Latest news: Forge to manage hotels; new JMBM chair; sales in Phoenix, New Orleans

Forge Hospitality to manage its portfolio. Audubon, Pennsylvania-based Forge Hospitality, the hospitality division of Audubon Land Development and a hotel owner in Southeastern Pennsylvania, said it will transition to a self-managed operating model and assume direct management of its five hotel portfolio totaling 642 keys across the region. The company was founded in 2019.

New chair for JMBM. Guy Maisnik, a partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) since 2003 and vice chair of the firm's Global Hospitality Group, has been promoted to chair of the group effective January 2, 2026. Jim Butler, a partner at JMBM for 44 years, is stepping down as chair and departing the firm. The Global Hospitality Group at JMBM has legal and business experience involving more than $125 billion of hotel transactions and more than 4,700 hotel properties located worldwide.

Talonvest expands into hospitality. Newport Beach, California-based Talonvest Capital, Inc., an advisory firm specializing in commercial and self-storage real estate, today is expanding its platform into the hospitality finance sector. The new platform will be led by Jeff Miller, who has more than 30 years of global hospitality real estate experience. Most recently, he served as managing director in the Hospitality Finance Group at Wells Fargo, where he originated $1.25 billion in hotel balance sheet loans and led underwriting for the platform. His experience spans full-cycle hotel finance, from deal structuring and underwriting to capital execution and portfolio management. He also worked at Atrium Holding Company, Marriott International and Arthur Andersen. 

Metro acquires in Phoenix. Metro Hotel LLC has acquired the 284-key DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix North in Arizona from an undisclosed seller for an undisclosed amount. A new outdoor pool with cabanas is scheduled to open in March. The owners have named Gilbert, Arizona-based Ledgestone Hospitality to operate the property.

New Orleans hotel trades. NOLA Airport Hospitality LLC has acquired the 68-key Comfort Inn New Orleans Airport in Louisiana from Siddiqui Enterprises LLC for an undisclosed amount. The hotel was built in 2010. Marcus & Millichap represented the seller and procured the buyer in the transaction.

Shangri-La Group adds in Turkey. Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Group has signed a deal with United Bodrum Turizm A.Ş. to manage a new luxury resort in Bodrum, Turkey. The 70-key Shangri-La Bodrum will also feature 10 private villas, a private beach, and views of the Aegean Sea. The resort is expected in the first half of 2029.

Driftwood completes renovation. Miami-based Driftwood Capital has completed an $11 million renovation of the 226-key Marriott Raleigh Durham Research Triangle Park in Durham, North Carolina. The renovation included a complete refresh of guest rooms, the addition of an M Club lounge, an upgraded fitness center, and the conversion of the pool into expanded meeting space. Driftwood Hospitality Management will continue to operate the hotel.

Minor rebrands in Thailand. Bangkok-based Minor Hotels is launching the 152-key NH Hua Hin in Thailand and will assume management of the hotel on January 16. The rebranding of NH Hua Hin reflects Minor Hotels’ commitment to growing its select-service offering in key destinations across Asia. The hotel will be the fourth NH Hotels & Resorts property in Thailand, joining NH properties in Bangkok and Phuket. The hotel expands Minor Hotels’ footprint in Hua Hin to three properties. 

IHCL adds in Punjab. Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. (IHCL) has signed a greenfield Taj hotel project in Mohali, Punjab, India. The planned Taj Mohali will feature 225 rooms and several F&B options. IHCL’s portfolio comprises 610 hotels, including 253 properties under development across 14 countries and four continents.