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.
ROB PALLESCHI, G6 Hospitality CEO for five years, is stepping down to move to a new position. Julie Arrowsmith, Carrollton, Texas-based G6’s president and chief financial officer, has been appointed interim CEO.
Palleschi is transiting to the position of CEO of American Campus Communities, a student housing manager, owner and developer, according to G6, the parent company of the economy Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands. A former executive at Hilton Worldwide as well as CEO and president of the restaurant chain TGI Fridays Inc., Palleschi succeeded former G6 CEO Jim Amorosia in 2019.
“It has been a great honor to be CEO of G6 for the last five years,” said Mr. Palleschi. “I want to express my gratitude to our dedicated team members, talented management team and valued franchisees across the nation for their tremendous contributions to G6. With Julie’s energy, commitment to G6’s values and nearly three decades as part of the G6 team, I could not be more confident in the company’s next chapter."
Arrowsmith has served in various leadership positions at G6 since joining the company in 1995. Prior to that, she worked in the audit team at Deloitte. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University where she received a bachelor’s degree in accounting and subsequently earned her CPA license.
Arrowsmith was appointed to the president position in August, an expansion of her CFO duties overseeing all finance and revenue-driving efforts, including the oversight of the revenue management, sales and e-commerce departments.
"It is a privilege to take on this additional responsibility as we position G6 for continued growth," said Arrowsmith. “We have an incredibly strong team in place across the organization, and I look forward to continuing our work to support our franchise partners and deliver exceptional value for our guests.”
Rob Harper, head of real estate asset management Americas at Blackstone, which owns G6, said Arrowsmith is well qualified for the interim position.
“There is no one that knows G6 better than Julie, and we are confident the business will see a new level of success under her leadership,” he said. “I want to extend my sincerest thanks to Rob for his years of dedication and stewardship. He has been invaluable to the company, and we know this will be a seamless transition for team members, franchisees and guests alike.”
In November, G6 launched its “Light Her Way” program to empower women seeking hotel ownership opportunities with tools and resources.
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.
Trump sought to end temporary legal status for hundreds of thousands of migrants in the U.S.and vowed to deport millions of undocumented people in the country, Reuters reported. Hireology said in a blog post that background checks were a cornerstone of any effective hiring strategy.
"They ensure that candidates meet the qualifications for the role, protect your organization from potential risks and help you build a safe, compliant, and high-performing workforce,” the hiring platform said. “Negligent hiring can have serious consequences, from legal liabilities to reputational damage.”
At least one-third of workers employed or supported by the U.S. travel industry are immigrants, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Meanwhile, hotels directly employed more than 2.15 million people in 2024, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
Total hires across 1,000 hotels rose by 22 percent, reaching more than 8,000 workers, Reuters reported, citing Hireology report.
Increases in the most in-demand roles such as front desk associates, housekeepers and cooks were flat or grew slightly year-over-year. About 34 percent of housekeepers and 24 percent of cooks are foreign-born, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Tourism Economics.
A $250 Visa Integrity Fee in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill is drawing criticism from groups that rely on J-1 and other seasonal worker visas, who warn the sometimes-refundable charge could shrink the summer workforce supporting U.S. beach towns and resorts.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Asian Media
Group USA Inc. and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
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.