Latest news: Essex adds 6; Six Senses debuts in UK; St. Regis to New Zealand

Essex adds 6 to portfolio. Rochester, New York-based Essex Hotel Management has entered into an agreement with Burlington, Vermont-based Larkin Hospitality that adds six properties to its management portfolio, bringing its total to 17. The principals of both Larkin and Essex have known each other for several years and Essex provided early management consulting services to help oversee major renovations for one of Larkin’s properties. The agreement adds 581 keys to Essex's portfolio — including Marriott, Choice, Hilton, and IHG properties — while also marking Essex’s entry into the New England market and bringing on its first AC Hotel.

Marriott adds St. Regis to NZ. Marriott International has signed an agreement with PHC Queenstown Ltd. to debut St. Regis Hotels & Resorts in Queenstown, New Zealand. The 145-key St. Regis Queenstown marks the company’s third signing for the brand in the region. This is also PHC’s third property with Marriott. 

Six Senses debuts in the UK. IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Six Senses brand is unveiling its first property in the U.K. by opening the Six Senses London in the former Whiteley's department store on Queensway. Six Senses London occupies a quarter of The Whiteley mixed-use development and includes 109 rooms and 14 Six Senses-branded residences.

Remington adds in Mexico. Dallas-based Remington Hospitality said it has assumed management of the 189-key Costa Sur Resort, Classico Collection by Sonesta, an oceanfront resort located along the southern coastline of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The addition advances Remington’s expansion across leisure markets in Mexico and Latin America. The Costa Sur Resort is scheduled to transition to an all-inclusive resort by this summer.

$50M Arlington redevelopment. Arlington, Texas owner Sam Mahrouq and Houston-based Valencia Hotel Group have spent roughly $50 million redeveloping the Caravan Motor Hotels in Arlington into a 145-key upscale boutique hotel, which is scheduled to open in May, according to a story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The property is in close proximity to the city’s sports stadiums for the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers and will benefit from demand generated by this summer’s World Cup.

US hotels flat last week. The U.S. hotel industry from February 22-28 reported nearly flat year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar data. Occupancy was 62.8% (flat YOY), ADR was $159.03 (-0.2% YOY) and RevPAR was $99.85 (-0.2% YOY). Among the top 25 markets, New Orleans reported the steepest declines in ADR (-32.6% to $160.58) and RevPAR (-33.7% to $100.14), reflecting a comparison with Mardi Gras in 2025. New York City saw the largest drop in occupancy (-12.6% to 65.8%). Las Vegas registered the second-steepest decreases in each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy (-12.0% to 72.1%), ADR (-26.9% to $171.18) and RevPAR (-35.7% to $123.45). San Francisco posted the highest gains across each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy (+20.3% to 75.3%), ADR (+12.5% to $232.83) and RevPAR (+35.3% to $175.33).

Aimbridge EMEA adds in Georgia. Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA has signed a hotel management agreement for the Wyndham Grand Borjomi in the country of Georgia, which is scheduled to open in 2028. Owned by NCD Investment LLC and UPCO LLC, the project marks Aimbridge EMEA’s third managed property in Georgia.  

Choice names new GC. Choice Hotels International has appointed Jeff Lobb as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, effective March 26. Lobb succeeds Simone Wu, who will retire later this spring. Lobb joined Choice Hotels in 2006 and most recently served as deputy general counsel.

CozySuites acquires Roami. Dallas-based CozySuites, a hospitality brand focused on urban destinations, has acquired Miami-based Roami, a vacation rental management company. The acquisition, which closed in late August, expands CozySuites national footprint into Miami and New Orleans. CozySuites will maintain the Roami brand and booking portal while integrating the CozySuites corporate sales platform into Roami. Staff at Roami properties will remain, while founder and CEO Andreas King Geovanis will join CozySuites as an advisor. CozySuites is now in 12 markets and added 20 new buildings with the acquisition.