Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

AC Hotel opens in downtown Columbus, GA

The upscale hotel is owned by RAM Hotels

AC Hotel opens in downtown Columbus, GA

The AC Hotel Columbus Downtown is now open in Columbus, Georgia. It is owned by locally based RAM Hotels led by brothers Rinkesh Patel as president and Mitesh Patel executive vice president.

The 125-room, six-story upscale hotel is in the city’s uptown district where there are many restaurants, bars and shops along the city’s main throughfare. Nearby attractions include the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the National Civil War Naval Museum, Woodruff Riverfront Park and Mercer University.


Hotel amenities include a curated art collection, the AC Café restaurant, the AC Lounge bar and the AC Library that provides novels and reading space for guests. It also features Kallpods, AC’s wireless service buttons and a fitness center.

“The concept behind the AC Hotel Columbus Downtown is simple but refined – remove the unnecessary extras to allow guests to focus on what is most important to them. We are excited to offer this frictionless experience to the Columbus area,” Mitesh said. “I especially look forward to introducing the AC Café. We are the first AC Hotel to offer this experience, from the moment the order is placed, to the moment the coffee is served, everything is visible to the guest."

In December 2019, RAM Hotels opened the Home2 Suites by Hilton Alpharetta in Alpharetta, Georgia.

More for you

Olympic Wage ordinance 2028
Photo credit: Unite Here Local 11

Petition fails to stop L.A. hotels wage increase

Summary:

  • Failed petition clears way for Los Angeles “Olympic Wage” to reach $30 by 2028.
  • L.A. Alliance referendum fell 9,000 signatures short.
  • AAHOA calls ruling a setback for hotel owners.

A PETITION FOR a referendum on Los Angeles’s proposed “Olympic Wage” ordinance, requiring a $30 minimum wage for hospitality workers by the 2028 Olympic Games, lacked sufficient signatures, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar. The ordinance will take effect, raising hotel worker wages from the current $22.50 to $25 next year, $27.50 in 2027 and $30 in 2028.

Keep ReadingShow less
AHLA Foundation expands hospitality education

AHLA Foundation expands hospitality education

Summary:

  • AHLA Foundation is partnering with ICHRIE and ACPHA to support hospitality education.
  • The collaborations align academic programs with industry workforce needs.
  • It will provide data, faculty development, and student engagement opportunities.

THE AHLA FOUNDATION, International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration work to expand education opportunities for students pursuing hospitality careers. The alliances aim to provide data, faculty development and student engagement opportunities.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. holiday travel 2025 trends

Report: U.S. consumers’ holiday travel intent dips

Summary:

  • U.S. holiday travel is down to 44 percent, led by Millennials and Gen Z.
  • Younger consumers are cost-conscious while older generations show steadier travel intent.
  • 76 percent of Millennials are likely to use AI for travel recommendations.

NEARLY 44 PERCENT of U.S. consumers plan to travel during the 2025 holiday season, down from 46 percent last year, according to PwC. Millennials and Gen Z lead travel intent at 55 percent each, while Gen X sits at 39 percent and Baby Boomers at 26 percent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Report: Global RevPAR to rise 3–5 percent in 2025

Report: Global RevPAR to rise 3–5 percent in 2025

Summary:

  • Global hotel RevPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, JLL reports.
  • Hotel RevPAR rose 4 percent in 2024, with demand at 4.8 billion room nights.
  • London, New York and Tokyo are expected to lead investor interest in 2025.

GLOBAL HOTEL REVPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, with investment volume up 15 to 25 percent, driven by loan maturities, deferred capital spending and private equity fund expirations, according to JLL. Leisure travel is expected to decline as consumer savings tighten, while group, corporate and international travel increase, supporting RevPAR growth.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hotel data challenges report highlighting AI and automation opportunities in hospitality

Survey: Data gaps hinder hotel growth

Summary:

  • Fragmented systems, poor integration limit hotels’ data access, according to a survey.
  • Most hotel professionals use data daily but struggle to access it for revenue and operations.
  • AI and automation could provide dynamic pricing, personalization and efficiency.

FRAGMENTED SYSTEMS, INACCURATE information and limited integration remain barriers to hotels seeking better data access to improve guest experiences and revenue, according to a newly released survey. Although most hotel professionals use data daily, the survey found 49 percent struggle to access what they need for revenue and operational decisions.

Keep ReadingShow less