Georgia hotelier remembers former President Carter
Sharad Patel once owned The Windsor Hotel where Carter once stayed
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn in 2010, cut the ribbon during The Windsor Hotel’s grand-reopening celebration as a Best Western Plus with Ila and Sharad Patel, the hotel owners at that time, on the right. Carter died Dec. 29 at the age of 100.
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.
THE PASSING OF former President Jimmy Carter on Dec. 29 left the nation in mourning. For Sharad Patel, it marked the loss of a longtime friend and inspiration.
Patel is the former owner and operator of The Windsor Hotel in Americus, Georgia, where Carter sometimes stayed. The ex-president was more than just a guest, however.
“So many good memories spending time with him, whether it's building houses for Habitat for Humanity or coming to the Windsor for dinner, or whether it's an Indian night or involving his project in Plains where he restored the Plains Inn.”
Carter, who was the 39th president of the U.S. and winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, was 100 when he died at his home in Plains, Georgia, according to his obituary. He the longest-lived president in U.S. history and is survived by his children, Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy, as well as 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Members of the joint services military honor guard conduct a changing of the guard next to the casket bearing the remains of former President Jimmy Carter at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum on Jan. 6 in Atlanta, Georgia. Carter was the longest-living U.S. President in history. Photo courtesy of Joe Raedle/Getty Images
His wife, Rosalynn, died in 2023.
“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”
Lending his fame
Patel owned the 126-year-old Windsor for more than 20 years before selling it two years ago. Born in Uganda, he had migrated with his family from the United Kingdom to the U.S. in 1993. He settled in Americus in 1996 with his wife, Ila, and sons Vic and Rushabh. The family owned and operated a conventional branded hotel but sold it before buying The Windsor after it had undergone a $6 million renovation five years earlier in a public-private partnership.
At the time, the hotel business was struggling, but Patel considered the hotel’s success as key to the economic survival of Americus. The hotel is listed as a “contributing property” in the National Register Americus Historic District and sanctioned by Historic Hotels of America.
“If the hotel closed, the whole town would be devastated,” he said.
In 2002 Patel needed something to boost occupancy. Carter and Patel had been attending a meeting together when Carter asked if there was anything he could do to help.
“I've never asked him for any favor, but that day, I said, ‘Yeah, Mr. Jimmy, I have a problem,’” Patel said. “He said ‘What is it?’ I said I give tours at the Windsor, mostly every day, and every one of [the tour participants] just would ask me a question when I take them to the Carter presidential suite, that President Carter and Mrs. Carter have spent a night here, and then I have to say no. We were sitting and Rosalyn Carter was standing on the side, and he turned his face, looked up and said, ‘Roslyn, we need to fix this problem.’”
The Windsor Hotel in Americus was built in 1892 to attract visitors from the north during winter. The five-story hotel is listed as a “contributing property” in the National Register Americus Historic District and sanctioned by Historic Hotels of America.
The Carters were as good as their word, Patel said. They slept in the Carter Presidential Suite that still bears their name, adding their fame to the hotel’s history of stays by other historic figures including Congressman William Jennings Bryant, Franklin Roosevelt when he was governor of New York and the gangster Al Capone.
“[Carter] spent a night and we had an Indian dinner,” Patel said.
Eight years later, Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter on June 15, 2010, cut the ribbon during The Windsor Hotel’s grand-reopening celebration as a Best Western Plus. The interactions between the two families went beyond that.
An ongoing friendship
A desire to help others drew the two men together, Patel said.
“Yes, yes, he was an inspiration,” he said.
Their shared missions included multiple builds for Habitat for Humanity.
“They're all meaningful, but the most special was when we went to India and built houses in Lonavala, Mumbai, 100 houses in a week,” Patel said. “He's an inspiration for me. Every time you’re around him, it inspires you to become a better human.”
Another memorable occasion was when Patel invited classical sitar player, Nayan Ghosh and his son Ishaan to The Windsor.
“I asked him, because he always wanted to hear the sitar. He was fond of Ravi Shankar,” Patel said. “So it was in my mind that we would have something like that one day. We turned that into the charity event.”
About 80 to 90 people attended, he said.
Sharad Patel in the lobby of the Windsor Hotel.
“The money we collected was used for downtown beautification in President Carter's hometown,” Patel said.
Patel was still not living in the U.S. when Carter was president. However, over the past 32 years that he has lived here, Patel said, he has studied the nation’s politics.
“You have Republicans, and you have Democrats, and everybody becomes part of one for three reasons, either it's your ideology or you have a special interest, or you have both,” Patel said. “He was a Democrat by ideology, and he practiced that all his life and I see that. That was inspiring. He had no special interest.”
Patel acknowledged that Carter’s one term as president is poorly remembered due to events such as the Iran hostage crisis. However, he said Carter handled that crisis in the morally correct manner.
“He did not want it to spill one drop of blood,” Patel said. “If it had been any other president they would have bombed Iran.”
Carter was a true Democrat by ideology, Patel said.
“He was not a hypocrite,” Patel said.
Carter was buried in a private ceremony in Plains. Patel paid his respects during a ceremony at Army Fort Moore, formerly Fort Benning, near Columbus, Georgia, where the former president’s body lay in state on its way home.
The Windsor is now owned by Edgewater Group LLC, led by founding partners Ketan Vora and Robert Brier. In 2023, the hotel joined Choice Hotels International’s Ascend Hotel Collection following a multi-year renovation.
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.