Sreedevi N.R. is a journalist and feature writer whose work has been published in The Times of India and The Economic Times. She holds a Master's in Mass Communication from the Central University of Tamil Nadu and a PG Diploma in Media Writing & Digital Communication from the Central University of Rajasthan. Her expertise includes feature storytelling, in-depth research, and digital journalism with SEO. Sreedevi is fluent in English, Hindi, and Malayalam.
Peachtree secured EB-5 approval for a Florida multifamily development project.
The 240-unit community in Manatee County is backed by $47 million in construction financing.
It is Peachtree’s fourth EB-5 project approval since launching the program in 2023.
PEACHTREE GROUP RECENTLY secured EB-5 approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for Madison Bradenton, a 240-unit multifamily development in Bradenton, Florida. It also raised $47 million in construction financing with a four-year term for the project on a 10.7-acre site in Manatee County.
The approval allows the company to advance its EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which directs foreign investment to U.S. job creation, Peachtree said in a statement.
“Madison Bradenton reflects the strong demand for high-quality multifamily housing in growing markets,” said Adam Greene, Peachtree’s executive vice president of EB-5. “This project underscores our ability to pair EB-5 financing with secured lending, delivering attractive opportunities for investors while meeting critical housing needs.”
The project will include five four-story apartment buildings with elevators, a two-story carriage building and a clubhouse, with residences averaging 1,027 square feet and featuring private patios or balconies. The location provides access to employment centers, healthcare facilities and Siesta Key Beach.
Atlanta-based Peachtree is led by Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO; Jatin Desai, managing principal and CFO and Mitul Patel, principal.
This is Peachtree’s fourth approved I-956F application, following projects such as Home2 Suites by Hilton in Boone, North Carolina; SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Bryce Canyon, Utah and TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Palmdale, California. In May, Peachtree secured USCIS approval for four regional centers—South, Northeast, Midwest and West—allowing it to sponsor EB-5 projects in those territories.
The EB-5 visa program allows foreign investors to obtain a green card by investing in a U.S. commercial enterprise that creates jobs, the statement said. Investors who contribute at least $800,000 to a project that creates or preserves 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers are eligible for permanent residency.
Separately, Peachtree launched the $250 million Special Situations Fund to invest in hotel and commercial real estate assets affected by capital market illiquidity.
Nightfood Holdings plans to acquire two hotels in California worth $80M.
Hotels will feature AI-powered service robots.
The strategy combines automation revenue with real estate growth.
NIGHTFOOD HOLDINGS PLANS to acquire two hotels in California to test the use of AI-driven robots in guest services. The company also announced plans for a broader tech-integrated portfolio.
The company has signed a letter of intent to acquire a 155-room Holiday Inn in Victorville, California, for approximately $27 million, with plans to convert it into a Courtyard by Marriott. A second deal is underway for a Hilton Garden Inn in Rancho Mirage, valued around $24.5 million. The two properties represent an estimated $80 million in assets.
Both Victorville and Rancho Mirage properties will serve as operational testbeds for automation and future revenue optimization. The Rancho Mirage hotel sits adjacent to Disney’s upcoming Cotino resort project.
Nightfood Holdings combines hotel ownership with Robotics-as-a-Service through its Skytech subsidiary. The company plans to deploy guest-facing robots for food delivery, laundry transport and concierge functions, along with back-end automation for cleaning and operations. Robots will be integrated into its own properties and eventually licensed to third-party hotel operators.
"We're pairing recurring RaaS income with long-term real estate value creation," the company stated. "These flagship hotels will serve as model environments for automation deployment and performance tracking."
Nightfood has also partnered with Bear Robotics to expand its automation capabilities across the portfolio.
The strategy targets cost reduction, operational efficiency and enhanced guest experience. Industry reports project 30 to 40 percent cost savings from hotel automation, with AI in hospitality expected to grow to $1.46 billion by 2029. The global hospitality robotics market is forecasted to reach $107 billion by 2034.
Recently, Vision Hospitality Group deployed its AI-driven procure-to-pay platform across more than 40 properties, aiming to automate accounts payable processes.
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Comfort Hotels will host the one-day Waffle Lounge in New York City on Aug. 21.
The Union Square event runs from 12 to 7 p.m.
