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 Marriott International debut a new expedition series within its Luxury Collection, providing travelers with itineraries rooted in local and cultural experiences. 

Marriott is also growing its footprint with a new Series by Marriott hotel in San Diego. Meanwhile, in Phoenix, developer LaPour Partners is advancing plans for a proposed 340-room JW Marriott downtown amid growth in the luxury travel segment. 

Additionally from this week, a new report from Lodging Econometrics found that the U.S. led the global construction pipeline in Q2, and Alum CEO David Vialli spoke to Hotel Dive about his vision for the luxury college town concept that caters to donors and alumni. 

Here’s more from this week that hoteliers should keep on their radar: 

Meyer Jabara Hotel adds first university hotel to portfolio

Meyer Jabara Hotels will manage a boutique hotel located on the University of Florida campus, its first university property in its portfolio, according to a Tuesday news release.  

Owned by the University of Florida and located within the Reitz Union Student Center on campus, the 36-room Reitz Union Hotel in Gainesville is “one of the few true on-campus hotels” at a major college in the country, per the release. 

The hotel positions Meyer Jabara "as a management partner of choice for universities and academic institutions seeking an operator that understands the unique standards and expectations these environments demand,” Chas Henry, senior vice president of business development and acquisitions for MJH, said in a statement.

The management company will expand sales, marketing and revenue management initiatives at the property and will evaluate potential renovation and repositioning opportunities over the next one to two years. 

LivAway Suites breaks ground on first property in Alabama

LivAway Suites has started work on its first hotel in Alabama, expanding the brand’s presence into the Southeast as it grows its national footprint, according to a Tuesday news release. 

The Montgomery property comes as the economy extended stay hotel brand adds to its portfolio of 13 open hotels, with upcoming locations in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, per the release. Each purpose-built property offers suites that are “20% larger” than the segment’s average, per the release, featuring full kitchens and dedicated workspaces. 

The property is near the Maxwell Air Force Base and Maxwell Gunter Annex, Auburn University at Montgomery and the Hyundai Motor manufacturing plant. 

Davidson Hospitality Group launches leadership development program

Davidson Hospitality Group launched the GM Edge program, a leadership development initiative for team members “on track for career advancement,” according to a Wednesday news release.  

The initial cohort includes nine leaders across the Atlanta-based hotel management company's hotels, resorts and restaurants who “will be equipped with the mindset, skills, and capabilities to lead with impact and further drive operational excellence.” 

“A key priority for us this year is to focus on team member retention and advancement,” Jason Reader, COO of Davidson Hospitality, said in a statement. “As outlined in our annual company goals, we are committed to promoting talent from within, and we are proud to invest efforts into building our bench strength to support future growth.”