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.
INDUS HOSPITALITY GROUP in Rochester, New York, has opened a new Microtel Hotel by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in Warsaw, New York. The company, led by Jett Mehta, also broke ground on another Microtel in Farmington, New York.
The 67-room hotel in Warsaw opened July 21 near Letchworth State Park. It features a meeting room, a fitness center and outside firepit. Rooms are singles, doubles and suites.
Mehta and Tammy Murphy, Indus vice president, broke ground on the 60-room Farmington Microtel on July 24. Nearby attractions will include New York state’s Finger Lakes region. Amenities will include meeting rooms, a fitness center and business center.
“We look forward to welcoming travelers to the area’s newest hotel, scheduled to open in June 2021,” Murphy said.
Indus, which owns and operates more than 60 hotels, also recently completed a Best Western in Brockport, New York, and has plans to break ground on a 125-room Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton as part of The Strong’s Neighborhood of Play expansion in downtown Rochester.
“We are thrilled to partner with Indus Hospitality Group once again to open their 10th Microtel by Wyndham hotel,” said Keri Putera, brand leader and vice president of brand operations for Microtel. “This milestone is a testament to the Indus team and the Microtel brand’s lasting model of brilliant efficiency built for the modern traveler.”
Wyndham introduced its new “Moda” prototype for Microtel last year. Moda is designed to be lean and mean with an emphasis on efficiency and cost reduction, Putera said at the unveiling. The company opened the first Moda Microtel on July 14 in George, Washington.
Last August, Developer Pinu “Pete” Patel of Patel Construction, LLC, agreed to build five of the economy brand hotels in Florida, Louisiana and Texas while Richmond, Virginia-based KM Hotels under the leadership of Mayur Patel, president and COO, announced plans to build two.
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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