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NEWCRESTIMAGE RECENTLY ACQUIRED the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Dallas Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. It is the most recent acquisition for the Dallas-based investment firm led by Mehul Patel as managing partner and CEO, and the company plans to fully renovate the property, which opened in 1998 and was last renovated in 2014. the 3-floor, 135-suite property offers three types of guestroom: studio, one-bedroom, and two bedroom, according to NewcrestImage. It is near two major airports, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field, and two major convention centers, the Irving Convention Center and the Gaylord Texan Convention Center. Amenities at the hotel include a fitness center and an outdoor pool. "This extended-stay property is in the heart of a high-traffic corridor that's a popular destination for both corporate and leisure travelers," Patel said. the acquisition of the TownePlace Suites is important to Marriott, said Loren Nalewanski, the company's vice president franchising for the Element, Residence Inn, Fairfield, TownePlace and SpringHill Suites brands. "Our industry is built on strong partnerships between brands and owners," Nalewanski said. "This acquisition enhances the long, valued, and successful partnership between Marriott and NewcrestImage, which has owned and operated 30 Marriott-branded properties since 2013."

ATLANTA-BASED EV Hotels, a new technology-centric hotel brand founded by Ken Patel, has partnered with Spanish firm CLERHP to construct a luxury resort in the new Larimar City & Resort project in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic. the 400-room hotel will be built on an area of nearly eight acres, the company said in a statement. Larimar City & Resort will be on the Promenade on the Farrallón de Verón, which has a view of Punta Cana, said Leonardo Padron Hermes, CEO of Blacklions International Group, a company associated with CLERHP in the development of real estate projects in the Dominican Republic. the area includes restaurants, clubs, shops and an 18-hole golf course. "After many years of working behind the scenes to develop a hotel brand that both innovates and revolutionized the industry, it is truly rewarding to now see EV make an impact across the globe. And believe me, we are just getting started," Patel said. "Larimar City & Resort will be one of the best tourist attractions around the globe and our team at EV is excited to be part of this Smart-City. Growth doesn't come with a single action. It is the consequence of persistence, courage, and hard work. What we are accomplishing here is to create an experience that brings hospitality back and gives it life again. Innovation is a team sport."

NOBLE INVESTMENT GROUP recently acquired two hotels in Savannah, Georgia. The hotels are The Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District and Holiday Inn Express Savannah Historic District. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Noble, led by Mit Shah as CEO, acquired The hotels because of Their position in Savannah's historic district. The city recently was named Travel + Leisure magazine's No. 3 Top City in The U.S. and included on TIME's list of The World's Greatest Places of 2021. The 7-floor, 143-room Holiday Inn Express has 2,765 square feet of meeting space, a rooftop pool and The Port Royal Tavern in The lobby. The 147-room Hampton Inn has an outdoor pool, a fitness center and a business center. In The historic district, The hotels are near museums, historic landmarks, mansions, and monuments from The Revolutionary and Civil War eras. Both hotels are on East Bay Street across The Savannah River from The Savannah Convention Center and River Street shopping and entertainment area.

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.

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association formed a new partnership with THE AHLA Foundation, and THE International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education to grow THE future workforce of THE hotel and hospitality industry. As part of THE collaboration, which came into effect on June 13, ICHRIE will distribute AHLA Foundation materials and facilitate access to its membership and communication channels. Besides, THEy will explore future opportunities to engage hospitality management faculty and students, an AHLA statement said. AHLA will also recruit a larger workforce and promote hospitality career opportunities. "We are thrilled to partner with ICHRIE and its outstanding deans, directors, program leaders and members of THE major hospitality universities and schools, and work togeTHEr on our shared mission to strengTHEn THE hotel industry's talent pipeline," said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. "As THE global leader in hospitality and tourism education and research, ICHRIE will help maximize our reach to students and educators across THE nation. TogeTHEr, AHLA, THE AHLA Foundation, and ICHRIE will ensure that all Americans preparing to THE enter THE workforce are aware of THE multitude of great hospitality career opportunities available to THEm." AHLA's chief operating officer will serve on ICHRIE's new Industry Council to help facilitate relationships, and both AHLA and THE AHLA Foundation will participate in ICHRIE's 75th Anniversary Conference this August in Washington, D.C.

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.

