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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 Holiday Inn & Suites Atlanta Perimeter-Dunwoody opened March 24 with a ribbon cutting in Chamblee, Georgia. It is owned by Atlanta Hospitality Investment LLC, led by Mohammad Hossain as managing member, and operated by YM Hospitality led by Jay Patel as chairman and Nick Patel as CEO in Stockbridge, Georgia. A key feature of the 143-room hotel is its rooftop bar and restaurant, Spice & Sky, with a globally inspired menu from Atlanta chef, Archna Becker. The space is designed for year-round dining both inside and out, however. About 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta, nearby attractions include Murphey Candler Park, Perimeter Mall, Stone Mountain Park and LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Amenities include a heated indoor pool, a fitness center and 4,500 square feet of event space.

WITH THE TENNESSEE River winding through downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, as a backdrop, Mitch Patel, president and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, welcomed nearly 300 guests to a formal gala recognizing his company's 25th anniversary on Thursday. Among the guests were local officials, brand leaders, some of Patel's fellow hoteliers and the VHG employees who he said made it all possible. "I know many of you are tired and have early flights tomorrow, so I'll do my best to keep this short but I have a lot of people to thank, I'm sorry," Patel said in his speech near the end of the gala, following many presentations and a full dinner on the terrace at the Hunter Museum of American Art. The museum is next door to The Edwin Hotel, one of VHG's several boutique hotels in Chattanooga alone. Some guests for the gala also enjoyed complimentary housing at The Edwin for the special anniversary event, which was announced in March.

PEOPLE ARE SHOWING a desire to get back to travel, but within certain limits, according to a Reuters Events Travel webinar. The webinar featured information on the current state of the industry from IHG Hotels & Resorts, Visit California and digital consultancy Appnovation. Whether planning, booking or experiencing a vacation, today's travelers are more cautious than ever and are taking more time to research plans and are using digital tools for it, according to the webinar titled "Destination Experience: Driven by Data, Inspired by Travelers." As many as 41 percent of respondents to a survey from Appnovation cited a readiness to travel out of state or province, while only 19 percent were ready for international trips. Almost half of Americans, 49 percent, are likely to travel out of state and 24 percent are likely to travel internationally. "With data, brands are much better equipped to understand these shifts, and use their marketing tools more effectively. In short, you can't innovate properly until you innovate on your internal processes," said Anton Morrison, vice president of user experience and design, Appnovation.

The AC Hotel by Marriott Greenville Downtown is open in Greenville, South Carolina. It is owned by Auro Hotels led by Dharmendra D.J. Rama as president and CEO. The 8-story, 196-room upscale hotel is in Camperdown Plaza near Falls Park, the Reedy River, the Peace Center Performing Arts center, Kroc Center Greenville, the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Sirrine Stadium. It includes seven restaurants and bars, including the tapas bar Paloma, the rooftop Juniper and The Press Room speakeasy. "The opening of the AC Hotel Greenville Downtown and Paloma marks an exciting milestone for Auro Hotels," Rama said. "This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity due to its location, scale, level of detail and amenities, as well as a unique opportunity to celebrate our hometown of Greenville. The hotel, along with the thoughtfully-curated food and beverage concepts, will be treasured by visitors and the local community for generations." Also, the hotel features more than 100 works by 35 local artists and 29,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

KEN GREENE IS leaving his position as president and CEO of AAHOA to begin a new job with Dallas-based IBF Hospitality. AAHOA already has begun searching for his replacement. Greene will leave on Feb. 11, according to a statement. He was brought on last year in June to replace Cecil Staton, AAHOA's former president and CEO when he left the association unexpectedly. "Ken has been instrumental in carrying AAHOA through the past several months, which brought on a lot of change both at AAHOA and in our industry," said AAHOA Chair Vinay Patel. "We're grateful for the time he's spent at AAHOA and wish him nothing but continued success as he transitions to another opportunity." While at AAHOA, Greene oversaw the association's return to in-person events, including the 2021 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas in August. He also helped in write AAHOA's strategic plan and helped restaff the organization after the departure of Staton, the association's executive vice president and COO Rachel Humphrey and others.

THE LEISURE AND hospitality sector saw some job growth in December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' December employment report. Not enough, however, according to the U.S. Travel Association, meaning more federal aid is needed. The sector added 53,000 jobs during the month, according to the BLS data. The overall economy added 199,000 jobs. "Leisure and hospitality has added 2.6 million jobs in 2021, but employment in the industry is down by 1.2 million, or 7.2 percent, since February 2020," the report said. "Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 43,000 in December but is down by 653,000 since February 2020." However, the report indicates that the recovery is uneven, said Tori Emerson Barnes, USTA's executive vice president of public affairs and policy, in a statement. December's performance was the second-worst since January 2021, she said. "The small gains made are not enough to propel the sector toward a larger recovery, as more than 7 percent of all L&H jobs remain lost compared to just 2 percent for the rest of the U.S. economy," Barnes said. "As the spread of the omicron variant continues to impact travel, there remains a pressing need for Congress to provide additional federal relief and stabilizing policies that will enable the return of business travel, professional meetings and events, and international inbound travel."

The SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Odessa in Odessa, Texas, is now open. It is owned by Shivbkrishna LLC led by Manish Bhakta. The 110-room hotel is near the Odessa Meteor Crater, the second largest meteor crater in the U.S., the Parker House Ranching Museum and Monahans Sandhills State Park. Amenities include a fitness center, indoor pool and two different spaces for meetings and events. "Our fully-renovated hotel offers the most value and best service for both business and leisure travelers staying in Odessa," Bhakta said. "The SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Odessa provides guests with the excellent comfort, value and service they are looking for in a hotel stay," said Rob Mentnech, managing director of SureStay Hotel Group.

AS THE FIRST investment for its recently announced $100 million real estate fund, NewcrestImage has purchased the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Dallas. The company, which is based in Dallas, purchased the historic building from Denver-based Stout Street Hospitality. Opened in 1922 as the headquarters offices for Magnolia Petroleum, the 325-room, 29-floor Magnolia Hotel was the city's first skyscraper and the first high-rise in the United States to have air conditioning. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and opened as a luxury boutique hotel in 1999. The hotel is across from the 37-floor world headquarters of AT&T and the $100 million AT&T Discovery District, a shopping, dining and entertainment development. The Discovery District features a 30-foot diameter interactive "walk-in" sculpture and a 104-foot high media wall for watching sports, movies and music events. The hotel features a library, a restaurant, two lounges and 11 meeting rooms, that range from 230 to 3,500 square feet. "Rooted in history and ready to be reinvented for the future - that describes this hotel, and also our entire hospitality industry right now," said Mehul Patel, chairman and CEO of NewcrestImage. "The Magnolia Hotel is an especially relevant and significant opportunity for us because it continues two important corporate commitments - re-energizing downtown Dallas and revitalizing historic buildings."

THE U.S. TRAVEL Association and Tourism Diversity Matters formed a new strategic partnership to focus on issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), a statement from USTA said. The partnership will provide USTA more access to Tourism Diversity Matters' subject matter expertise, research and resources. Founded in 2021, Tourism Diversity Matters addresses blind spots in ethnic disparities within the tourism and events industries. It will provide these industry leaders with resources and tactics to develop more effective DEI strategies to engage, recruit and retain a diverse workforce. DEI is a core priority of USTA, the association said in a statement, and is committed to having a vital role in affecting lasting change and supporting the development of industry-wide DEI plans. The partnership will advance workforce development issues and federal policy initiatives that support travel's recovery, the statement added. "USTA has a clear vision: in working closely with Tourism Diversity Matters, we aim to help the travel sector achieve a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive industry for all," said Roger Dow, USTA's president and CEO and a board member of Tourism Diversity Matters. "Aligning with Tourism Diversity Matters is a great step toward this pursuit that will enrich USTA's membership for years to come."

The SureStay Hotel by Best Western Floresville is now open in Floresville, Texas. It is owned by Niraj Patel. The 42-room hotel is near Cycle Ranch motocross venue and the Floresville Event Center. Also nearby are The Alamo, San Antonio River Walk, Sea World San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, along with Marathon Oil Company, Holland Energy, Cajun Well Services Inc., Schoeffler Energy Group Inc. and Key Energy Services. Amenities include an outdoor pool and a pavilion with barbeque pits and picnic microwaves and mini-fridges.

The Hampton Inn by Hilton Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, Georgia, is now open. It is owned by Vision Hospitality Group led by Mitch Patel as president and CEO. The 109-room hotel is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near local breweries, wineries, eateries and specialty retail shops in the town's Historic District. Also nearby are more than 300 miles of trails, horseback riding and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Hotel amenities include 1,200 square feet of meeting space and the a rooftop bar and event space.

Aiden by Best Western @ Warm Springs Hotel and Event Center is now open in Warm Springs, Georgia. The 50-acre mountain-top resort is owned by Kathy Patel. The 52-room hotel is one hour away from south of Atlanta. Nearby are the Little White House of President Franklin Roosevelt and F.D. Roosevelt State Park, the Wild Animal Safari and Full Circle Animal Sanctuary, Great Wolf Lodge, Warm Springs Vineyard and Winery and Fitzgerald Fruit Farms. "We are very excited to bring a bold boutique hotel to Warm Springs," said Patel. "Our hotel brings a new lodging choice that is unlike anything else in the area, and we look forward to welcoming guets with our selection of modern amenities and exemplary service."