Visitors can win a one-night stay at a participating Comfort or other Choice hotel.
CHOICE’S COMFORT HOTELS is bringing its signature breakfast item to life with the Waffle Lounge, a one-day pop-up event in New York City on Aug. 21. The event, timed to coincide with National Waffle Day on Aug. 24, highlights the brand’s role in offering guests a sense of home during their travels.
Waffles have been served at Comfort Hotels since the early 1990s, with more than 30 million made annually across its properties, Choice said in a statement. A recent national survey found that 70 percent of consumers prefer familiar meals over gourmet options.
“Waffles are a recognizable and meaningful part of the Comfort brand experience,” said Jenny Aboudou, Choice’s head of upper midscale brands. “Hosting a community event in New York City is a great way to highlight how this simple offering continues to resonate with travelers.”
The Waffle Lounge, located in Union Square, will be open from 12 to 7 p.m., the statement said. The event also marks more than 40 years of the Comfort brand, which includes Comfort Inn, Comfort Inn & Suites and Comfort Suites and operates more than 2,100 locations worldwide.
Guests can get free waffles with toppings, iced lattes, nail art, massage chairs and waffle-themed merchandise, Choice said. Visitors can also enter to win a one-night stay at a participating Comfort or other Choice hotels. The celebration extends online with a contest awarding 10 winners a one-night stay. To enter, users can tag a friend on Choice Hotels’ Instagram Waffle Day post and sign up for the Choice Privileges rewards program.
Choice recently launched two campaigns — “Stay in Your Rhythm” and “The WoodSpring Way” — to increase awareness and bookings across its four extended-stay brands.
Hospitality job openings fell by 308,000 in June, the largest drop of any industry.
National openings held at 7.4 million, a 4.4 percent rate.
Hospitality quit rates remain above the national average.
THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR saw the largest decline in job openings of any industry in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accommodation and food services fell by 308,000 positions from the previous month.
The “BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey” found the drop occurred despite overall U.S. openings holding at 7.4 million, a 4.4 percent rate. The hospitality category, which includes accommodation and food services, has been a major driver of labor demand in recent years but continues to face volatility in hiring needs and high turnover.
Nationally, the number of quits remained unchanged at 3.1 million, a 2 percent rate, the report said. However, hospitality continues to experience quit rates well above the national average, reflecting persistent retention challenges.
While industries such as retail trade and information saw increases in openings in June, the contraction in hospitality suggests a recalibration in staffing needs ahead of the second half of 2025. The next JOLTS report, covering July 2025, will be released on September 3 and will indicate whether the downturn in hospitality job openings is a short-term adjustment or the start of a longer trend.
A survey by Expert Market found 48 percent of accommodation businesses view staffing as their top risk for the year, followed by labor costs at 34 percent and maintenance at 27 percent.
Vision held its Red Sand Project to combat human trafficking in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
It fights trafficking through partnerships, staff training and philanthropic support.
Tennessee reported 213 human trafficking cases in 2024, involving 446 victims.
VISION HOSPITALITY GROUP held its fourth annual Red Sand Project with WillowBend Farms to combat human trafficking in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The event brought together organizations working to combat human trafficking, including the Family Justice Center for Hamilton County and the Hamilton County Health Department.
“We were honored to stand with our partners and our community to bring attention to this issue,” Patel said. “Together, through awareness and action, we are working toward a future where every individual is safe, seen and supported.”
The Red Sand Project is a symbolic initiative to raise awareness and promote action on human trafficking, the statement said. Participants poured red sand into sidewalk cracks to represent victims who have fallen through the cracks of society. This year’s event came as the Chattanooga community reported progress in prevention and survivor restoration over the past year.
“The Red Sand Project reminds us that human trafficking continues to be a pressing public health issue and a devastating reality in every state,” said Jenelle Hawkins, Vision's director of operation excellence. “As members of the hotel industry, we understand our unique position to help identify and prevent trafficking. We are proud to be part of a community that is not only raising awareness but also driving real solutions. As we mark our fourth year, our commitment is stronger than ever.”
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, there were 213 reported human trafficking cases in Tennessee in 2024, involving 446 victims. Events like the Red Sand Project raise awareness, promote education and encourage community action.
