Mergers & Acquisitions

🏨 Raines and Vantage Realty Partners acquired the historic Rose Hill Estate in downtown Aiken, aiming to transform it into a boutique hotel by late 2027. The estate, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, was initially bought by the Phelps family in 1898. Designed by J.F. Leitner, it features Shingle Style architecture. The project involves collaboration with Verity Works and includes partnerships with the Aiken Center for the Arts and the Historic Aiken Foundation.

🏨 A&O Hostels acquired Berlin-based Schulz Hotels to expand in Europe. Schulz, founded by Nizar Rokbani, Oskar Kan, and Sascha Gechter, operates a 1,000-bed hotel in Berlin, with another site in development. A&O aims to grow, citing a projected 5.8% annual growth in the European hostel market (2025-2030). In 2024, A&O hosted 2.8 million guests with 6.2 million overnight stays, supported by €500 million invested since 2023 with StepStone Group and Proprium Capital Partners.

🏨 Crow Holdings and Hilton have announced a new management agreement for the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, alongside a $100 million renovation of the Atrium Tower. Originally developed in 1979 by Trammell Crow, the 52-acre hotel includes 1,610 guestrooms and extensive amenities. Renovations, expected to finish by 2028, will update 899 guestrooms and 600,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel has hosted numerous dignitaries and remains a prominent cultural venue.

📰 Windermere Hotel in the Lake District, built in 1847, is set for a multi-million-pound renovation by new owners, BH Group. Closed after autumn half-term 2025 for refurbishment by Marshall’s Building Contractors, the hotel plans to reopen in summer 2026. The upgrade will include new reception, bar, lounge, restaurant, and 75 refitted rooms, plus a new spa. This project will create up to 130 jobs and preserve the Lakeland slate exterior. BH Group previously refurbished the Swan Hotel for £7.5m.

🏨 Waterford Hotel Group and Maverick Hotels & Restaurants have merged, increasing their portfolio to over 50 properties, exceeding their two-year goal. 🏢 The merger, effective in Waterford, CT, and Chicago, IL, aims to boost growth, efficiency, and value. It enhances geographic reach, brand diversity, and competitiveness, notably in New England and the Midwest. New acquisitions and projects are planned. The partnership also offers new career opportunities, aligning with both companies’ people-first philosophy.

📈 Sofidy acquired two Korner hotels in Paris for €10 million, with 58 rooms in total, in a sale-and-leaseback transaction. Extendam bought the Le Châtelain Brussels Hotel and plans renovations by 2027. Maven Capital Partners sold the Ibis Styles Glasgow for £7.5 million. Somnoo acquired shares in four French hotels. New World Hospitality bought the Bloc Hotel Birmingham, while Mont-Blanc Collection acquired Les Airelles hotel, planning renovations for a December 2026 reopening.

💰 Blackstone Inc. acquires Bespoke Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi in Osaka, Japan, for JPY14 billion from CDL, reflecting a JPY5.5 billion gain for CDL since its purchase in August 2023. KKR sells its stake in Hyatt Regency Tokyo for JPY120 billion, doubling its initial investment. SJM Holdings acquires L’Arc Macau for HKD1.75 billion. AMTD Group's TGE expands globally with hotel acquisitions in Perth, Australia (209-key), and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (135-key).

📍 Mumford Company has completed an off-market transaction for Savannah Suites Atlanta Airport in Newport News, Virginia. Built in 2020, the property features 94 extended-stay suites. The seller, an Atlanta-based real estate developer, was represented by Steve Kirby and Ed James. The buyer, Wichita-based TGC Group, operates in 19 states and plans significant renovations and rebranding. This transaction demonstrates the parties' focus on overcoming market challenges.

🏨 Waterford Hotel Group and Maverick Hotels & Restaurants announced a strategic merger in Waterford, Connecticut, surpassing their goal of managing over 50 properties. This merger strengthens their presence from New England to the Midwest, particularly in Chicago, with added Marriott and Hilton hotels. The partnership aims to enhance operational efficiencies, expand geographic reach, and drive growth through acquisitions and new projects, offering increased value for investors and guests.