MAGNUSON HOTELS HAS added a new hotel to its Magnuson Independent Collection portfolio, the Studios & Suites 4 Less Charlotte, in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the sixth hotel added to the Independent Collection by owner Ray Patel of Charlotte. the 126-room hotel is near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the Billy Graham Library, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the Levine Museum of the New South, according to Magnuson. the new hotel looks to draw a 52-week nonseasonal business base from the regional banking, finance, software, and biotech sectors. Charlotte is also home to the Research Triangle Park, a globally prominent research center with over 170 companies and federal agencies in the U.S. "When Ray Patel called us in 2005, he wanted to build his own brand called Studios & Suites 4 Less, and that is exactly what Ray did," said Thomas Magnuson, CEO of Magnuson Hotels. As Patel's team manages the Studios & Suites 4 Less brand and operations, Magnuson Hotels provides the technology, distribution, and marketing for the brand. "We appreciate our partnership with Magnuson Hotels, which is now entering its 17th year of consecutive increases," said Patel of Charlotte. "It is a pleasure and privilege to continually add new properties in our home market of Charlotte, North Carolina," he added.

SPRING BREAK TRAVEL helped U.S. hotel performance to rise in the third week of March from the week before, according to STR. Occupancy for the week was the highest since the week ending Aug. 7, 2021, and ADR was the second highest on record. Occupancy was 66.9 percent for the week ending March 19, up from 63.2 percent the week before and down 3.7 percent for the same period in 2019. ADR was $151.63 for the week, up from $144.68 the week before and increased 13.6 percent from two years ago. RevPAR was $101.44 for the week, rose from $91.45 the week before and up 9.5 percent from the same period two years ago.

U.S. HOTEL OCCUPANCY was down in first week of March week-over-week, according to STR. All metrics were higher than comparable time periods in the last two years. Occupancy stood at 62.8 percent for the week ending March 4, down from 64.2 percent the week before, 3 percent more than the comparable week in 2022 and 5.6 percent below the comparable week in 2019. ADR stood at $151.35 for, up from $156.51 the previous week and also up 8.9 percent and 14.1 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019, respectively. RevPAR was reported at $95.06, down from $100.43 the previous week, and up 12.1 percent and 7.7 percent increase over the same month in 2022 and 2019. Among the Top 25 Markets, Detroit saw the highest occupancy increase over 2019, up 5 percent to 63.2 percent, while Washington, D.C., was up the most from last year, an increase of 23.6 percent to 64.1 percent. D.C. also reported the most substantial year-over-year RevPAR growth, up 52.2 percent to $113.56. Las Vegas reported the highest ADR increase at $196.65 when measuring against 2019, up 56.8 percent and an increase of 33.7 percent in 2022. Las Vegas also saw the largest jump in RevPAR over 2019, up 54.3 percent to $153.55.

IN MARCH, THE U.S. celebrated THE achievements and history of women as part of Women's History Month. In recognition of THE month, some hotel companies introduced or continued programs aimed at increasing women's role in THE industry. In line with THE Women's History Month THEme this year "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories," Choice Hotels International kicked off its "HERtels at Choice Development Seminar" with nearly 40 franchise owners, general managers, and hotel associates in attendance. At THE same time, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' "Women Own THE Room" initiative has signed over 30 hotels across THE U.S. and Canada in THE first year of its launch. Also, California hotelier and philanthropist Sunil "Sunny" Tolani issued a special message for THE month. HERtels by Choice Choice Hotels took THE recently held Hunter Hotel Conference in Atlanta as a launch pad for its inaugural HERtels seminar. THE event was held next door to THE Marriott Marquis Atlanta, Hunter's venue, and is an enhancement of Choice's HERtels program that was launched in 2021. "While industry-wide parity is improving, with more female investors, directors, and leaders in hospitality than ever before, women entrepreneurs still face significant economic and societal barriers when it comes to hotel ownership and development. As an industry, we owe it to THE next generation of hoteliers to change this statistic," said John Lancaster, vice president for emerging markets, franchise development and owner relationships, Choice Hotels International. "This initiative and THE invaluable resources it provides is a natural extension of our industry-leading emerging markets program and our enduring commitment to helping growth-minded entrepreneurs furTHEr THEir unique ownership journey."

