Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Maya Hotels marks 25th anniversary of first ground-up hotel

The 25-year-old hotel had a $15 million economic impact through jobs, taxes and tourism

Maya Hotels marks 25th anniversary of first ground-up hotel

MAYA HOTELS RECENTLY celebrated the 25th anniversary of its first ground-up hotel, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Belmont in Belmont, North Carolina. The event marked the hotel's evolution from a 65-room establishment in 1999 to a modern 92-key hotel, while showcasing original site plans, franchise approval letters, snapshots from the 1999 grand opening and earned awards over the years.

IHG Hotels & Resorts representative Jason Miller, local government officials, along with associates, community members, vendors and investors attended the event.


“We came to the United States with nothing, but we knew one thing – this is the land of opportunity,” said Baldev Thakor, Maya Hotels’ cofounder.

“We knew we wanted to build a Holiday Inn Express in this community and we knew there were many guests not being served,” J.D. Deva, Maya Hotels cofounder, said. “Here we are, 25 years later, and it has been a remarkable journey."

The event came after a leadership transition, with founders Thakor and Deva passing the torch to Parimal Thakor as president and Krishna Deva as CEO.

“This hotel has been the launching pad for every hotel that has come after it within Maya Hotels,” said Parimal Thakor.

“We look forward to building upon this foundation, collaborating with our incredible teams, and continuing to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences,” Krishna Deva said.

Community engagement

The hotel has been engaged in community initiatives in Belmont and nearby Mt. Holly, North Carolina, for the past 25 years, Maya Hotels said in a statement. It sponsors local teams and events and partners with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the USO, Sisters of Mercy, the YMCA, and Paws for Claws Belmont. Additionally, it has contributed a $15 million economic impact through job creation, taxes, and tourism.

"We are very appreciative of this hotel and the community involvement that you’ve had over the years," said David Moore, Mt. Holly mayor. "In 2018, when Hurricane Florence came through, you partnered with Holy Angels to house those impacted. That’s looking after each other. And that’s what it’s all about, lifting each other up. I think that’s what this family has done since the day they got here. We’re really appreciative of that.”

“It’s an incredible achievement,” said IHG’s Miller. “When you think about it, it’s over a quarter of a century of welcoming over half a million guests who have enjoyed your amenities and great customer service. What makes this hotel and company special is your team that creates memorable experiences for all those guests. Maya Hotels gets it. Everyone is incredibly engaged in always making it better for our guests. And that’s what makes a great company. Congratulations on 25 years!”

Maya Hotels, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, was established in 1995. Its portfolio includes 10 properties with over 1,000 guest rooms across North Carolina and South Carolina, affiliated with brands like Hilton, IHG and Marriott.

More for you

Red Roof partners with FreedomPay to streamline payments in 700+ U.S. hotels
Photo credit: Red Roof

Red Roof taps FreedomPay for 700+ hotels

Summary:

  • Red Roof is contracting with FreedomPay to provide payments across its 700+ U.S. hotels.
  • The company will gain an integrated solution, improved service, cost savings and efficiency.
  • The company is investing in people and technology to advance the brand, president Zack Gharib told Asian Hospitality.

RED ROOF IS contracting with FreedomPay to provide payments across its portfolio of more than 700 hotels in the U.S. The company will receive an integrated payment solution, upgraded service, cost savings and operational efficiency, according to a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gen Z Shifts Hotel Shopping: Tech, Experiences & Values

Survey: Gen Z redefines hotel shopping

Summary:

  • Younger consumers are redefining hotel discovery through platform-hopping and peer input, according to SOCi.
  • Fragmented search and discovery are reshaping how trust is built.
  • About one-third of consumers aged 18–34 report less brand loyalty than a year ago.

GEN Z IS RESHAPING hotel shopping through multiple platforms, peer input and real-time research, according to SOCi, a marketing platform for multi-location businesses. Unlike previous generations who relied on a single search engine or map app, the younger consumer moves through a series of smaller decisions - starting on TikTok, checking Reddit or Yelp and ending with a Google Maps search.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hotel Tech Advances; Outpaces Operational Readiness

Report: Tech outpaces readiness in hotels

  • A gap is growing between technological potential and operational readiness, with many hotel teams still early in AI use.
  • Distribution teams are evolving with limited resources and uneven investment in talent and automation.
  • The report outlines how commercial teams in hospitality are managing transformation.

THERE IS A widening gap between technological potential and operational readiness, with many hotel staff still early in using AI effectively, according to “The State of Distribution 2025” report. Despite the availability of technology, training, systems and workflows remain in development.

The second edition of the industry benchmark report—published by NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and its Hospitality Innovation Hub, in collaboration with RateGain Travel Technologies and HEDNA—noted that as traveler expectations rise, aligning people, processes and platforms is becoming a driver of performance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peachtree Group's Residence Inn by Marriott under construction in downtown San Antonio, topping out milestone reached, June 2025

Peachtree tops out San Antonio Residence Inn

Peachtree Hotel to Open in Summer 2026 with 117 Extended-Stay Rooms

PEACHTREE GROUP HELD a “topping out” for its Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown San Antonio, Texas, marking completion of the structural phase of the 10-story, 117-room hotel. The property, co-developed with Austin-based Merritt Development Group, is scheduled to open in summer 2026.

The extended-stay hotel will be owned by Peachtree and managed by its hospitality management division, the company said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India plane crash 2025
Photo by Sam PANTHAKY / AFP

Air India reducing flights after deadly crash

AIR INDIA WILL reduce international service on widebody aircraft by 15 percent through at least mid-July, according to media reports. The decision comes less than a week after the June 12 crash of an Air India airliner carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members in Ahmedabad, India, that killed 246 but left one survivor among the passengers.

The airline said the reduced service due to the safety inspection of aircraft and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have disrupted operations, resulting in 83 flight cancellations over the past six days, according to ABC News. Passengers can either reschedule their flights at no additional cost or receive a full refund.

Keep ReadingShow less