Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Sonesta launches new brand, Sonesta Essential

The first properties in the new upper-midscale select-service brand are set to open later this year

Sonesta launches new brand, Sonesta Essential

SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Corp. recently launched Sonesta Essential, a new upper-midscale select-service brand. The company now offers 15 brands.

Sonesta Essential is meant to offer easier new builds and conversions with modest brand standards, limited food and beverage requirements and simplified conversion processes, according to the company.


“Sonesta Essential is a fresh, new brand carefully designed by Sonesta to deliver a core selection of services compared with other hospitality experiences,” said Brian Quinn, Sonesta chief development officer. “With tremendous demand in the select-service category, we are confident that Sonesta Essential will become a leading brand in an exciting, timely and relevant segment.”

The first two Sonesta Essential hotels will be a franchise in Vacaville, California, which is set to open in late spring 2023, and a managed property in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which will be converted from a Sonesta Select in the fall of 2023.

Sonesta Essential’s foundational brand standards include 24-hour reception, a fitness center, complimentary hot breakfast, all-day coffee experience, Wi-Fi and elevated bedding. The company launched its franchising service in September 2021 with upper upscale, upscale, upper-midscale, midscale, extended-stay and economy options.

Sonesta has approximately 1,200 properties totaling 100,000 guest rooms across 17 brands in eight countries. Sonesta owns, manages and/or franchises under The Royal Sonesta, The James, Sonesta Hotels & Resorts, Sonesta Select, Sonesta ES Suites and Sonesta Simply Suites. Other brands include Hotel RL, Red Lion Hotels, Red Lion Inn & Suites, Signature Inn, GuestHouse Extended Stay, Knights Inn, Americas Best Value Inn and Canadas Best Value Inn.

In early January, Hilton launched its new “premium economy” brand, Spark. Spark will include several features meant to appeal to owners, according to Hilton, primarily by providing the company’s reservation network, business model and commercial engines. It also includes supply chain management, a cost-effective pricing model and automated customer offerings such as digital check-in and Digital Key.

More for you

Trump reviewing 55 million us visas
Getty Images

Trump reviewing 55 million visas

Summary:

  • The Trump administration says it is reviewing more than 55 million visa holders.
  • Reviews cover a wide range of visas for law enforcement and overstay violations.
  • The administration also suspended worker visas for foreign commercial truck drivers.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION is reviewing more than 55 million people who hold valid U.S. visas for potential violations. It is expanding a policy of “continuous vetting” that could result in revocation and deportation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Global hotel construction pipeline reaches record 15,871 projects in Q2 2025, with U.S. and Dallas leading growth
Photo Credit: iStock

Report: Global pipeline hits 15,871 projects

Summary:

  • Global pipeline hit a record 15,871 projects with 2.4 million rooms in Q2.
  • The U.S. leads with 6,280 projects; Dallas tops cities with 199.
  • Nearly 2,900 hotels are expected to open worldwide by the end of 2025.

THE GLOBAL HOTEL pipeline reached 15,871 projects, up 3 percent year-over-year, and 2,436,225 rooms, up 2 percent, according to Lodging Econometrics. Most were upper midscale and upscale, LE reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
HAMA Launches 20th Student Case Competition in USA
Photo Credit: iStock

HAMA launches 20th student case competition

Summary:

  • HAMA is accepting submissions for its 20th annual student case competition.
  • The cases reflect a scenario HAMA members faced as owner representatives.
  • Teams must submit a financial analysis, solution and executive summary.

THE HOSPITALITY ASSET Managers Association is accepting submissions for the 20th Annual HAMA Student Case Competition, in which more than 60 students analyze a management company change scenario and provide recommendations. HAMA, HotStats and Lodging Analytics Research & Consulting are providing the case, based on a scenario HAMA members faced as owner representatives.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stonebridge hotel management expansion
Photo credit: Stonebridge Cos.

Stonebridge adds Statler Dallas to managed portfolio

Summary:

  • Stonebridge Cos. added the Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton, to its managed portfolio.
  • The hotel, opened in 1956 and relaunched in 2017, is owned by Centurion American Development Group.
  • The property is near Main Street Garden Park, the Arts District and the Dallas World Aquarium.

STONEBRIDGE COS. HAS contracted to manage the Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton in Dallas to its managed portfolio. The hotel, opened in 1956 and relaunched in 2017, is owned by Centurion American Development Group, led by Mehrdad Moayedi.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peachtree EB-5 approval
Photo credit: Peachtree Group

Peachtree’s FL development gets EB-5 approval

Summary:

  • 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.

Keep ReadingShow less