NEW ORLEANS – Following a vote by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Board of Directors, Cecil Staton took over as new president and CEO of AAHOA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association. Staton will succeed Rachel Humphrey who served in the role in an interim capacity for most of 2019.
Humphrey will resume her duties as the association’s chief operating officer. Staton, most recently the Chancellor Emeritus at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, N.C., brings decades of experience in the fields of government, academia, and business to AAHOA. Staton served as the eleventh Chancellor at ECU from 2016 to 2019 where he launched several initiatives to elevate the university’s national and international profile, increased enrollment in the Brody School of Medicine, and created a $500 million capital campaign.
Previously, he served as interim president of Valdosta State University, and as vice chancellor for Extended Education with the University System of Georgia. In addition to his work in academia, Staton served five terms in the Georgia State Senate where he rose to the position of majority whip. His entrepreneurial ventures include founding two publishing companies and Georgia Eagle Media, Inc., a holding company with interests in multiple broadcast and print mediums.
“I am excited at this opportunity to work with nearly 19,000 small business owners,” Staton said. “The achievements that AAHOA’s members continue to realize in the hospitality industry make them a living testament to the American dream. Their hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, and determination to create their own success are truly inspiring.”
Ramada by Wyndham Opens its First Hotel in Spain
GETAFE, ESP – Ramada® by Wyndham continued to widen its European presence with the opening of Ramada by Wyndham Madrid Getafe, the brand’s first hotel in Spain. The collaboration with Hotel Collection International is in Getafe, 25 minutes from Madrid’s city centre and the city’s international airport.
The hotel features 96 guest rooms, a lobby bar and restaurant serving Mediterranean delicacies. Business groups can take advantage of the hotel’s three meeting rooms accommodating up to 110 conference guests, and an indoor and outdoor car park. Christian Michel, vice president for Development Europe, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said: “With a rich culture, historic cities and many unique destinations, Spain is one of the world’s most visited countries, with over 82 million visitors in 2018 alone. We are delighted to have added Spain to the various destinations where our Ramada by Wyndham brand can be found.”
Marriott International Plans 2,600-Room Property in Saudi Arabia
MAKKAH, SB – Marriott International, Inc. signed an agreement with Nahdet Al-Mashaer to open a 2,600-room Fairfield by Marriott property in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The agreement is expected to deliver the first Fairfield by Marriott property to the Middle East and Africa region, creating the largest Fairfield hotel in the world and one of the largest hotels to the growing religious destination of Makkah. Construction for the Fairfield by Marriott Makkah Al Naseem has already commenced and the hotel is slated to open in 2023.
“We are thrilled to be working with Nahdet Al-Mashaer to create a distinctive Fairfield by Marriott that will serve Makkah, the sought-out destination for rising numbers of religious pilgrims,” said Jerome Briet, Marriott International, chief development officer for Middle East and Africa. “We expect this hotel will become a popular destination, especially given the strong demand for high-quality lodging in the Holy City.”
The Fairfield by Marriott Makkah Al Naseem is set to rise in five towers in the Al Naseem district and in close proximity to the Grand Mosque. Plans call for 2,600 well-appointed spacious, modern suites that would separate areas for working and sleeping. The property’s public spaces and lounge areas are expected to feature the Fairfield brand’s “Modern Calm” aesthetic, which embraces open layouts, multi-functional space and natural light. Plans also call for signature amenities such as complimentary hot breakfast and coffee, fitness center, and a lobby market open 24/7.
Saudi Arabia is currently Marriott International’s second-largest market in the Middle East, with a portfolio that consists of 29 properties and over 8,000 rooms across nine brands and nine cities. The company expects to add 20 properties and more than 6,500 rooms across the Kingdom by 2024. Marriott’s development pipeline is expected to generate 6,000 new jobs in the country.
AAHOA Statement on December Jobs Report
ATLANTA – New employment figures released by the Department of Labor showed the U.S. economy added 145,000 jobs in December. The unemployment rate remained at 3.5%, making it the 22nd consecutive month of being at or below 4 percent. “America’s hotel owners continue to create more jobs in communities across the nation and help more people enter the workforce,” said Cecil Staton, president and CEO of AAHOA. “The leisure and hospitality sector sustained its upward trend in hiring by adding 40,000 jobs in December to end the year with 388,000 jobs created, an 8% increase over 2018. The industry achieved this growth despite a national decline in total jobs created for the year relative to 2018. Hotel owners are optimistic about 2020 and the prospects for continued economic expansion.”