IHG Expands Vignette Collection to San Francisco and France

The DJIA fell 165 points Friday while Nasdaq was up 81, the S&P 500 was flat and the 10-year treasury yield was down .05 to 4.47%. While WH rebounded to a new high, the profit-taking in the rest of the C-Corps continued on Friday. ABNB surged 14% on their earnings report, and a 4Q beat mostly boosted by a very positive margin outlook and hints of a new business announcement they will disclose in May. SOND rebounded 9% and AHT was down -5% after a big gain on Thursday.

Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group has been appointed to manage both the Residence Inn at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center and SpringHill Suites Anaheim Resort/Convention Center, representing the 11th and 12th California properties managed by Lodging Dynamics. The Residence Inn at Anaheim Resort/Convention Center is a nine-story hotel with 294 guestrooms, a lobby bar, an outdoor pool, and fitness center. The SpringHill Suites Anaheim Resort/Convention Center offers 174 guestrooms and a rooftop pool.

1 Hotels announced reservations are now open for 1 Hotel Seattle, debuting in April 2025. Set in the South Lake Union neighborhood, the property features 153 guestrooms, including 45 suites, a signature restaurant, a lobby bar and lounge, a fitness center, and a range of versatile spaces, including the Rainier Ballroom.

IHG is expanding its Vignette Collection with San Francisco's historic Hotel Spero. The property boasts 236 guestrooms and 23 suites, on-site dining, 3,000 square feet of event space across five meeting rooms, a co-working space, and a fitness center.

StepStone Hospitality announced the opening of The Connally Hotel Downtown Atlanta as part of the Ascend Hotel Collection by Choice Hotels International.

Chic Management Group is looking to sell two of its three properties, the Brandywine River Hotel and the Brinton Suites. The hotels, located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, are listed separately, with asking prices of $5.55 million and $4.25 million, respectively.

The Cordish Companies celebrated the highly anticipated grand opening of Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, a $270+ million resort destination marking the first land-side casino in the Shreveport-Bossier market. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana introduces over 47,000 square feet of gaming space, a 549-room upscale hotel with a resort pool and fitness center; Live! Event Center, with 25,000 square feet of multi-purpose venue space; a 31-site RV Park, featuring concrete pads and full hook-ups and 10 new food and beverage outlets.

Beach Point Capital won a foreclosure auction for the Chetrit Group's Hotel Bossert in Brooklyn, New York. The lender used its existing $177 million debt to submit a credit bid of $120 million for the hotel. Beach Point was the only bidder at the auction. It is unclear what the new owner plans to do with the property, which is buried under scaffolding and in disrepair.

The Bell Hotel, located in downtown Athens, Georgia, announced its February 11th grand opening following the completion of a two-year renovation. The boutique property features eight guestrooms, expansive four-bedroom suites, elegant common areas, and a rooftop terrace. The Foster family acquired the historic building in 2022 and partnered with Kasa to ensure a seamless guest experience. Through Kasa's streamlined platform, visitors can enjoy features like contactless check-in, smartphone room access, and 24/7 virtual front desk support.

Holladay Properties is proposing a renovation that would convert a factory in Franklin, Tennessee, to a 120-room hotel. The two-story hotel would be built beside Liberty Hall in the current rear parking lot. The new construction would also include a courtyard, grand lawn, and public art displays. Additionally, a 252-space parking garage would be built, increasing the number of spaces at the Factory from 914 to 1,056.

Marcus & Millichap has finalized the sale and financing of the Best Western Plus Executive Residency hotel in Austin, Texas. Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of Marcus & Millichap, arranged the financing for the transaction. The 86-key property was exclusively marketed by Marcus & Millichap, which also procured the buyer. This dual-branded property offers extended stay options and Best Western Plus rooms. Facilities include a gym; outdoor space with a pool, pergola, and lawn games; a business center; an electric vehicle charging station, and meeting and conference facilities.

