Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

NewcrestImage to acquire four LaQuinta hotels

The company also has received Marriott’s Partnership Circle Award

NewcrestImage to acquire four LaQuinta hotels

DALLAS-BASED INVESTMENT firm NewcrestImage will acquire four LaQuinta-branded hotels in a joint venture between Highgate and Cerberus. The properties, with 696 rooms total, include the LaQuinta Inn & Suites at Los Angeles International Airport that is NewcrestImage’s first gateway location in California.

The company, led by Mehul Patel as managing partner and CEO, also has received the Partnership Circle Award from Marriott International, a statement said.


The four LaQuintas

NewcrestImage closed on the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Irving DFW North, located two miles from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, on July 14. It expects to close in August on the other three hotels, including the LaQuinta Inn & Suites LAX, as well as LaQuinta Inn & Suites Anaheim and LaQuinta Inn Phoenix North.

“These properties are uniquely-positioned in strategic destination locations, making them very appealing as we structure a strong investment-based portfolio,” Patel said.

Mahmood Khimji, Highgate’s managing principal, said the four hotels are “well-located and well-positioned.”

“We are excited to expand our activities with Mehul and the talented NewcrestImage team, along with our friends at Wyndham – all of whom share Highgate’s commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences and operational results,” Khimji said.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts acquired LaQuinta in 2018.

“As the world’s largest hotel franchisor, we know there’s nothing more powerful than pairing great brands with proven owners who know how to deliver on guest needs,” Geoff Ballotti, Wyndham’s president and CEO.  “We greatly value our longstanding relationship with NewcrestImage and are proud to continue partnering with Mehul and his team as they continue growing their portfolio with Wyndham.”

Enter the circle

According to Marriott, NewcrestImage was selected for the Partnership Circle Award because it achieved stringent performance thresholds by forming mutual long-term commitment with an engaging workforce and customer service.

ENEWS 07 20 22 NewcrestImage LaQuintas board The NewcrestImage board of directors, from left, are managing partners Chirag Patel, Sanjay Patel, Yogi Patel, CEO Mehul Patel, Mital Patel and Daxesh Patel.

“We are honored and humbled by this very special recognition from Marriott,” Patel said. “We very much thank Marriott, and we also give powerful thanks to all our team members whose style and spirit are responsible for this win -- including our corporate staff and certainly the people on the front lines at our properties, from general managers to housekeepers.  Everyone at NewcrestImage rightfully and proudly shares the spotlight.”

NewcrestImage, which has owned and operated 30 Marriott branded hotels since its founding in February of 2013, has introduced concepts such as dual-brand properties, adaptive reuse of historic buildings and the “lifestyle hotel campus,” which creates mixed-use neighborhoods.

The Dallas firm was a finalist at the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award by Ernst & Young and was recognized by the Texas Downtown Association as “Best Adaptive Reuse Project” for conversion of the historic Fisk Building into a Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Amarillo.

In late June, NewcrestImage acquired the 175-room Cambria Hotel in Southlake, Texas, which is near DFW International Airport and the Gaylord Texan Convention Center. The company also owns and operates two historic hotels – the 325-room, 29-floor Magnolia Hotel in downtown Dallas and the 164-room, 17-floor Sinclair Hotel in downtown Fort Worth.

Since its founding in February of 2013, NewcrestImage has completed more than $3 billion in transactions involving more than 200 hotels and 25,000 hotel rooms in 122 communities across the country. The company has popularized concepts such as dual-brand properties, adaptive re-use of historic buildings and “lifestyle hotel campus” neighborhoods.

More for you

Marriott International expands global hotel pipeline in Q2 2025

Marriott pipeline hits record 590,000 rooms

Summary:

  • Marriott International ended Q2 with a record pipeline of about 3,900 properties and more than 590,000 rooms.
  • Global RevPAR rose 1.5 percent, including a 5.3 percent gain in international markets.
  • Net income slipped 1 percent to $763 million; 17,300 net rooms were added.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL’S GROWTH continued in the second quarter, according to the company’s recent earnings report. Along with its active pipeline, the company saw rising revenue and launched a new brand.

Keep ReadingShow less
OYO Adds 150 U.S. Hotels in 2025, Plans Another 150
Photo credit: OYO U.S.

OYO adds 150 U.S. hotels, plans 150 more

Summary:

  • OYO added more than 150 U.S. hotels in early 2025 and plans 150 more by year-end.
  • Ten additions have more than 100 rooms, reflecting a focus on high-inventory properties.
  • It is targeting urban and suburban markets in the Sun Belt and Great Lakes regions.

HOSPITALITY TECHNOLOGY COMPANY OYO added more than 150 hotels to its U.S. portfolio in the first half of 2025 and plans to add 150 more by year-end. The additions span Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, California, Michigan and Illinois.

Keep ReadingShow less
Choice Hotels campaigns

Choice launches campaigns for extended-stay brands

Summary:

  • 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.

Keep ReadingShow less
US Hotel Employee Background Checks
iStock

Survey: Employee background checks up for hotels

Summary:

  • U.S. hotels increased background checks by 36 percent in early 2025.
  • The trend follows President Trump’s immigration policies impacting seasonal labor.
  • Immigrants making up a third of the travel workforce.

U.S. HOTEL HIRING managers requested 36 percent more background checks in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period last year, according to Hireology. The move follows President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and proposed visa fee hikes affecting seasonal labor.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hotel industry leaders unite at AHLA Summit to support trafficking survivors
Photo credit: AHLA Foundation

AHLA Foundation hosts human trafficking summit

Summary:

  • AHLA Foundation held its No Room for Trafficking Summit and announced Survivor Fund grantees.
  • The summit featured expert panels and sessions on survivor employment and trafficking prevention.
  • Since 2023, the program has awarded more than $2.35 million to 27 organizations.

AHLA FOUNDATION RECENTLY held its annual “No Room for Trafficking Summit” to advance practices and reinforce the industry's commitment to addressing human trafficking through collaboration, education and survivor support. It also announced the 2025–2026 NRFT Survivor Fund grants, which support organizations providing services and resources for survivors.

Keep ReadingShow less