Mergers & Acquisitions - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 57

Marriott completes $355 million acquisition of CitizenM

🏨 Jul 24, 2025: Marriott International finalized its $355 million acquisition of CitizenM, adding 37 hotels and over 8,700 rooms. With this move, Marriott enhances its lifestyle portfolio amidst potential brand overlap concerns. Integration challenges loom, but Marriott plans to assimilate CitizenM into its systems by year-end. CitizenM's subscription program remains active pending future updates. This acquisition aligns with Marriott’s strategy to grow its select-service lifestyle brands, despite experts' warnings about maintaining brand uniqueness.

3 min

Friendly’s Franchisee Acquires Parent Company BRIX Holdings

💸 Amol Kohli, a Friendly's franchisee, acquired BRIX Holdings LLC in Dallas. BRIX brands include Friendly's, Clean Juice, and more. Kohli, managing over 30 Friendly's since 2009, becomes Chairman. BRIX, led by CEO Sherif Mityas, plans national expansion, targeting Georgia, the Carolinas, and Texas. The acquisition marks Friendly's 90th anniversary. In 2025, BRIX opened new locations and awarded eight franchise agreements. Legal representation included Dilworth Paxson LLP for buyers and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP for sellers.

3 min

Maria Rivera Joins Starbird as Chief Executive Officer

🍴 Friendly's franchisee Amol Kohli acquired BRIX Holdings LLC, including Friendly's®, Clean Juice®, and more, in 2025. BRIX remains headquartered in Dallas. Kohli, since 2009, owns 30+ Friendly's on the East Coast and plans expansion into Georgia, the Carolinas, and Texas. In 2024, BRIX saw positive same-store sales, and in 2025, opened several locations. Eight new franchises are underway. Sherif Mityas continues as CEO. Legal representation: Dilworth Paxson LLP for buyers, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP for sellers.

2 min

Meliá Hotels International expands its presence in Lanzarote

🗺 Meliá Hotels International and Bankinter Investment will jointly own the Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote for 10 years, following a strategic acquisition aimed at expanding Meliá's luxury portfolio in the Canary Islands. The repositioning of the hotel, supported by an investment of over €125 million, enhances its alignment with Paradisus brand standards. Meliá now holds a 53.75% stake, reflecting confidence in Lanzarote's potential as a premium, year-round destination. This move follows Meliá's recovery to pre-pandemic debt ratios.

2 min

TravCorp Holdings brings a specialist…

🌎 TravCorp Holdings Ltd has acquired Specialist Holidays Group from Travelopia, adding Citalia, American Holidays, and Sovereign Luxury Travel to its portfolio. Led by Helen Adamson, who remains as Managing Director, this acquisition is backed by BGF and aims to enhance TravCorp's growth strategy under CEO Andy Freeth and Chair Andrew Botterill. The acquisition strengthens TravCorp's reputation for customer-centered service and destination knowledge.

2 min

Barceló Hotel Group expands into France with Evergreen Laurel Hotel acquisition

🏨 Barceló Hotel Group acquired a 338-room hotel in Levallois-Perret, near Paris, for €70 million. This strategic acquisition marks Barceló's entry into the French market. The hotel, now part of the upscale Occidental Hotels & Resorts brand, is located in the Front de Seine business district and offers 700 m² of meeting space. This purchase is part of Barceló's broader European expansion, bringing its total to 108 hotels in the continent.

Sabre finalises sale of hospitality…

💰 Sabre Corporation sold its hospitality solutions business to TPG for over $1.1 billion earlier this week. TPG's newly acquired unit, Hospitality Solutions, will now function as a standalone business under TPG Capital in the U.S. and Europe. Sabre plans to use the $960 million net profit from the sale to reduce debt and focus on growth. Teresa Mackintosh is appointed CEO of Hospitality Solutions, having held senior roles at Trintech and Wolters Kluwer.

2 min

Ikos Resorts expands portfolio with new property in Crete

🏖️ Ikos Kissamos, an €150 million investment, will open with 414 rooms and suites. Located in Crete, the resort targets LEED Gold certification and aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. It will feature eco-friendly practices like eliminating single-use plastics and water reuse, and offer attractions such as Balos Lagoon and Samaria Gorge. Ikos Resorts also opened Ikos Odisia in Corfu, reinforcing their luxury, sustainable tourism strategy in the Mediterranean.

Sabre completes Hospitality Solutions sale

💰 Jul 8, 2025: Sabre completed a $1.1 billion sale of its Hospitality Solutions division to private equity firm TPG. Now independent and rebranded as "Hospitality Solutions," the company is led by CEO Teresa Mackintosh and vice chairman Tyler Morse from MCR. MCR, the third-largest hotel owner-operator in the U.S., has joined as a minority investor, offering strategic insights. This move aims to enhance SaaS capabilities and accelerate growth.

11 min

citizenM CEO: Why We Sold to Marriott (And What’s Next) – Lennert de Jong

🏨 CitizenM's CEO, Lennert de Jong, discussed their strategic partnership with Marriott on Matthias Huettebraeuker's podcast. citizenM, with 36 assets, sold its brand to Marriott, marking one of Marriott's largest deals since Starwood. This collaboration allows citizenM to leverage Marriott's distribution platform, including access to 250 million Bonvoy users, while maintaining its ownership of real estate, which constitutes 90% of its value. New openings include Dublin and London, Soho, reflecting ongoing growth and operational integration.

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