Mergers & Acquisitions

💸 Nadim Zahawi joins a Middle Eastern fund investing over £1bn in two luxury hotels in London's Mayfair. The Evolution Investment Fund, based in the British Virgin Islands, has taken a leasehold interest in the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square and a development site near New Bond Street. The Marriott spans 198,000 sq ft with 237 rooms. The new site will offer 94 hotel rooms and six luxury residences. Zahawi, former UK Chancellor, will serve as director.

🏨 Marcus & Millichap announced the sale of the Sacajawea Hotel, a 36-room property in Three Forks, Montana. Originally built in 1910 and refurbished in 2010, the hotel features the Sacajawea Bar, Pompey's Grill, and wedding venues. Located in downtown Three Forks, it offers a strategic reinvestment opportunity. The buyer completed a 1031 exchange after selling another Montana asset, and the transaction was managed by Marcus & Millichap's Denver office with support from their hotel team.

📈 PPHE is selling its Manhattan site near Hudson Yards, acquired in 2019, for $33.5 million. Regulatory changes post-acquisition halted plans for a hotel and condominiums. About $8.3 million from the sale will repay debt. Co-CEO Greg Hegarty views this exit as a strategic move to free capital for core regions.

💰 The Methodist Church approved a £1.2 million investment for The Wesley Hotel in London's Euston, aiming to ensure sustainability and mission-driven impact. The funds, sourced from the MIC Trust, will facilitate renovations including bedroom upgrades and facade improvements over the next few years. The move follows a council meeting highlighting the need for fresh investments after a decade of limited improvements. The refurbishment also supports net zero goals and the church’s wider mission.

🏨 In July 2025, CitizenM founders sold their brand to Marriott for $355M but retained ownership of 37 properties through long-term franchise agreements. They rebranded as "Another Star" and leveraged Marriott Bonvoy distribution. Subsequently, they refinanced their portfolio for $685M with JP Morgan and KSL Capital Partners, marking one of the largest hotel financings of 2025. CitizenM's strategic capital structuring at the platform level, rather than the deal level, was key to this success.

🏨 Highline Hospitality Partners acquired the Pittsburgh Marriott North, marking their 17th hotel and first in Pennsylvania. Located in Cranberry, 20 miles from Pittsburgh, the 298-room hotel features 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Highline's portfolio now includes 21 properties with over 4,600 rooms and assets over $1 billion. Avion Hospitality will manage the hotel. Built in 2003, it will undergo guestroom renovations to enhance its appeal.

🏨 AWH Partners acquires Hotel Trio Healdsburg, a 122-key all-suite hotel, in Sonoma wine country for its Strategic Income Fund launched in late 2025. Opened in 2018, it's the second largest hotel in Healdsburg and the only Marriott-branded property in northern Sonoma. This marks AWH's second acquisition since June 2022. Hotel Trio will be operated by Spire Hospitality. The acquisition aligns with AWH's focus on growth in affluent leisure destinations, supported by AI and tech investments in the Bay Area.

📈 IHG Hotels & Resorts has introduced Noted Collection, its 21st brand, targeting upscale conversions starting in EMEA. By 2035, IHG aims for over 150 Noted hotels globally. In 2025, IHG achieved a 13% rise in operating profit to $1.265 billion, with a 16% surge in adjusted earnings per share. RevPAR grew 1.5%, notably 4.6% in EMEAA. IHG opened 443 hotels, adding 65,078 rooms, and signed 102,054 rooms, with 52% as conversions.

🏨 Cranley Hotel in Kensington was sold to private buyers for a sum significantly above the guide price in early 2026. The 39-bedroom townhouse hotel, located on Bina Gardens, South Kensington, includes freehold interest in three period terraced buildings covering 1,398 sq m. Savills oversaw the sale for Quantuma administrators. Kitty Snaydon from Savills highlights the strong London hotel investment market and emphasizes the Cranley Hotel's value-add potential.