F&B Is a Recipe for Success
Hotel food and beverage (F&B) has evolved from a basic amenity to a strategic differentiator that shapes a property’s identity and profitability. Curated dining concepts, entertainment, and experiential programming turn hotels into destinations that attract both travelers and local patrons. Operators are leveraging chef collaborations, pop‑up events, and community‑focused venues to boost revenue, increase average daily rates, and deepen guest loyalty. The article argues that intentional, market‑aware F&B strategies are now essential for competitive advantage.
LBA Hospitality Adds Two Hotels in Mississippi to Portfolio
LBA Hospitality has added two Hilton Garden Inn properties in Mississippi— a 90‑room hotel in Hattiesburg and a 70‑room hotel in Biloxi—to its management portfolio. The Hattiesburg addition expands LBA’s presence in a market where it already operates two hotels,...
Hot Off the Press — March 2026
Hotel Business’s March 2026 issue spotlights food‑and‑beverage strategy, with Colicchio Consulting guiding hoteliers on menu and service planning. The cover story is complemented by a Central Perk sidebar and features on Morrissey Hospitality and the AI‑centric Otonomus Hotel in Las Vegas. Additional...
HB Exclusive: Enseo Introduces New Corporate Identity
Enseo, a 26‑year hotel technology provider, unveiled a new corporate identity to signal its strategic evolution from hardware manufacturer to an integrated software platform. The rebrand highlights a unified solution that merges in‑room entertainment, managed Wi‑Fi, marketing tools, property monitoring...
Regional Banks Are Lending on Hotels Again: What Middle-Market Borrowers Need to Know
Regional banks are re‑entering hotel financing, offering mid‑6% coupons and up to 70% loan‑to‑value on stabilized middle‑market assets. Deposit growth of roughly $900 billion since 2023 has restored banks' funding capacity, prompting a selective but aggressive lending approach. Compared with CMBS...
Garner Becomes Fastest-Scaling Global Brand for IHG
Garner, IHG's midscale conversion brand, has opened 100 hotels worldwide since its August 2023 debut, making it the fastest‑scaling brand in the company’s history. A pipeline of roughly 80 additional properties will almost double its footprint, extending the brand to...
Red Roof Reports Success in 2025
Red Roof announced that 2025 was a transformative year, positioning the brand for profitable growth through operational excellence, technology upgrades, and heightened franchise demand. The company lifted market share, with The Red Collection gaining 2% and Red Roof Inn 1.1%,...
Choice Hotels’ Ascend Collection Surpasses 500 Openings
Choice Hotels’ Ascend Collection has crossed the 500‑property threshold, highlighted by recent openings such as The Harrison Hotel in Florida and The Gould Hotel in New York. The brand now boasts a pipeline of 70 additional properties in key U.S....
WoodSpring Suites Opens in St. Peters, MO
WoodSpring Suites opened its new extended‑stay hotel in St. Peters‑O’Fallon, Missouri, under Aimbridge Hospitality’s management. The property targets travelers on multi‑week assignments, such as healthcare professionals, project workers and relocators, offering full kitchens, noise‑reducing construction, and on‑site laundry. Additional amenities...
Coast Hotels Debuts Coast Edson Hotel
Coast Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, has opened the Coast Edson Hotel, marking its seventh property owned by Mundi Hotel Enterprises in Alberta. The 69‑room hotel sits on the Yellowhead Highway, catering to business travelers, outdoor enthusiasts,...
Sage Hospitality Group Adds The Ben, Autograph Collection
Sage Hospitality Group has taken over management of The Ben, an Autograph Collection hotel with 208 luxury rooms in West Palm Beach, Florida. The property was recently purchased by real‑estate developer Related Ross, which secured a $172.5 million acquisition loan from...
Davidson Hospitality Group Makes Two Corporate Appointments
Davidson Hospitality Group announced two senior appointments, naming Andrew Houghton as Senior Vice President of Luxury Operations and Scott Harrell as Vice President of Acquisitions and Business Development. Houghton will manage relationships with owners and brands while directly overseeing Ragdale...
