Mergers & Acquisitions

🏨 In a three-year process, Ruby Hotels and IHG formed a partnership prioritizing cultural fit and brand authenticity. Michael Struck, Ruby's CEO, emphasized the European concept of authenticity, while IHG's Willemijn Geels focused on integrating Ruby without diluting its uniqueness. The aim was to balance Ruby's DNA with IHG’s global scale, drawing from experiences with brands like Kimpton and Six Senses. The partnership began with access to IHG’s distribution systems and loyalty programs.

📊 Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Accor, and Wyndham reported robust growth in Asia. Q4 RevPAR in APEC was strongest, with Marriott noting double-digit growth in India, Japan, and Australia. Hilton saw a 9.2% increase in APEC RevPAR in Q4 2025, while Accor reported a 7.6% rise in the MEA-PAC region. Despite China's uneven recovery, demand remains strong across Asia.

📈 On March 16, the Hunter Conference, now in its 37th year, was held at the Signia by Hilton Atlanta. The event, hosted by Teague and Lee Hunter, provided a platform for hotel industry networking and learning amid macroeconomic challenges such as stock market volatility and tariffs. The panelists discussed a 15% increase in transaction volume from last year. Despite a projected 0.6% RevPAR growth, the market offers a “phenomenal buying opportunity” due to low capital costs and private equity interest.

🏠 One REIT Investment Corporation is acquiring six real estate assets in Japan for JPY29.9 billion, including five hotels for JPY25.2 billion. The hotels range from 49 to 189 keys, with locations in Hokkaido, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Tokyo, and Okinawa. Brookfield Asset Management is investing NZD250 million in two New Zealand hotels, with past NZHH acquisitions totaling NZD160 million. Soul Three Limited bought 60 West Hotel in Hong Kong for HKD431 million, planning a student housing conversion.

🏨 Highline Hospitality Partners acquired the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, marking their 18th hotel purchase. This Grapevine, TX property boasts 397 rooms, 72,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space, and extensive amenities. Highline now oversees 22 properties and $1.5 billion in assets. Avion Hospitality will manage the site. Originally from 1983, the hotel will undergo targeted renovations to enhance its competitive edge. Highline aims for growth and diversification across the U.S.

🏨 LBA Hospitality expands with Hilton Garden Inn in Biloxi and Hattiesburg, Mississippi. These additions enhance LBA's presence, particularly in Hattiesburg, where they already manage two hotels. The Biloxi property marks LBA's debut on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a region with increasing tourism. The company, led by President Beau Benton, focuses on optimizing hotel performance with strategies like enhancing food and beverage offerings. LBA boasts over 50 years of industry experience.

🏖 Marriott International has signed an agreement to manage The Resort at Kapalua Bay, an oceanfront luxury resort on Maui's northwest coast, in partnership with Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners. Scheduled to join the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts portfolio in 2027, the resort spans 25 acres and features 146 ocean-view residences. Guests enjoy a 40,000 square foot spa, 3,415 square feet of indoor meeting space, and 30,210 square feet of outdoor event space. Marriott plans to enhance its luxury offerings in Hawaii with 30 open properties and six in development.

🏨 CooperWynn Capital closed a $30.6 million capitalization with Four Yucca, LLC, and Byways Hospitality for the restoration of the West Texas Big Bend Historic Hotel Portfolio, featuring 79 rooms across three hotels: Holland Hotel, Hotel Limpia, and Maverick Inn. The financing utilized Historic Tax Credits, a USDA B&I loan, and PACE financing. Restoration includes a lobby bar, ballroom, and guestrooms at Holland Hotel. The project succeeded despite challenges during a government shutdown.

📍 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, has reached over 100 Trademark Collection hotels in the U.S. since 2017, doubling its domestic portfolio in five years. Globally, nearly 350 hotels are open, with 100 more planned. Notable U.S. properties include The Galt House in Louisville and MB Hotel in Miami Beach. International expansions include sites in Singapore, Phuket, Porto, Mexico City, and Bucerías. These hotels retain independence while benefiting from Wyndham's global platform.