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NOBLE INVESTMENT GROUP has acquired two hotels in National Landing, a mixed-use development in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. The acquisitions come days after the Atlanta-based company, led by Mit Shah as CEO bought two hotels in Savannah, Georgia. The hotels are the 162-room Hampton Inn & Suites National Landing and the 248-room Hilton Garden Inn National Landing. The neighborhoods of Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard comprise the National Landing development, which includes of offices, residential, dining, retail, parks, bike paths, and walking trails. "National Landing is home to more than seventeen million square feet of office, a highly skilled workforce of more than 50,000 people, and an affluent residential population. Virginia's largest walkable downtown, National Landing, further benefits from billions of dollars in private and public investments," Noble said in a press release. "Most notably are the $2.5 billion Amazon HQ2 under development, which will create 25,000 new jobs in National Landing, and Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus, which is expected to drive a new era of technology for the greater Washington D.C. area."

ON MONDAY THE Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals association politely declined an offer by the American Hotel and Lodging Association to merge the two organizations. Instead, HFTP's board of directors offered to enter into a memorandum of understanding with AHLA similar to agreements it has with other associations, such as AAHOA. HFTP said in a statement that, as a global organization "with members from the entire hospitality spectrum" it would not benefit those members to merge with a localized association such as AHLA. Instead, it suggested the MOU in keeping with HFTP's agreements with AAHOA, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association, Hotel Asset Managers Association - Middle East, Hotel Controllers and Accountants Association of Hong Kong, National Club Association and the Association of Private Club Directors. "As a former director of AHLA, I know they do good work for the industry and their recent takeovers of HTNG and HAMA will definitely help these smaller associations," said Frank Wolfe, HFTP's CEO. "But HFTP is a global association with global brands: HITEC, PineappleSearch.com, the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry and global certifications/certificates, not to mention our members from non-hotel segments. Our mission is education not advocacy."

VERAKIN CAPITAL, A real estate investment group, exceeded its $350 million investment milestone in the first quarter of this year. The company has made collective investments in three hotel properties that are currently in various stages of development; the Moxy in downtown Atlanta, Georgia; Hampton Inn/Home 2 in downtown Nashville, Tennessee; and Courtyard by Marriott in Pittsburg, California, the company said in a statement. Verakin, led by partners Rupesh and Bimal Patel and Hiten Suraj, is the lead developer of the Courtyard by Marriott, while the company is co-investing in the other two projects alongside RevPar Development and Emerge Hospitality Group, according to the statement. RevPar Development is a privately-owned hotel development and management company on the East Coast, while Emerge Hospitality Group is a family-owned and -operated hotel ownership, development and management company. "We are developing both on our own behalf and in joint ventures with like-minded investment groups," Rupesh Patel said. "We are seeing that newer hotels and brands are faring better than their older counterparts as travel rebounds in many markets and segments. To help satiate our investment growth appetite, we will continue to seek best-in-class partners, such as RevPar Development and Emerge Hospitality Group, who have proven track records as credible institutional investors, developers and operators." The Moxy hotel in downtown Atlanta, will feature 181 rooms spread across 13 floors and is scheduled to open mid-2026 before the FIFA World Cup. The centrally located hotel will cater to both business and leisure travelers and will offer three food and beverage options, including a roof top bar and lounge with views of the Mercedes Benz Stadium.

STONEBRIDGE COS. RECENTLY acquired the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Las Vegas Airport, marking the Denver-based companies entrée in the Las Vegas market. The company, led by Aly-khan Merali as president and managing partner and founder and CEO Navin Dimond, plans to renovate the 190-room hotel. The DoubleTree, built in 1998, is near both the Harry Reid International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip. The planned renovations will include guest rooms and common areas, with work is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of 2023 and anticipated to end in the fourth quarter of that year. "We are excited to continue our growth with the recent acquisition of the DoubleTree Las Vegas Airport hotel. Our new partnership with TowerBrook Capital Partners and other private investors provides us a tremendous platform for us to achieve our significant growth plans throughout the U.S. and this acquisition is the first of many going forward," said Tom Brinkman, Stonebridge's president and chief operating officer. "Through our growth, we look forward to not only creating new jobs but also providing our team members exciting new opportunities, and we look forward to welcoming our newest team members at the DoubleTree to our Distinguished Hospitality team here at Stonebridge."

