Mergers & Acquisitions

🏠 Aberdeen-based Ardent Group secured an £8.3m loan from OakNorth for 21 luxury lodges on a 6.27-acre site near St Andrews, Fife. The project, aimed at high-end leisure markets like golf tourists and wedding parties, features private hot tubs and premium finishes. Ardent, founded in 2001 by the Keane family, specializes in property development across Scotland and Ireland. The site is strategically located near key routes and attractions, boosting St Andrews' visitor accommodation.

🏨 HEI Hotels & Resorts has acquired four Marriott-branded properties in Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, Florida, adding 1,590 rooms to its portfolio. The portfolio includes the 490-room Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort and three hotels in the Marriott Orlando Village complex with 1,100 rooms. The Sheraton is undergoing renovations. These hotels, close to major theme parks, offer extensive amenities. HEI, based in Norwalk, Connecticut, manages approximately 100 upscale hotels across the U.S.

🏨 Noble Investment Group has acquired 14 WoodSpring Suites hotels in high-growth markets, following a previous acquisition of 16 similar hotels in May. This strategic move is part of Noble's focus on Branded Long-Term Accommodations, enhancing its presence in the extended-stay segment. The portfolio was bought below replacement cost through an off-market process, requiring minimal capital investment. This transaction aligns with Noble's strategy of scaling operations through disciplined underwriting and direct acquisitions.

🏨 Hunter Advisors sold the Courtyard and Residence Inn Knoxville Cedar Bluff hotels in Knoxville, Tennessee. Situated off I-75 and I-40, these 78-key, three-story Marriott hotels are near key regional attractions and over 200 restaurants. The Courtyard offers a Bistro and meeting space, while the Residence Inn caters to extended stays with in-room kitchenettes. Tim Osborne, senior VP, noted Cedar Bluff’s strong performance, attracting investor interest due to location and market strength.

🏠 ATLANTA, Georgia—Noble Investment Group announced the acquisition of 14 WoodSpring Suites properties, part of their branded long-term accommodations strategy. These properties are located in diverse U.S. markets and represent a core component of Noble’s BLTA growth pipeline. The acquisition reflects Noble's focus on high-quality assets through off-market sourcing, aiming for durable income and long-term value. Dustin Fisher, principal at Noble, highlighted the minimal near-term capital requirements and strong operating foundation of these assets.

🏠 Dubai Holding has acquired the five-star Jumeirah Mallorca in Port de Sóller, Mallorca, Spain, from Deka Immobilien. This acquisition aligns with Dubai Holding's strategy to invest in high-quality international assets, adding to their portfolio of 34 hotels, including 5 Jumeirah hotels in Europe. Jumeirah Mallorca, featuring 121 rooms with Mediterranean views, holds LEED Platinum certification. Dubai Holding, founded in 2004, operates globally across 30 countries with over AED 500 billion in assets.

🏨 Criterion Capital acquired the 732-room St Giles London Hotel from IGB Berhad for £220 million. LondonMetric purchased nine Premier Inn hotels with 955 rooms for £89 million, and Hoteles Globales acquired three hotels in Mallorca with 488 rooms from Cerberus. ECE acquired Staybridge Suites in Liverpool and Newcastle for £25 million, and Bagatelle purchased Hôtel La Pérouse in Nice for €60 million. Alfred Hôtels acquired Hôtel Lecourbe in Paris for €17.2 million, while Cretan Investment Group bought Hilton Garden Inn Athens Syggrou Avenue.

🏝️ Bain Capital sold Cora Resort and Spa in Afytos, Chalkidiki, Greece, to Fattal Hotel Group after a €24 million refurbishment. The 181-room hotel reopened in July 2023, and will be rebranded as Meravia Hotel. Bain Capital managed the asset from origination to exit, contributing to its transformation into a five-star destination. Fattal Hotels aims to expand in Greece, having acquired 50 hotels in Europe over three years, raising €1 billion for expansion.

🏨 JLL Capital Markets secured refinancing for a dual-brand hotel portfolio in Chicago's River North, comprising a 270-key Residence Inn and a 253-key SpringHill Suites, totaling 523 keys. A joint venture between Friedman Properties and White Lodging obtained a fixed-rate, five-year loan through PGIM Real Estate. Both hotels completed guestroom renovations in April 2025, with public spaces set for February 2026. The JLL Debt Advisory team, led by Danny Kaufman, facilitated the transaction.