Read the latest hotel industry news from around the Americas region.


Bethesda, Maryland-based real estate investment trust Host Hotels & Resorts had an active year in 2021 with transactions, and it is continuing that growth momentum in 2022 by announcing its new joint venture partnership with Atlanta-based Noble Investment Group, reports HNN’s Dan Kubacki.

Speaking during its fourth quarter earnings call, Host President and CEO Jim Risoleo said the REIT purchased a 49% stake in Noble’s asset management platform with a $90.7 million investment in January.

“By capitalizing on Noble’s deep expertise, we will have the ability to incubate and invest in future lodging-adjacent strategies, thereby creating additional paths for long-term strategic value creation,” he said. “Those strategies include property technology solutions, development and alternative lodging.”


Also during this round of fourth quarter earnings call, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts President and CEO Geoff Ballotti teased plans for a new extended-stay, economy brand to launch this springreports HNN’s Robert McCune.

Ballotti said the launch of this brand is expected to boost development prospects for Wyndham.

“Extended stay [hotel] demand has proven to be absolutely recession- and pandemic-proof, and we know that demand is growing,” he said.

“We’ve seen, in our upper-midscale, extended-stay brand Hawthorne Suites a 50% increase in our pipeline over the past year and we know that demand is out there for an extended-stay economy brand. Our developers are asking for an economy extended-stay brand, our franchisees are asking for it, and most importantly our corporate accounts are asking for it.”


Members of the Lodging Industry Investment Council share hope that this year’s deals pace will heat up in terms of solid hotel deals, reports HNN’s Stephanie Ricca at the recent Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

“It’s going to be a good acquisitions year,” said Roger Clark, executive vice president of hotel acquisitions at The LCP Group. “Debt markets are finally cooperating. There’s equity. Now our partners want to be acquisitive. It’s going to be an action year because smoke is clearing on trends and patterns.”


  • The $6.25 billion sale of The Venetian Resort by Las Vegas Sands Corp. to affiliates of Apollo Global Management and Vici Properties finalized in February.
  • Realty Income purchased the Encore Boston Harbor for $1.7 billion from Wynn Resorts. Wynn resorts will continue to operate the property.
  • The Wayfarer DTLA, a Pacifica Hotels property, appointed Carl Hubbard as general manager.
  • Driftwood Capital purchased The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch for $113 million from an entity of Hong Kong-based Junson Capital.
  • Ralph Scatena has returned to the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa as general manager as well as area general manager, Phoenix. Scatena’s last term as general manager at the resort was 15 years ago.
  • Rochester, New York-based hotel management and development company DelMonte Hotel Group appointed Guy Crawford as chief investment officer.
  • Hilton Short Hills in Short Hills, New Jersey, reopened on March 1 for the first time since March 2020. During its closure it upgraded public facing areas as well as behind-the-scenes infrastructures.

  • Viewline Resort Snowmass in Snowmass, Colorado, has reopened following a multimillion dollar renovation. Its exteriors and interiors have been elevated as well as enhanced culinary offerings.
  • The Gwen Hotel in Chicago appointed Katharine Degoma as general manager. Additionally, Anna Jaszczyk joined as director of sales and marketing.
  • The Watergate Hotel appoints Manuel Martinez as general manager.
  • Keith Cestare has been appointed general manager for Ambassador Chicago, a JDV by Hyatt Hotel.
  • Indigo Road Hospitality Group has assumed management of The Historic Park Inn Hotel in Mason City, Iowa, as well as management of the onsite restaurant and bar.
  • The DoubleTree by Hilton Trujillo opened in Trujillo, Peru, with 147 guest rooms.

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