Report: Hotel Labor Costs Rising Faster than Productivity Gains
HotelData’s 2025 Labor Costs & Trends report shows U.S. hotel wages rising sharply, with wage cost per occupied room (CPOR) climbing 12.8% year‑over‑year to $48.32. The acceleration intensified in Q4, where wage CPOR jumped 21.1% YoY, while hours per occupied...
Ocra and TrackMyShuttle Partner
Ocra, an AI‑powered revenue management system for hotel parking, has partnered with TrackMyShuttle, a real‑time fleet visibility platform, to deliver an integrated solution for airport parking and shuttle operations. The joint offering combines Ocra’s dynamic pricing and distribution of underutilized...
Minor Hotels to Launch The Wolseley Hotels in New York City
Minor Hotels announced the launch of its new Wolseley Hotels brand, debuting with The Wolseley Hotel New York slated for early 2027. The 76‑room flagship will sit beside Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan and host the first U.S. Wolseley restaurant,...
IHG Names Michael Hoe-Knudsen Managing Director for MLAC Region
IHG Hotels & Resorts appointed Michael Hoe‑Knudsen as managing director for Mexico, Latin America & the Caribbean, succeeding retiring leader Jorge Apaez. Hoe‑Knudsen brings three decades of global hospitality experience, most recently overseeing 120 managed hotels and 45 openings in...
Kimpton Era Midtown New York Makes Its Debut
Kimpton Era Midtown New York, a 33‑story skyscraper, has opened in Manhattan, marking the brand's latest boutique addition and the first hotel managed by Extell Hospitality Services. Designed by Extell Development with interiors by INC Architecture & Design and architecture...
Mullen Hospitality Management Names Javier Coll President
Mullen Hospitality Management has appointed Javier Coll as president to spearhead its third‑party management and luxury beach‑resort development strategy. Coll brings more than three decades of international hospitality, investment and brand partnership experience, most recently as global head of growth...
Charlestowne Hotels Highlights Development Pipeline
Charlestowne Hotels unveiled a seven‑project development pipeline that spans the Midwest, Southeast, Mountain West and its hometown Charleston. The slate includes adaptive‑reuse boutique hotels in Milwaukee and Santa Fe, a staffless technology‑forward property in Florida, and two Tribute Portfolio soft‑brand...
Paul Nisbett Appointed as Global CFO at Valor Hospitality
Valor Hospitality Partners has promoted Paul Nisbett to global chief financial officer, expanding his remit from the EMEA region to worldwide oversight. Nisbett, who joined Valor in 2015, has driven financial governance, supported strategic acquisitions, and built scalable infrastructure across...
Philo Hospitality Acquires Surfside Beachfront Resort
Philo Hospitality has acquired the 70‑room Surfside Beachfront Resort in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, adding a rare beachfront asset to its portfolio. The deal includes a $24,000 per‑room renovation plan focused on bathrooms, flooring, and cosmetic upgrades while preserving the resort’s...
The Turnover Trap: Why Hotel Staffing Remains Fragile—And What Operators Can Do About It
Hospitality faces a chronic staffing crisis, with hotel turnover hovering between 70% and 80% annually—far above the 10‑15% national average. Traditional levers such as wage hikes, referral bonuses, and refreshed job ads are no longer sufficient to stem the churn,...
Hilton Introduces the Hilton AI Planner
Hilton has rolled out the Hilton AI Planner, a generative‑AI digital concierge now in beta on hilton.com. The tool engages travelers in conversational dialogue to recommend destinations, compare properties and highlight amenities in real time. By moving beyond static search...
Aloft Tampa Downtown Completes Full Renovation
Newbond Holdings and HEI Hotels & Resorts have finished a $5 million full renovation of the Aloft Tampa Downtown, guided by Studio 11 Design. The overhaul refreshes guestrooms, public areas and the Re:Fuel grab‑and‑go café, adding modern furnishings and upgraded technology....
