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.
STR IS LAUNCHING a new phase, STR Benchmarking, a market share product for the global hotel industry, according to STR’s parent company, real estate marketplaces, information and analytics provider CoStar Group. The new software platform will offer property-level data and analytics for hotel owners and operators with functionality built on the STAR Report.
Acquired by CoStar in 2019, STR draws its benchmarking data from a sample of 77,000 participating properties with 10 million rooms around the world. STR Benchmarking provides new functions, including user and competitive set self-management as well as high-frequency updates to data. Future product enhancements, which are expected to begin rolling out later this year, include portfolio-level benchmarking, monthly P&L, average-length-of-stay data, and forward-looking occupancy.
“This is a historic day for CoStar Group, and most importantly, for the global industry that has based its business decisions and success on STR’s reports for nearly four decades,” said Andy Florance, CoStar founder and CEO. “STR Benchmarking is one of the most sophisticated software products CoStar Group has taken to market, with STR’s industry-standard metrics and reports centralized and digitized to deliver real-time analytics, intelligence and functionality. This software is built to evolve and scale with new data sets and property types.”
“STR Benchmarking honors the legacy of STR’s reporting while meeting the evolving needs of our industry,” said Amanda Hite, president of STR. “Through this product, our clients will optimize their strategic internal collaboration and decision-making across their own hotel portfolios, sales & marketing departments, revenue and performance management teams, operations, finance and development. By building a comprehensive benchmarking solution, we are unlocking tremendous potential for our clients and positioning CoStar and STR to increase the value of our product.”
Hite provided a Q&A for STR’s clients regarding the release of STR Benchmarking:
When will my company be upgraded to the new product?
“We are implementing an aggressive timeline and upgrading clients in waves over the remainder of this year. In addition to our product pilot companies, we have focused our initial migration waves toward management and ownership companies, which will get property-level users working in the product first and create a more seamless process when brand users are migrated. If you have not yet heard from STR specific to your upgrade timeline, you are at least a few months away.”
How long will my reports continue in their current form?
“Until you have been upgraded to STR Benchmarking, there is no timeline for a change with the reports you receive. Once you are in the new product, there will be a 30-day overlap period when STAR, Bandwidth, RPM, etc. are still delivered as legacy reports. Corporate Reports, Data Files, P&L and Forward STAR will continue to be delivered as separate reports until that functionality is released in STR Benchmarking.”
How do I control my users?
“Distribution lists will no longer define access to STR. Rather, access will be managed through licenses. Users can only be assigned one license type, and STR will provide enough licenses to migrate all existing users. We will discuss future licensing with you individually.”
Will STAR Reports still be emailed?
“We are modernizing the entire process, including the distribution of STAR Reports. Email is not the most secure and efficient way to transfer proprietary data. Once in the new product, you will receive email notifications when new data is available for you to view and download within the software.”
Will anything change with competitive sets?
“Yes, management of comp sets will look different and include dynamic, self-service functionality that eliminates the need to work through STR’s Client Services team. You will control access via permissions for which users can edit and create comp sets. Updated search functions and in-software isolation checks will expedite the process. And, multiple sets can be created and shared with third parties at no additional cost.”
Will my data remain confidential?
“While STR Benchmarking presents a substantial change in how the industry consumes its performance intelligence, there is no change in STR’s renowned standards for data confidentiality, security and service. Those standards are met through robust data validation, relationship databases and enhanced property isolation checks.”
Are training resources available?
“When STR reaches out to discuss your upgrade timeline, we will walk you through a full demo and answer immediate questions. Additionally, all our training will be automated throughout the software. Our pilot users have confirmed the ease of use, helpful nature of guides and tutorials, and an overwhelmingly positive product experience.”
What happens to reports used by non-hotel clients, such as investors, developers, destinations, etc.?
“We will continue to serve non-benchmarking clients through a combination of STR legacy reports and CoStar’s offering. CoStar is the solution of the future for this client type with hospitality and commercial real estate insights in one product.”
Last month, STR launched the forward-looking component of its product “Forward STAR” in 104 new markets/submarkets across the U.S. and Canada. Forward STAR, which is presently live in 450 areas around the globe, allows hotel property and portfolio users to benchmark the next 365 days of occupancy on the books against the competition and market.
G6 Hospitality and Galaxy Hotels Group are expanding Motel 6 and Studio 6 in the U.S.
Galaxy said G6 brands outperform others in guest satisfaction and value.
One Galaxy hotel generates $8–10M annually; the full G6 portfolio is expected to reach $50M.
G6 HOSPITALITY AND Galaxy Hotels Group are now working to expand the Motel 6 and Studio 6 footprint in the U.S. About 10 Galaxy-managed hotels, totaling more than 1,300 rooms, will operate under the G6 brands, with more to follow.
