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 Sunstone agreeing to sell the 821-room Hyatt Regency San Francisco to funds affiliated with Blackstone; W South Beach in Miami planning to drop its Marriott affiliation and lay off 337 workers; and Choice Hotels Chief Data, AI and Technology Officer Anna Scozzafava speaking with Hotel Dive on the company’s next phase of digital innovation.
Additionally, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup now underway, hotel workers in host cities have gone on strike demanding new union contracts at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square.
Here’s what else hoteliers should have on their radars:
Hyatt debuts structured debt program for Hyatt Studios developers
Hyatt Hotels and Hall Structured Finance have partnered to provide a dedicated financing solution to developers building new Hyatt Studios hotels across the U.S., according to a news release.
Designed specifically for the upper midscale extended stay brand, the Hyatt Studios Structured Loan Program will help developers “overcome financing challenges by providing more efficient access to capital, accelerating project timelines and supporting new construction starts in an increasingly competitive lending environment,” per the release.
The program launches as Hyatt continues to “see strong interest in the Hyatt Studios brand from developers across the country,” Dan Hansen, global head of growth strategy and operations at Hyatt, said in a statement. Hyatt Studios launched in 2023.
Aimbridge Hospitality launches operations platform for hotel owners
Hotel management company Aimbridge Hospitality has launched S.P.A.R.K., a proprietary enterprise platform designed to give hotel owners greater consistency and performance transparency, per a news release. The platform serves as a digital system of record for property site visits, audits and operational action.
“With S.P.A.R.K., our operations teams have a single, consistent view of property health across every region — so issues get identified and resolved faster, before they affect guest experience or owner returns,” Keryn McNamara, chief information officer for Plano, Texas-based Aimbridge, said in a statement.
Hilton to open dual-branded hotel concept in Gypsum, Colorado
Gypsum Hotel Partners will start work on a dual-branded Hilton Hotel in Gypsum, Colorado, near the Eagle County Regional Airport, according to a news release. The 140-room property, featuring both a Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton and a Home2 Suites by Hilton and expected to be completed in early 2028, will be operated by Crestline Hotels & Resorts.
Tempo by Hilton Nashville Midtown opens near Vanderbilt University
Hilton has opened Tempo by Hilton Nashville Midtown, marking the brand’s second property in the city, according to a news release. Developed in partnership with Vision Hospitality Group, the 161-room lifestyle hotel features wellness-focused amenities and “brings Tempo’s signature blend of design, well-being and productivity-focused amenities to the city’s vibrant Midtown district.”
Marriott partners with Fitwel on latest wellness play
Marriott International has partnered with healthy building certification system Fitwel to integrate wellness solutions across its global branded residential portfolio, according to a news release.
The portfoliowide agreement is “designed to go beyond the individual residential property level, spanning solutions across Marriott International’s full residential portfolio, aligning operational excellence with a measurable, globally recognized standard for healthier buildings,” according to the release