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association and THE Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals Association announced a 10-year agreement to jointly produce THE Uniform System of Accounts for THE Lodging Industry, a statement said. THE USALI is THE global "standard" for hospitality accounting and HFTP purchased rights to its contents in 2018. AHLA and HFTP have reengaged THE joint Global Finance Committee that is responsible for creating content for USALI's 12th edition to be released next year, according to AHLA. For many years, AHLA's Financial Management Committee was responsible for creating content for THE USALI. HFTP purchased USALI's intellectual property, publishing and distribution rights from THE Hotel Association of New York City. "After our decision to publish on our own, many in THE industry contacted both HFTP and AHLA to see if we could find a way to work togeTHEr," said Frank Wolfe, HFTP's CEO. "Both organizations had THE willingness to work togeTHEr, but like any business deal THE decision was in THE details. Associations are a bit different animal than corporate enterprises. Today we may work togeTHEr on one project and tomorrow will be dead on competitors so THEre were lots of details to refine. THE good news is that both organizations worked exceptionally hard to put those competitive differences aside and advance THE industry."

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."

AS NORMAL SPRING break patterns continue, U.S. hotel performance increased in the first week of April compared to the previous week, according to STR. Metrics improved over the previous week as well as year-over-year in most cases. Occupancy stood at 66.2 percent for the week ending April 1, up from 64.9 percent the week before, and rose 3.4 percent than the comparable week in 2022 and decreased 3.5 percent over the comparable week in 2019. ADR was $158.40, down from $158.61 the week before, increased 7.3 percent and 19.9 percent against 2022 and 2019, respectively. RevPAR was $104.78 from $102.98 in the last week and rose 10.9 percent and 15.7 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019. Among the top 25 markets, Washington, D.C., registered the highest year-over-year increase in occupancy, up 18.2 percent to 78.7 percent, while Dallas saw the highest occupancy lift over 2019, up 6.2 percent to 73 percent. Houston showed the most substantial ADR, up 25.8 percent to $133.5, while Phoenix reported the highest ADR increase over 2019, up 49.4 percent to $232.54.

A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL, social and governance report released by Choice Hotels International highlights steps that would allow the company to reduce utility costs, save time for franchisees, and increase Choice's ESG commitments. Those steps include new energy- and water-saving technology, diversity goals for hotel ownership and more. the report entitled "Building a Better Tomorrow, Today" lays out the company's plan to being a good corporate citizen, according to a release. "Choice Hotels shares a uniting belief that tomorrow will be even better than today, and we are committed to building that better tomorrow," said Patrick Pacious, Choice's CEO, in the report. "As one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, we are building on more than 80 years of success in developing a portfolio of diversified brands and creating a lasting, sustainable legacy for the future - one hotel, one family, one community at a time." Key findings the report further details measures being undertaken by Choice to integrate ESG standards and principles into its long-term decision-making and operations, including: Reporting Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions for the first time and aligning ESG disclosures with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board standards and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Appointing an executive with knowledge of the business as vice president, sustainability and creating two new ESG governance forums to strengthen Choice's ESG strategy and execution. Joining the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, a global network that champions responsible hospitality, and becoming one of its largest members. Relaunching HERtels by Choice, driving a 53 percent year-over-year increase in the company's hotel franchise deals with woman owners. Committing $25 million in incentives for contracts with underrepresented minority and woman owners by 2025. Setting a goal to increase the representation of women in senior leadership roles to 50

IN ITS LATEST drive to convince Wyndham Hotels & Resorts stakeholders to accept its proposed acquisition of the company, Choice Hotels International has released a detailed presentation accusing Wyndham of making misleading statements regarding the antitrust aspects of the deal. the specific accusations include that Wyndham is manipulating data on how the hotel industry works, the competition a Choice-Wyndham combination would face and the benefits of the merger for franchisees. Choice filed the presentation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is also available at CreateValueWithChoice.com, the company said in a statement. Choice's presentation was released nearly three weeks after Wyndham's latest statement in which it said Choice was not being forthcoming with Wyndham shareholders regarding its offer. "We are disappointed Wyndham is pushing this disinformation campaign. their take on the antitrust risk on our proposed combination is misleading and further reflects the board's apparent entrenchment," said Patrick Pacious, Choice's president and CEO. "Wyndham's characterization of the lodging industry's competitive landscape and relevant regulatory criteria is incorrect. Our pro-competitive combination is well positioned to obtain approval, and we remain committed to completing it for the benefit of both companies' franchisees, shareholders and guests."