STAFF MEMBERS OF two hotel industry associations donned blue in January to recognize National Human Trafficking Prevention month. AAHOA and the American Hotel & Lodging Association also sought to encourage hotel owners to take advantage of their educational programs on detecting and preventing trafficking in their properties. Like his predecessors since 2010, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation officially designating January as the month to focus awareness on trafficking prevention, according to the U.S. Department of State. The month recognizes the work done by foreign governments, international organizations, anti-trafficking entities, law enforcement officials, survivor advocates, communities of faith, businesses and private citizens to raise awareness about human trafficking, the State Department said. "Since human trafficking disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls, LGBTQI+ individuals, vulnerable migrants, and other historically marginalized and underserved communities, our mission to combat human trafficking must always be connected to our broader efforts to advance equity and justice across our society," Biden said in his proclamation.

DALLAS-BASED NEWCRESTIMAGE plans to acquire 45 hotels from a private investment firm. The portfolio includes approximately 3,300 rooms in 11 states, but other terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The hotels include 35 Marriott International-branded, seven Hilton-branded, two Choice Hotels International-branded and one Radisson Hotels-branded properties. They are in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas, according to NewcrestImage. "The current financial environment makes it very attractive to buy rather than build, and this group of fine hotels in high-traffic locations provides us with an exceptional opportunity to immediately start generating significant revenue, profit, and return on investment," said Mehul Patel, NewcrestImage managing partner and CEO.

Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, also known as 'Biki,' a stalwart of Indian hospitality and chairman emeritus of the Oberoi Group, passed away on Nov. 14 at the age of 94. Oberoi served as the executive chairman of EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group, and as the chairman of Oberoi Hotels Private Limited, the major shareholder of EIH Limited. "It is with profound grief and sorrow that we wish to inform you of the peaceful passing of our beloved leader, P.R.S. Oberoi, chairman emeritus earlier today," The Oberoi Group said in a statement. "His passing is a significant loss for The Oberoi Group and the hospitality industry in India and overseas." Oberoi is acknowledged as a key figure in the Indian hotel industry, contributing to the globalization of Oberoi hotels by establishing a presence in major cities. He received notable accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor, awarded in January 2008 for exceptional service to the country.

THE U.S. HOUSE of Representatives recently unveiled the 'No Hidden FEES Act of 2023' (H.R 6543), compelling the travel industry to enhance transparency regarding so-called "junk fees." This legislation is designed to improve pricing transparency for customers seeking short-term lodging, including hotels, motels, inns, and privately-owned vacation rentals. Meanwhile, the American Hotel & Lodging Association extended its support for the bill, which was introduced by Reps. Young Kim and Kathy Castor on Friday. "As Americans grapple with persistent high inflation, the last thing families need after budgeting for trips is to be hit with costly last-minute fees," Kim said. "The No Hidden FEES Act would rectify this issue, offering cost transparency for consumers so they know the upfront lodging expenses. I will continue the fight to make life more affordable for families in Southern California and throughout our nation."

NETHERLANDS-BASED CITIZENM HAS inaugurated its first hotel at Meta's Menlo Park campus in California, marking its second U.S. opening this year after the launch of citizenM Miami Center. CitizenM currently operates 14 hotels in the U.S. and has plans for additional openings in 2024, including locations in Austin, Boston, and another in South Beach, Miami. The global hospitality company was founded by Rattan Chadha in 2015. The five-story hotel, spanning 79,400 square feet, features 240 modular rooms, citizenM said. The brand's modular design has not only reduced construction waste by up to 60 percent but has also shortened the development timeline by three to four months compared to traditional construction methods. The hotel at Meta's Frank Gehry-designed headquarters campus has been designed by citizenM's architectural partner, Baskervill. "We're excited to open in Menlo Park, a burgeoning tech hub," said Robin Chadha, chief brand officer at citizenM. " CitizenM, designed to seamlessly connect remote and in-person work with private nooks and versatile workspaces in our Living Rooms, along with societyM meeting rooms. This dynamic property will provide a unique experience for Meta employees and mobile citizens in the area."

