Ashford Hospitality Trust's New Push for Growth

The DJIA was down 268 points, Nasdaq fell 65, the S&P 500 fell 23 points and the 10 year treasury yield was down .01 to 4.39%. For those wondering what happened to the Santa Claus rally this year, we have a feeling the drones took it away.

The Baird Hotel Stock Index was up 9.8% in November, its highest monthly gain of the year. The hotel brand sub-index was up 10% in November while the hotel REIT sub-index was up 8.8%. The month-to-month gains were led by Braemar Hotels & Resorts and Ashford Hospitality Trust, up 25.9% and 23.8% respectively.

For a more detailed understanding of the sector's performance, here is how the Skift Travel 200 Index has performed year over year. Global brands have outperformed REITs throughout the year. :

Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. announced the launch of a transformative strategic initiative designed to drive outsized EBITDA growth and substantially improve shareholder value. The initiative, labeled “GRO AHT,” centers around three core pillars: G&A Reductions, Revenue Maximization, and Operational Efficiency. G&A Reduction, with the full support of its advisor, Ashford Inc., looked to achieve significant reductions in corporate overhead. Revenue Maximization is focused on driving outsized top-line performance across the Ashford Trust portfolio. Operational Efficiency aims to combat ongoing pressures on property-level margins. AHT’s property managers are implementing several efficiency-focused measures designed to reduce costs, improve productivity, and maintain exceptional performance. 

HEI Hotels & Resorts has added the Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel in Rutherford, NJ, to its portfolio. The property was acquired by a joint venture between HEI and Westport Capital Partners, marking HEI’s first partnership with Westport. The Renaissance Meadowlands has 167 guestrooms, a restaurant and lounge, a fitness center, and approximately 5,700 square feet of meeting space.

Hotel Equities announced they were selected to operate Postcard Cabins, the newly acquired brand under Marriott International. HE will manage Postcard’s collection of cabins across the US, helping MAR expand its footprint in the growing outdoor hospitality market. MAR’s plans to launch the outdoor-focused collection in 2025, anchored by Postcard Cabins, formerly known as Getaway Outposts.

Spark by Hilton has opened in Brandon, Mississippi in the space where a LaQuinta was formerly located. The 67-room hotel was completely renovated.

Visitation Hotel, a Marriott Tribute property, is opening this week in Frederick, Maryland. Developer Jim O’Hare of O2 Holdings/Lafayette Financial and Lance Jaccard, co-CEO of OTJ Architects, are partners on the former Visitation Academy. The hotel has 65 guestrooms, including nine extended-stay options, meeting spaces, and a restaurant. Three separate buildings with condominium units are also under construction, with one completed and two in progress.

Kimpton announced plans for a new boutique hotel and branded residences in Monterrey. As the brand’s sixth property planned for Mexico, Kimpton Monterrey will be located in the new-build, mixed-use Torre Rise, set to be the tallest tower in Latin America. It is slated to open in 2026. Owned by Grupo Alora and operated by Marca Hotel Solutions, Kimpton Monterrey will feature 120 guestrooms; 60 private residences; an onsite wellness center featuring an indoor pool, sauna, and massage treatment rooms; a full-service restaurant and a lobby lounge; and 1,244 square meters of meeting space.

avid hotels by IHG is celebrating its 75th open property with the debut of the new avid hotel Pueblo North, marking the second avid hotels property in Colorado. Owned by AAA Hotel Developers, the hotel offers 67 guestrooms, a pool, fitness center and more.

Maine Course Hospitality Group owns and manages nearly two dozen hotels and is now launching its own hotel brand in the hopes that it will spread across the country. Called HomeAwhile, the concept is to provide apartment-style rooms that combine the best features of Airbnb, welcoming spaces with kitchens and sometimes laundry machines, and hotels that offer housekeeping, onsite staff, and a more predictable overall experience at an affordable price. The first HomeAwhile is under construction in Scarborough, Maine, and is set to open in 2026.

