Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently assistant editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers.
Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
Banyan Investment Group : The Awakening of Satori Collective
ATLANTA-BASED BANYAN Investment Group, led by Rakesh Chauhan and Andy Chopra as managing partners, is rebranding as Satori Collective, an investment management firm focusing primarily on hotel property investment. Its subsidiary Banyan Tree Management also has become Aperture Hotels.
Satori and Aperture will work independently of one another.
The awakening
Satori focuses on investment into select-service, upper select-service extended-stay and lifestyle hotel properties, according to the company. It concentrates on investment in growth corridors located in top MSAs across the U.S. which have established hotel demand generators such as tourism, corporate group travel, state capitals, conference universities, healthcare, heavy manufacturing and military.
“Satori is a Buddhist term meaning ‘awakening and deep understanding,’ which is how our team approaches commercial real estate investment,” Chopra said. “With more than 140 years of combined investment experience in virtually all markets and segments, our team has an unparalleled understanding of both the environment and the marketplace. We realized that our true, core business is real estate investment, so we have renewed and doubled our focus on raising and deploying capital in pursuit of consistent, risk adjusted returns while allowing our former management platform to stand on its own and pursue additional third-party management business opportunities.”
Andy Chopra, founder and managing partner of Banyan Investment Group, now known as the Satori Collective, said is a Buddhist term meaning “awakening and deep understanding.”
Chopra said Satori offers the same level of service as Banyan.
“We have a rigorous underwriting process and employ conservative leverage structures to ensure a higher probability of investment success,” he said. “Over the past decade, we’ve evolved into an institutional quality firm. Our investment edge is our resilience and the depth of our operational expertise combined with a sophisticated understanding of asset management, deal structuring, capital markets and economic cycles.”
Chauhan said the company has made 24 hotel investments utilizing four investment vehicles totaling $477 million in assets under management since its founding 14 years ago.
“We look forward to improving upon our successful track record in the coming years,” Chauhan said. “Our investments feature the standard hallmarks of being in growing submarkets with substantial drivers of commercial real estate demand. We view investments through the lens of risk adjusted returns and focus on properties which offer value add potential while still providing current cash flow with room for growth.”
More than a matter of identity
Aperture’s rebranding is aimed at separating it from its parent company to expand its third-party management portfolio and possible management company M&A. The company currently operates more than 2,000 rooms across 15 hotels and resorts.
“Historically, we have been seen almost exclusively as an extension of Banyan Investment Group, providing services only for their portfolio,” said Charles Oswald, Aperture’s president and CEO. “The truth of the matter, however, is that we actively and eagerly provide third-party operating services for all hotel owners, and we feel relaunching as a stand-alone entity helps clarify that. We’ve assembled a senior team that has collective experience operating over 400 hotels in every chain scale, from select-service to premium lifestyle, and we look forward to deploying that experience to help more owners achieve superior guest experience, team member engagement and improved bottom lines.”
The change goes deeper than the new name, Oswald said.
Charles Oswald, Aperture’s president and CEO, said the rebranding is meant to clarify that the company is available for third-party management contracts.
“It's bigger than identity. It's that we've added to the leadership team, we've added capabilities and resources, we've also reconfigured our tech stack and changed our processes,” Oswald said. “For all intents and purposes, it's a different company.”
Aperture provides its services for the entire ownership cycle, from pre-opening through eventual sale, Oswald said. It has worked with branded and independent properties in urban, suburban and leisure destination markets throughout the U.S. and employs more than 500 people.
“We recognize is there is a void in the industry today. You have a lot of very large companies out there, where there's been a ton of M&A, hundreds of hotels strong now, and, and they've become too big, somewhat siloed, a little bit out of touch with their properties,” Oswald said. “Or you have a lot of smaller companies where maybe they're a little too small and they don't have the subject matter expertise. They don't support the tech stack and so on. So, we recognize that if we got out there, and we hired some top-notch people with a lot of experience, and we could punch above our weight, and build a team with the capacity to grow.”
Oswald said market conditions are good for the coming year.
