Latest News from Skift
Skift
17 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Everhome Suites Expands U.S. Footprint
The DJIA rose 117 points, the Nasdaq was up 75, the S&P 500 rose 24 points and the 10-year treasury yield was down .05 to 4.42%. Lodging stocks were modestly higher. Jefferies reported on a meeting they held with Ryman Hospitality Properties management. They liked what they heard as the firm upped their price target to $115 from $109 while maintaining their Buy rating. The key focus of the meeting was on the recently announced acquisition of the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, along with the opportunities for Opryland Entertainment Group. The JW Marriott purchase provides RHP access to Phoenix, the 7th largest convention market in the U.S. RHP sees an opportunity to capitalize on shifting mix toward business groups versus leisure. Jefferies sees an opportunity to expand the property over time. The transaction is expected to close in late 2Q or early 3Q. As for the OEG, Jefferies said it presents a future value-capture opportunity that seems highly likely to occur in the medium term. STR reported U.S. lodging data for the week ended May 24th. U.S. hotel RevPAR rose 1.1% year over year with rates up 1.5%. Group RevPAR rose 6%. Everhome Suites continues to grow its nationwide footprint with the opening of six new properties and three groundbreakings. Choice Hotels now has 14 Everhome Suites open, 19 under construction, and more than 60 in the pipeline. The brand is on track to have nearly 25 hotels open by the end of the year. The newly opened and under-construction hotels were developed with longtime collaborators of Choice Hotels and Highside Companies. These include: the 114-room Everhome Suites Bastrop, Texas, opened in February 2025. The 122-room Everhome Suites Waco, Texas, opened in March 2025. The 122-room Everhome Suites Brownsville, Texas, and the 122-room Everhome Suites El Paso, Texas, opened in April 2025. Opening in June 2025 is the 114-room Everhome Suites Amarillo, Texas. The Everhome Suites Georgetown, Texas, broke ground in March 2025 and is scheduled to open in September 2026 with 115 guestrooms. In Arizona, the 122-room Everhome Suites Yuma will open in July 2025. Everhome Suites Salem, Oregon, broke ground in April 2025 and is slated to open in the third quarter of 2026 with 114 guestrooms and the Everhome Suites Dayton, Ohio, will break ground in June 2025 and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2027 with 114 guestrooms. The Talbott, a historic landmark in Chicago's Gold Coast, has completed a full-scale renovation and officially joins Marriott Bonvoy's Autograph Collection. From check-in to room relaxation, the renovation re-imagined every aspect of the property, including all 178 guestrooms, public spaces, and event areas. The Hilton New York Fashion District unveiled a fresh new look as part of the extensive property-wide renovations. The property updates include a complete refresh of all 280 guestrooms, public spaces, and meeting areas. Managed by Aimbridge Hospitality, the Hilton New York Fashion District features a rooftop bar, live music programming, modern dining options, a fitness center, and a business center. Hilton announced the signing of a branding and management agreement with Wine Country Hospitality Partners, LLC for the new build Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country and Waldorf Astoria Residences Texas Hill Country, marking the debut of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts in the Lone Star State. The project is expected to open in 2027 and will be managed by Hilton. The property will encompass 60 dedicated hotel guestrooms and suites, 37 branded multi-bedroom resort villas eligible to participate in a hotel rental program as 74 additional keys, and 50 branded private residences. The resort will also include five food and beverage concepts, a spa and fitness center, two resort-style pools, and more. The 253-room Embassy Suites by Hilton located next to the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, South Carolina, has completed a $12 million renovation. The renovation included improvements to the guest suites and event venues and expanding the common areas and dining spaces. The renovation also included technology upgrades in the conference areas and suites as well as behind-the-scenes updates to the heating and cooling systems. The Embassy Suites by Hilton is owned by Atrium Hospitality. Pacific Waters Spa at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort unveiled a curated selection of treatments catering to the needs of those seeking enhanced recovery and overall well-being. The spa's latest offerings include Halotherapy Infrared Sauna; Luminova Illuminating Wellness with Light; Avacen; Therabody Zero Gravity Experience; and the Sedona PEMF Mat. Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa features 519 guestrooms including 58 suites, multiple dining outlets, a lagoon-style pool, and a retail plaza. The Trail Hotel, the world's first bourbon-infused luxury hotel, is now welcoming guests in Bardstown, Kentucky. Housed in a re-imagined historic property, the 95-room hotel boasts eight signature suites, a four-star dining experience, five distinct bars; an array of modern wellness amenities; and meetings and events spaces. The Lake County, Indiana Board of Commissioners selected the proposal from the city of Gary and Hard Rock Northern Indiana as the winning bid for the new convention center. The city and Hard Rock plan to build a 145,000-square-foot convention center and Hard Rock Hotel near the casino. The plan is for the property to also have space for two additional hotels, including one REVERB by Hard Rock Hotel, and two restaurants and retail spaces. The city of Gary beat out the city of Hobart for the Lake County Convention Center. The Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York, is putting the final touches on its more than $75 million renovation and expansion. The classic Victorian hotel's transformation includes more guestrooms, growing from 32 to 65, with modern bathrooms and radiant heated floors. There is also a gym, game room, gathering room with a bar, and two onsite restaurants. Hotel Wren, a re-imagined 1940's roadside motel, is now open in Twentynine Palms, California. The 12-room hideaway is a 21+ property and features a curated bodega of provisions and objects. SomeraRoad purchased the historic Hotel Bossert, in Brooklyn, New York, for $100 million. The seller, Beach Point Capital, provided a $71 million mortgage to SomeraRoad. The developer plans to restore the building and open it as residences. The team behind the development set to alter the base area of Keystone Resort, in Summit County, Colorado, is now shooting for a winter 2025 opening as opposed to the previously planned summer 2025 opening. The $300 million project, by Kindred Development Team, encompasses three buildings, including a 107-room hotel, three restaurants, 95 luxury condos, a ski school, event space, and more. The hotel and 62 residences, called the West Tower, are on track to be completed first, and the East Tower with the remaining 33 residences will follow. In the center of the three towers will be a courtyard with an Astroturf field, fire pits, and yard games. Walker & Dunlop, Inc. advised on an $86,000,000 loan to refinance the Caesars Republic Scottsdale, a Hilton Hotel, located in the epicenter of Scottsdale Fashion Square. Walker & Dunlop Arizona Capital Markets, partnered with Walker & Dunlop New York Capital Markets, to arrange the loan as an exclusive advisor to HCW Development. A regional bank provided the financing. The Caesars Republic Scottsdale boasts 265 guestrooms, three restaurants, two pools, and over 20,000 square feet of event space. DoveHill announced the successful exit of its preferred equity investment in the Courtyard New York Manhattan Chelsea, delivering an impressive 18.4% IRR over a four-year hold period to its investors. DoveHill Sponsor Fund I was strategically raised during the Covid-19 pandemic to capitalize on distressed opportunities within the hospitality sector. DoveHill is raising its second fund, DoveHill Opportunity Fund 2, which will continue to pursue preferred equity investments in hospitality and direct equity stakes in distinctive experiential and lifestyle-centric hotels. Global Highlights InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' luxury and lifestyle portfolio, announced a new property in Guayaquil, marking its first destination in Ecuador. Developed in partnership with BPO Consulting, InterContinental Guayaquil will offer 101 guestrooms, 11 suites and one Presidential Suite, a specialty restaurant, a poolside lounge, a resort-style rooftop pool, a spa, and a fitness center. It will also feature approximately 610 square meters of dedicated meeting and event space in addition to a signature Club InterContinental lounge. The hotel is set to open in 2027. Europe Highlights Yoomata Aldgate Property has acquired Challenger House in Whitechapel, London. The joint venture between Euragone Investment Management and Mata Capital paid Great Portland Estates £42 million for the asset together with a plot of undeveloped land. Challenger House comprises 180 rooms alongside a ground-floor restaurant and bar. Yoomata is planning to redevelop the site to eventually operate it under the Yooma Urban Lodge brand.