U.S. Travel Association Promotes Ellen Davis to COO
Ellen Davis has been promoted to chief operating officer and executive vice president of the U.S. Travel Association. Since joining in 2023 as EVP of business strategy and industry engagement, she launched a new membership model, revamped the event portfolio,...
Sage Hospitality Group Adds The Benson Hotel & Faculty Club
Sage Hospitality Group announced it will manage The Benson Hotel & Faculty Club, a 106‑room luxury property on the University of Colorado Anschutz medical campus in Aurora, Colorado. The hotel, opened in 2023 and recently acquired by the university, offers...
West Anderson Partners Acquires Graduate by Hilton Storrs
West Anderson Partners has completed the acquisition of the Graduate by Hilton Storrs, a 100‑room lifestyle hotel situated on the University of Connecticut campus. The property serves university visitors, alumni, athletic teams, and hosts campus events, positioning it as a...
Dreamscape Hospitality Adds Two Marriott Properties
Dreamscape Hospitality announced it will manage two Marriott‑branded hotels—Courtyard by Marriott Houma in Louisiana and Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Springdale in Arkansas—both owned by Verge Hospitality Management. The partnership expands Dreamscape’s midscale portfolio and leverages its operational expertise...
Cherko Fusco Realty Brokers Two Hotel Transactions
Cherko Fusco Realty brokered the sale of two East Coast hotels: the 226‑key Portland Sheraton at Sable Oaks in Maine, sold to a Colwen Hotels affiliate, and the 138‑key Aloft Fort Lauderdale Airport, acquired by an MHG Hotels affiliate. Both...
Hilton Garden Inn New York/Tribeca Sells for $69M
The Generation Essentials Group, a subsidiary of AMTD Digital, acquired the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Tribeca for $69 million and rebranded it as the AMTD IDEA Tribeca Hotel. The deal, announced jointly by AMTD Group, AMTD IDEA Group and AMTD Digital,...
Langham Names Michele Grosso U.S. Operations Lead
Langham Hospitality Group has appointed Michele Grosso as regional vice‑president of U.S. operations, while he continues as managing director of The Langham Boston. In his expanded role he will oversee the company’s two U.S. brands—The Langham Hotels & Resorts and Eaton—working closely with...
Where to Invest: A Pragmatic View of Hospitality in 2026
Andrew Carey argues that 2026 could become a turning point for hospitality investment as interest rates retreat and debt constants settle between 7% and 9%, reopening the door to positive leverage. However, cap‑rate expectations have not yet risen, keeping pricing...
EOS Hospitality Names Matt Kerver as SVP, Food & Beverage
EOS Hospitality has named Matt Kerver as senior vice president of food & beverage, tasking him with overseeing the chain’s culinary strategy and operations across its hotel portfolio. Kerver will work closely with property teams to boost outlet performance, develop...
Hotel Equities Expands Lifestyle Offerings with Sun Mountain Lodge
Hotel Equities has added Sun Mountain Lodge, a 2,000‑acre mountain resort in Washington’s Methow Valley, to its lifestyle portfolio. The property, owned by GEM Real Estate Partners, recently completed a multi‑phase renovation that expands lodging, dining and experiential amenities. Hotel...
Island Hospitality Adds TownePlace Suites in Nashville to Portfolio
Island Hospitality Management has been appointed to operate the new 193‑suite TownePlace Suites by Marriott Nashville Midtown. The property blends upscale extended‑stay features with an on‑site bar offering Nashville skyline views, a 24/7 fitness center, and 330 sq ft of meeting space....
Raines Tapped to Manage Courtyard by Marriott Columbus
Raines Hospitality Group has been selected to manage the Courtyard by Marriott Columbus in Columbus, Mississippi. The 110‑key hotel, owned by Krish Hotel LLC after a December 2025 purchase, offers a Bistro, meeting spaces, pool, fitness center, and on‑site retail....
Kirk Pederson Named PM Hotel Group COO
PM Hotel Group announced Kirk Pederson as its new chief operating officer, tasked with overseeing hotel operations and commercial strategy across the portfolio. Pederson joins after serving as president of Sightline Hospitality, where he guided the company’s expansion and its...