Vision Hospitality Group combats trafficking through community partnerships, staff training and philanthropic support. In 2024, it donated $100,000 to the AHLA Foundation’s No Room for Trafficking Survivor Fund, which provides housing and job placement services to survivors nationwide.
If you know someone who needs help escaping trafficking, call the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-558-6484. To report a suspected victim, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233722.
In June, Vision broke ground on a 150-key Hilton dual-brand in Lookout Valley, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Choice Hotels International reported Q2 net income of $81.7 million.
Domestic RevPAR fell 2.9 percent due to macroeconomic conditions.
Extended-stay portfolio rose 10.5 percent YoY, with a domestic pipeline of 43,000 rooms.
CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL reported second-quarter net income of $81.7 million, down from $87.1 million a year earlier. Its forecast for the year remained positive, but was downgraded some to account for changes in macroeconomic conditions.
The company’s global pipeline exceeded 93,000 rooms, including nearly 77,000 in the U.S. Its global system size grew 2.1 percent, including 3 percent growth in the upscale, extended-stay and midscale segments, Choice said in a statement.
“Choice Hotels delivered another quarter of record financial performance despite a softer domestic RevPAR environment, underscoring the successful execution and diversification of our growth strategy,” said Patrick Pacious, president and CEO. “We are especially pleased with our strong international performance, where we have achieved significant growth and accelerated global expansion through a recent strategic acquisition, the signing of key partnerships, and entry into new markets. With more diversified growth avenues, enhanced product quality and value proposition driving stronger customer engagement and a leading position in the cycle-resilient extended-stay segment, we remain well-positioned to deliver long-term returns for all our stakeholders.”
Domestic RevPAR declined 2.9 percent, reflecting macroeconomic conditions and a difficult comparison with 2024 due to the timing of Easter and eclipse-related travel, the statement said. Excluding those effects, RevPAR fell approximately 1.6 percent. Meanwhile, the domestic extended-stay portfolio outperformed the broader lodging industry by 40 basis points in RevPAR, while the economy transient portfolio exceeded its chain scale by 320 basis points.
Adjusted EBITDA rose 2 percent to $165 million, or $167 million excluding a $2 million operating guarantee related to the Radisson Hotels Americas acquisition. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 4 percent to $1.92, the statement said.
Expansion and development
The domestic extended-stay portfolio grew 10.5 percent year over year, with a pipeline of nearly 43,000 rooms as of June 30, Choice said. The combined domestic upscale, extended-stay and midscale portfolio grew 2.3 percent. WoodSpring Suites expanded 9.7 percent to nearly 33,000 rooms and ranked first in guest satisfaction among economy extended-stay brands in the J.D. Power 2025 study. The domestic economy transient pipeline increased 8 percent to more than 1,700 rooms.
Choice acquired the remaining 50 percent interest in Choice Hotels Canada for approximately $112 million in July, funded through cash and credit. The deal expanded its Canadian brand portfolio from eight to 22 and added 327 properties and more than 26,000 rooms. The business is expected to contribute approximately $18 million in EBITDA in 2025.
International activity included a renewed master franchise agreement with Atlantica Hospitality International in Brazil for more than 10,000 rooms; a direct franchise deal with Zenitude Hotel-Residences in France, which nearly tripled room count and two agreements with SSAW Hotels & Resorts in China. These include a 9,500-room distribution deal for 2025 and a master franchise agreement projected to add 10,000 rooms over five years.
Global net rooms for upscale brands increased 14.7 percent year over year, the statement said. The pipeline for these brands rose 7 percent since March 31 to nearly 29,000 rooms.
2025 outlook
Choice revised its RevPAR outlook to reflect more moderate domestic expectations due to macroeconomic conditions, the statement said. The adjusted EBITDA forecast includes a $6 million contribution from the Choice Hotels Canada acquisition for the remainder of 2025. It also reflects the $2 million Radisson-related operating guarantee payment incurred in the second quarter.
Net income guidance was lowered to a range of $261 million to $276 million, down from $275 million to $290 million. Adjusted net income remains at $324 million to $339 million.
Domestic RevPAR growth was revised to between negative 3 percent and flat, compared to the earlier range of negative 1 percent to positive 1 percent. The global net system rooms growth projection remains at approximately 1 percent.
In May, Choice reported 2.3 percent year-over-year growth in domestic RevPAR for the first quarter.