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BOUTIQUE HOTELS GENERATED more annual RevPAR than traditional hotels in the U.S. last year, according to a report from consulting agency The Highland Group. Hotels focused on experiential stay, exceptional design and amenities also attracted a rate premium, the report said. Boutique hotels are classified into independent boutique, lifestyle hotels and soft brand collections. The Boutique Hotel Report 2022 has said that upper midscale, upscale and luxury soft brand collections recovered strongly in 2021 in performance metrics against their US upscale counterparts, while the upper upscale class was ahead in rate recovery and lagged in occupancy. According to the report, lifestyle upper upscale and luxury hotels recovered at parity with their counterparts, while upper midscale and upscale lifestyle hotels reported slower recovery in both occupancy and average rate. "Upper midscale and upscale independent boutique hotels in urban locations recovered at a stronger pace than all U.S. hotel in urban locations in both performance metrics.

HAWKEYE HOTELS RECENTLY acquired the Hotel Indigo Pittsburgh East Liberty in Pittsburgh. It is the company's third hotel owned and operated in Pennsylvania. The 135-room Indigo is a restored boutique hotel in Pittsburgh's historic East Liberty Neighborhood, according to the Hawkeye. Nearby are the Carnegie Museum, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Phipps, Heinz Chapel, St. Paul's and East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Its interior décor reflects the neighborhood's community's theater, entertainment and charitable heritage. Hawkeye closed on the transaction 21 days after executing the contract. It has recently acquired, developed and operated dozens of hotels in over 20 states across the U.S. "We continue to be bullish on the hospitality market recovery and look forward to seeking out additional opportunities to acquire hotels across the U.S.," said Parth Patel, Hawkeye's head of investments. The company is considering acquiring an upscale extended stay hotel in Erie, Pennsylvania, where it recently opened Holiday Inn.

The GLō Tulsa East Route 66 is now open in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the first of Best Western Hotels & Resorts' new-build boutique brand to open in the state. It is owned by Champion Hotels Group, led by founder Champak "Champ" Patel, and Jain Hotels led by CEO Jayesh Jain. The 70-room hotel is near the Tulsa Port of Catoosa and Tulsa International Airport. Other nearby attractions include the Tulsa Zoo, Oklahoma Aquarium, ONEOK Field, BOK Center, The Gathering Place, LaFortune Park, Rogers Point park and the Catoosa Activity Center. Hotel amenities include a meeting area and workspaces as well as a fitness center. "This hotel is the perfect addition to the Catoosa and Tulsa area," Patel said. "We are thrilled to introduce the GLō brand to Oklahoma," Jain said. "This property provides the ideal boutique look and feel with the modern amenities and service offerings today's travelers expect."

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."

SMALL LUXURY HOTELS of the World, the London-based independent hotels chain, recently entered the Indian market through a partnership with The MRS Group of Hotels, which owns and operates luxury boutique hotels in the country. SLH will include MRS's hospitality offerings in its global distribution and marketing network. The collaboration integrates MRS Group's brands-Suryagarh Jaisalmer, Narendra Bhawan Bikaner, and Mary Budden Estate Binsar-into SLH's collection, soon to be available on SLH channels, the companies said in a joint statement. "We are incredibly proud to be the first independent hotel chain in India to partner with SLH, a brand synonymous with luxury and exceptional hospitality," said Karan Singh Vaid, The MRS Group of Hotels' president. "This alliance not only highlights our dedication to reimagining hospitality in India but also amplifies our mission to offer travellers thoughtfully designed experiences that are rooted in our rich heritage and distinctive service. We are excited to embark on this journey with SLH, aiming to enhance our global presence and enrich the travel adventures of our guests."

THE WINDSOR HOTEL in Americus, Georgia, a boutique hotel owned by Edgewater Group LLC, has joined Choice Hotels International's Ascend Hotel Collection. The historical building recently underwent a multi-year renovation. Edgewater is led by founding partners Ketan Vora and Robert Brier. Originally built in 1892, the 53-room, the five-story Victorian-style Windsor features a tower and turret, balconies, and a three-story open atrium lobby, according to Choice. It occupies nearly an entire city block and was the site of numerous balls and celebrations. The Windsor closed in 1972 and underwent extensive renovations in 1991, 2010 and most recently in 2019. Nearby attractions are The Plains Depot, the Jimmy Carter Peanut of Plains statue, Civil War prison Andersonville National Historic Site and the Drummer Boy Civil War Museum. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife spent the night at the hotel in 2002. Hotel amenities include a fitness center, two on-site restaurants and bars and a veranda.