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association has accepted ClubCorp, an owner and operator of private clubs, as a new member, a statement said. The association hopes to attract more clubs with lodging connections. Ron Vlasic, executive vice president of Operations City & Stadium Clubs, ClubCorp, is a member of AHLA's board and former chair of the board. He will remain on AHLA's Board as an individual representative starting June 2022. Founded in 1957, ClubCorp has more than 200 golf and country clubs, city clubs and stadium clubs in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and two foreign countries. It provides services to members and guests.

THE U.S. HOTEL industry will continue its recovery in 2022, but the path will be uneven and potentially volatile, according to a report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. It added that a full recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will take several years. AHLA's 2022 State of the Hotel Industry report also revealed shifts in consumer and business sentiment. The report was created in collaboration with Accenture and is based on data and forecasts from Oxford Economics and STR. According to the report, hotel occupancy rates and room revenue will approach 2019 levels this year, but the outlook for ancillary revenue, which includes F&B and meeting space, is less optimistic. Leisure travelers will continue to drive recovery, the report added. Hotels lost a collective $111.8 billion in room revenue alone during 2020 and 2021. Business travelers made up 52.5 percent of industry room revenue in 2019 and it will be 43.6 percent in 2022. Business travel will be down more than 20 percent for much of the year, the report said. As the full effects of Omicron is not yet known, just 58 percent of meetings and events are expected to return. AHLA report said that the rapid rise of bleisure travelers-those who blend business and leisure travel-are impacting hotel operations now. A recent study revealed that 89 percent of business travelers wanted to add a private holiday to their business trips in the next twelve months.

THOMAS MAGNUSON, CEO and co-founder of Magnuson Hotels, stood before the House of Lords in the British Parliament last week and spoke on what hotels in the United Kingdom need to continue their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of what he said applies to U.S. hotels as well, he said. The key to success in the U.K., Magnuson said in his address, is preserving independent hotels. "Not all hotels are the Savoy," Magnuson said. "Most hotels in the U.K. are small, family owned, and endangered." In the presentation to the Travel Technology Initiative, hosted by the Baroness Ros Altmann, Magnuson said there has been a rapid decline in the number of U.K. hotels owned by independent private businesses. In 2010, independent hoteliers represented 78 percent of the U.K. hotel industry, Magnuson said. He reported that publicly traded branded hotels combined with globalism powers have reduced the native share to 50 percent in 2022. Magnuson also said that at today's change rate, the U.K. independent hotelier share will fall to 22 percent by 2026.

WITH A GRAND procession through the streets of his home village of Sarona, India, shared online in a video, Jayanti P. "J.P." Rama left this world as a legend among his peers. The former AAHOA chairman and longtime hotelier left a legacy that will last for decades with the younger generation he mentored and inspired. Rama died Feb. 17 while visiting family in Ahmedabad, India, at the age of 74. He was co-founder of JHM Hotels, now Greenville, South Carolina-based auroHOTELS, which now is run by his son, D.J. Rama. He is survived also by his daughter, Rita Rama Patel, wife Ilaben (Laxmiben) Rama and brothers, Hasmukh "H.P." Rama, Manhar "M.P." Rama and Raman "R.P." Rama, all of whom traveled to India for the funeral. For those friends and family of Rama who could not attend the actual ceremony, Auro University in Surat, a private university founded by the Rama family and auroHOTELS, has posted a video on YouTube. Tributes to Rama also continued to come in, as seen below.

SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS of the proposed Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023 say it is needed to protect the rights of workers to organize under labor unions. However, the American Hotel & Lodging Association and others claim the PRO Act puts an undue burden on small businesses, including hotels. The PRO Act would authorize penalties against employers that interfere with employees' efforts to organize, according to Democratic Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott of Virginia, one of the co-sponsors of the bill. Also, the bill would facilitate collective bargaining agreements, close loopholes that allow employers to misclassify employees as supervisors and independent contractors. Other aspects of the PRO Act include protection for employees that experience retaliation for trying to organize a union, ensures that workers can collect "fair share" fees and authorizes a private right of action for violation of workers' rights. It also prevents employers from interfering in union elections or holding captive audience meetings. "Regrettably, for too long, workers have suffered from anti-union attacks and toothless labor laws that undermined their right to form a union," Scott said. "As a historic number of Americans put their support behind labor unions, Congress has an urgent responsibility to ensure that workers can join a union and negotiate for higher pay, better benefits, and safer workplaces."

