Hyatt Expands in New Orleans

The DJIA rose 16 points, Nasdaq was up 88, the S&P 500 rose 9 points, and the 10-year treasury yield was up .08 to 4.32%. Lodging stocks were modestly higher. VCSA was up 15%, but AHT fell back to 9% on the day.  

STR reported US hotel data for the week ended June 22. US hotel RevPAR fell -2.3% for the week, with rates up only 0.1% year over year. Group RevPAR was down -5.4%. The soft results were due to the Juneteenth holiday falling midweek.

The Westin San Diego Bayview has completed a comprehensive $20 million renovation, including a significant transformation of its 436 guestrooms and suites. The hotel’s more than 30,000 square feet of meeting spaces have also been revitalized. The property features onsite dining and a fitness center.  

Marriott Bonvoy announced the opening of its new Moxy Hotel in downtown Springfield, Missouri. The eight-story hotel features 98 bedrooms, a rooftop restaurant and bar, a jazz barbeque venue and a coffee shop.   

Marriott has inked a deal to operate a luxury JW Marriott within the 25-story, 600-room hotel building that will soon be constructed on Detroit‘s riverfront. The $397 million new hotel project is being developed by Sterling Group. The JW Marriott Water Square is expected to open in 2027 and connect to the Huntington Place Convention Center via a raised pedestrian bridge.  

First Hospitality has assumed management and operations of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Atlanta Airport and The Gem Museum Suites, an independent property. The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Atlanta Airport marks the first property in the state of Georgia for First Hospitality and the first property with CrossHarbor Capital Partners. The property features 220 guestrooms, 4,700 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor pool, an onsite restaurant and more. In addition, First Hospitality also assumed management of The Gem Museum Suites, the company’s first property in Evanston, Illinois and first venture with Cameel Halim. The 71-guestroom property features a meeting, event, or flex workspace.   

Artemis Hotel Group announced the acquisition of the Homewood Suites in Cobb Galleria, Atlanta, Georgia from Blackstone. The property features 124 rooms, a sport court and a pool. Management of the hotel will be handled by Peachtree Group.   

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the expansion of Hyatt‘s brand presence in New Orleans with Maison Metier and The Barnett, which have joined the Hyattportfolio as affiliated hotels. The two properties are owned by The Domain Companies and managed by HRI Hospitality. Formerly Maison de la Luz, Maison Metier is expected to join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand as an independently branded hotel in 2024. The hotel offers 67 guestrooms and suites and a salon-style bar that will maintain its partnership with Quixotic Projects. The Barnett is expected to join JdV by Hyatt brand as an independently branded hotel in 2024. In addition to thoughtful property-wide updates, the hotel’s culinary venues will showcase new identities in the Fall.  

White Lodging has set an opening for its 10-story project in San Antonio, Texas. Ownership has also unveiled new details on a mix of food and beverage spaces, including a rooftop venue, that will be part of the Kimpton Santo hotel development. The boutique hotel will house approximately 350 rooms and multiple food and beverage concepts and is now expected to open in August as part of IHG Hotels & Resorts‘ luxury and lifestyle portfolio.   

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach‘s new convention center is expected to be completed in November and is already booking reservations for business and social events well into 2026. Dubbed the Coastal Convention Center, the new $100 million, five-story space next to the iconic hotel will occupy 45,000 square feet and have underground parking. Fontainebleau boasts 1,504 guestrooms and suites and has an existing convention center of about 100,000 square feet.   

Drury Hotels Company, LLC announced the opening of its newest hotel in Arlington, Texas. The Drury Plaza Hotel Dallas Arlington, the third Drury hotel in the DFW Metroplex and 20th in Texas, features 268 guestrooms and suites, onsite dining, an outdoor pool and whirlpool, business center, fitness center, and seven versatile meeting spaces with pre-function space.   

Hotel Anna & Bel, a 50-key boutique hotel in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will open on August 7. The hotel will feature a private pool for guests and two full-service dining concepts open to the public. Additional amenities include a fitness room, a sauna, and a common room, as well as a public balcony on the second floor and a small outdoor courtyard behind the building. The hotel is owned by Foyer Project and is the company’s first hospitality project. Hotel Anna & Bel will be managed by Life House.  

