Mergers & Acquisitions

💸 UK hotel investment in 2025 reached £5.0bn, a 15% annual decrease, yet still 8% above the 10-year average of £4.7bn, per Savills. In Q4 alone, investment exceeded £2.0bn, 40% more than Q4 2024. Portfolio transactions dropped to £750m from £3.1bn in 2024, while single asset deals rose to 85% of total investments. London led with £3.0bn, a 25% rise from 2024. Regional investments fell to £2.0bn from £3.3bn.

💸 Affiliates of Gencom reacquired a majority interest in The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami, announced on December 23, 2025. The 115-room hotel, initially purchased in 2011, was sold to Hersha Hospitality Trust in 2017. Gencom's reacquisition aligns with investment strategies in high-quality assets. The hotel, opened in 2002, recently underwent renovations in 2018. Coconut Grove, a growing Miami neighborhood, features new developments like Cocowalk, enhancing its appeal for leisure and business travel.

💰 West Palm Beach, Florida—Chatham Lodging Trust sold the 147-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton in Billerica, Massachusetts, for $17.4 million. A planned $6 million renovation for 2025 was halted due to the sale. The hotel was expected to earn $1 million in 2025, with a 4% capitalization rate. This is the sixth hotel sold since December 2024, amassing $100 million in proceeds, with an overall 6% capitalization rate.

🏨 New World Hospitality, led by Vijay Sharmain, has acquired the BLOC Hotel in Birmingham from the Arora Group in an off-market deal. The hotel, located in the Jewellery Quarter, features 105 rooms and was built in 2011. The transaction highlights ongoing interest in UK hotel investments.

🏨 Affiliates of Gencom reacquired a majority interest in the 115-key Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida. The property, originally acquired in 2011 and partially sold in 2017, was financed by Banco Inbursa for an undisclosed sum. Opened in 2002, the 21-story hotel features ~30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and underwent renovations in 2018. Gencom emphasizes investing in high-quality assets in strong markets, capitalizing on Miami's tourism appeal.

🏨 Gencom reacquired a majority interest in the 115-key The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida. Initially bought in 2011 and sold in 2017 to Hersha Hospitality Trust, the deal was financed by Banco Inbursa. The hotel, opened in 2002, features ~30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, a pool, spa, and underwent renovations in 2018. Gencom's investment reflects confidence in Miami's lodging market and Coconut Grove's appeal for both leisure and business.

🏨 Rosewood London, owned by the Cheng family's CTF Development, is up for sale as New World Development Co. faces liquidity issues. Previously valued at £450m in 2016, the hotel was bought for £135m in 2006. An £85m renovation in 2013 turned the former Chancery Court into a luxury hotel with 264 rooms, 44 suites, and 11 event spaces. Built in 1914, the property was formerly the Pearl Assurance Company headquarters until 1989.

🛑 Millennium Hotels & Resorts (MHR) celebrates 30 years by announcing a strategic partnership with Indian Hotels Company (IHCL). This collaboration links MHR's MyMillennium and IHCL's Taj InnerCircle of NeuPass program, offering a 10% discount on stays at over 145 MHR hotels and participating Taj hotels worldwide. MHR operates more than 150 hotels globally, with a significant presence in key cities like London, New York, and Dubai. MHR's Middle East & Africa region manages 50 hotels and 15,000 keys.

🏨 Hunter Hotel Advisors announced the sale of Aloft Hotel Plano and Aloft Hotel Frisco in Texas to Touchstone Hospitality Fund, LLC. The two hotels, built in 2008, have 272 rooms combined. The sale was led by Kami Burnette and Mason McDavid, highlighting buyer interest in Dallas Fort Worth’s select-service hotels. Both properties benefit from proximity to business and leisure demand generators. The new owner plans to optimize RevPAR through economies of scale and strategic operations.

📖 Rob Blood, Founder of Lark, revisits the company’s growth a year after its major deal with Life House. This episode centers on scaling hospitality, overcoming integration hurdles, and building culture under pressure. Emphasizing the operationalization of values, it highlights the role of storytelling in establishing identity and what leadership qualities are crucial amid complexity.