Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Wealth Hospitality breaks ground on dual brand in Louisiana

The 154-room Hilton hotel is expected to open in early 2026

Wealth Hospitality breaks ground on dual brand in Louisiana

WEALTH HOSPITALITY GROUP recently broke ground on a dual-branded Tru by Hilton and Home2 Suites in Ruston, Louisiana. The development, set to open in early 2026, will offer 154 rooms with extended-stay options, Wealth Hospitality said in a statement.

The Ridgeland, Mississippi-based Wealth Hospitality is led by Founder, CEO and Managing Principal Hiren “Chico” Patel, President and Managing Principal Mitesh “Mike” Patel and Founder and Managing Principal Bhupender “Bruce” Patel.


Hiren Patel cited the area’s location along I-20 and a nearby sports complex, which attracts 400,000 visitors annually, as key factors in the project’s appeal. The hotel, Ruston’s first dual-branded and extended-stay option, is near Louisiana Tech University and Grambling State University.

The new hotel is the first in nearly a decade in Ruston, meeting the growing demand for accommodations, especially during university events and sports tournaments, the statement said.

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker expressed support for the project, noting its importance for the city’s growth, particularly in sports tourism.

The groundbreaking also marked the company’s commitment to the local community, with donations to Louisiana Tech’s and Grambling State’s Colleges of Business, as well as to the Ruston Police and Fire Departments.

NexGen Hotels recently acquired The Maritime Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 150-room property will be rebranded as The Moor Hotel at Marina Bay, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, with renovations expected by the third quarter of 2025.

More for you

Peachtree Group DST Mansfield Texas

Peachtree adds Mansfield, TX, industrial asset to DST

Summary:

  • Peachtree launched new DST with 131,040‑square foot industrial facility in Mansfield, Texas.
  • The property was acquired at $180 per square foot.
  • Peachtree completed $320M in debt-free transactions across multiple markets since 2022.

PEACHTREE GROUP LAUNCHED its latest Delaware Statutory Trust with the acquisition of a newly built 131,040-square-foot industrial facility in Mansfield, Texas. The company has completed about $320 million in debt-free transactions since launching its DST program in 2022, according to its statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
AHLA Foundation expands hospitality education

AHLA Foundation expands hospitality education

Summary:

  • AHLA Foundation is partnering with ICHRIE and ACPHA to support hospitality education.
  • The collaborations align academic programs with industry workforce needs.
  • It will provide data, faculty development, and student engagement opportunities.

THE AHLA FOUNDATION, International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration work to expand education opportunities for students pursuing hospitality careers. The alliances aim to provide data, faculty development and student engagement opportunities.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. holiday travel 2025 trends

Report: U.S. consumers’ holiday travel intent dips

Summary:

  • U.S. holiday travel is down to 44 percent, led by Millennials and Gen Z.
  • Younger consumers are cost-conscious while older generations show steadier travel intent.
  • 76 percent of Millennials are likely to use AI for travel recommendations.

NEARLY 44 PERCENT of U.S. consumers plan to travel during the 2025 holiday season, down from 46 percent last year, according to PwC. Millennials and Gen Z lead travel intent at 55 percent each, while Gen X sits at 39 percent and Baby Boomers at 26 percent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump tariffs India impact travel

Indian arrivals to U.S. fall for first time in millennium

Summary:

  • Indian visitors to the U.S. fell 8 percent to 210,000 in June 2025, according to NTTO.
  • President Trump’s 50 percent tariff on Indian goods took effect on August 27.
  • The U.S. has seen a decline in international visitors in recent months.

INDIAN VISITORS TO the U.S. fell in June 2025 for the first time this millennium, excluding the Covid period, according to the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office. About 210,00 Indians visited the U.S. in June, down 8 percent from 230,000 in the same month last year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Report: Global RevPAR to rise 3–5 percent in 2025

Report: Global RevPAR to rise 3–5 percent in 2025

Summary:

  • Global hotel RevPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, JLL reports.
  • Hotel RevPAR rose 4 percent in 2024, with demand at 4.8 billion room nights.
  • London, New York and Tokyo are expected to lead investor interest in 2025.

GLOBAL HOTEL REVPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, with investment volume up 15 to 25 percent, driven by loan maturities, deferred capital spending and private equity fund expirations, according to JLL. Leisure travel is expected to decline as consumer savings tighten, while group, corporate and international travel increase, supporting RevPAR growth.

Keep ReadingShow less