Mergers & Acquisitions

🏨 USA, Danbury, Connecticut, December 27, 2024 – Griffin Hotel Management LLC merges into Meyer Jabara Hotels, transferring 14 assets with plans to expand the portfolio to 50 hotels by Q1 2025. Griffin's James Kirkland becomes Senior VP of Operations - Western Region, operating from Austin, Texas, while majority owner Jay Fishman takes a business development role in Chicago. The merger enhances Meyer Jabara Hotels' western presence, in states including Texas, Illinois, and Arizona, and brings in new capital partners. Fishman, a CPA with a B.S. in Accounting from Indiana University, previously helmed Associated Hotels LLC and VMS Realty Partners, dealing with over 40 hotel transactions. Kirkland, with experience in Marriott International and Hilton, has opened over 30 properties in the U.S. and studied Business Administration at Texas State University.

🏖️ In Lake Buena Vista, Florida, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin announced a $275 million renovation and expansion project on December 27, 2024. The enhancement includes 120,000 square feet of additional event space, upgrades to existing meeting spaces and Swan guest rooms. This will increase total meeting space to 469,000 square feet, with the largest contiguous space being 175,000 square feet. A new annex will add 41,000 square feet of multipurpose space and a 41,000 square foot ballroom. Renovations of existing spaces and guest room remodels will be completed by summer 2025 and 2024, respectively. Groundbreaking for the expansion is set for November, with completion expected in late summer 2026.