Bunkhouse Hotels announced the opening of Hotel Saint Augustine in Houston, Texas. The complex comprises five buildings connected by catwalk-style walkways. The hotel features a courtyard and Augustine Lounge that are open to the public. Hotel Saint Augustine will introduce Perseid, an all-day bistro, in January.

Choice Hotels International unveiled plans to open two new Everhome Suites locations in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, along with initiating a groundbreaking project in Clarksville, Tennessee. Currently, the company boasts seven operational Everhome Suites, with over 20 constructions in progress, nearly 30 set to open by the end of 2025, and more than 65 projects in various stages of planning. All three hotels were developed in collaboration with Highside Companies. The Everhome Suites Fayetteville and Everhome Suites Cheyenne will both offer 114 rooms and are scheduled to open in spring 2026; Everhome Suites Clarksville will offer 115 guestrooms. Everhome Suites’amenities include multipurpose lobbies, outdoor amenities like barbeque areas, firepits, and pools in selected locations, a self-service market, and a fitness center.

Ohana Real Estate Investors announced their acquisition of Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, marking the company’s first hotel purchase in the Pacific Northwest. Located in Renton, Washington, the 347-room hotel boasts 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, a restaurant, and comprehensive health and wellness suites that include a gym and full-service spa.

MB Signature Properties announced MB Resort Orlando will include 199 two-bedroom, two bathrooms suites and will debut in winter 2028 in Orlando, Florida. Amenities include a spa, rooftop bar, restaurant, fire pit area, splash park, arcade rooms, outdoor pool, fitness center, co-working space, concierge and more.

HREC Investment Advisors arranged the sale of the 126-guestroom WaterWalk by Wyndham Phoenix - North Happy Valley, located in Phoenix, Arizona. HREC Investment Advisors exclusively represented the WaterWalk Holding Company in this transaction. The acquisition was made by a local/regional hotelier.

Mumford Company represented LNR Partners LLC in the sale of the Hyatt Place of Rogers, Arkansas, to 4610 Rogers Hotel Owners, LLC. The hotel will undergo an extensive renovation and continue to operate as a Hyatt Place. Mumford represented the Seller in the transaction.

Personnel Moves

Reside announced the appointment of Walter “J.R.” Dembiec, Jr. as Brand President of Reside, a Wyndham Residence. Dembiec is tasked with spearheading Reside’s flagship branded residences offering, which includes the newly launched Reside, A Wyndham Residence. He will be responsible for the line’s expansion in the upscale extended-stay segment through a 10-year tie-up with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Dembiec, who joined Reside in 2018 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, brings over three decades of legal and business expertise to his new role.

Teneo Hospitality announced Jamie Bruce as its new President. Jamie, who has been an integral part of Teneo’s leadership team for the past two years, succeeds Mike Schugt, who has decided to step down after 10 years at the helm to focus on his non-profit endeavors. Prior to Teneo Hospitality, Jamie held senior positions with organizations such as Waldorf-Astoria, Conrad, Kerzner International, Atlantis Bahamas, KSL Resorts, and Tavistock Hotel Collection.

Europe Highlights

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Palladium Hotel Group, introduces five exclusive resorts, with over 1,400 rooms in total, across Ibiza and Menorca, Spain’s Balearic Islands. The featured all-inclusive resorts include Grand Palladium Select Palace Ibiza, Grand Palladium White Island Resort & Spa, Palladium Hotel Cala Llonga, Palladium Hotel Palmyra, and Palladium Hotel Menorca.

Minor International has offered to buy out minority shareholders of Spain’s Minor Hotels Europe & Americas. The group, which already owns 95.9% of MHEA shares, offered to pay 6.37 euros per share for the stake it does not own, with an aim to delist Minor Hotels, which was previously known as NH Hotels. The price represents a 38% premium over MHEA’s closing price on Friday.