NEWBOND HOLDINGS HAS acquired Aloft Tampa Downtown in Tampa, Florida, marking its third downtown riverfront hotel investment in the city in 24 months. This takes the company's total to more than 700 hotel rooms and more than 800 ft. of frontage along the Hillsborough River, Newbond said in a statement. Niel Luthra is the founding partner of New York-based Newbond Holdings. The 130-key hotel, located on the Riverwalk, provides both indoor and outdoor amenities, featuring a waterfront pool, gym, corporate meeting and event spaces, as well as a bar and lounge, the statement added. Newbond is planning a comprehensive hotel renovation to include all guestrooms, public areas and the pool deck. "Our third hotel investment in downtown Tampa since 2021 demonstrates our conviction in the long-term Tampa growth story," said Neil Luthra, founding partner of Newbond. "Tampa's robust job and population growth; flourishing convention and tourism business; and continued institutional investment have created one of the strongest real estate and hospitality markets in the country."

Our business began on 1st April 1968 with the launch of our flagship title, Garavi Gujarat. Today, AMG is a diversified media house, publishing some of the country's most iconic and trusted Asian media brands and hosting some of the UK's leading events. Operating in the UK, US and India, our reach extends across the globe. Our websites attract over a million unique visitors every month and our business and consumer publications reach over 1.3 million readers each month.

THE AHLA FOUNDATION, is re-launching its ForWard program, created to advance women in leadership and ownership within the hotel industry, and plans to integrate the program with the recently acquired Castell Project, an organization focused on promoting women in hospitality leadership. Also, the foundation presented the 2023 Peggy Berg Castell Award to Julienne Smith, IHG Hotels & Resorts' chief development officer for the Americas. The integration of ForWard and the Castell Project will result in a unified platform offering resources, events, professional development, and community-building opportunities, the AHLA Foundation said in a statement. "There is tremendous opportunity for us to do more to celebrate, champion, and create community for women," said Anna Blue, president of AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. "AHLA Foundation is uniquely positioned to collaborate across industry and invest in the women who are advancing hospitality."

THE U.S. HOTEL industry is "beginning to get back to getting back to it," according to a speaker at The Lodging Conference 2022, held Sept. 19-22 in Phoenix. More than 2,500 people attended the event at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, continuing the industry's return to normalcy after more than two years of pandemic. Talk of the economy during the conference was mostly positive, though concerns about the labor shortage remained high as well as some apprehension about overall economic stability. Women were strongly represented on the stage with the awarding of the annual Castell Award. AAHOA's leadership team also contributed to the conference conversation.

WITH A ROCK and roll theme, Best Western Hotels & Resorts held its annual conference in Cleveland on Oct. 28 to 30. During the event, which marked the completion of the first year of the company's former general counsel Larry Cuculic as president and CEO, the company launched a new extended-stay brand, Home by BWH. Thousands of Best Western members attended the conference, with the theme "BW Rocks 2022." Cuculic, who took over for long-time president and CEO David Kong last year, gave an update on his first year. "When my journey began in this position last year, I was anxious," Cuculic said in the first general session of the recent conference. "The honor of the position and the responsibilities are absolutely huge. Consider, though, that being anxious is actually a good thing. It's a good thing. It's a reflection of my wanting to do my best for you."

AAHOA'S NEWEST PROJECT aimed at promoting women in hospitality is the "ElevateHER Women's Initiative to Highlight and Support Women Hoteliers and Leaders in the Industry." The initiative, launched Tuesday, will offer networking and educational opportunities for women hoteliers and hospitality industry professionals. As part of ElevateHER, AAHOA is hosting the Women Hoteliers ElevateHER Conference on Oct. 26 to 27 in Cincinnati. The conference will focus on bringing together AAHOA's community of women hoteliers for education, inspiration, and empowerment. "AAHOA has been proud to celebrate the important work women are doing at every level of hospitality, and this initiative further underscores our commitment to the women of AAHOA and elevating their contributions to the industry," said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA's first full-time female president and CEO appointed in May. "While there's still much work to be done, AAHOA recognizes the significant strides women have made to be seen at industry events, heard in the boardroom, and valued in the workplace. ElevateHER celebrates these accomplishments and will further drive our association's work around elevating and supporting women in the industry."

U.S. HOTEL LEISURE travel revenue is projected to rise 14 percent this year over pre-pandemic levels and business travel revenue is expected to be within 1 percent of 2019 range, according to a report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Kalibri Labs. However, these projections are not adjusted for inflation, and real hotel revenue recovery may take many years, a statement said. Among the top 50 U.S. markets, 80 percent are projected to see hotel leisure travel revenue exceed 2019 levels, but just 40 percent are expected reach that milestone for business travel revenue. Many urban markets are yet to recover due to their dependence on business from events and group meetings, the report said. All markets in the top 10 are likely to report increase in leisure travel revenue except New York, Washington and San Francisco. Whereas, in business travel revenue only Orlando, Las Vegas and San Diego will end up this year in green among the top 10.