Skift
18 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Want More Engaged Attendees? Focus Less on Time, More on Energy
Event professionals are moving beyond traditional scheduling and focusing on energy management to design experiences that support how people process and retain information. Want to keep attendees awake and engaged? Focus on energy, not the clock. That was a theme of "The Wellness Intersection," a Skift Meetings Backstage Briefing held on May 29. 'Attention, information retention, energy, and connection come from events designed with the attendee in mind,' said Samantha T. Marie, chief experience officer at OmniEra Events and Travel. She was joined by Sepideh Eivazi, founder of Dawn of the Earth, a company that combines somatic breathwork with custom teas. Create Events That Support Sustained Energy To keep energy high at events, build in moments that actively engage attendees physically, mentally, and emotionally. Start with a dynamic opener to set the tone. Then vary the session formats to avoid fatigue. Mix presentations with interactive discussions, short movement breaks, or mindfulness moments. Offer energizing snacks and hydration stations. In addition, be intentional about natural light and room layout. Even small shifts like encouraging people to stand, stretch, or breathe deeply will reset attention and boost focus. The goal isn't to fill every minute. It's to create space that supports sustained energy throughout the day. 'Wellness must be woven into the entire experience. From registration to session transitions. It should be intentional, relevant, and grounded in purpose, keeping energy in mind,' said Eivazi. Keep Wellness Simple It doesn't have to be complicated. Breaks between sessions and time to rest help attendees stay focused. Eivazi, a member of the Breathe Initiative at the Global Wellness Institute, focuses on breathwork and nervous system regulation. She is also a featured practitioner in Caesars Entertainment's group wellness menu, which includes curated food, drinks, and activities like guided breathwork, sound healing, and yoga. Wellness can extend beyond the meeting room. In-room touches like downloadable wellness e-books, aromatherapy oils, soy candles, and organic teas help reinforce the experience. In addition, by leaving a thoughtful amenity in your attendees' guestrooms will let them know they work for a company that cares for their well-being. That will go a long way. These touches will also help alleviate the stress that is rampant in today's society. As wellness becomes a greater priority for attendees, planners who incorporate it across the whole event experience, keeping energy levels in mind, may deliver stronger results.
Skift
20 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
19 New Southern U.S. Meeting Venues
From modern convention centers to luxury hotels, the South is leading the way in new properties. According to the latest United States Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics, the three fastest-developing cities for hotel development are in the South: Dallas with 204 projects (23,669 rooms), Atlanta with 168 projects (19,431 rooms), and Nashville with 130 (17,029 rooms) The types of venues being built and undergoing renovations run the gamut from convention centers (Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL and the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, GA) to gaming properties (Caesars Virginia in Danville, VA, the Coastal Convention Center at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, and Live! Casino & Hotel in Shreveport, LA). Luxury entries abound, from chains including Salamander, JW Marriott, Fairmont, and LeMeridien. Explore 135 exceptional new properties hand-picked for meeting and incentive planners Here's what's new in the Southern U.S., and take a look at our just-released report on 135 hotels for meetings and incentive travel here. 1. Caesars Virginia Danville, VA Caesars Virginia features a 320-room hotel with more than 50,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. The property's main ballroom measures 29,150 square feet and can accommodate 2,500 attendees in theater style. It can be split into a maximum of eight rooms, with a small boardroom also available, along with three pre-function areas and one terrace. The newly constructed $650 million resort and casino offers multiple dining options, a full-service spa, pool, and shopping experiences. 2. Coastal Convention Center at Fontainebleau Miami Beach Miami, FL The Coastal Convention Center at Fontainebleau Miami Beach opened in December 2024 offering 45,000 square feet of event space including a 16,500-square-foot ballroom, which can hold up to 1,380 in theater style. The venue also offers a 9,500-square-foot junior ballroom and a 7,000-square-foot rooftop deck. The connected Fontainebleau Miami Beach offers 1,504 guest rooms, 200,000 square feet of event space, 10 dining options, pools, wellness facilities, and multiple entertainment options. 3. Delano Miami Beach (Renovation) Miami, FL After extensive renovations, Delano Miami Beach will reopen in late 2025. It will feature 171 guest rooms and numerous dining and retail options. Other amenities include a wellness studio and spa, a ground-floor pool, a new beachfront deck, and an additional pool on the fourth floor. While specific details have not yet been disclosed, the renovations will include exclusive areas for meetings and events. 4. Fairmont New Orleans New Orleans, LA Opening in the summer of 2025, Fairmont New Orleans is returning to New Orleans as part of a redevelopment of the 1010 Common Street building, the former Bank of New Orleans Building. The 250- room hotel will feature 20,000 square feet of event space including ballrooms, meeting rooms, a library and a business center. The hotel will offer three food and beverage options, a 10,000-square-foot spa, a rooftop bar, and a speakeasy overlooking the swimming pool with city views. 5. InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk San Antonio, TX InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk is a centrally located luxury hotel one mile from the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and steps away from the city's River Walk. The 390-room hotel features over 18,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 8,200-square-foot ballroom, and 10 meeting rooms. Additional amenities include four on-site dining venues, a rooftop pool, a lounge, and direct access to a water taxi landing zone 6. JW Marriott at Reston Station Reston, VA The JW Marriott at Reston Station is scheduled to open in mid-2025 and is the brand's first property in Virginia. Standing more than 25 stories high, the 243-room hotel will have 35,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a large ballroom with an outdoor veranda. The hotel will also offer a fitness center, garage parking with 24/7 valet service, and a JW executive club offering private outdoor terraces and a boardroom. 7. Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison (Renovation) Washington, D.C. Washington's historic hotel, The Madison, is now the Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison. It reopened in September 2024 following a $15 million redesign. One of the 356-room hotel's unique features is its close proximity to the White House and National Mall. Meeting space includes a ballroom with capacity for 500 in a reception or 300, theater style, and a total of 16 separate event spaces. Amenities include three dining options and a fitness center 8. Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana Shreveport-Bossier, LA Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana is a $270+ million resort and casino in Shreveport-Bossier. The 549-room property features 25,000 square feet of customizable event space including a performance stage, ballroom, multiple breakout rooms, a pre-function space, and an executive boardroom. The resort also offers more than 47,000 square feet of gaming space, a pool, fitness center, live entertainment and nightlife venues, and numerous dining options. 9. Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City Kansas City, KS Scheduled to open in spring 2025, Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City is a $150 million project located in Western Wyandotte County. The 229-room resort will feature 13,000 square feet of event space across eight rooms with adaptable layouts, the largest of which can hold up to 380 guests. The property will offer Margaritavill-einspired restaurants and bars, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, and a rock-climbing wall. 10. OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark Oklahoma City, OK OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark is a newly opened, 404-room resort in Oklahoma City. Event space includes two ballrooms accommodating 780 guests and 547 guests in theater style. Four breakout rooms and two smaller boardrooms are complemented by a 1,500-seat amphitheater and an event lawn. The resort's main feature is its 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark. It also offers 13 different eateries, a spa, and a fitness center. 11. Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel Fort Lauderdale, FL Set to open in late fall 2025, Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel is directly connected to the Broward County Convention Center. It will offer over 120,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including ballrooms, pre-function areas, and smaller meeting rooms. The hotel features six dining venues, a rooftop lounge, pool deck, and spa. It is ideal suited for planners needing a mix of onsite meeting space with access to over 1.2 million square feet at the adjacent convention center. 12. Opal Sol Clearwater, FL Opal Sol opened in February 2025 featuring 248 guest rooms and 57,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including an 8,800-square-foot ballroom that can accommodate 950 in theater style. Three outdoor spaces complement the total of 10 event spaces. Next door and connected via a skybridge, the older Opal Sands offers 230 guest rooms and more than 49,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. There are 10 dining venues between the two properties on offer for all guests. 13. Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa Palmetto, FL Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa is a 252-room hotel which opened last summer that offers 9,000 square feet of indoor event space including a ballroom capable of hosting 936 guests in theatre style. The property also connects with the 40,000-square-foot Bradenton Area Convention Center, which is currently undergoing a $50-million renovation scheduled for completion in 2026. The property features two pools, a spa, a fitness center, beach volleyball and pickleball courts, and five dining options. 14. Salamander Washington, DC (Renovation) Washington, D.C. The centrally located Salamander Washington DC, is near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Wharf dining and entertainment, and within walking distance of the National Mall. The newly renovated hotel offers 373 rooms with monument views, a new two-floor spa, a renovated club lounge, and 36,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space, including two ballrooms, garden rooms, and a grand lawn. 15. Santo Kimpton Hotel San Antonio, TX The Santo Kimpton Hotel opened in downtown San Antonio in the summer of 2024. The 347-room property is within walking distance of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and San Antonio River Walk. It offers more than 13,000 square feet of event space, including two divisible ballrooms, the largest of which can hold almost 600 guests in theater style, as well as five meeting rooms. The hotel offers one restaurant, one bar, and a rooftop pool and lounge. 16. Savannah Convention Center (Expansion) Savannah, GA Located across the river from downtown Savannah, the Savannah Convention Center recently unveiled its $276 million expansion that doubled the exhibit space to 200,000 square feet and added a new 40,000-square-foot ballroom with riverfront views. The venue's total event space has doubled, bringing it to 660,000 square feet. Other enhancements include a 58-foot-wide hangar door for oversized exhibits, floor-to-ceiling glass facades, and an adjacent ferry link to historic downtown. 17. The Cooper Charleston, SC Opening in 2025, The Cooper is a 196-room hotel on Charleston's waterfront, adjacent to Waterfront Park. It offers 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including a grand ballroom and conference areas. The design reflects the city's French Quarter aesthetic. Amenities include a full-service spa, fitness center, rooftop infinity pool, five restaurants, and access to a private marina with multiple yachts, providing planners with flexible options for both meetings and social events. 18. The St. Regis Longboat Key Sarasota, FL The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is on Sarasota's barrier island across 18 beachfront acres. The resort opened in August 2024 with 168 guest rooms and 31,320 square feet of event space, including a ballroom capable of hosting 600 guests. It offers 800 feet of private beach access, six dining venues, a 20,000-square-foot spa and a lagoon showcasing the tropical aquatic environment. Guests can also enjoy the services of a dedicated Pool Butler, who is ready to assist both in and out of water. 19. Disney World Swan and Dolphin (Expansion) Orlando, FL In 2024, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin announced a $275 million expansion project that will bring the total meeting space between its three buildings — the Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve — to 469,000 square feet, including more than 349,000 square feet of indoor event space. Along with its 2,619 guest rooms the properties offer 99 meeting rooms (including six ballrooms), 110,500 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, and multiple outdoor function areas.