“When you look forward, I think there are going to be there's going to be an increase in transactions,” Oswald said. “And, when transactions occur, that's when management tends to change. I think transactions will pick up in the second half of 2023 and we want to be there and ready.”
Chopra said he is confident in Aperture’s ability to stand on its own.
“Charles has a sterling reputation as one of the best operators in the business, which made the decision to have him to serve as president and CEO of Aperture obvious,” he said. “His leadership and skill sets have already brought tangible value to the platform as it relates to people and processes. As owners of the company, he has our full and total confidence to grow the business exponentially.”
Choice launched two campaigns to boost bookings across its four extended-stay brands.
Based on guest feedback, the campaigns focus on efficiency, cleanliness, value and flexibility.
They will run through 2026 across social media, Connected TV, digital display and online video.
CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL launched two marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness and bookings across its four extended-stay brands. The "Stay in Your Rhythm" campaign promotes all four brands by showing how guests can maintain daily routines, while "The WoodSpring Way" highlights the service WoodSpring Suites staff provide.
The company has more than 550 extended-stay locations open, 51 under construction and more than 350 in the pipeline under Everhome Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios and WoodSpring Suites, Choice said in a statement.
"As leaders in the extended stay segment, Choice Hotels has long understood that this category is unlike any other in the hospitality industry, defined by distinct guest expectations that we continuously strive to exceed," said Noha Abdalla, Choice’s chief marketing officer. "These first-of-their-kind campaigns reflect our deep understanding of why people stay longer — from work assignments and relocations to life transitions and personal journeys. No matter the reason, we know our guests aren't looking to escape their routines; they're looking to maintain them. That's why we take pride in our unique position to offer what matters most: consistency, comfort and connection."
Both campaigns are based on research and guest feedback showing travelers prioritize efficiency, cleanliness, value and flexibility, the statement said. They will run through the rest of the year and into 2026 across paid social media, Connected TV, digital display and online video.
The "Stay in Your Rhythm" campaign shows how Choice's extended-stay brands support routines with in-room kitchens, laundry, fitness centers and pet-friendly options, Choice said. It focuses on daily habits like making coffee, cooking, walking the dog, or exercising.
"The WoodSpring Way" highlights how property teams support guests by providing home-like conveniences, the company said. General managers in Chicago, Denver, Atlanta and Orlando are featured for creating a consistent guest experience and welcoming all guests, including pets.
"We've designed our extended stay properties to ensure we provide guests with everything they need when circumstances take them away from home for weeks at a time," said Matt McElhare, Choice's vice president for extended stay brands. "Through the launch of our campaigns, we aim to educate the growing population of extended stay travelers on how our brands offer the best value in the industry, while also highlighting the culture of our flagship brand, WoodSpring Suites, which has consistently set the standard for guest satisfaction in the segment. We're especially thankful to our owners and management company teams who help build and sustain this culture on property, consistently delivering a great guest experience."
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Amex GBT and Chooose are launching a hotel emissions tracking tool to calculate users’ Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative reporting requirements.
Emissions data in Amex GBT’s Global Trip Record and Data Lake ensures consistency across travel programs.
In January, Finland-based Bob W found hotel carbon emissions are five times higher than HCMI estimates.
SOFTWARE FIRMS AMERICAN Express Global Business Travel and Chooose are launching a hotel emissions tracking tool in the third quarter of 2025. The new tool, integrated into Amex GBT’s platforms, will provide standardized hotel emissions data to calculate users’ Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative reporting requirements.
Chooose, which allows airline passengers to offset flight emissions, uses a hotel emissions calculation methodology aligned with HCMI reporting requirements, according to the companies. Clients can select emissions factor providers, including the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Greenview, both aligned with the same methodology, Amex GBT said in a statement.
“This is about giving our clients better data, better tools and better decision-making power,” said John Sturino, Amex GBT’s senior vice president for product and engineering. “We’ve engineered this capability to deliver more granular emissions data, deeply integrated into our platforms, so customers can access the insights they need, where they need them.”