EVERWOOD HOSPITALITY PARTNERS has completed the acquisition of the 184-room LaQuinta I Drive/Convention Center hotel in Orlando, Florida, from Cavalier Florida, LP, the company said. Real estate capital advisory, Cronheim Hotel Capital, helped secure the loan for the acquisition and subsequent renovation of the property which includes upgrades to public and private spaces. The loan, from a Florida-based bank, which provided five-year fixed rate financing with two years of interest only, represented 65 percent of the all-in cost, according to Everwood. The hotel is next door to ICON Park and offers multiple dining and entertainment options. The property is one mile from the Orange County Convention Center and the city's many amusement parks and entertainment venues. Amenities include an outdoor pool and a fitness center. "With its proximity to many of Orlando's top attractions, the LaQuinta is an ideal addition to Everwood's expanding hotel portfolio," said Amit Patel, Everwood's managing principal and chief operating officer. "We continue to seek hotels in prime markets with barriers to new entry and multiple demand generators that help protect against occasional market fluctuations. Following the implementation of our proprietary management and marketing systems, LaQuinta I Drive will become the segment leader for leisure and business travelers in Orlando."

FRENCH HOTEL CHAIN B&B Hotels launched its U.S. expansion with the opening of its first property in Orlando, Florida. The 218-room hotel, located near Universal Studios, will be followed by additional hotels in Miami and Jacksonville, Florida. The mid-scale brand plans to establish 400 hotels across the U.S. within the next 10 years, representing $4 billion in real estate value, B&B Hotels said in a statement. "We are thrilled to bring B&B HOTELS to the United States and to offer travelers affordable high-quality accommodations," said Valerio Duchini, B&B Hotels' U.S. CEO. "We're also eager to engage with real estate investors here who share our vision for growth. Drawing from our success in Europe, we aim to establish ourselves as a prominent player in the U.S. market." B&B Hotels rebrands existing properties and constructs new ones, the company said. Batipart, a private equity firm based in Luxembourg, partnered with B&B Hotels for the Orlando property, with plans to renovate the hotel to improve the guest experience.

STARWOOD CAPITAL GROUP, a US-based private equity firm, recently purchased10 Radisson Blu Edwardian properties in London, totaling 2,053 rooms, from Edwardian Hotels London, a U.K. hospitality group with Jasminder Singh as chairman. The financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, but a Bloomberg report estimated the transaction at around $1 billion (£800 million). Edwardian Group will continue to manage the portfolio during a transitional period, the company said in a statement. Edwardian Hotels London will retain operational control and continue managing The Londoner Leicester Square, launched in September 2021, along with its two Radisson Collection hotels-The May Fair in Mayfair and The Edwardian Manchester in Manchester. Jasminder Singh is chairman of Edwardian Group. "Following the successful launch of The Londoner and a period of strong trading across the portfolio, this sale represents an opportunity to refocus the group and position it for its next chapter," said Inderneel Singh, CEO of Edwardian Group and son of Jasminder Singh. "Our three landmark properties - The Londoner, The May Fair Hotel, and The Edwardian Manchester - are perfect showcases of our vision for the future, and we remain committed to investing in and delivering distinctive experiences for guests in high-end, purpose-built, city-centre hotels."

We live in an era of global digitalization, in which technology has penetrаted all areas of our lives. That is why protecting your privacy is not just a crucial task but a top priority. One of the main elements of security is screen privacy protection. In particular, from visual hacking. The growing number of devices we use every day also gives rise to new methods of protection. For this reason, you should always be aware of display privacy strategies and how to apply them to resist hacker attacks on your private data. Privacy Screen Protectors Screen protector privacy is not only about protecting against external views but also against visual data hacking. Various software solutions can be used for this purpose. For example, those that provide encryption of the display content. Or additional security measures, such as using passwords or fingerprints to access sensitive data. A privacy screen protector is one of the first levels of protection for your display from unwanted eyes. Such screens provide a limited viewing angle. This allows you to use your device without fear that others can see your data. To minimize the risk of damage to your display, you should choose a screen protector made of high-quality material. This is the kind of display protector that will provide high-quality light filtration to avoid information leakage even when viewing the display directly.

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