Resorts
World’s NYC Casino plan. Resorts World New York City presented its plan for New York’s largest
integrated resort, which it says is the largest of all the bids in terms of
site size, build area, and casino floor area. The $5.5
billion proposal would transform the 73-acre Aqueduct site into the
single-largest entertainment hub, spanning 5.6 million sq. ft. integrated
resort, allowing for 6,000 slot machines, 800 gaming tables, 2,000 hotel rooms
(including a 400-key Hyatt Regency and two Resorts World hotels), a 7,000-seat
arena, more than 7,000 parking spaces, more than 30 food and beverage outlets,
a spa and more than a dozen acres of community greenspace. Resorts World New
York City could be open as early as July 2026 because all land-use approvals
have already been granted and the company said it is ready to start
construction the day it receives a license.
Tampa
hotel is acquired. Winter Haven, Florida-based KK & Z Hospitality LLC has acquired the 77-key
Sleep Inn & Suites in Tampa, Florida, from Ben Mallah for $10.5 million.
The hotel was originally built in 2019. Cushman & Wakefield facilitated the
transaction.
Illinois
hotel sells. Indianapolis, Indiana-based Witness Investment has acquired the 117-key Hilton
Garden Inn Springfield in Illinois from Louisville, Kentucky-based Schulte
Hospitality Group on July 11 for an undisclosed amount. Hunter Hotel Advisors
facilitated the transaction.
Liberty
exiting hotel business. After more than four decades in the hospitality sector, Houston-based
Liberty Group has formally left the hotel business, selling off its entire
portfolio of branded properties. Founded in 1980 by Indian-born entrepreneur
Raxit Shah, Liberty Group began as a single-property hotel operator in Florida.
Over the years, it expanded across the southeastern United States, accumulating
a portfolio of 57 hotels and over 5,000 rooms. Liberty completed its divestment
earlier in July.
Renovation
of historic Austin hotel. Austin, Texas-based Pixiu Investments, Dallas-based Woodbine Development
and Hyatt Hotels Corp. are renovating the 175-key Driskill Hotel in Austin.
Texas’ first luxury hotel was built in 1886 and is part of The Unbound
Collection by Hyatt. The renovations will include guest rooms, the lobby and
common areas, meeting and social spaces and culinary outposts, with the
addition of a new ballroom, cocktail bar and retail space. The first phase of
the renovation will debut this fall with a reimagined bar and restaurant, both
operated by Austin-based MML Hospitality. The second phase is scheduled for
completion next summer.
Largest
AC in North America reopens. The 355-key AC Hotel Arlington National Landing in
Arlington, Virginia, is now open following a multi-million-dollar
transformation. The property, formerly the Crystal City Marriott, is the
largest AC Hotel in North America. Philadelphia-based HHM Hotels operates the
hotel.
US hotels
mixed in June. The
U.S. hotel industry showed mixed year-over-year performance results, according
to June 2025 data from CoStar. For the month, occupancy was 68.5%
(-1.7%), ADR was $162.51 (+0.4%) and RevPAR $111.32 (-1.2%). Among the top 25
markets, New York City experienced the highest occupancy level (+0.9% to
88.5%). Markets with the lowest occupancy for the month included New Orleans
(53.8%) and Phoenix (59.5%). The top 25 markets showed higher occupancy and ADR
than all other markets.
Hard Rock
adds in the UAE. Orlando-based
Hard Rock International is working with HR Hotel FZ LLC, a joint venture
company between Malta-based db Group and Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab
Emirates-based RAK Hospitality Holding, to bring Hard Rock Hotel &
Residences Ras Al Khaimah to the United Arab Emirates. This project, which will
offer approximately 300 hotel rooms and 395 branded residences, is scheduled to
open in 2028.
First
voco in Oman. IHG
Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Golden Group
Holding for voco Al Mouj Muscat, a 251-key beachfront resort set to open in Q4
2025. The deal marks the first signing of the voco brand in the Sultanate of
Oman, further expanding IHG’s premium portfolio across the Middle East. IHG
currently operates nine hotels across five brands in Oman, with 3 hotels in the
development pipeline set to open within the next three to five years.
Seibu
Prince adds in Vietnam. Tokyo-based Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts is set to open the 164-key
Prince Hotel Da Nang in October in Vietnam. The hotel was formerly Sel de Mer
Hotel Suites.
Choice
launches new marketing. Choice Hotels International is launching two new marketing campaigns,
highlighting the benefits of its four extended-stay brands: Everhome Suites,
MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, and WoodSpring Suites. The “Stay in Your
Rhythm” campaign is focused on all its extended stay brands, showing guests how
they can keep up with daily routines, while “The WoodSpring Way” highlights the
hospitality and service WoodSpring Suites staff deliver to its guests. Both
campaigns will run through the remainder of the year and into 2026, across
various channels, including paid social media, TV, digital display, and online
video.
