Mergers & Acquisitions

🏠 Marriott expands its EMEA branded residential portfolio, boosting its footprint by 23% in Europe and 59% in the Middle East and Africa since late 2023. With over 50 projects in 18 countries, nearly 20 new agreements were signed in 2025, half being standalone residences. Key projects include Marriott Residences in Budapest and Dubai Islands. Two-thirds of 2025 signings are luxury, with high demand in coastal and urban areas. Affini in Dubai sold out in a week.

🏨 Singleton Lodge Country House Hotel, a Georgian hotel near Poulton-le-Fylde, is on the market for over £1.45 million. The three-storey property covers five acres and includes 14 en-suite bedrooms. A popular wedding venue, it features a reception lounge, bar, and dining areas seating up to 80. Located close to the M55, it offers easy access to Preston, Blackpool, and the Fylde coast. Tom Cunningham of Savills Manchester calls it a prime acquisition opportunity.

🏨 Oberland and RealVantage acquired Manchester's Grade II-listed Heathcote Hotel, originally built in 1899, featuring a grand staircase and Jacobean-Baroque façade. Supported by Swiss Finance & Property Group, with legal and tax advice from Brodies and BDO, C1 Capital Partners will manage operations. Co-founders Andrew Dean and William Riordan see restoration potential and value creation. Earlier, they partnered on Glasgow's Arthouse Hotel acquisition.

🏨 Saudi Arabia is becoming a central market for global hotel development. Major groups like Four Seasons and Meliá are investing in large-scale projects, indicating the Kingdom's growing attractiveness.

💵 Peachtree Group plans to acquire PMC Commercial Trust, based in Dallas, pending U.S. Small Business Administration consent. The acquisition will provide small business owners nationwide with SBA 7(a) loans ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000. PMC was founded in 1983 by Dr. Fred Rosemore and is a licensed SBA lender. This move allows Peachtree to expand into SBA lending and deliver fast financing solutions, particularly in the hospitality sector. PMC is part of Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation.

🏨 Real estate investor Oberland, in partnership with RealVantage, has acquired the Heathcote Hotel in Manchester. The hotel, a Grade II-listed building designed by Charles Henry Heathcote in 1899, will undergo restoration to blend heritage with modern elements. The acquisition continues Oberland's expansion in UK and European cities. Legal and tax support was provided by Brodies and BDO, respectively, with C1 Capital Partners managing hotel operations. Oberland aims to create legacy assets with institutional investors.

📚 Sonder and Marriott's partnership failed due to a misalignment of values. Sonder's innovative model clashed with Marriott's rigid corporate culture. Despite potential, a lack of strategic integration led to failure. Marriott focused on deals over guest experience, neglecting training, narrative crafting, and emotional integration. No pilot programs or shared goals were established. This case highlights that success in hospitality requires empathy, clarity, and adaptability, not just scale or brand power.

📈 Accor, a major hotel group, has decided to explore an IPO for Ennismore, which includes lifestyle brands like The Hoxton and SLS Hotels. Accor aims to separate its lifestyle brands from its main distribution platform. While competitors like Marriott and Hilton still blend these operations, Accor realizes lifestyle thrives on uniqueness, not the uniformity of big brand OTAs. This strategic split highlights a need for true brand differentiation and independence in managing the guest experience.

🏨 AMTD Group Inc., MTD IDEA Group, AMTD Digital Inc., and The Generation Essentials Group (TGE) announced a deal for TGE to acquire the 100th Ritz Carlton Hotel, located in Perth, pending customary conditions. The hotel at Elizabeth Quay offers 209 rooms, a restaurant, bar, spa, infinity pool, fitness center, and event rooms, with views of Swan River and Kings Park, showcasing Perth's culture and lifestyle.