says Chris Patel, president of Itasca, Illinois-based NexGen. "This acquisition provides NexGen Hotels with an excellent opportunity to establish a significant presence in the robust St. Petersburg hotel market."

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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."

Nearly six months after opening its doors, the Aloft Mooresville in Mooresville, North Carolina, made it official. Maya Hotels, led by co-founders J.D. Deva and Baldev Thakor, held its grand opening for the property on May 28. Local officials, including Mayor Miles Atkins, Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Qualls, Commissioner Thurman Houston, and Commissioner Gary West, attended the event at the 128-room hotel that actually opened in December. There was live music and special cocktails at the hotel bar. "Our first hotel in Mooresville was over 25 years ago and our belief in the potential of this area has not wavered since. The Aloft Mooresville is our fifth hotel investment in this town, and we could not be more excited," said Deva, CEO of Maya Hotels The hotel provided 50 new jobs for the area. "This celebration is the culmination of a very long and rewarding journey," said Thakor, vice president. "We feel that this brand is a perfectly unique addition to Mooresville, offering an upscale venue for guests and members of the community to have fun and unwind."

The Residence Inn by Marriott Richmond West is open in Midlothian, Virginia. It is owned by Shamin Hotels, led by CEO Neil Amin in Chester, Virginia. The 111-suite extended=stay hotel is near Johnston-Willis Hospital and 20 minutes from downtown Richmond. Other nearby attractions are Richmond Ice Zone, Huguenot Park, Chesterfield Towne Center and River City Sportsplex. The pet-friendly hotel's amenities include a meeting room, an indoor swimming pool and a fitness center. "When on the road for an extended period, our guests need space to spread out, maintain their life's pace and restore their energy to keep a healthy balance and routine while traveling. This new hotel offers a seamless blend of modern style and functionality that allows them to settle in and thrive," said Diane Mayer, vice president and global brand manager for Residence Inn at Marriott International.

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL has completed its acquisition of Radisson Hotels Americas for $675 million. The transaction includes Radisson's franchise business, operations and intellectual property. The merger, which was announced in June, will add Radisson's nine brands to Choice, bringing it to 624 hotels. "With the close of this transaction, Choice Hotels International has added approximately 67,000 rooms, expanding its presence in the higher revenue upper upscale and upscale full-service segments, and bolstering its core upper-midscale hospitality segment, particularly in the West Coast and Midwest of the U.S.," the company said in a statement. As part of the transaction, which covers properties in Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the U.S., Choice will independently own and control the brands in the Americas and will work with Radisson to drive the growth, continuity and success of the brands, according to a joint press release from the companies. Choice's board of directors unanimously approved the transaction, and it was expected to close in the second half of 2022. It was funded by cash on hand and revolver borrowings and includes 10 Radisson Blu hotels, 130 Radisson hotels, 9 Radisson Individuals, 1 Park Plaza hotel, 4 Radisson RED hotels, 453 Country Inn & Suites by Radisson and 17 Park Inn by Radisson hotels, as well as the recently launched Radisson Inn & Suites and Radisson Collection brands.

FRESH FROM SELLING off much of its portfolio, NewcrestImage recently agreed to purchase nine hotels in Arizona from G6 Hospitality, six branded Motel 6 and three branded Studio 6. The company expects to close the transaction in early March. The six Motel 6 properties Dallas-based NewcrestImage will purchase are: Mesa North, 152 rooms Phoenix West, 148 rooms Phoenix Tempe, 131 rooms Scottsdale South, 100 rooms Mesa South, 91 rooms Phoenix Airport, 61 rooms The three Studio 6 properties being acquired are: Tempe, 151 rooms Phoenix Deer Valley, 142 rooms Tucson East, 121 rooms "Acquiring properties, along with developing new hotels, are our two primary investment strategies for achieving growth in 2022," said Mehul Patel, chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. "We look forward to creating fresh opportunities for these nine Arizona hotels in keeping with our operating philosophy, abilities, and track record." Arizona is an attractive market because its hotel occupancy is robust and above the national average," Patel said.

The SpringHill Suites Austin West/Lakeway in Lakeway, Texas, is scheduled to open Aug. 28. It is owned by Lakeway Joint Venture, managed by Sunil Patel, and managed by Esperanto Developments of El Paso, Texas, led by Madhi Nair, president and CEO. The 88-suite hotel is on the campus of the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center.Nearby attractions include Lake Travis, the Hill Country Galleria, The Oasis on Lake Travis and Pace Bend State Park. Hotel amenities include a meeting room, an outdoor patio with a fire pit, an indoor swimming pool and a fitness center.

Recently, Larry Cuculic, president and CEO of BWH Hotel Group, sat down with Asian Hospitality to share his insights into the status of the Best Western Hotel brand and the industry as a whole. A video of the entire interview, the first in Asian Hospitality's "Leadership Series," is now available on the magazine's website. Subjects included the labor crisis, attracting new franchisees and the state of the economy. Below are excerpts from the interview along with additional information on the subjects discussed, including franchise relations, the labor crisis and changes the company has seen since his appointment to the top role. Franchise relations One of the biggest issues Cuculic discusses in the interview is maintaining positive relations with Best Western franchisees. He emphasized the need for openness and transparency. "We disclose all of our contract terms throughout the negotiation. I tell our people, I believe in karma," Cuculic said in the Leadership Series interview. "Karma doesn't forget a name or an address. If you treat someone who's thinking about coming into your brand reasonably fairly, and then when they sign a contract, you drive revenue to them, that's a win-win relationship. That's what we want. If you don't have that win-win relationship, they're going to leave and your reputation is that you don't support your hoteliers or believe in that relationship, which then hinders development." Cuculic said his training at West Point Military Academy and law school at Notre Dame University instilled in him an innate sense of fairness. Also, due to its structure, the company has to involve its members in every decision. "I'm the president, CEO of Best Western, I cannot design a governance change," Cuculic said. "The members vote on all those changes. Our board of directors approves our contracts."

The TownePlace Suites by Marriott Amarillo West/Medical Center is scheduled to open in Amarillo, Texas, on July 30. It is owned and managed by Ram Hotels led by Kush Nathu, operations manager. The 104-suite hotel is six miles from downtown and 15 miles from Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport. Nearby attractions include Cadillac Ranch, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Don Harrington Discovery Center, Northwest Medical Center and Baptist St. Anthony Hospital. Hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool and hot tub, a fitness center and 1,800 square feet of meeting space.

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.

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."