Skift
21 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Why Booking.com Cut 'Thousands' of Affiliate Partners – and What Comes Next
purge of affiliates is about cutting costs and reducing fraud, but it's created a lot of confusion in the process. has abruptly ended its affiliate partnerships with travel bloggers and other content creators, giving just 30 days' notice and offering no explanation for the decision. The move has sparked confusion and frustration among affiliates – they face lost income and work to update or remove affiliate links. declined to say how many partners were affected, but the travel networking platform Travel Massive called the cuts 'Bookinggeddon,' and estimated that 'thousands' of affiliates were dropped. website says it has more than 17,500 affiliate partners. But the cuts are believed to be aimed at smaller partners without substantial scale. What Are Affiliate Partnerships? affiliate program is essentially a marketing channel for the company; it's a way to get the brand in front of new customers and attract bookings. Travel blogs and other small travel businesses could sign up directly with to become affiliate partners. They could add links and banners to their websites and be able to sell hotels and other travel products via In return, affiliates would receive a share of 25% to 40% of commiss
Skift
a day ago
- Business
- Skift
Events Under Pressure: How Planners Are Designing for Uncertainty
ECEF 2025 underscored that the events industry is no longer reacting to disruption; it's reengineering itself in response. Events are evolving to address this instability head-on. Growing geopolitical instability, trade tensions, and unpredictable policy shifts are forcing event organizers to rethink everything from show formats to sponsorship models, according to leaders gathered at the Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum (ECEF) on May 28. 'This is a quasi-crisis for the world,' said Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro in his opening keynote, warning that visa delays, global safety concerns, and political volatility are threatening international attendance at major events like CES, one of the world's largest tech gatherings. More than 40% of CES's 142,465 attendees in January came from outside the U.S., Shapiro said. 'I am paranoid about what we can do differently to make our international attendees feel comfortable coming to our show.' To address the challenge, CES will launch a new European edition — CES Unveiled Europe — in Amsterdam in October 2025. It's also retooling its 2026 Las Vegas event, adding a dedicated zone focused on AI, blockchain, and quantum tech. Hervé Sedky, president and CEO of Emerald, an events company, said international attendance patterns are already shifting. While participation from China and Canada is down, growth is coming from Brazil, Turkey, and the Middle East, requiring new regional strategies. Healthcare Events Feeling the Strain Few sectors are feeling the disruption more acutely than healthcare. Richard Scarfo, president of HLTH, said a tangle of regulations, executive orders, and travel restrictions has added complexity to planning. 'We don't know from one month to the next what's coming,' Scarfo said. 'Many of the leaders we rely on to drive critical conversations are unable to attend industry events.' In response, HLTH is repositioning itself. It's expanding its programming, launching a Latin American Summit, and building deeper focus areas across diagnostics, pharma, and food. It's also rethinking sponsorship, shifting toward long-term, cost-effective partnerships. One key shift: co-developing custom exhibit assets with flagship sponsors that can be reused across a four-show arc. 'This helps reduce upfront costs and allows us to deliver high-impact experiences that would otherwise be out of reach,' Scarfo said. The assets are modular by design — easily rebranded and reused depending on the event and sponsor objectives. HLTH is also experimenting with more experiential show floor features, including an art gallery and a speakeasy. 'It's more cost-effective than a restaurant and more creative than a meeting room,' Scarfo noted. To stay connected between events, HLTH has launched Entree, a division focused on curated, year-round experiences. The organization also hosts 'Jeffersonian dinners' around the world to sustain executive engagement beyond the show floor. 'In today's climate, we're not just adapting — we're collaborating more creatively and closely with our sponsors and partners than ever before,' said Scarfo. 'It's reshaping how we do business.'
