The Sessions Hotel, Tribute Portfolio in Bristol, VA
Inspired by the pioneers of country music, The Sessions Hotel serves as an authentic experience in thoughtfully repurposed historic buildings, where rustic meets contemporary.
News
The Advantages of Owning a Small Hotel
In an era where personalization and authenticity are paramount, small hotels are emerging as the crown jewels of the hospitality industry. Owners of boutique properties are uniquely positioned to offer something that larger brands often can’t—a hands-on, deeply personal guest experience. During the Boutique Hotel Owners Conference by BLLA, industry leaders Kimberly Walker, Moody Nashawaty, Alex Kirkwood and Ariela Kiradjian dove into the advantages of small hotel ownership, sharing their own experiences and insights into why this model is so attractive in today’s market.
An Interview with BLLA Award Winner, Jon Kully of LEFT LANE
In the ever-evolving landscape of boutique hospitality, LEFT LANE stands out as a pioneering force, transforming historic buildings into vibrant cultural hubs across America. At the helm of this innovative venture is Jon Kully, a visionary who has brought a fresh perspective to real estate development, blending architecture, design, and brand creation into a seamless experience. As part of our 2024 BLLA Award Winners Series, we spoke with Jon about his journey, the ethos behind LEFT LANE, and what it means to be recognized as the Best Boutique Hotel Owner.
Choice Hotels relaunches Radisson Individuals as part of its portfolio of brands, adding a distinctive proposition to the upper upscale segment
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) today announces the relaunch of Radisson Individuals in the Americas region as an upper upscale soft brand focused on full-service, boutique and independent hotels that stand apart for their distinctive local character and superior guest service. This latest major investment in the Radisson Hotels Americas brands since their acquisition in 2022 builds on Choice's legacy as a pioneer of the soft brand segment and strengthens its portfolio with an offering that serves a fast-growing segment of travelers who value an immersive, one-of-a-kind hotel experience.
An Interview with BLLA Award Winner, Kurt Bjorkman of The Ranch at Laguna Beach
In the competitive world of luxury hospitality, The Ranch at Laguna Beach stands out as a beacon of innovation, community connection, and unbridled creativity. What was once a run-down resort with a rich but fading legacy has been transformed into an incredible resort. This remarkable journey is a testament to the vision and dedication of Kurt Bjorkman, COO of The Ranch at Laguna Beach, and his team.
Premier celebrates the completion of its Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown adaptive reuse and hotel conversion project
Premier, an end-to-end architecture, design, procurement, project management, and corporate engineering firm with specialization in hospitality, multi-family residential, student housing, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use development, is pleased to announce the completion of its latest upscale full-service hotel adaptive reuse and conversion project: Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown. Owned by Ashford Hospitality Trust and Blueprint Hospitality, and managed by Remington Hospitality, the property celebrated the completion of the two-and-a-half-year project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.
Wyndham Rewards Unveils Mural Honoring The Greensboro Six at Gillespie Golf Course
Civil rights pioneers, The Greensboro Six, are being celebrated today with the unveiling of a mural at historic Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro, N.C. The culmination of a year-long journey first announced during last year's 84th annual Wyndham Championship, the outdoor mural, created by Brooklyn-based artist Vincent Ballentine, highlights the six men's role in helping desegregate the game of golf while celebrating First Tee - Central Carolina, which today calls Gillespie home.
The Craddock Terry Hotel Named One of the Best in Central Virginia by Virginia Living Magazine
The Craddock Terry Hotel, an award-winning boutique hotel located in the heart of Lynchburg, is thrilled to announce that Virginia Living Magazine has once again recognized it as one of the Best Hotels in Central Virginia. This prestigious recognition is part of the 12th annual Best of Virginia Readers’ Survey, in which over 50,000 readers participated.
Artist Vincent Ballentine Selected to Help Honor Greensboro Six; Unveils Concept for Wyndham Rewards Commissioned Mural
Following a nation-wide search that saw more than 50 submissions from artists coast-to-coast, Wyndham Rewards®, in collaboration with the City of Greensboro and First Tee – Central Carolina, today announced artist Vincent Ballentine has been selected to design and install a commemorative mural honoring civil rights pioneers, The Greensboro Six, at historic Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro, N.C.
Hotel Elkhart Named Top Restoration Project in Indiana
The Indiana Landmarks, the largest statewide preservation group in the United States, recently named the Hotel Elkhart, a Hilton Tapestry Collection hotel, the top revitalization project in Indiana. The development group 500 Main, LLC, was awarded the 2024 Cook Cup for outstanding restoration.
