A joint venture between private equity firm Sage Lane Partners, led by Managing Partners Bhavnesh and Bhavin Vivek, and ARK Holdings, led by CEO Azim Saju, recently acquired the 101-room Hampton Inn & Suites Prattville in Alabama.
Vishnu Rageev R is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience in business journalism. Before joining Asian Media Group in 2022, he worked with BW Businessworld, IMAGES Group, exchange4media Group, DC Books, and Dhanam Publications in India. His coverage includes industry analysis, market trends and corporate developments, focusing on retail, real estate and hospitality. As a senior journalist with Asian Hospitality, he covers the U.S. hospitality industry. He is from Kerala, a state in South India.
Sage Lane Expands with Hampton Inn in Alabama Acquisition
A JOINT VENTURE between Sage Lane Partners and ARK Holdings recently acquired the 101-room Hampton Inn & Suites Prattville in Prattville, Alabama. Sage Lane, a private equity real estate firm, is led by Managing Partners Bhavnesh and Bhavin Vivek, while ARK, a hotel development and management company, is led by CEO Azim Saju and will operate the hotel.
This acquisition continues Sage Lane’s growth since its 2024 formation, reaching more than $350 million in assets under management, the duo said in a joint statement.
“The Hampton Inn & Suites Prattville marks our first acquisition, though it is by no means our first hotel investment,” said Bhavnesh Vivek. “With more than 40 years of combined hospitality experience, our executives have closed over 40 transactions and provided investment, advisory, and asset management services for more than $3 billion in hotel real estate. Our acquisition and development pipelines remain full, and we look forward to adding up to three acquisitions and breaking ground on two developments this year.”
The hotel is near Wilderness Park/Bamboo Forest, Town of Spectre abandoned movie set, Montgomery Zoo & Mann Wildlife Learning Museum and The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum. Amenities include a fitness center, outdoor pool, business center and 576 square feet of event space.
Bhavin Vivek said Sage Lane seeks to uncover unrealized value by targeting off-market and overlooked real estate opportunities.
“We partner with high-net-worth and institutional investors to apply our asset management expertise to value-add and opportunistic investments,” he said. “Sage Lane Partners offers flexible capital solutions that enable diversification into unconventional markets and commercial ventures, ultimately delivering strong returns. The Hampton Inn & Suites embodies this strategy, and we look forward to expanding our portfolio nationwide as we pursue our growth goals.”
“We look forward to collaborating with the Sage Lane Partners team to apply our experience to the Hampton Inn & Suites as we implement strategies to drive cash flow, maximize the asset’s value, and deliver an elevated guest experience,” said Saju.
Ed Denning, president of ARK Development, said Prattville is a growing market ideal for a select-service hotel offering the amenities most requested by business and leisure travelers. “Working with the Sage Lane Partners team, we’re excited to be part of the community and have a positive local impact,” he said.
Peachtree Group recently launched the 114-key Residence Inn Ocean Township along the Jersey Shore, its eighth DST offering since the program’s launch in 2022.
Orlando-based Southern Hospitality, led by President Nikesh Shah, recently opened Extended Stay America Select Suites Wildwood – The Villages in Wildwood, Florida.
The hotel offers apartment-style suites and a fitness center across 50,000+ square feet on 1.75 acres.
A recent ESA survey found extended-stay hotels outperform vacation rentals and apartments in comfort, value and sense of home.
Extended Stay America Select Suites Wildwood – The Villages is now open in Wildwood, Florida. The four-story, 124-room property, developed by Southern Hospitality, is the first to feature the Select Suites new-construction prototype.
Orlando-based Southern Hospitality, led by President Nikesh Shah, broke ground on the property in February 2024.
“We are excited to bring the Extended Stay America Select Suites concept to Wildwood and The Villages,” said Shah. “With our commitment to quality and service, we are thrilled to offer a comfortable and convenient home away from home for both long-term guests and those visiting the area for business or leisure.”