The final piece to the planned $550 million overhaul of the Dana Point Harbor is almost in place, with the California Coastal Commission giving its OK for the construction of two new hotels in the harbor. To be located along the harbor’s promenade, the Dana House will be a boutique-style hotel, and the Surf Lodge will be geared toward watermen, according to RD Olson Development. The two new hotels will replace the 167-room Dana Point Marina Inn that, if all goes as expected, could be demolished next June. RD Olson Development is one of three developers who make up the Dana Point Harbor Partners, which won a 66-year lease in 2019 from the OC Board of Supervisors to renovate the harbor, including a new 120,000 square foot commercial core that will house shops, restaurants, public gathering spaces and an expansive boardwalk. Another partner, Bellwether Financial Group, has already built about a third of the new 2,265-slip marina. And Burnham Ward Properties began work in February on the three-level, 984-space parking structure. The three-level Dana House will have 130 guestrooms, a rooftop deck with a lounge and restaurant and four townhouse-style two-story units. The Surf Lodge will also have a rooftop lounge and a big yard with space to store surfboards, paddleboards and other smaller watercraft.   

Curator Hotel & Resort Collection announced the addition of four new members to its growing portfolio of properties and unique experiences across the United States. The newest members of Curator Hotel & Resort Collection include: the 73-room Quirk Richmond in Richmond, Virginia; the 109-room Albert Hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas; The Ozarker Lodge in Branson, Missouri; and the 51-room Ascent on Main in Parker, Colorado.  

Hunter Hotel Advisors announced the successful sale of the Homewood Suites by Hilton Atlanta-Galleria/Cumberland. Artemis Hotel Group acquired the asset for an undisclosed price. Hunter represented the institutional seller. The 124-key Homewood Suites offers a sports court, fitness center, outdoor pool and in-house dining.   

Personnel Moves

Midas Hospitality hired Kimberly O’Fallon as Senior President of Operations and Marketing, in which she will lead a newly launched Western Division to focus on projects in the western U.S. O’Fallon most recently was Chief Operating Officer at InnVentures.   

Trinity Investments announced Mai Kawashima has joined the company as Vice President of Acquisitions, George Austin has joined as Director of Strategic Operations, Elia Antonioudaki has joined as Vice President of Development, and Andrea Hendrick has joined as Vice President of Finance. Mai Kawashima joined Trinity from Savills; George Austin joined Trinity from KSL Capital Partners; Elia Antonioudaki joined Trinity from L&R Hotels; and Andrea Hendrick joined Trinityfrom Oaktree Capital Management.   

Europe Highlights

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group achieved the significant milestone of operating 40 hotels worldwide following the opening of its two highly anticipated new properties in the UK and Oman earlier this month. Mandarin Oriental, Muscat, located in the heart of Shatt Al-Qurum, marks the Group’s debut in the Sultanate of Oman. Meanwhile, the new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London is the Group’s second home in London.  

Ennismore, together with AB Invest and Moller Eiendom, announced the signing of The Hoxton, Oslo, the brand’s first hotel in the Nordic region. Set to open in 2027, the milestone signing also marks Ennismore‘s first property in Norway and the first international lifestyle brand to enter the Norwegian hospitality scene. The Hoxton, Oslo will feature 144 rooms; The Apartment, 170 square meters of meetings and events space set around an open pantry kitchen; and three unique food and beverage outlets, all expertly curated by Ennismore‘s F&B concept studio, Carte Blanched. The property is managed by Ennismore.  

Blackstone Real Estate announced that funds managed by Blackstone have completed the acquisition of Village Hotels from affiliates of KSL Capital Partners. Village Hotels owns and operates 33 well-located assets in large regional cities and suburban areas across the UK. Representing 4,400 hotel keys, it operates as an “all under one roof” leisure destination, offering traditional full-service hotel stays, fitness clubs, food and beverage outlets, and co-working spaces.   

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of the first Dolce hotel in Turkiye, Dolce by Wyndham Cesme Alacati. The hotel comes as part of an expanded partnership with DRD Hotels, the owner and operator. Dolce by Wyndham Cesme Alacati features 155 rooms and suites, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center and spa area, as well as onsite restaurants and 500 square meters of event space. In addition to the first Dolce-branded property in Turkiye, the two companies opened two more hotels on the same day: La Quinta by Wyndham Cesme, a 75-guestroom hotel with outdoor pools and an onsite restaurant, and the 152-room Wyndham Datca Perili Bay featuring outdoor pools, a fitness center, a spa and sauna, and two onsite restaurants.