The Lodging Lowdown is a series from Hotel Dive highlighting major headlines that hospitality professionals may have missed from the week.
Merry fall hoteliers!
This week in hotel news saw Caesars Entertainment shareholders approve Fertitta Entertainment’s acquisition of the resort and casino operator, a move that takes Caesars one step closer to going private.
Meanwhile, Caesars competitor MGM Resorts International will remain a standalone company after Barry Diller-owned media conglomerate People Incorporated dropped its bid to acquire the resort operator.
Additionally, My Place Hotels of America relaunched its conversion-friendly Trend brand, providing independent owners with a less-intensive way to join a national franchise system. And in labor news, more than 7,000 union hotel workers in Chicago voted to authorize a strike this week, demanding higher wages and workplace benefits. Workers could call a strike at any time, which would mark the largest hotel strike in the city’s history.
Also this week, Accor rolled out ALL Concierge, a new artificial intelligence-powered tool designed to help guests at every point of the travel journey.
Here’s other news from the week that hoteliers should keep in mind:
Highgate appoints new CMO
Hospitality management company Highgate has appointed Erica Doyne as its new chief marketing officer, according to a news release.
Doyne brings nearly two decades of leadership experience across the hospitality and travel industry to the role. She most recently served as CMO of Cardinal Financial, where she established the company’s marketing organization and oversaw brand strategy, per the release. Before that, she served in marketing-related executive leadership positions at AMResorts and Hyatt Hotels, per her LinkedIn profile.
Doyne brings “a proven ability to lead organizations through transformation and growth” to the role, according to Highgate. The appointment follows Highgate’s partnership with hotelier Ian Schrager earlier this year to expand his PUBLIC brand internationally.
Ritz-Carlton Residences in southwest Florida tops out
London Bay Development Group has topped out construction on the North Tower of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay in southwest Florida, according to a news release shared with Hotel Dive.
The 224-unit luxury residential project spans two towers and is the residential anchor of Saltleaf, the developer’s 500-acre community located on Florida’s coast, per the release. The North Tower of the project is expected to be complete by 2027.
Global architecture firm Arquitectonica is overseeing the project's design, which draws inspiration from the area’s “tranquil coastal setting.” Residences come in two-, three- and four-bedroom layouts, and each one features a den, private elevator lobby and expansive terraces. Meanwhile, amenities include three pools, a 1-acre lagoon, wellness center, spa, private dining room and multiple social spaces.
Last week, Marriott International announced plans for a collection of luxury Ritz-Carlton residences in Brooklyn, New York, with construction expected to begin later this year.
BWH Hotels debuts extended stay property in the Southeast
BWH Hotels has opened @HOME by Best Western McDonough in McDonough, Georgia, representing the brand’s first location in the state and the Southeast region, according to a news release.
The 128-suite extended stay hotel brings apartment-like lodging to “one of the fastest-growing logistics and industrial corridors” south of Atlanta, per the release. Each suite features thoughtfully designed kitchens and workspaces, while the property itself features community areas, a lobby market, fitness center, laundry facilities and on-site storage closets.
Developed by Raj Patel and Apsilon Hotels, the pet-friendly hotel marks the second @Home by Best Western location in the U.S., following the brand’s debut in St. George, Utah, in April.
With a second @HOME property in Georgia expected to open in 2027, the new hotels reflect the momentum behind the brand as well as BWH’s continued investment in the extended stay segment.
"Extended-stay remains one of the most resilient and attractive segments in hospitality, and @HOME by Best Western is proving to be a powerful growth vehicle for our developers,” Brad LeBlanc, senior vice president and chief development officer for BWH, said in a statement.