Emissions data stored in Amex GBT’s systems include the Global Trip Record and Data Lake, the statement said. It complements traveler-facing hotel sustainability tools at point of sale, such as eco badges and filters for hotels with EV charging. The tool also supports Amex GBT’s Consulting and Meetings & Events teams with reporting capabilities.
Nora Lovell Marchant, Amex GBT’s vice president of global sustainability, said more accurate data can help companies assess the environmental impact of their travel programs.
“It’s part of our broader effort to provide the tools and insights that support more sustainable travel choices,” she said.
HCMI is a free tool created by the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance for hotels to calculate the carbon footprint of hotel stays and meetings in their properties.
In January, Finland-based hospitality operator Bob W found that hotel carbon emissions are five times higher than estimates from frameworks such as HCMI. Bob W and UK-based consultancy Furthr developed the Lodging Emissions & Guest-night Impact Tracker to provide a broader view of the sector’s environmental impact.
Marriott International completed its $355 million acquisition of citizenM, a Netherlands-based select-service brand.
Integration into Marriott’s systems is underway.
Founded in 2008 by Rattan Chadha, citizenM targets travelers seeking smart room design, shared spaces.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL COMPLETED its $355 million acquisition of citizenM, a Netherlands-based select-service brand founded by Rattan Chadha, as announced in April. CitizenM’s portfolio includes 37 hotels with 8,789 rooms across more than 20 cities in the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific.
Its pipeline of two hotels totaling more than 300 rooms is expected to be added to Marriott’s portfolio, the company said in a statement.
“As travelers continue to seek lodging that blends technology with service, citizenM is a strong addition to our portfolio,” said Anthony Capuano, Marriott’s president and CEO. “Marriott has a track record of growing select-service lifestyle brands, including AC, Moxy and Aloft and we look forward to expanding citizenM’s global reach with our guests and Marriott Bonvoy members.”
With the acquisition complete, Marriott will begin integrating citizenM into its systems, the company said. Until integration is finished later this year, citizenM properties will remain bookable through citizenM’s digital channels. Subscription program members will continue to receive benefits, with more details to follow after integration.
Once integrated, citizenM will join the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.
Founded by Chadha in 2008, citizenM targets travelers seeking smart room design, common areas with artwork and local artifacts, shared living rooms, meeting spaces, grab-and-go F&B and rooftop decks.
Hilton reported 7.5 percent net unit growth in the second quarter while systemwide RevPAR declined 0.5 percent year-over-year.
Net income and adjusted EBITDA for the first half of 2025 were $742 million and $1.8 billion, up from $690 million and $1.67 billion YoY.
For the third quarter of 2025, Hilton expects systemwide RevPAR to be flat to slightly down.
HILTON WORDLWIDE HOLDINGS reported 7.5 percent net unit growth in the second quarter of 2025, however systemwide RevPAR declined 0.5 percent year-over-year. The company said economic fluctuations are being felt but not hindering performance.
The company approved 36,200 rooms for development, bringing its pipeline to a record 510,600 rooms, up 4 percent year-over-year excluding acquisitions and strategic partner hotels. It added 26,100 rooms in the quarter, resulting in 22,600 net additions and 7.5 percent net unit growth over the year, Hilton said in a statement.
“We continued to demonstrate the power of our resilient business model as we delivered strong bottom line results in the quarter, even with modestly negative top line performance given holiday and calendar shifts, reduced government spending, softer international inbound business and broader economic uncertainty,” said Christopher Nassetta, Hilton’s president and CEO. “With that being said, we believe the economy in our largest market is set up for better growth over the intermediate term, which should accelerate travel demand and, when paired with low industry supply growth, unlock stronger RevPAR growth.”
Meanwhile, on the development side, Nassetta said growth was strong.
“We achieved the largest pipeline in our history, and we remain confident in our ability to deliver net unit growth between 6 percent and 7 percent for the next several years,” he said.
