DALLAS — Hyatt Hotels Corp. (NYSE: H) has opened the 219-room Thompson Hotel in downtown Dallas, the first property under the Thompson lifestyle brand in Texas. Designed by Merriman/Anderson Architects, the hotel is the product of a redevelopment of a historic building at 205 N. Akard St. The property’s 219 rooms include 52 suites and two penthouses, and guests can also enjoy access to two onsite culinary destinations.
SAN ANTONIO — Hodges Ward Elliott (HWE) has brokered the sale of the 265-room Hotel Contessa, located at 306 W. Market St. in the Riverwalk area of downtown San Antonio. The 12-story luxury hotel was built in 2005 and features 10,000 square feet of event space, a rooftop pool and a restaurant/bar with Riverwalk views and access, as well as a full-service spa. John Bourret, Austin Brooks and David Auer of HWE represented the seller in the transaction. Lawrence Britvan and Pete Fehlman of HWE arranged acquisition financing on behalf of the undisclosed buyer.
BRYAN, TEXAS — Houston-based self-storage developer The Jenkins Organization has broken ground on a 304-site RV resort in Bryan. The project, which will be located near Texas A&M University, is one of the company’s five planned RV developments. Jenkins will operate the new park, which will also include 64 cabins, under the Great Escapes brand. Amenities will include two clubhouses with resort-style pools, covered pavilions for tailgating and events, walking trails, a sports court, two dog parks, a camp store and two workout facilities. The opening is scheduled for summer 2021.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — First Hospitality has opened a 122-room Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in Columbus. Located at 4294 International Gateway, the hotel is the first extended-stay property at John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The pet-friendly hotel features studios and one-bedroom suites. A complimentary shuttle operates within a five-mile radius from the hotel and includes access to the shopping destination Easton Town Center. Other amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, grocery service and full-service bar. Smoot Construction centered the hotel’s design around its location with an aviation theme, which includes historical photos form the Ohio History Connection. The property also features First Hospitality’s Cleanliness First Plan, a safety and sanitation guide that expands on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
HOUSTON — Houston-based American Liberty Hospitality is nearing completion of a 319-room hotel in its hometown that will feature dual brands from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). Located at 2351 W. Loop S. in the city’s Galleria district, the 14-story building will house a 169-room Holiday Inn Express and a 150-room Staybridge Suites. Shared amenities will include meeting and event space, a grab-and-go retail outlet, outdoor pool, fitness center, business center, dog run and complimentary breakfast. The development team expects to debut the dual-branded hotel in February 2021.
DES MOINES, IOWA — First Hospitality has opened a 124-room Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel in Des Moines. The property is located at 2650 University Ave. on the Drake University campus. The hotel features two meeting spaces totaling more than 1,000 square feet, an indoor pool and an outdoor patio space with a firepit. Michael Weldon will serve as the hotel’s general manager. As a result of COVID-19, Hilton has created the Hilton CleanStay program in partnership with RB, maker of Lysol. This program includes increased cleaning schedules, changes to amenities and services and social distancing requirements. The project joins First Hospitality’s growing national portfolio of more than 7,000 hotel rooms.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released a survey that found 71 percent of hotels won’t survive the next six months without government assistance. AHLA conducted the survey of hotel industry owners, operators and employees from Nov. 10 to 13, yielding more than 1,200 respondents. Thirty four percent of owners say they may have to close in the next three months due to low vacancy rates, and 77 percent of survey respondents said they would need to lay off more employees without financial relief. Due to a resurgence in coronavirus cases nationwide, public health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are urging Americans to not travel for the upcoming holiday season. According to a separate AHLA survey, 72 percent of respondents don’t plan to travel over Thanksgiving week. “With a significant drop in travel demand and seven in 10 Americans not expected to travel over the holidays, hotels will face a difficult winter,” says Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “We need Congress to prioritize the industries and employees most affected by the crisis. A relief bill would be a critical lifeline for our industry to help us retain and rehire …
HOUSTON — Midland, Texas-based developer Insignia Hospitality Group has completed the 128-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel in the Bunker Hill area of Houston. The 85,803-square-foot building rises six stories and offers a fitness center and a business center, as well as complimentary breakfast. Mayse & Associates Inc. designed the project, and Lubbock-based Greenstreet Inc. served as the general contractor.
SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. — TLG Investment Partners has opened Saranac Waterfront Lodge, a 93-room hotel and resort located in the Adirondack High Peaks in Upstate New York. The waterfront property houses two food and beverage concepts, a pool, lakeside fire pit, a private marina with 24 boat slips and 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Skyward Hospitality is managing the property.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Development Services Group (DSG) will open the 226-room Kimpton Harper Hotel in downtown Fort Worth in spring 2021. The hotel will be housed within the 24-story historic Farmers & Mechanics National Bank building and will feature a penthouse bar and lounge, 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space and a rooftop observation deck. Davidson Hotels & Resorts will manage the property.