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.
HURRICANE LAURA SURGED ashore on the coastlines of Texas and Louisiana Wednesday as a powerful storm. In Houston, the city hit by many such storms in the past, local hoteliers, already struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, were making plans to once again make it through the tempest.
Laura was a Category 4 storm as it was approaching the coast and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged residents to take all possible precautions.
"The power of Hurricane Laura is unprecedented, and Texans must take action now to get out of harm's way and protect themselves," said Governor Abbott. "The conditions of this storm are unsurvivable, and I urge Southeast Texans to take advantage of these final few hours to evacuate, secure their property, and take all precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”
That’s exactly what Miraj Patel, president of Wayside Investment Group in Houston, was planning to do, knowing that his company’s recently opened Red Roof Inn PLUS in Galveston was in the line of fire. Patel opened the hotel in the spring, hoping to cash in on the summer season only to see those plans fall to the pandemic, then rise again somewhat in the summer.
“Our Galveston property right now is under mandatory evacuation. It’s unfortunate. Occupancy went down really quickly,” Patel said. “Yesterday there was talk of it coming near Galveston, but now it’s a little bit more toward Beaumont. I think everyone's still evacuating the whole Beaumont area and the whole Galveston area.”
Sawan Patel, managing partner at Unity Hotels Group and director of AAHOA’s Southeast Texas Region, has been preparing for Laura for the last few days.
“We've made sure all of our properties are stocked with supplies and water. We've also made it a point to keep our guests updated on the updated weather forecasts of local authorities and potential storm impacts,” Sawan said. “I've also been keeping in touch with my contacts in the American Red Cross to ensure we can be of service to them during any recovery operations as well as with my contacts in the Harris County and City of Houston emergency management departments to ensure that our areas and nearby areas are prepared to receive assistance in the event of flooding or significant wind impact. I've also been in close contact with other local leaders in the industry to help other hotel owners get prepared.”
Sawan said he was hoping Laura would continue to shift east and spare Houston the worst impact, and that is what happened as the eye of the storm finally came ashore in Louisiana. Along with his father Hasu, Sawan has already been busy helping his fellow hoteliers get through the pandemic.
“I pray that any damage to the greater Houston area is minimal as so many hotel owners have already endured long-term devastation with the ongoing economic crisis due to COVID,” he said.
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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