Nobu Hospitality announced the continued expansion of its global footprint in 2025, from the Nobu Hotel Toronto to the brand's first foray into Italy, with Nobu Hotel Roma. Other locations include Al Khobar and New Orleans, which join the 41 Nobu hotels that are open and in development globally. Set to open in the summer of 2025, Nobu Hotel Roma houses 122 guestrooms and suites, a vibrant rooftop terrace, versatile meeting spaces, a spa, a fitness center, a Nobu Restaurant, and a private club lounge. Nobu's Toronto property will welcome the opening of its hotel rooms and suites in summer this year. Marking Nobu Hospitality's Canadian debut, Nobu Hotel Toronto houses 36 guestrooms and suites, a bi-level Nobu Restaurant, private dining rooms, a sushi bar, and an outdoor terrace. The Nobu Hotel, Restaurant, and Residences Al Khobar will soon grace the city's waterfront. This destination will feature 120 rooms and suites, a Nobu Restaurant, pools, a wellness center, and meeting and event spaces. Now open, Nobu Hotel Caesars New Orleans is the brand's third in a successful ongoing partnership with Caesars Entertainment. Located within the newly re-imagined Caesars Tower, Nobu Hotel Caesars New Orleans occupies two floors and features 54 guestrooms and suites.

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, by Viceroy Hotels and Resorts, announced the debut of Spice of Life, an ultra-lavish nine-bedroom villa residence at the St. Lucia resort. Spacious enough to accommodate up to 18 guests, the 35,000 square foot accommodation offers state-of-the-art facilities, including a private pool and private beach access, a main and supplemental commercial-grade kitchen, spacious living and dining room spaces, and 13 bathrooms. Visitors can dine at any of Sugar Beach's eight dining establishments and will benefit from an array of amenities, including fitness facilities, the Rainforest Spa, and more.

Personnel Move

Marriott International announced the appointment of Carolina Voullieme as Multi-Property Director of Sales and Marketing, overseeing both the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino and the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort. In her expanded role, Carolina will lead the development and implementation of innovative sales and marketing strategies to drive revenue growth, enhance guest experiences, and expand the market share of both properties. Carolina's career with Marriott spans several decades.

Europe Highlights

IHG Hotels & Resorts continues the expansion of its midscale conversion brand, Garner Hotels, across Southern Europe, with the rebranding of a Pacini Group property to Garner Hotel Rome Aurelia. In January 2025, Pacini Group concluded the renovation of the entire hotel, leaving it with 58 guestrooms, modern amenities and a range of onsite facilities, including a restaurant and bar, an outdoor terrace, and meeting spaces.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the debut of its Vignette Collection property in France. Set to open in 2025, the new property will encompass two iconic hotels, Tiara Miramar and Tiara Yaktsa, which will undergo a transformation under the Vignette Collection brand while preserving their distinctive charm and storied histories. Nestled in the town of Theoule sur Mer, the hotel will feature event space, dining, several pools, a gym, a spa, and a bar.

Accor announced that Elatos Resort, a luxurious chalet set in the heart of Greece's alpine wilderness, will join the Emblems Collection. The transformation will introduce expansive, private chalets that are meticulously designed to enhance comfort and elegance. Each chalet will feature amenities, including a private sauna and movie room. The newly transformed Elatos Resort, Emblems Collection, is slated to reopen in Q2 2026.

Zedwell Hotels is transforming iconic buildings in key capital cities into places to stay that have been designed completely to guarantee a sold night's sleep. Rapidly expanding its windowless hotel concept, Zedwell is backed by Criterion Capital. The brand currently operates three sites in London, and Zedwell Manchester will represent Zedwell hotels' first property out of the capital when it launches next year. A site in Scotland has also been earmarked for expansion. Criterion plans to open eight more hotels before 2026, bringing the total number of hotels in its portfolio to 12.

Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin, is now open. One of the hotel's most remarkable features is the Living Tree Lobby. The Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin, offers 427 rooms and suites; multiple food and beverage venues; fully renovated meeting and event spaces across three floors, totaling 2,750 square meters; and a spa and wellness area featuring indoor pools, a Finnish sauna, and a fitness center.

Le Relais de La Malmaison, a member of Radisson Individuals, has opened its doors near Paris. The hotel features 88 rooms and suites, a wellness and fitness center, spa treatments by Sothys, onsite dining, 12 versatile event spaces, and a nearby nine-hole Bluegreen Golf Course.