G6 brands consistently outperform others in guest satisfaction and value, said Galaxy, which rejoined the G6 network after a short break.
“This partnership marks a new chapter in our mission to deliver modern, value-driven hospitality, as we now proudly rejoin G6 Hospitality," said Carlos Cuevas, Galaxy Hotels' COO. "Having previously moved from Choice Group/Park Inn by Radisson, we’ve closely compared the performance of various franchises. Our experience and data show that G6 brands consistently outperform others in guest satisfaction and value. This is why we’re back."
Recent additions include Studio 6 Suites Las Vegas with 308 rooms, Motel 6 Las Vegas – I-15 Stadium with 139 rooms and Motel 6 Las Vegas – Boulder Highway with 160 rooms, the companies said. Studio 6 Suites Las Vegas on the Strip, with more than 300 rooms, will be one of the largest Studio 6 hotels in the U.S., while Motel 6 Las Vegas is also near the Strip and Allegiant Stadium. The portfolio also includes Motel 6 hotels in Modesto, San Jose and Santa Rosa, California and Lakewood, Fort Collins, Thornton and Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Texas-based Galaxy Hotels Group, founded in 1999 and led by CEO Jagmohan “Jag” Dhillon, operates more than 41 hotels in the U.S. One Galaxy hotel in the G6 network generates $8 to 10 million in annual revenue. The full G6 portfolio is expected to reach about $50 million.
OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal is chair of G6 Hospitality and Sonal Sinha is its CEO. OYO added more than 150 hotels to its U.S. portfolio in the first half of 2025 and plans 150 more by year-end.
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Choice launched two campaigns to boost bookings across its four extended-stay brands.
Based on guest feedback, the campaigns focus on efficiency, cleanliness, value and flexibility.
They will run through 2026 across social media, Connected TV, digital display and online video.
CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL launched two marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness and bookings across its four extended-stay brands. The "Stay in Your Rhythm" campaign promotes all four brands by showing how guests can maintain daily routines, while "The WoodSpring Way" highlights the service WoodSpring Suites staff provide.
The company has more than 550 extended-stay locations open, 51 under construction and more than 350 in the pipeline under Everhome Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios and WoodSpring Suites, Choice said in a statement.
"As leaders in the extended stay segment, Choice Hotels has long understood that this category is unlike any other in the hospitality industry, defined by distinct guest expectations that we continuously strive to exceed," said Noha Abdalla, Choice’s chief marketing officer. "These first-of-their-kind campaigns reflect our deep understanding of why people stay longer — from work assignments and relocations to life transitions and personal journeys. No matter the reason, we know our guests aren't looking to escape their routines; they're looking to maintain them. That's why we take pride in our unique position to offer what matters most: consistency, comfort and connection."
Both campaigns are based on research and guest feedback showing travelers prioritize efficiency, cleanliness, value and flexibility, the statement said. They will run through the rest of the year and into 2026 across paid social media, Connected TV, digital display and online video.
The "Stay in Your Rhythm" campaign shows how Choice's extended-stay brands support routines with in-room kitchens, laundry, fitness centers and pet-friendly options, Choice said. It focuses on daily habits like making coffee, cooking, walking the dog, or exercising.
"The WoodSpring Way" highlights how property teams support guests by providing home-like conveniences, the company said. General managers in Chicago, Denver, Atlanta and Orlando are featured for creating a consistent guest experience and welcoming all guests, including pets.
"We've designed our extended stay properties to ensure we provide guests with everything they need when circumstances take them away from home for weeks at a time," said Matt McElhare, Choice's vice president for extended stay brands. "Through the launch of our campaigns, we aim to educate the growing population of extended stay travelers on how our brands offer the best value in the industry, while also highlighting the culture of our flagship brand, WoodSpring Suites, which has consistently set the standard for guest satisfaction in the segment. We're especially thankful to our owners and management company teams who help build and sustain this culture on property, consistently delivering a great guest experience."
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.
AHLA Foundation held its No Room for Trafficking Summit and announced Survivor Fund grantees.
The summit featured expert panels and sessions on survivor employment and trafficking prevention.
Since 2023, the program has awarded more than $2.35 million to 27 organizations.
AHLA FOUNDATION RECENTLY held its annual “No Room for Trafficking Summit” to advance practices and reinforce the industry's commitment to addressing human trafficking through collaboration, education and survivor support. It also announced the 2025–2026 NRFT Survivor Fund grants, which support organizations providing services and resources for survivors.
The event aligned with the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30 and convened survivors, experts and industry leaders, AHLA Foundation said in a statement.
"For years, the No Room for Trafficking initiative has leveraged our resources to unite the hotel industry against human trafficking,” said Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation president & CEO. “The NRFT Summit serves as a powerful call-to-action, bringing together the industry and our partners to strengthen our commitment and drive meaningful change.”
