OTTOWA, Ontario—Green Key Global announced a partnership with BWH Hotels as a preferred supplier of certification for hotel operations’ environmental sustainability practices in the United States and Canada. The partnership will enable BWH Hotels properties to grow their sustainability efforts and implement a standardized sustainability program across the United States and Canada. “BWH … [Read more...]

Hilton Garden Inn marked a year of global expansion with the opening of its 1,000th property: the Hilton Garden Inn San Jose Airport City Mall in Costa Rica. The hotel has access to Route 1, is near SJO International Airport, and provides an airport shuttle. Situated adjacent to the City Mall Alajuela and a mile from the city center, guests can visit museums and attractions. In reaching this … [Read more...]

DALLAS, Texas—Remington Hospitality announced the rebranding of Crowne Plaza La Concha Hotel in Key West, Florida, to La Concha Key West, Autograph Collection. Remington Hospitality, which managed the property previously, will continue management in conjunction with Premier, which is leading the renovation’s interior design, procurement, and project management. The project is slated for completion … [Read more...]

All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy welcomed Marriott Hotels to its portfolio. Beginning in early 2024 with Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort, guests can connect with the local culture through experiences, entertainment, and hospitality. With nearly 600 hotels and resorts, Marriott Hotels has affected modern business and leisure travelers, which represents an opportunity to invite travelers … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON—American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) President and CEO Chip Rogers spoke in support of the No Hidden FEES Act, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Young Kim, R-Calif., and Kathy Castor, D-Fla. “The No Hidden FEES Act creates a single standard for mandatory fee display across the lodging industry—from short-term rental platforms to online … [Read more...]

CHEVY CHASE, Maryland—PM Hotel Group has been chosen to take over the management of the Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center. The addition of Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center to the PM Hotel Group portfolio marks the continued expansion of the company’s presence in Texas. “We are pleased to be taking over the management of Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center near thriving Downtown Dallas,” said Ethan … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON—American Hotel & Lodging Association Board Member and Principal of Sita Ram LLC Jagruti Panwala will testify before Congress in opposition to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposal to raise the overtime salary exemption threshold for executive, administrative, and professional employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. DOL in August proposed raising the threshold from … [Read more...]

PHOENIX, Arizona—Aligned Hospitality Management has added the Comfort Suites Denver Tech Center to its portfolio. The property, owned by Colorado Hotel Group LLC and franchised by Choice Hotels, is Aligned’s first property outside of the Arizona market and the 21st in the company’s portfolio. In the suburb of Englewood, the hotel is located 10 minutes from the Denver Tech Center, 30 minutes … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON, D.C.—AAA projects 55.4 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. This year’s Thanksgiving forecast is an increase of 2.3 percent over last year and marks the third-highest Thanksgiving forecast since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000. The top two years were 2005 and 2019, respectively. “For many Americans, … [Read more...]

PARSIPPANY, New Jersey—Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced that its Board of Directors received a letter from Choice Hotels International, Inc. on November 14, 2023. Wyndham’s Board of Directors, together with its financial and legal advisors, closely reviewed Choice’s letter and determined that it represents a step backward and that the terms Choice outlined are not in the best interests of … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) concluded a three-day Global Reformbnb General Assembly, which drew hospitality and policy leaders from around the globe. The meeting convened in Washington and focused on best practices for promoting equal tax and regulatory treatment of hotels and short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, and ensuring that online booking sites, or … [Read more...]

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Valencia Hotel Group is excited to announce a rebranding to Valencia Hotel Collection. VHC plans to continue its approach to hospitality and share how this moniker is a reflection of how the independent hotel group’s portfolio has transformed since its launch. “We are incredibly proud to be celebrating twenty years of Valencia Hotel Group and felt that … [Read more...]

CHICAGO—First Hospitality assumed management of Hotel Indy in Indianapolis, Indiana. The property marks First Hospitality’s first hotel with owner group KennMar. Since opening in 2021, Hotel Indy has 90 keys; two restaurants, The Hulman and The Cannon Ball Lounge; and 1,200 square feet of meeting space. The Hulman is open daily and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Cannon Ball Lounge is … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON—The business outlook for hotels remains strong for the remainder of 2023 thanks to an uptick in business travel and a healthy preference among business and leisure travelers to stay in hotels. According to a survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and conducted by Morning Consult, 68 percent of U.S. adults whose jobs involve travel said they were likely to … [Read more...]

MINNEAPOLIS—IDeaS released Future Forecast: Six Hotel Technology Predictions for 2024, which includes six hotel technology predictions that it believes will shape the year to come. Some predictions from the report include: The continued breakdown of hospitality data silos: The hospitality industry collects a large amount of guest data, but it’s often coming from disparate sources with no … [Read more...]

NEEDHAM, Massachusettes—Tripadvisor’s Winter Travel Index reveals that 58 percent of U.S. respondents will travel this season. Though the findings are on par with Tripadvisor’s data from last winter (59 percent), this figure rises to 63 percent of Millennials and 68 percent of Gen Z travelers this season. The vast majority (91 percent) are planning travel for specific seasonal reasons, … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON—AHLA Foundation, in partnership with the Employment and Training Administration Office of Apprenticeship at the U.S. Department of Labor, will expand its registered apprenticeship programs for the hospitality industry. The $505,000 grant will enable AHLA Foundation to serve more than 400 apprentices in one of three pathways: Lodging Manager, Hotel Cook, and Maintenance. Since 2018, … [Read more...]

DALLAS—The commercial real estate lending market is beginning to stabilize, with borrowing costs appearing to have peaked, even as transaction activity remains subdued, according to the latest research from CBRE. The CBRE Lending Momentum Index, which tracks the pace of CBRE-originated commercial loan closings in the United States, declined by 3.0 percent from Q2 2023 and 47.9 percent when … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas challenging the legality of the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) new “joint-employer” regulation. The suit contends the NLRB has violated the National Labor Relations Act and is acting in violation … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON—Hilton’s Vice President of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Global Head of Sustainability, Jean Garris Hand, testified on behalf of Hilton and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion. The hearing, titled “Sustainable Tourism for a Thriving Economy,” explored how to build a sustainable … [Read more...]