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.
The dual-brand Hilton Garden Inn Orlando Downtown and Home2 Suites by Hilton Orlando Downtown is now open in Orlando, Florida. It is owned by Peachtree Hotel Group (PHG), is led by managing principals Mitul Patel and Jatin Desai.
The eight-story property includes 224 rooms total, 123 on the Hilton Garden Inn side and 101 pet-friendly Home2 Suites rooms. It is near the Orange County Courthouse, Amway Center, Camping World Stadium and Exploria Stadium. Peachtree Hospitality Management, a division of PHG, will operate the hotel.
The hotels have their own lobbies and dining areas. Shared amenities include a rooftop pool with views of downtown, a restaurant and lounge, an on-site Starbucks, and a fitness center.
"Bundling two category-leading hotel brands allows us to achieve maximum return on our investment in popular space-constrained urban core markets," said Greg Friedman, PHM's CEO. "This concept appeals to a wide variety of travel needs and price points from business travelers in town for a meeting or families vacationing, and conventioneers or contract works coming to the city for a week or more."
In May, PHG completed a $5.3 million renovation of the Hampton Inn by Hilton Baltimore-Downtown Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. That hotel also will be operated by Peachtree Hospitality Management, a division of PHG.
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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