Virtua Partners, the Scottsdale, Arizona-based private equity firm, announced today the grand reopening of its now 190-room Springhill Suites by Marriott hotel in Houston. The property, managed by Hotel Equities, a leading hotel management firm, features a newly designed interior with spacious suites. This hotel is one of five properties operated through Virtua Partners' and Hotel Equities' strategic partnership.
Today, Atlanta-based Hotel Equities announced the opening of the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Houston Brookhollow, located at 4850 Federal Plaza Drive. The hotel, offering 1,355 square feet of event space, is owned by Dilip Patel and managed by Hotel Equities (HE). Kirk Anderson serves as the hotel's general manager and Christina Dunn-Scott serves as director of sales.
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants announced today a new partnership within Houston's cosmopolitan mixed-use development, Laneways, developed by leading lifestyle and real estate developer, Caydon. Expanding Kimpton's presence in Texas, the project will be the first boutique hotel in Midtown and is scheduled to open at the end of 2022.
Cambria Hotels marked its official arrival to Texas' largest city with the grand opening of the Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center. Representatives from the upscale brand's franchisor Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), along with local dignitaries, were present to commemorate the occasion.
The historic, 10-story hotel is located in the heart of downtown, at the corner of Rusk and Main, and connects guests to the city's companies and entertainment with multiple sport venues, such as Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park, the Theater District and the Discovery Green Park within a walking distance. Located at the intersection of two light rail lines, AC Houston also provides guests with easy access to the Texas Medical Center, the MuseumDistrict and Reliant Center.
The Cambria Hotels brand, franchised by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), officially enters the Houston market with the opening of the Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center. The 21-story, 226-room hotel is an adaptive reuse of the iconic Great Southwest Building, formerly known as the Petroleum Building, and marks the brand's fifth Texas location. The hotel is among seven Cambria locations expected to open this summer in top-tier markets across the country — including the Cambria Hotel Richardson - Dallas — together representing over 1,200 upscale rooms.
Jon Craven has been named General Manager of AC Hotel by Marriott Houston Downtown, the first AC in Houston and only second in Texas, opening in late July. In his role, Craven will oversee the entire hotel operation and will be responsible for ensuring Marriott and AC brand standards are maintained to meet and exceed guests' expectations.
Jacob Gonzalez, who began his hospitality career with Valencia Hotel Group in 2004 as Restaurant Supervisor at the acclaimed Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, has been promoted to Hotel Manager of portfolio's sister property, Hotel Sorella CITYCENTRE in Houston. In this position, he is now responsible for day-today operations of the award-winning, 255-room anchor of west Houston's CITYCENTRE district.
Houston First Corporation and Airbnb, the online home sharing platform, today announced a breakthrough agreement in which Houston's Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) will be collected from Airbnb customers starting July 1.
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has signed an agreement with Legacy Partners, LLC to develop five Sleep Inn hotels outside of Houston, Texas. The first hotel is slated to open in 2020.
WhyHotel, an alternative lodging service that operates pop-up hotels in newly built, luxury apartment buildings, today announced plans to launch a new pop-up hotel in Houston, Texas, highlighting the company's first location outside of the east coast. The pop-up will be launched in partnership with Camden Property Trust and is scheduled to begin accepting its first guests in late 2019, with the pop-up hotel running through late 2020.
All things considered, the Houston economy weathered the worst energy depression since the 1980s relatively well, highlighting the depth and diversity of Houston's economic base today. Job growth in other sectors, such as healthcare, professional services, and construction, helped offset the approximately 25% loss in energy-related jobs. While the oil-and-gas industry is no longer the sole pillar of the local economy, it remains, nonetheless, and integral component. Hiring activity tied to oilfield services and the manufacturing industry has picked up in response to rising oil prices and increased activity in the Permian Basin; however, the jobs related to the exploration and extraction sector (the upstream-related jobs that support areas like the Energy Corridor) have been slow to return.
Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) All Suites portfolio, announced today the "topping off" of its new hotel in Houston, Texas, signifying that the final beam has been placed and that the structural framework is complete.
Melody Warren has been named Marketing Manager at C. Baldwin, a Curio Collection by Hilton hotel soft opening in downtown Houston's landmark Allen Center this summer. Warren brings nearly a decade of hospitality marketing experience to her role at the property, which is currently operating as The DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Downtown as it undergoes a multi-million-dollar reinvention. In Warren's new capacity, she is involved in transitioning the hotel to one of Houston's best while honoring its namesake, Charlotte Baldwin Allen, Houston's unsung hero who used her inheritance to finance many of the city's early milestones.Prior to joining C. Baldwin, Warren served as the Marketing Brand Manager for Houston-based Landry's Inc., overseeing projects for The Post Oak Hotel, The San Luis Resort, Hilton Galveston and The Holiday Inn Galveston - On The Beach. Before that, she was the Marketing Manager for Hyatt Regency Houston, where she spearheaded marketing campaigns and managed strategic plans. Warren began her career with The Walt Disney Company while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Sam Houston State University.Warren is a member of the American Marketing Association - Houston Chapter (AMA) and the Texas Travel Industry Association (TTIA).
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world's leading hotel companies, announces the opening of the InterContinental® Houston - Medical Center. Developed by Medistar Corporation, the elegant and beautifully appointed 354-room luxury hotel is located next to the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical complex. The hotel boasts unrivaled accommodations, amenities, guest services, and significant conference facilities and event space for both business and leisure travelers.
Christopher Baran will oversee the hotel's sales and marketing efforts as director of sales & marketing.Baran will lead the sales and marketing team of the 354-room hotel in repositioning and introducing a revitalized hotel and reenergized downtown Houston. He was most recently vice president of sales & marketing at the W Las Vegas, and before that, complex director of sales for The Westin Birmingham and Sheraton Birmingham Hotel in Alabama. He has also held sales management positions in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area with Loews Hotels and in Las Vegas with The Cosmopolitan, Caesars Palace and Harrah's Entertainment. Additionally, he was the associate director of sales for M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson, NV.
It was announced today that Maggie Rosa, a local industry veteran with 20 years of hospitality experience, will continue in her role at the helm of Downtown Houston's most exciting hotel transformation as general manager of C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton. The game-changing project anchors The Allen Center, a premier mixed-use development at the western gateway to Downtown and at the axis of Midtown and Buffalo Bayou Park. Christopher Baran will oversee the hotel's sales and marketing efforts as director of sales & marketing. Launching this summer, this reimagined hotel will not only change its looks, but also its name - from DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Downtown to C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Ms. Leija has directed sales and marketing at high-end properties such as the Houston Marriott at Hobby Airport; JW Marriott Houston Downtown; The St. Regis Houston; and two Westin hotels at the Houston Galleria.
Pinal Patel, who has 20 years of hotel management experience, becomes General Manager of the property, which is scheduled to open in late June.
Moody National Companies is excited to announce the opening of the Residence Inn by Marriott in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, TX. This beautiful 16-story, 182-room hotel is located at 7807 Kirby Drive, which is an ideal location to serve the Texas Medical Center and NRG Stadium. The Residence Inn includes a 4.5-story parking garage along with four private meeting spaces totaling 5,000 square feet. Moody National Hospitality Management will manage the daily operations of the hotel.