Choice Promotes Jeff Lobb to SVP, General Counsel & Secretary
Choice Hotels International has promoted Jeff Lobb to senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary, effective March 26. Lobb, a Choice veteran since 2006, succeeds retiring executive Simone Wu, who led the legal function for 14 years. In his new...
Essex Hotel Management Partners with Larkin Hospitality
Essex Hotel Management has signed a partnership with family‑owned Larkin Hospitality, adding six properties and 581 keys to its portfolio and bringing the total to 17 hotels. The agreement expands Essex’s presence into the New England market and introduces its...
Marriott Monterey Hotel Receives $75M Refi
Sunshine‑Eichner arranged a $75 million non‑recourse first‑mortgage loan to refinance the Marriott Monterey hotel in downtown Monterey, California. The five‑year, interest‑only loan carries a fixed rate with an all‑in cost below 6% after securing a low‑200s credit spread among 19 competing...
Straight From the Source: Cetis
Hotel Business released a Straight From the Source video featuring Zac Crump, director of business development at Cetis. Crump outlines Cetis’ end‑to‑end guest‑room solution across five brands, covering in‑room phones, appliances, and upcoming product lines. The segment also provides a...
Outrigger Names Nathan Decker Director of Group Sales
Outrigger Hospitality Group announced the appointment of Nathan Decker as director of group sales, effective March 2, 2026. In his new role he will pursue new sales prospects and deepen client relationships across the brand’s properties and commercial unit. Decker arrives with...
JLL Arranges $37M Financing for Ambiente
JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group arranged a $37 million non‑recourse refinancing for Ambiente, a 40‑room adults‑only luxury landscape hotel in Sedona, Arizona. The deal, executed through a debt fund, includes a sizable cash‑out component that recapitalizes the property to fund ongoing...
Chatham Acquires Six Hilton-Branded Hotels for $92M
Chatham Lodging Trust bought six Hilton‑branded hotels for $92 million, adding 589 rooms in Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. The portfolio averages ten years of age, with 66% of rooms classified as extended‑stay, and posted 2025 RevPAR of $116 and EBITDA margins...
Widewaters Selects Schulte Hospitality Group to Operate Hotels
Widewaters has appointed Schulte Hospitality Group (SHG) to manage its portfolio of seven hotels, covering day‑to‑day operations, revenue management, sales and marketing, and food‑and‑beverage programming. The partnership also retains Basin Ventures as the asset‑management overseer to drive value across the...
How to Make a Pillow Menu Work for Your Hotel
Hotel pillow menus, a legacy of the late‑1990s, are resurging as a low‑cost way to personalize sleep. By letting guests select from three to seven pillow types—soft, medium, firm, hypoallergenic or down—properties can turn a routine stay into a memorable...
Paloma Martinez Appointed Virgin Hotels Collection VP Operations, Americas
Virgin Hotels Collection has named Paloma Martinez as Vice President of Operations for the Americas. In her expanded role she will oversee the U.S. Virgin Hotels portfolio and flagship Virgin Limited Edition properties such as Necker Island and Branson Beach...
Noble Acquires Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa
Noble Investment Group announced the acquisition of the Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa, a 214‑room riverfront property in downtown Reno, Nevada. The hotel includes 28 suites, a restaurant, bar, spa, 13,000 sq ft of meeting space, an outdoor pool and a...
Andaaz Manufacturing Partners with Stacy Garcia Design Studio
Andaaz Manufacturing has entered a multi‑year partnership with Stacy Garcia Design Studio to introduce the Stacy Garcia | New York brand into luxury hospitality furniture. The collaboration blends Andaaz’s hospitality‑grade manufacturing expertise with Garcia’s fashion‑forward, urban aesthetic. The inaugural collection...
MXR Hospitality Names Dawne Brado VP, Development
MXR Hospitality announced the appointment of Dawne Brado as its first Vice President of Development and Valerie Bolton as its inaugural Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Brado will oversee construction funding management across MXR’s portfolio, drawing on more than...