First Hospitality, the third-party hotel operating and development company, has expanded its presence into Oklahoma, Georgia and the Bahamas, while continuing its growth in existing markets. The company also opened three new lifestyle properties, reflecting its focus on upscale, soft-brand and lifestyle properties which account for roughly 45% of its overall portfolio.
These new additions bring First Hospitality’s portfolio to 70 lifestyle, independent, and branded hotels totaling more than 10,000 rooms, supported by 3,500 employees.
David Duncan, president and CEO of First Hospitality, attributed the company’s success in 2024 to the associates’ talents, a strong culture and operating platform.
“Our expansion into new markets has strengthened our team and strategically broadened our geographic footprint. This growth also enabled us to welcome new sophisticated owners and enhance our offerings of restaurants and bars.”
Portfolio Additions
In 2024, First Hospitality assumed management of the Atlanta Airport – DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Georgia, opened the Lively Hotel on OAK – Tapestry by Hilton in Oklahoma City and launched the Carnivale Bahamas in Nassau, located on Paradise Island. It also expanded its footprint in Wisconsin by taking over management of The Abbey Resort & Avani Spa in Fontana on Geneva Lake and opened the Tempo by Hilton Louisville Downtown Nulu in Kentucky.
Looking ahead, the company plans to open Hotel Ardent – Tapestry by Hilton in Dayton, Ohio this February.
New Verticals
First Hospitality also launched two new company verticals in 2024: Full Service and Lifestyle Hotels and Premium Select Service Hotels. The Full Service and Lifestyle Hotels division will focus on creating unique, experiential properties that prioritize exceptional design, personalized service, and innovation.
The Premium Select Service Hotels division aims to deliver high-quality, efficient hospitality experiences that cater to value-focused travelers. These verticals are designed to enhance the company’s ability to serve a diverse range of guests and property owners.
Additionally, First Hospitality introduced First Analytics, a proprietary analytics and reporting platform tailored to the needs of hotel owners. Powered by Microsoft Power BI, the tool provides real-time access to key insights and benchmarks, enabling data-driven decisions to optimize financial performance, drive revenue growth, improve guest satisfaction and boost employee engagement. The platform offers full transparency to property ownership groups, with daily updates customized to individual hotels.
“The strategic steps and actions in 2024 have positioned First Hospitality extremely well to drive strong performance for all our ownership groups in 2025 and beyond. As we continue to grow, we will reach new communities, strengthening our bench of resources and offering more opportunities to our talented team,” Duncan said.
