Loews Hotels Undergoes Biggest-Ever Expansion

The DJIA fell 83 points, but the Nasdaq tried to stage a comeback, up 212, while the S&P 500 was up 27 points. The 10-year treasury was up .03 to 4.32%. PK, H, PEB, HST, APLE, and VAC traded down to new lows today. SVC was up 8%, but SHCO plunged another -7%. The stock was $4.91 when the going private transaction at $9 was announced. It rallied close to that when Dan Loeb of Third Point sent a letter saying he wanted the company to undergo a bidding process. The stock is now $5.48. Has anyone heard from Loeb?

STR reported U.S. lodging data for the week ended 3/8. U.S. hotel RevPAR was up 0.6% year over year. ADR was up 2.1%, offsetting the -1.4% decline in occupancy. Group RevPAR was up 3.1%.

The Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach is undergoing renovations totaling $24.8 million, including updates to 791 guestrooms and suites, the property’s historic lobby, and the addition of a new oceanfront event space. The hotel will remain open throughout the renovations. The renovation is slated to run through 2025 and 2026, with finished guestrooms and suites in the hotel’s different wings to be revealed in phases. The Tower Wing is slated to be finished first, by late summer of this year, followed by the Banyan Wing in early winter and the Diamond Wing in the winter. Additionally, the lobby will be completed by late summer, and the new oceanfront event space will be built in the fall. All renovations are expected to be completed ahead of the resort’s 125th anniversary on March 11, 2026.

The Washington Dulles Marriott Suites announced the completion of a comprehensive renovation. The 11-story, 254-room, all-suite hotel features a refreshed aesthetic and upgraded amenities, including full renovation of all guest suites, meeting space, and restaurant. Additional amenities include a newly renovated fitness center as well as five newly appointed meeting rooms offering 2,600 square feet of functional venue space. The full-service property is managed by Pinnacle Hotel Management.

Dreamscape Hospitality announced it will assume management of both Residence Inn Mobile and Courtyard Mobile, both located in Mobile, Alabama. The recently renovated Residence Inn Mobile offers an indoor pool, fitness center, and an outdoor Sport Court. The Courtyard Mobile offers The Bistro restaurant, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool.

Loews Hotels is in the midst of the biggest expansion in its 65-year history, opening three hotels in the Orlando market tied to Comcast Corp.’s new Epic Universe theme park. The hotels, which cost a combined $1 billion to build, are a joint venture between Loews and Comcast’s Universal Destinations & Experiences division. They will introduce 2,000 new rooms into the market. The joint venture will soon have 11 properties with 11,000 rooms in Orlando, more than half of Loews’ total room count nationally. The new resorts include the Universal Helios Grand Hotel and Universal Stella Nova Resort, which opened in January.

A new hotel development is in the works for Pensacola Beach, Florida, with Omega Hospitality of Pensacola Beach LLC spearheading the project. If approved, the 215-room hotel will be located on an unused parking lot, which developers plan to incorporate into the new hotel’s design by adding 215 dedicated parking spaces. The hotel will also feature high-end amenities, including a pool deck with a spa and lazy river, along with dune walkovers providing direct beach access for guests. While the hotel’s brand has not been disclosed, the project’s details indicate that Omega Hospitality of Pensacola Beach LLC owns the property and will lead its development.

RIU Hotels stated it will open its 350+ room Hotel RIU Plaza Toronto in late 2025, over six years after the location was first announced. Built into the lower levels of the two-tower Theatre District Residence complex’s north tower, the hotel will not be a standalone property but will instead become the latest accommodation to open as part of a combined condo and hotel development in Toronto’s Entertainment District. The new luxury accommodation will offer hundreds of rooms, a gym, a lobby bar, and a meeting room.

Caesars Entertainment is teaming up with reality star, restaurant, and nightclub owner Lisa Vanderpump to redo the Cromwell standalone boutique hotel on the Las Vegas Strip to the first The Vanderpump Hotel, expected to be ready in early 2026. The Cromwell will continue operating during the renovations with CZRexpected to give more details as the project evolves.

The historic Lowe Hotel in Point Pleasant, West Virginia has new owners. An attorney from Point Pleasant paid nearly $2 million for the building. The hotel has been a fixture in Point Pleasant since it was built in 1901 and is now getting a new lease on life with owners who plan to keep the historic look of the building intact. The hotel will have 60 rooms and two ballrooms. The building has six storefronts for businesses, including restaurants, bars, and retail spaces. Details of the restoration are still being worked out, but efforts to revitalize the building are expected to start by the end of 2025 and take 18 months to complete.