The hotel includes apartment-style suites and a fitness center, totaling more than 50,000 square feet on 1.75 acres, ESA said in a statement.
The Wildwood area includes manufacturing, distribution and agricultural facilities such as Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, Crevalle Boats, Gresco Utility Supply, Mapei and Primus Pipe & Tube, the statement said. It is also near The Villages, UF Health and HCA Florida hospitals and GatorWorld Parks of Florida.
Mark Williams, ESA’s managing director of franchise development, said the opening marks a milestone in the evolution of Extended Stay America Select Suites.
“This further strengthens the brand’s position as the fastest-growing economy extended-stay brand since its 2022 launch, now with more than 200 properties open nationwide,” he said. “We proudly support companies like Southern Hospitality that invest in their communities to provide extended-stay accommodations.”
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Baywood Hotels, based in Columbia, Maryland and led by President Al Patel, acquired the 124-room Hyatt Place Miami Airport-West/Doral in Miami.
The hotel is near Miami International Airport, South Beach, UPS, FedEx, Boeing, and the upcoming Oasis of Doral.
Hunter Hotel Advisors, led by Robert Taylor and Sophia Pittaluga, brokered the sale.
BAYWOOD HOTELS RECENTLY acquired the 124-room Hyatt Place Miami Airport-West/Doral in Miami. Hunter Hotel Advisors, led by Executive Vice President Robert Taylor and Senior Vice President Sophia Pittaluga, brokered the sale, Hunter said in a statement.
“We are excited to execute this deal on behalf of our client,” said Pittaluga. “The asset benefits from airport, leisure and corporate demand, with Baywood positioned in a submarket seeing continued business and residential growth.”
The hotel is near Miami International Airport, Miami International Mall, Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster Golf Course, South Beach, Wynwood, Dolphin Mall, and Marlins Park. Corporate offices including UPS, FedEx, and Boeing contribute to demand, along with the upcoming Oasis of Doral development. The hotel includes 1,127 square feet of meeting space in two rooms, a fitness center, business center and outdoor pool.
Columbia, Maryland-based Baywood, founded in 1975 by Nick Patel with a single motel in Laurel, is now led by President Al Patel.
Nexgen Management, led by CEO Paul Uppal, acquired the four-story, 139-room Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso-Airport in El Paso, Texas.
Nanak Hotels, owned by British Indians, acquired the 60-room Kings Court Hotel, a 17th-century property in Warwickshire, England, for $3.74 million.
The firm plans to invest in the property's refurbishment and repositioning.
Colliers International UK brokered the deal, led by Josh Sullivan and Peter Brunt.
UK-BASED NANAK HOTELS recently acquired the 60-room Kings Court Hotel, a 17th-century property in Warwickshire, England, for £2.75 million or around $3.74 million. This is the first regional acquisition by the privately held firm led by British Indians Harpreet Singh Saluja and Karamvir Singh.
Nanak Hotels, which operates a UK property portfolio, plans to invest in the property's refurbishment and repositioning, according to a statement from Colliers International UK, which brokered the transaction.
“We’re excited to bring Kings Court Hotel into our portfolio as our first Warwickshire acquisition,” said Saluja. “It has a solid foundation and loyal customer base. We see potential to develop the hotel while preserving its heritage.”
The West Midlands hotel, on a 4.2-acre site between Alcester and Redditch, began as a 17th-century farmhouse and now operates as a hospitality business with public areas, event and conference facilities and wedding capacity for up to 130 guests.
The hotel’s previous owner said Kings Court had been central to their work for over 30 years.
“It’s been a privilege to grow it into what it is today,” the owner said. “As we retire, we’re pleased to see it pass to a new owner who shares our commitment to hospitality and has a vision for its future.”
“The sale of Kings Court Hotel drew strong interest due to its size, location and trading performance,” said Josh Sullivan and Peter Brunt of Colliers International UK. “We’re pleased to have completed the transaction with Nanak Hotels and look forward to seeing how they develop the asset.”
