The Lodging Lowdown is a series from Hotel Dive highlighting major headlines that hospitality professionals may have missed from the week.
This week in hotel news saw Braemar Hotels & Resorts officially shift to a self-managed real estate investment trust after entering into a termination and release agreement from Ashford Inc., culminating a monthslong saga between the firms.
Also, Accor announced a partnership with Hard Rock International to expand Hard Rock’s distribution network and enhance both brands’ loyalty programs.
And with the holiday season right around the corner, Hotel Dive published its 2026 holiday travel preview, which sheds light on travelers’ evolving spending habits and how artificial intelligence will play a role in trip planning in the months ahead.
Here’s some other news from this week that hoteliers should keep in mind:
Hyatt opens new JdV hotel in Portland, Oregon
Hyatt opened The Mindaro under its lifestyle JdV by Hyatt brand in Portland, Oregon, this week, located minutes from Portland International Airport, according to a news release.
Inspired by “the spirit and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest,” the 90-room hotel is designed for travelers and locals alike with “plenty of ways to settle in, recharge and connect,” per the release. Guest rooms embrace expressive design and natural materials and feature fine linens and locally sourced coffee and tea.
“The Mindaro represents what we envisioned for this property from the beginning, a distinctive hotel that feels connected to Portland and gives people more reasons to stay, gather and experience the destination,” Rick Takach, chairman and chief executive officer of Vesta Hospitality, which manages the property, said in a statement.
The pet-friendly hotel is part of the greater Mindaro Campus, a hospitality destination that includes the 112-room Hyatt House Portland Airport, two restaurants and The Mirando Event Center with more than 8,000 square feet of flexible meetings and events space.
AI Hospitality Group adds 3 execs to leadership team
The newly formed AI Hospitality Group, dubbed the “first AI-native hotel operating company,” added three executives to its leadership team this week, according to a LinkedIn post.
Joining the team are Kim Snow as head of sales; Ryan Pellini as agent deployment manager; and Kerry Dang as head of feasibility, Hotel Management reported. Snow most recently served as vice president of commercial strategy at Aimbridge Hospitality. She will be responsible for overseeing a sales model that deploys AI agents for administrative tasks.
Pellini, who mostly recently worked at Ashford Inc., will manage the connection between the group’s AI agents and the property teams that use them, while Dang will lead underwriting for new management opportunities, per Hotel Management
In his LinkedIn post, Sloan Dean, CEO and founder of AIHG, noted a recruiter wasn’t used for the hiring process. “We hired people we have been in the trenches with,” he said.
Pyramid Global Hospitality expands into Silicon Valley
Hospitality management company Pyramid Global Hospitality has added the 160-room Aloft Mountain View in California to its portfolio, expanding its presence into Silicon Valley, according to a news release shared with Hotel Dive.
The agreement gives Pyramid a foothold in “one of the country’s most established business and technology markets,” per the release. The hotel joins the firm’s greater California portfolio, which comprises more than a dozen properties.
Located near Google, Microsoft and Apple campuses, the Marriott-branded Aloft Mountain View features two food and beverage venues, an outdoor swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness center and more than 2,0000 square feet in event space.
Pyramid manages about 200 properties in the U.S., the Caribbean and Europe. The agreement also furthers its relationship with Broadshore Capital Partners, which asset-manages the Rand Tower Hotel, Minneapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
Avion Hospitality adds luxury Beverly Hills property to portfolio
Dallas-based Avion Hospitality has added the 138-room Cameo Beverly Hills, LXR Hotels & Resorts, a luxury property owned by Braemar Hotels & Resorts, to its management portfolio, according to a news release shared with Hotel Dive.
The California hotel, part of Hilton's LXR Hotels & Resorts collection, marks a "significant addition” to the firm’s portfolio and reflects the trust of other hotel ownership groups in Avion’s “ability to manage distinctive, high-value” assets.
“Managing a property of this caliber comes with a responsibility to deliver on the expectations of both its guests and its ownership,” Robert Burg, president and CEO of Avion, said in a statement. “Our focus is on bringing the experience, leadership and attention to detail required to deliver exceptional hospitality and long-term value.”
Located near Rodeo Drive, Cameo Beverly Hills recently underwent renovations, blending contemporary design with an “intimate, lifestyle-oriented” guest experience, and features distinctive restaurants and upscale amenities.
The management shift also comes on the heels of Braemar splitting from Ashford Inc. as it transitions to a self-managed REIT.