The NRFT Survivor Fund supports community-based anti-trafficking organizations and initiatives, the statement said. Since 2023, it has awarded more than $2.35 million to 27 organizations nationwide.
This year’s grantees include two survivor-founded groups and others focused on prevention and survivor support, including:
3Strands Global Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking
Empowered Network
Hoola Na Pua
New Friends New Life
Rebecca Bender Initiative
Restore NYC
Safety Compass
Salt & Light Coalition
UMD Safe Center
Wellspring Living
"The organizations supported through the No Room for Trafficking Survivor Fund are doing essential work to prevent human trafficking and support survivors," said Joan Bottarini, chief financial officer at Hyatt and chair of the NRFT Advisory Council. "Their expertise—especially the voices of those with lived experience—continues to shape how our industry engages as part of the solution to this global issue.”
The NRFT Advisory Council and Survivor Fund supporting companies include Aimbridge, Choice Hotels, Extended Stay America, Hilton Global Foundation, Hyatt Hotels Foundation, IHG Hotels & Resorts, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Marriott International, Real Hospitality Group, Red Roof, Sonesta, Summit Foundation, Vision Hospitality Group and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
The summit included keynotes and panels featuring lived experience experts on survivor employment and sessions with vendors and industry stakeholders on trafficking prevention.
In July 2024, AHLA Foundation granted $1 million to eight community-based organizations through the Survivor Fund at the third annual NRFT Summit.
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and gave no signal of a September cut.
Developers and brokers are calling for lower borrowing costs to unlock supply and revive stalled deals.
The Fed’s decision followed surprise news that the U.S. economy grew 3 percent in Q2.
THE FEDERAL RESERVE held its key interest rate steady and gave no indication of a cut in September, despite growing pressure from President Trump and his Fed appointees, USA Today reported. The July 30 decision keeps the Fed’s benchmark rate at 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent for a fifth straight meeting.
The Fed remains caught between its mandates of maximum employment and stable prices, the newspaper said. A slowing job market supports rate cuts, but rising inflation from Trump’s tariffs has made officials cautious about signaling next steps.
“Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated. The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate,” the Fed said. “In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.”
The Fed said it considers labor market conditions, inflation pressures and expectations and financial and international developments in making its decisions.
Republican Fed governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman dissented, favoring a rate cut, the first double-governor dissent since 1993. Waller has said tariff-driven inflation will likely be temporary and ease next year. Both are seen as potential Trump picks to succeed Powell when his term ends in May.
In its statement, the Fed dropped its earlier claim that uncertainty had diminished. That more optimistic tone had followed Trump’s 90-day pause on many tariffs, but a Friday deadline could reinstate the higher levies.
The Fed also said “economic activity moderated in the first half of the year”—a downgrade from its earlier description of growth as “solid” that could open the door to a September cut.
“We have made no decision about September,” said Jerome Powell, Fed’s chair, according to USA Today.
He said that the Fed hasn’t cut rates this year because the 4.1 percent unemployment rate meets its full employment goal, while its preferred inflation measure is 2.7 percent—above the 2 percent target. The Fed cuts rates to support growth and jobs and keeps them high to curb inflation.
“When we have risks to both goals, one is farther from target—and that’s inflation,” Powell said. “That calls for a modestly restrictive stance right now.”
In real estate, there’s broad agreement that rate relief is urgent, Real Deal reported. The pressure is acute in housing.
On CNBC Wednesday, LeFrak Organization’s Richard LeFrak compared housing costs to gas prices, something Americans feel immediately, and called for cuts to ease pressure on builders and buyers.
“It would be helpful to increase the supply of housing for interest rates to go down,” he said, framing the crunch as rate-driven as much as policy-driven.
This year’s spring sales season was the slowest in 13 years, according to Bloomberg, with mortgage rates stuck near 7 percent and affordability near its worst since the 1980s. Some buyers are backing out entirely.
Developers and brokers nationwide are increasingly vocal in calling for lower borrowing costs to unlock supply and restart stalled transactions. LeFrak, active in luxury and multifamily development, said rate-sensitive projects remain on hold.
“Do I think rates should be lower? Yes,” he said.
Fanning the flames, the Fed’s decision also came just after the surprise news that the U.S. economy grew at a 3 percent annual pace in the second quarter, topping the Dow Jones estimate of 2.3 percent.
“2Q GDP JUST OUT: 3%, WAY BETTER THAN EXPECTED! ‘Too Late’ MUST NOW LOWER THE RATE. No Inflation! Let people buy, and refinance, their homes!” President Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday morning.
Still, Powell and his colleagues are wary of easing too soon.
Forbes reported that mortgage rates peaked at 7.04 percent in January, fell to the mid-6 percent range in March, and held between 6.75 and 6.9 percent since May, ending June at 6.77 percent.