ATLANTA-BASED HOSPITALITY Lodging Systems has added two Budgetel Inn & Suites and two Haven Hotel properties to its portfolio, according to HLS. Currently, there are 37 Budgetel hotels with 3,813 rooms operating in 10 states plus China and 12 Haven Hotels with 698 rooms in nine states. Both the Budgetel hotels are in metro Atlanta, a 218-room conversion former Clarion, located on the north side of the city and a 121-room property in suburban Lilburn. The new Haven Hotels are 50-all suites, boutique property in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta and a 130-room property in Hazelwood, Missouri, a statement said. "Our brands are attracting owners who want to lower costs and boost profits, especially as our industry struggles to recover from two years of pandemic slowdown," said Doug Collins, chairman and CEO of HLS. "Among the most popular features of our contract are unlimited free online reservations, fewer mandated amenities, and an annual exit opportunity."

The Aloft Mooresville is open in Mooresville, North Carolina. The boutique hotel is owned by Maya Hotels led by co-founders J.D. Deva and Baldev Thakor. The 128-room hotel is Maya Hotels' fifth property in Mooresville in the last 25 years, including its Tru by Hilton Mooresville opened in August. It is part of the Langtree Lake Norman mixed-use development near Charlotte, North Carolina, with nearby attractions including Lake Norman and Langtree Plantation. Amenities include an indoor pool and a fitness center. "We are incredibly excited to bring the upbeat Aloft brand to the Mooresville / Lake Norman market," Deva said. "We are pleased to grow our relationship with Marriott and to continue our investment into the Mooresville area."

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."

GEORGIA HOTELIER NAVIN Patel has contracted with Hospitality Ventures Management Group to manage his 111-room boutique Darwin Hotel in Atlanta. HVMG oversaw the complete rebranding and renovation of the hotel. The four-story Darwin is in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward and features eight individually themed suites and a lobby that displays a collection of local art. It is named after evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin and the themes include the Bar Room, featuring a full bar for entertaining; the Bunk Bed Room, with bunk beds and extra space for families and young adults; and the Audiophile Room, which includes a turntable and access to the hotel's vinyl music library. Navin Patel and his two sons, Shyam and Sagar, purchased the property in 2016. "We hope to showcase the best of what Atlanta has to offer," Navin Patel said. "This hotel is a love letter to our ever-changing city and pays homage to its history. Being in the heart of a large metropolitan city creates opportunities for artists, businesspeople, world travelers and people from all walks of life to all unite in our space."

OWNERS OF ECONOMY brand hotels may not always think about improving the appeal of their properties, and up until now their options for interior design have been limited. Alpa Patel discovered those limitations and four years ago it inspired her to do something about it. She has created a company, Spaceez, that offers affordable design work to those owners to give them the option of upgrading their hotels into boutiques, allowing them to charge higher rates accordingly. Her inspiration comes from her efforts to help improve her parents' Super 8 hotel where she grew up in Arlington, Texas. "My dad was going to refresh the property because he hadn't touched it in a decade. I said Dad, do something nice with the lobby. He was just going to do the rooms," Patel said. "The lobbies, it's a public space and people come if it looks nice photographs, nice. You could charge higher rates."

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.

The Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Huntsville Downtown is now open in Huntsville, Alabama. It is owned by Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Vision Hospitality Group led by Mitch Patel as president and CEO. The 150-room hotel will be operated by Vision's subsidiary Humanist Hospitality. It is near the Von Braun Center multi-purpose indoor arena as well as various boutiques, restaurants breweries and craft coffee shops. Huntsville is home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal, along with the second largest technology and research-park in the nation. Hotel amenities include 1,800 square feet of meeting space and a lobby bar.