NEWTON, MA – Sonesta International Hotels Corp recently acquired RLH Corporation, making it one of the largest hotel companies globally with approximately 1,200 locations, more than 100,000 guest rooms, and a portfolio of 15 brands across multiple market segments. Sonesta also announced that 35-year hotel industry veteran Keith Pierce is joining Sonesta as executive vice president, president of Franchise & Development effective March 18, 2021. John J. Russell, Jr., CEO of RLH, will continue to support Sonesta leadership through the transition until April 30, 2021.
Carlos Flores, president and CEO of Sonesta, commented: “The closing of the Red Lion transaction is transformative for Sonesta. It establishes Sonesta as one of the largest hotel companies in the world, and as an owner, manager and franchisor of hotels. The Red Lion acquisition significantly enhances Sonesta’s existing franchising capabilities by adding more than 900 franchised locations to our existing global footprint of branded hotels.”
Wyndham Expands Trademark Collection Brand
PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Wyndham Hotels & Resorts recently opened Hotel Avenue Louise Brussels, its first Trademark Collection by Wyndham hotel in Belgium. The new property is situated in the heart of Brussels, close to many of the capital’s landmarks and attractions. Owned by Atom Hoteles and managed by Hotel Collection International (HCI), the hotel underwent a $3.1 million refurbishment and is slated to open later this month.
First Trademark Collection by Wyndham in Belgium
The addition in Belgium is the latest in the brand’s growth trajectory around the world over the past four years, with 113 hotels in the U.S., Canada, Belize, Mexico, Sint Maarten, Curacao, Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and now Belgium. The brand is set to continue its international growth with properties slated to open in Budapest, San Francisco, as well as an additional property in Belize later this year.
Christian Michel, vice president for Development Europe, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said: “This new opening marks an exciting step in expanding our Trademark Collection by Wyndham portfolio in Europe and around the world. Our Trademark brand is an important part of our conversion strategy. It brings our powerful scale and world-class capabilities to independent hoteliers seeking the competitive advantage of a global hospitality company. Its growth is testament to the unparalleled value of Wyndham’s recognition, which has become incredibly important at a time when travelers are looking for brands they know and trust as they prepare to travel again.”
Aimbridge Hospitality to Manage Vegas Multi-Brand Project
PLANO, TX – Aimbridge Hospitality, a third-party hotel management company, has been engaged by Dreamscape Companies as their operating partner to reposition the Rio Las Vegas to multiple Hyatt full-service brand offerings.
“Aimbridge Hospitality’s capabilities, depth of expertise, and resource-rich support is unrivaled; I couldn’t think of a better team as our hotel operations partner for this venture,” said Eric Birnbaum, founder & CEO of Dreamscape Companies. “By pairing their operational expertise with our investment team, we have created a differentiated platform and opportunity to unlock value for our investors. We believe there will be significant opportunity in the near term, and we plan on being active buyers in the hotel sector.”
Rio Las Vegas
“We are excited to be working with Eric and Dreamscape as their operations partner,” said Dave Johnson Aimbridge Hospitality Executive Chairman. “And we are certainly glad to continue to lead operations for Dreamscape on several other properties, continuing our mutually successful relationship.”
The more than 2,510-room Rio Las Vegas will be renovated and rebranded into multiple Hyatt full-service brand flags and will undergo a redevelopment of the current public spaces including gaming, retail, food and beverage, spa and fitness, and pool recreation deck. One of the Rio Las Vegas’ existing towers will become a 1,501-room Hyatt Regency hotel with standard guestrooms averaging 580 square feet upon completion.
The remainder of the Rio’s guestrooms are expected to be branded or affiliated with other Hyatt full-service brands after they are renovated. Beyond redefining the hotel experience for business travelers and leisure guests, the Hyatt Regency hotel and other Hyatt-affiliated hotels will welcome meetings and event business with more than 220,000 square feet of function space and state-of-the-art meeting facilities.