MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy Launches

The DJIA was up 130, Nasdaq was up 242, the S&P 500 was up 53 points, and the 10-year treasury yield was down .01 to 4.09%. Lodging stocks were higher but not high enough to get a lot of new highs. ABNB hit a new 52-week high. AINC was the only mover of note, down -8% on the day.

Spottswood Companies announced Beachside Resort & Residences as the new brand for its flagship resort in Key West, Florida. Formerly known as Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel, the resort will no longer be a Marriott-branded hotel. While the management of Beachside undergoes a transformative shift, the ownership of the hotel remains under the stewardship of Spottswood Companies, who first opened Beachside Resort in 2007. The management transition introduces exciting new enhancements, including improved amenities, streamlined services, and a more personalized touch to guests’ stays. Tavern N Town will continue to serve memorable meals, and guests will also have direct access to Brightwild Adventures, offering a wide range of watersports and activities through one of the only on-resort adventure platforms in Key West.

MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy, the brand created by MGM Resorts International and Marriott International, is now accepting reservations for 16 iconic hotel and resort destinations on Marriott.com and the Marriott Bonvoy app, offering an all-access pass to the world’s largest stage. Marriott Bonvoy Moments inspired by MGM Collection, from curating the production of the legendary Bellagio fountain show to the heart-pumping thrill of aerial acrobatics with Cirque du Soleil performers, will transform a stay into a once-in-a-lifetime memory.

Raines has added two more properties to its management portfolio: SpringHill Suites Cheraw in Cheraw, South Carolina, and Hilton Garden Inn University District Greenville, in Greenville, North Carolina. Co-X Holdings has a majority stake in both properties. The 102-key SpringHill Suites Cheraw features a guest laundry, a fitness center, outdoor pool, and onsite restaurant. Raines’ first property in the Greenville market, Hilton Garden Inn University District Greenville, will open later this year with 101 guestrooms, meeting space, a fitness center, guest laundry, sundry shop, and a rooftop bar and restaurant. The property is being developed by Claredon Properties.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali marks the completion of its multi-year, $160 million transformation with the complete renovation and rebranding of the Ocean Tower into Kukahi Tower. Slated to debut in mid-April 2024, Hana Hou by Westin, located within Kukahi Tower, will be the first resort venue of its kind in Hawaii featuring a 10,000 square foot social center for guests to gather and includes: Topgolf Swing Suites; duckpin bowling; virtual reality; modern and classic arcade games; a Keiki Club; and a bar & lounge with food and beverage offerings. The resort-wide renovation also includes a host of culinary experiences. The resort began this redevelopment following its acquisition by a joint venture including Trinity Investments and other institutional investors in 2017. Trinity’s in-house asset management and development teams led the renovation and repositioning plan for the resort.

Continental Assets Management announced the grand opening of the AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu. The 112-room boutique hotel, located in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, is managed by Highgate and includes three food and beverage destinations.

The Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa is wrapping up a nearly two-year, $20+ million renovation project that touches every area of the resort including the lobby, guestrooms, the spa, meeting space, and restaurants. Additionally, a new coffee shop has opened. Renovations to the Spa at Ross Bridge include an expanded women’s lounge, quiet room, renovated salon and treatment rooms, as well as the addition of a second couples massage room. While the interior renovations are complete, construction is still ongoing outside, where a zero-entry, adult-only pool is being added, along with a full-service outdoor bar, fire pit area, and seven cabanas. Construction is expected to be completed by Memorial Day.

Developer, ‘Ikenakea Hokele plans to build a new, 15-story, 200-foot tall hotel building and a renovation of an existing warehouse, in Honolulu’s Chinatown.

Expotel Hospitality said they have begun a $1.2 million renovation to the 119-room Hilton Garden Inn Pascagoula in Mississippi. The 6-month renovation will include updates to hotel rooms, lobby and restaurant areas, fitness room, patio area, grand ballroom, and the hallways.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced the opening of Everhome Suites in Newnan, Georgia, marking the brand’s debut on the East Coast. Everhome Suites Newnan is located on a dual-site property alongside the economy extended stay brand WoodSpring Suites, making it the first side-by-side location for two of Choice Hotels’ four extended stay bands. Both hotels are owned by Turnstone Group. The four-story, 115-room hotel offers contemporary multipurpose lobby and outdoor amenity areas, Homebase Market, a fitness center, and guest laundry facilities.

WorldHotels announced the addition of Caribe Royale Orlando to WorldHotels Elite as the brand continues its expansion throughout North America. Located in the heart of Orlando, Florida, Caribe Royale Orlando just debuted a $140 million renovation, providing a fresh and contemporary new look to the all-suite resort. The property features 1,217 one-bedroom suites, plus the exclusive Villas at Caribe Royal with an additional 120 two-bedroom suites; eight dining options; 240,000 square feet of meeting and events space inclusive of a 50,000 square foot ballroom, and a brand new 19,000 square foot event lawn. Ample recreation opportunities include an expansive outdoor waterfall pool with a waterslide, a two-story fitness center, Island Spa, and a new Sport Court area.

JW Marriott announced the opening of the first Marriott International luxury hotel in St. Maarten: JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa. The property boasts 200 guestrooms and suites; 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor versatile event spaces, a culinary school, JW Market, four elevated dining venues; a fitness room, and the Hibiscus Spa.

Personnel Moves

Remington Hospitality announced the retirement of President Chris Green, effective April 5, 2024. Chris played an instrumental role in the merger of Chesapeake Hospitality and Remington Hospitality and served Chesapeakefor 22 years in various roles, most recently as the company’s CEO. Effective April 5, 2024, Chris will transition to an advisory role, supporting Remington in areas including managing owner relationships and facilitating new business development. He will also continue to serve on the Owners Advisor Board.

Omni Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Trip Riggs as its new Chief Financial Officer. Riggs will oversee the company’s finance and accounting functions and play a vital role in driving performance and growth within the executive leadership team. Riggs joins Omni Hotels & Resorts after serving as Co-President and CFO at Balfour Senior living in Louisville, Colorado.

Cycas Hospitality announced three senior appointments to further strengthen the hotel management company’s leadership team, as it continues its expansion across Europe. Keith Griffiths has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer and joins Cycas Hospitality following a series of senior leadership roles, including as CEO of Atlas and Starboard Hotels. Griffiths will lead the operational divisions. Jason Wischhoff joins Cycas as Chief Development Officer, with responsibility for growing Cycas’ business across Europe. Jasonhas 20 years’ experience in the European and international hotel investment community, including senior roles at Dream Hotel Group, Accor, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Rosa Ceparano joins Cycas as Chief Financial Officer, leading a team of over 60 Finance and IT specialists across Europe. Roseformerly held positions at Hotel Co 51 and Vastint Hospitality.

LuxUrban Hotels Inc. named Robert Arigo as its Chief Operating Officer. Arigowill be primarily responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company’s hotel portfolio, with a focus on enhancing property-level operations, optimizing supply chain relationships, elevating the customer experience, and pursuing ancillary revenue opportunities across the company’s portfolio. Arigo joins LuxUrban from M&R Hotel Management where he served as Vice President. Arigo succeeds Jimmie Chatmon as COO. Chatmon will remain with LuxUrban in the newly created position of Director of Revenue Management.

Warner Leisure Hotels, a Bourne Leisure brand, has hired Paul Pomroy to the role of CEO. Joining from McDonalds UK, where he held the role of CEO, Pomroy will work to further Warner Leisure Hotels’ expansion program, adding to its portfolio of 18 hotels across the UK.