Systemwide comparable RevPAR declined 0.5 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, due to lower occupancy partially offset by ADR gains, the statement said. For the six-month period, RevPAR rose 1 percent year-over-year, driven by higher ADR. Management and franchise fee revenue rose 7.9 percent year-over-year.
Net income and adjusted EBITDA were $742 million and $1.8 billion, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, compared to $690 million and $1.67 billion for the same period in 2024.
Pipeline and outlook
Hilton opened 221 hotels totaling 26,100 rooms in the second quarter of 2025, resulting in 22,600 net room additions. Its luxury and lifestyle portfolio grew to more than 1,000 hotels globally.
Hilton added 36,200 rooms to its development pipeline in the second quarter. As of June 30, the pipeline totaled 3,636 hotels with 510,600 rooms across 128 countries and territories, including 29 where it had no existing hotels.
Nearly half of the rooms were under construction with more than half outside the U.S.
Hilton projects systemwide comparable RevPAR to range from flat to up 2 percent in 2025 compared to the prior year. Net unit growth is expected between 6 percent and 7 percent. The company anticipates adjusted EBITDA between $3.65 billion and $3.71 billion, with general and administrative expenses projected between $420 million and $430 million. Net income is expected to range from $1.64 billion to $1.68 billion.
For the third quarter of 2025, Hilton expects systemwide comparable RevPAR to be flat to slightly down from the same period in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to range between $935 million and $955 million, while net income is expected to be between $453 million and $467 million.
Peachtree provided a $42 million floating-rate loan to Banyan Street Capital for the acquisition and repositioning of Atlanta Financial Center in Buckhead.
The deal delivers capital at a reset basis, with comps pricing 98 percent higher, reflecting strong collateral and execution.
It recently launched a $250 million fund to invest in hotel and commercial assets mispriced from market illiquidity.
PEACHTREE GROUP PROVIDED its first mortgage loan to Banyan Street Capital for the acquisition and repositioning of the 914,774-square-foot Atlanta Financial Center in Buckhead, Georgia. Peachtree said the office sector is at an inflection point, similar to the retail segment previously.
The $42 million floating-rate loan has a 36-month initial term and a 12-month extension option, with interest and completion guarantees from Banyan Street. The deal provides flexible capital for transitional assets at a reset basis, with comparable transactions pricing 98 percent above the loan basis, reflecting collateral strength and execution, Peachtree said in a statement.
“This transaction highlights how private credit continues to fuel opportunities across the commercial real estate landscape,” said Daniel Siegel, Peachtree’s president and principal of CRE. “In today’s volatile environment of elevated interest rates and persistent inflation, private credit remains a critical source of capital.”
Siegel said negative sentiment is preventing some from seeing opportunities.
“The market is bifurcated, with most vacancy tied to troubled assets, and when you adjust for those, the fundamentals tell a different story,” he said. “While sentiment will take time to shift, we’re ready to back smart business plans in this space.”
The private credit market continues to fill the gap left by traditional lenders, providing certainty for sponsors with defined strategies, the statement said.
Atlanta-based Peachtree is led by CEO and managing principal Greg Friedman, managing principal and CFO Jatin Desai and principal Mitul Patel.
“This transaction reflects a careful approach to how we de-risk—by structuring a basis reset in a top submarket with an experienced sponsor and a clear repositioning plan,” Siegel said.
Banyan plans to reposition AFC, starting with leasing the North Tower, using reserves for capital expenses, tenant improvements, and leasing. It will also explore larger tenants and redevelopment options.
While the broader office market faces headwinds, Buckhead remains a strong submarket, supported by financial firms, MARTA access, highway connectivity and retail and hospitality infrastructure, Peachtree said. Limited new supply, declining sublease inventory, and steady tenant demand position Buckhead and AFC for recovery and growth.
“Borrowers are seeking flexible capital that can adjust to changing market conditions, and that’s what we’re delivering,” said Jared Schlosser, head of originations and CPACE at Peachtree. “By providing execution certainty, we’re giving sponsors the runway to carry out their plans.”
Peachtree recently launched a $250 million fund to invest in hotel and commercial real estate assets mispriced due to capital market illiquidity.