BY THE FOURTH quarter of last year, group business in 10 of THE top markets in THE U.S. had recovered 110 percent compared to THE same time in 2019, according to THE Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index from Knowland and Amadeus. THE top 20 markets have achieved 100 percent of 2019 levels of occupancy and ADR, with 10 surpassing 110 percent or more. Group business reached THE 110 percent health index in THE fourth quarter because it used 95.5 percent of THE group rooms sold in 2019, coupled with a 14.8 percent increase in ADR, according to THE index. Overall growth for THE year 2023 stood at 103 percent, with 92.5 percent of group rooms sold in 2019 and an accompanying average rate increase of 11.7 percent. Meetings and event business rebounded to 91.9 percent in THE fourth quarter compared to 2019, with an end-of-year recovery rate of 91.2 percent. THE volume of smaller groups led to stability in THE market, according to Knowland. Currently, 70 percent of events have 200 attendees or less and smaller meetings, those with less than 25 attendees, saw THE most growth, experiencing a 19 percent increase since 2019.

In an era where sustainability and convenience are paramount considerations for travelers, hotels are embracing innovative solutions to stay ahead in the competitive hospitality industry. One such forward-thinking amenity that is transforming the guest experience and boosting revenue is the integration of electric vehicle charging stations. Beyond environmental consciousness, these charging stations offer a plethora of benefits that can significantly impact a hotel's bottom line. 1. ATTRACTING A GROWING MARKET SEGMENT the shift towards electric vehicles is undeniable, with more consumers opting for eco-friendly transportation. In the years to come more EVs will be hitting the roads. By installing EV charging stations, hotels tap into a burgeoning market segment, attracting EV travelers that plan their trips around EV chargers. This strategic move puts the hotel at the top of the list and positions the hotel as a progressive and forward-looking establishment. 2. ENHANCING the GUEST EXPERIENCE Providing EV charging stations enhances the overall guest experience. Travelers with electric vehicles often face the challenge of finding suitable charging points during their journeys. By offering on-site charging, hotels alleviate this concern, fostering a sense of convenience and loyalty among guests. the seamless integration of charging stations into the guest experience contributes to positive reviews and encourages repeat bookings.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE showed improvement in the second week of January compared to the previous week, with mixed year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar. Key metrics, including occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR, saw moderate increases during the week compared to the New Year's commencement. the performance was influenced by the Consumer Electronics Show. Occupancy came in at 53.3 percent for the week ending Jan. 13, up from the previous week's 46.8 percent and reflecting a 2.8 percent year-over-year decrease. ADR rose to $153.84, compared to the prior week's $152.17, showing a 6.3 percent increase from the previous year. RevPAR increased to $81.96 from the prior week's $71.28, showing a 3.3 percent rise from the corresponding period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, Las Vegas demonstrated the largest year-over-year increases in each of the three performance metrics. Occupancy increased by 29 percent to reach 79.8 percent, ADR rose by 77.3 percent to $283.74, and RevPAR increased by 128.8 percent to $226.34.

HILTON WORDLWIDE HOLDINGS aims to double its 350 lifestyle hotels by 2028, planning to add 350 more within four years, including 100 this year. Also, the company appointed Kevin Osterhaus as president of global lifestyle brands to oversee the growth, design, and development of Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Graduate by Hilton, Motto by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton and Tempo by Hilton. the growth will be supported by the addition of the Graduate and NoMad brands, Hilton said in a statement. the company added more than 50 new lifestyle hotels and approved another 100 in 2023. Additionally, this year will mark the debut of Hilton's 400th property in this category. "As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hilton's entry into the lifestyle segment, we look ahead to even more rapid growth with a powerhouse lineup of brands that will meet the needs of developers and guests alike in some of the world's most desirable locations," said Kevin Jacobs, Hilton's chief financial officer and president, global development. "the recent addition of the Graduate and NoMad brands to our lifestyle and luxury lifestyle portfolio will accelerate our growth as we look for more opportunities to deliver the exceptional experiences guests want in the world's top hotel destinations."

The American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation's third annual "No Room for Trafficking Summit" will take place on July 30, coinciding with The United Nations' World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The upcoming summit will evaluate The first-year impact of NRFT Survivor Fund grants on nearly 650 human trafficking survivors, AHLA Foundation said in a statement. "In 2022, we launched The NRFT Survivor Fund - a first for The hotel industry - to expand The hotel and lodging industry's efforts to support trafficking survivors," said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation's president. "Since launching The Survivor Fund, we have grown our total raised to $7.5 million towards our goal of $10 million, and we look forward to awarding $1 million in grants to community-based organizations that support human trafficking survivors at our third annual summit." Last year's NRFT Summit announced The inaugural grantees of The NRFT Survivor Fund, including Safe House Project, BEST, Restore NYC, and The University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors, The statement said. AHLA Foundation also shared data showing The impact of The $500,000 distributed to The four Survivor Grantees.