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 senior 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.
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP’s avid brand has added several new properties, four of which are owned by Asian Americans. Despite the current state of the market during the COVID-19 pandemic, the developers say they think the midscale will be in a good position when the economy eventually recovers.
The four hotels are in separate states. Two have opened and two are expected to open this summer.
They are:
avid hotel Denver Airport Area in Denver, Colorado: Opened in July, the 97-room hotel is near Denver International Airport, FlySafety International and Buckley Airforce Base. It is owned by Chet Patel with Baywood Hotels.
avid hotel Nashville in Lebanon, Tennessee: Opened on June 6, the 87-room hotel is the first avid hotel to open in Tennessee, 20 miles from Nashville International Airport, and near Cumberland University and the Wilson County Fairgrounds. This property is owned by Kunal Shah and Daughters, LLC.
avid hotel Boston Logan Airport in Revere, Massachusetts: Expected to open in late summer, the 104-room hotel is near Boston Logan International Airport and local attractions such as Rumney Marsh Reservation wildlife reserve and Revere Beach on the Atlantic coast. This property is owned by Ketan Patel and Bijal Hospitality.
avid hotel Fort Worth in Fossil Creek, Texas: Also expected to open in late summer, the 87-room hotel is near Texas Christian University and several Texas-branch businesses and federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Defense Department, the Internal Revenue Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation. This property is owned by Kalpesh Patel and Buffalo Builder, LLC.
“We at Baywood Hotels believe that, with both business and leisure travel showing modest recovery as we further navigate the pandemic, avid hotels is well-positioned to satisfy the current consumer appetite for travel while also supporting travel demands in the future,” said Chet Patel, senior vice president at Baywood Hotels.
IHG has more than 200 avid hotels in the development pipeline, including 40 properties under construction and more than 90 properties with plans submitted to or approved by the company.
“IHG’s valued owner community has continued to develop and build avid hotels even during this challenging time, and our owners remain excited about bringing the innovative mainstream avid hotels brand to new markets and travelers,” said Karen Gilbride, vice president of IHG’s avid hotels and Atwell Suites.
IHG’s Way of Clean program with enhanced cleaning and safety procedures to prevent the spread of coronavirus as part of its newly implemented IHG Clean Promise. IHG Clean Promise includes input from the Cleveland Clinic as well as hygiene and cleaning services companies Ecolab and Diversey as an expansion of the company’s Way of Clean program established in 2015. It incorporates advice of the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and local public health authorities.
Sonesta launched Americas Best Value Studios, an extended-stay version of ABVI.
The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping.
The brand meets demand for longer-term, value-focused stays.
SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Corp. launched Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta, an extended-stay version of its franchised brand, Americas Best Value Inn. The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping, optional fitness center and lobby market along with standard brand requirements.
The brand aims to address the growing demand for longer-term, value-driven accommodations, Sonesta said in a statement.
"Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta represents a strategic evolution of our trusted Americas Best Value Inn brand," Keith Pierce, Sonesta’s executive vice president and president of franchise development, said. "We are expanding our offerings to directly address the increasing demand within the extended-stay segment, providing a practical solution for travelers seeking longer-term lodging at value. This new brand type allows our local franchised owner-operators to tap into a growing market while maintaining the community-focused experience that Americas Best Value Inn is known for."
ABVI has a majority presence in secondary and tertiary markets, the statement said.
The extended-stay brand’s operational model features a front desk, bi-weekly housekeeping, on-site laundry and pet-friendly accommodations, Sonesta said. Guests can also earn or redeem points through the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program.
In August, Sonesta named Stayntouch its preferred property management system after a two-year review of its ability to support the company’s franchise model. The company operates more than 1,100 properties with more than 100,000 rooms across 13 brands on three continents.
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