In February, UK-based Shiva Hotels, led by founder and CEO Rishi Sachdev, secured $372 million to renovate The BoTree in Marylebone, London. Separately, Indian tech firm Oyo announced a $62 million, three-year plan to expand its UK hotel portfolio by acquiring inventory and securing leasehold and management contracts, supporting 1,000 jobs.
3H Group and Aztec Group opened the first LivSmart Studios by Hilton in Tullahoma, Tennessee, for stays of 10 days or more.
A second 137-room hotel is set to open later this summer in Kokomo, Indiana, owned by Sun Management & Development Corp.
More than 90 hotels are planned, with more than 225 deals in negotiation.
The LivSmart Studios by Hilton Tullahoma is now open in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The 89-room property, developed by 3H Group and Aztec Group, is the first location for the brand and targets guests staying 10 nights or more, a segment Hilton says is largely unmet.
3H Group, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is led by President and CEO Hiren Desai and Aztec Group, based in Miami, is led by Founder and CEO Ezra Katz.
“Opening the first LivSmart Studios by Hilton is an important moment for our team,” said Desai. “We’re partnering with Hilton to launch this new brand and introduce it to the Tullahoma community. This hotel sets the foundation for what will become a national option for long-stay travelers and we’re contributing to the brand’s growth.”
Hilton plans to open a second 137-room hotel later this summer in Kokomo, Indiana, which will be owned by Sun Management & Development Corp., Hilton said in a statement. Chris Silcock, Hilton’s president of global brands and commercial services, said the company has a track record of building brands that meet changing guest needs and deliver value for owners.
“LivSmart Studios represents the latest chapter in our growth strategy as we expand our extended-stay presence with a product designed for longer stays,” he said. “The debut of this brand reinforces our commitment to offering a Hilton experience for every traveler and every stay.”
More than 90 hotels are expected to open in the coming years, with over 225 deals in negotiation, the statement said.
“LivSmart Studios was created to meet growing demand for accommodations designed for longer stays,” said Isaac Lake, Hilton's brand leader for LivSmart Studios by Hilton. “The opening of our first property in Tullahoma brings that plan to life. As the brand grows, we plan to expand into more communities and offer a new option for long-stay hospitality.”
In April, 3H Group opened the first Hyatt Studios Mobile/Tillmans Corner in Mobile, Alabama.
Nexgen Management acquired the four-story, 139-room Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso-Airport in El Paso, Texas.
Hunter Hotel Advisors brokered the transaction, led by Senior Vice President Kami Burnette and Vice President Mason McDavid.
The property is near El Paso International Airport, Marathon Petroleum, Veolia, Kinder Morgan, the Hospitals of Providence, University Medical Center of El Paso and the University of Texas at El Paso.
NEXGEN MANAGEMENT RECENTLY acquired the four-story, 139-room Hampton Inn & Suites El Paso-Airport in El Paso, Texas. The Texas-based company, led by CEO Paul Uppal, focuses on limited and full-service hotel segments in the U.S.
The transaction was brokered by Hunter Hotel Advisors, led by Senior Vice President Kami Burnette and Vice President Mason McDavid, Hunter said in a statement.
“This is our second transaction in El Paso in 2025,” said Burnette. “We facilitated this sale to support the buyer’s continued growth across their hospitality portfolio along the border.”
The property is near El Paso International Airport, which serves more than 3.9 million passengers and handles more than 96,000 aircraft operations annually, the statement said. The area includes operations by Marathon Petroleum, Veolia and Kinder Morgan, as well as institutions such as The Hospitals of Providence, University Medical Center of El Paso and the University of Texas at El Paso.
Nearby sites include Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso Museum of Art, and El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The hotel includes a fitness center, business center and outdoor pool.
In April, Whitestone Capital, a subsidiary of Whitestone Cos. led by CEO Jay Batra, acquired the 189-key Westin Great Southern Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, in an all-cash deal.