A new name in Buckhead: One of the original Ritz-Carltons, Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, is getting a new name. According to a release, Host Hotels & Resorts will rebrand the space under independent operation as part of The Luxury Collection effective December 1. The new name will be The Whitley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, managed by HEI Hotels & Resorts.
Wilson merges with Valor: Wilson Hotel Management, a subsidiary of Kemmons Wilson Co., will merge with Valor Hospitality Partners, an international hotel developer with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and London, England. The new company’s footprint will encompass 41 hotel properties in the U.S. and United Kingdom currently under management or in a confirmed pipeline and the new headquarters will be in Atlanta and London with an office in Memphis.
More from The Daily News Memphis
Westin deal: The Westin Hotel New Orleans, one of the city’s largest, is in local hands for the first time. The Berger Co., in partnership with Cerberus Real Estate Capital Management, closed on the purchase of the 437-room Westin Canal Place buying it from New York-based Blackstone real estate organization for an undisclosed sum.
Mexico earthquake: Authorities in Mexico say that a hotel in Oaxaca has collapsed in the major earthquake that hit the country. Civil Defense photos showed the crumbling facade of the Anel hotel in Matias Romero and split in half. President Enrique Pena Nieto said no one was reported dead at the hotel. Earlier, Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat said that some people were able to escape from the hotel and authorities were working to determine if they were any casualties or missing people.
Aqua-Aston signings: Aqua-Aston Hospitality signed contracts to manage the Crocodile Bay Resort and the future Botánika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton: both properties are in Costa Rica.
The cost to meet: The overall cost per attendee per day for meetings and events around the globe increased in 2017 and is expected to continue rising next year, according to the 2018 Meetings and Events Future Trends report. Released by CWT Meetings & Events, the report shows the regional differences and cost projections as well as the latest industry trends and top destinations.
Extended-stay pipeline: Through the first half of the year, there are 1,288 projects/136,649 rooms of extended-stay projects in the U.S. hotel construction pipeline according to Lodging Econometrics. Fully, 400 projects/44,738 rooms are under construction, and account for 26% of all projects under construction in the total pipeline. Fully, 643 projects/68,242 rooms will start construction in the next 12 months while an additional 245 projects/23,669 rooms are in early planning.
Home2 Suites by Hilton currently has 343 projects/35,845 rooms of extended-stay projects in the pipeline, the largest of any brand. The second largest brand pipeline for extended-stay is Marriott’s Residence Inn with 187 projects/23,617 rooms, followed by Towneplace Suites with 184 projects/18,757 rooms.
New booking window feature: HotelTonight will expand its booking window beyond seven days to 100 days, offering hotels the opportunity to drive incremental revenue. The new feature will be offered beginning in early October in the company’s top markets and will expand to more hotels in the coming months.