The Funkiest Southwest Hotel with Lessons for Every Hotelier Worldwide
The concept of a contemporary, boutique motel, either as a new build or retrofit, that commands sizably higher-than-market rates started to become a trend in the 2010s but has grown since the pandemic. Spurred on by a core psychographic of drive-to-vacation culture amongst Gen X and millennials, in the United States we are seeing multi-property brands like Bluebird and Urban Cowboy achieve success by opening exquisitely decorated lodges in sought-after rural areas near major cities. Then there are a host of independents gracing the covers of travel magazines such as The Vagabond Hotel in Miami, The Dive Motel in Nashville, Skyview Los Alamos in California and Thunderbird in Marfa, Texas.
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
West Coast architects AXIS/GFA rebrands as AXIS Architecture + Design
AXIS/GFA Architecture + Design, the noted and award-winning West Coast hotel, multi-family residential, and affordable housing architectural design firm, today announced its rebrand as AXIS Architecture + Design. The firm’s name change launches a new chapter in the company’s history, and includes the introduction of a new logo, corporate identity, and new company website.
Wyndham Rewards Unveils Finalists for Gillespie Wall Mural Honoring Greensboro Six
The nationwide search for an artist to help honor civil rights pioneers The Greensboro Six has officially narrowed to three finalists: Vincent Ballentine of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Raman Bhardwaj of Greensboro, N.C. and Abel Jackson of Charlotte, N.C.
A Case Study in Upleveling Rooms and Expanding Wellness at the Fairmont Tremblant
As background for those not from Canada, Tremblant is a picture-perfect ski village under two hours northwest of Montreal in the Laurentian Mountains. With numerous small hotels, chalets, lodges and short-term rentals to choose from, Tremblant is perhaps the closest thing that North America has to a charming French of Swiss alpine town, wherein the 312-key Fairmont Tremblant has always stood at the luxury resort pillar of the destination since its opening in 1996.
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
Warren Street Hotel is a colourful marvel in downtown Tribeca
Among the cobblestone streets and red brick accents found in downtown Tribeca, Firmdale Hotels’ third New York property, the Warren Street Hotel, sticks out with its striking blue exterior and bright yellow top developed by architecture firm, Stonehill Taylor. The property, which is the sister hotel to Crosby Street in SoHo and The Whitby in Midtown, comes from the hands of British designer and Firmdale founder, Kit Kemp, and her daughters, Minnie and Willow.
IHG Introduces New Suites Brand Prototype Variations
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies with more than 6,300 hotels across 19 global brands, today announces the availability of new prototype options for its three suites brands – Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and Atwell Suites. By expanding design choice, IHG provides greater flexibility for developers across a range of site configurations and market types while also maintaining the experiences guests expect in the rapidly growing suites space.
Reviving History: The Tale of New Orleans' Boutique Hotels
In a remarkable episode of our podcast series, we dive deep into the heart of boutique hospitality through the eyes of Nathalie Jordi. Her journey is not one of a linear path but a mosaic of experiences, transitioning from the world of ice pops to spearheading the boutique hotel movement in New Orleans. It's a story that intertwines the creation of the Hotel Peter and Paul with the broader narrative of hotel development challenges, the essence of local partnerships, and the evolving paradigm of sustainable tourism in the soulful city of New Orleans.
Ariela Goharik Kiradjian, Partner & COO, BLLA
The Neighborhood Hotel Little Italy is in the running to win USA Today’s Best New Hotel award -- the selection is a true honor for the hotel chain’s fourth location
The Neighborhood Hotel Little Italy is the result of a full-scope reno of the former National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame building. Thirty-five suites (studio, one and two bedrooms) offer full kitchens and a mid-century Italian meets sleek urban loft vibe.
Interior Image Group Welcomes New Clients and Expands Full-Service Design Portfolio
Interior Image Group (IIG), a leading name in interior design and procurement for the hospitality industry, continues to expand by adding four new clients to its full-service portfolio. As the firm continues to experience remarkable growth, this expansion highlights its commitment to delivering memorable design experiences within the hospitality industry.
Comfort® Hotels Unveils New Look and Feel with First Rise & Shine™ Prototype Opening in Mountain Grove, Missouri
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) unveiled a new Comfort hotels look and feel with the opening of the first, new construction Rise & Shine™ prototype in Mountain Grove, Missouri.