LODGING Staff

🏕 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts launched La Quinta by Wyndham in Batumi, Georgia, to cater to tourists, business travelers, and digital nomads. Georgia saw 7.4 million international visitors in 2024, a 4.2% year-over-year increase. La Quinta by Wyndham Batumi features 98 rooms, on-site parking, a 24/7 fitness center, wellness center, an international restaurant, and a bar. It's close to attractions like Batumi Beach and Batumi International Airport. The expansion reflects Wyndham's EMEA growth strategy and Georgia's booming tourism.

💰 Accor reported Q1 2025 revenue of €1,349 million, a 9.2% increase, with RevPAR up 5% from Q1 2024. The hotel pipeline grew by 4.9% over 12 months. Sébastien Bazin highlighted dynamic growth amidst geopolitical and economic volatility. Accor opened 45 new hotels with over 5,900 rooms in Q1 2025, leading to a net unit growth of 2.7% and a total of 847,290 rooms across 5,695 hotels. The Premium, Midscale, and Economy divisions saw a 3.4% RevPAR increase, while the Luxury & Lifestyle division's RevPAR increased by 8.3%. The Americas region experienced a 13.1% RevPAR increase, with Brazil's strong growth. Currency effects negatively impacted revenue by €9 million. Management & Franchise revenue reached €321 million, up 9.3%. Accor announced a €440 million share buyback program for 2025, with the first €200 million tranche launched on March 6, 2025.

🔔 Choice Hotels International partners with Mews to provide an innovative property management system (PMS) for international franchisees. The collaboration features real-time data access, operational efficiencies via automation, a scalable infrastructure, and enhanced guest experiences through personalized stays. The integration with choiceEDGE reservation system ensures up-to-date rates and availability. Chief Information Officer Brian Kirkland highlights the importance of regional-specific tools for franchisees outside the U.S., while Mews CEO Matt Welle emphasizes the goal of setting a new benchmark in connected hospitality.

🏨 Choice Hotels International is adopting Mews as a PMS option for international franchisees, aiming to improve connectivity, operations, and guest loyalty using Mews’ cloud-native PMS. The integration with choiceEDGE will allow real-time rate and availability updates across all booking channels. Key benefits include full data visibility, operational efficiencies through automation, scalable growth, and enhanced guest experiences. Brian Kirkland highlights the importance of expanding platform options for franchisees outside the U.S., while Matt Welle of Mews emphasizes the collaborative effort to set new industry benchmarks.