Treasure Valley Casino & Hotel in Davis, Oklahoma reopened its hotel after a comprehensive renovation. The property features a modern design and an upgraded guest experience. Improvements include a redesigned lobby, expanded room offerings, and updated amenities. The hotel now has 62 rooms, with six room types, including Jr. King Suites, Jr. Double Queen Suites, and King Suites. The property also upgraded its fitness center.

The Whisky Hotel has opened in Hollywood, California. The whisky-inspired, adults-only property has been designed by restaurateur and hotelier Adolfo Suaya. The seven-floor boutique hotel comprises 132 rooms and suites, a rooftop spa, a personal training gym, and an extensive collection of rare and vintage whiskies. The lobby will offer a curated whisky selection in anticipation of the adjacent bar set to open several months after the hotel’s debut. In addition to the lobby bar, guests can expect two culinary concepts to open on the property as well. This includes a rooftop dining destination as well as a street-level restaurant.

Personnel Moves

Aimbridge Hospitality unveiled a newly expanded and refreshed Board of Managers, strengthening its leadership for long-term success. These appointments come after the company successfully completed a major balance restructuring. Joining the Board are Glenn Alba, Rich Gomel, Carrie McIntyre, and Emanuel (Manny) Pearlman, who will work alongside current Board members Steve Joyce and Craig S. Smith, Aimbridge’s CEO. With the full backing of its lenders, Aimbridge has converted over $1 billion in debt into equity while also securing $100 million in new capital. This restructuring has enhanced the company’s liquidity and resources, enabling further investments in its strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and leadership in the hospitality sector. The newly appointed independent managers bring with them significant expertise. Glenn Alba is the Co-Founder and Managing Member of TMGOC Ventures. He also founded Opterra Capital and previously held a 20-year tenure at Blackstone Real Estate. Rich Gomel held senior roles at prestigious firms like Two Sigma Real Estate, Starwood Capital Group, and J.P. Morgan Asset and Wealth Management. Carrie McIntyre is the CEO and Partner at VIRIDIS Fund Solutions and has held leadership roles in fund administration at StepStone Group and venture capital firm Greenspring Associates. Manny Pearlman currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of Liberation Investment Group and is a Board Member for MidCap Financial and Diebold Nixdorf.

Europe Highlights 

Archenar Assets has acquired the Riviera Marriott Hotel La Porte de Monaco from Capital France Hotel, an investment vehicle managed by Schroders Capital. The investment firm bought the 4-star hotel located at Port de Cap d’Ail for €85 million. The hotel comprises 186 rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a pool, and eight meeting rooms.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of voco Zeal Exeter Science Park, IHG’s first branded net-zero carbon hotel, in partnership with Zeal Hotels and Valor Hospitality.  Located in Exeter, UK, the 142-room hotel offers a mini gym, gardens, a versatile meeting space, a restaurant and bar, and 12 EV charging points. 

The Manor House Hotel and Spa, located in Alsager, UK has revealed plans for an ambitious spa expansion, introducing the region’s first swim-up bar, hydrotherapy pools, and a luxurious secret garden. At the heart of the project is an expansion of the hotel’s charming English garden, creating a hidden sanctuary named the Secret Garden. Central to the upgrade is a hydrotherapy pool with water jets and built-in seating arrangements. Complementing the communal wellness experience is the addition of the exclusive Secret Garden Cold Water Plunge Pool. Another highlight is the Hot House, a Finnish sauna uniquely enhanced by a striking Himalayan salt wall. Embracing the theme of an English Country Garden, new relaxation zones known as Greenhouses will be introduced. With transparent glass roofs, these lounges will provide an abundance of natural light and warmth from underfloor heating, ideal for year-round comfort.

Finally, the Secret Garden will introduce a delightful Sensory Herb Garden, and a soothing water feature will add tranquil sounds, completing the sensory journey. 

The Queensbury Hotel in Brighton, UK has been sold to a local hotel operator. The five-story property, located on Regency Square near Brighton’s seafront, offers 20 guestrooms and retains many traditional features. The recent sale of the Queensbury Hotel underscores the sustained demand for hotel properties in Brighton, reflecting both local and national trends in the hospitality industry. 
 
Travelodge unveiled its latest 59-bedroom property in Bromley, London. The new Travelodge London Bromley Town Center features the brand’s newly revamped premium design featuring a redesigned reception area and next-generation guestrooms.