Latest news: Host might sell 10; largest Courtyard for KSA; Rosewood adds Dominican

Host selling 10 hotels? Host Hotels & Resorts is reportedly considering selling more than 10 of its properties, with a combined value of more than $1 billion, according to a Bloomberg report. The portfolio includes the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, W Seattle, and the Coronado Island Marriott in California. CEO James Risoleo stated last year that Host would consider selling non-core assets if the pricing is attractive. A representative for Host Hotels & Resorts declined to comment on the matter. Last year, Host acquired 1 Hotel locations in New York and Nashville, as well as the Turtle Bay Resort in Hawaii.

World’s largest Courtyard. Marriott International has signed an agreement with Al Qimmah Hospitality Co. and Amwaj Real Estate Co., both subsidiaries of BinDawood Trading, to open a 2,179-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in the Holy City of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Anticipated to open in 2026, the Courtyard by Marriott Makkah Al Naseem would become the brand’s largest hotel in the world.

New CEO for edyn. European lifestyle hotel company edyn has named Alastair Thomann as its new CEO, effective immediately. Thomann succeeds Daniel Carre-Bishop, CFO and interim CEO, who will continue in his role as Chief Financial Officer. Thomann will oversee the continued delivery of edyn’s hotel development pipeline, with new Locke hotels set to open in Paris in February 2025 and in Copenhagen in Q1 2026. Thomann joins edyn from Generator and Freehand Hotels, where he served as CEO of both businesses. During his tenure, Thomann grew the company, quadrupling its EBITDA. He also led the $400 million acquisition of Freehand Hotels, which expanded the group’s operations to the North American market. Prior to Generator and Freehand Hotels, Thomann was global managing director of Penta Hotels for the Rosewood Hotel Group.

First Hospitality launches new verticals. Chicago-based First Hospitality is launching two new company verticals: one for full-service and lifestyle hotels and the other for premium select-service hotels. First Hospitality said 32 hotels would now fall in the full-service and lifestyle vertical and 38 in the premium select-service vertical. First Hospitality grew into Oklahoma, Georgia and the Bahamas in 2024, and opened three new development lifestyle properties.

Rosewood adds first in Dominican Republic. Hong Kong-based Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is partnering with Punta Cana-based Grupo Puntacana to open its first property in the Dominican Republic. The 78-key Rosewood Punta Cana is scheduled to open in 2029. When it launches, it will join sister properties in the Caribbean, including the Rosewood Baha Mar, Rosewood Bermuda, Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth, and Rosewood Little Dix Bay, as well as additional pipeline projects in Barbuda and The Bahamas.

Valor adds 3 in Dubai. Atlanta-based Valor Hospitality Partners has signed a strategic hotel management agreement with Dubai-based Karmastaji Group to oversee a portfolio of three hotels in Dubai with 259 keys and five F&B outlets. Valor has 90-plus properties across the Americas, the U.K., Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

White Lodging names new CIO. Merrillville, Indiana-based White Lodging said Conner White will take on a new role as vice chair and chief investment officer. White is the eldest son of White Lodging Chair Beth White and the late White Lodging Founder Bruce White. He has worked for more than 15 years in a variety of leadership roles across operations, real estate, and new property development. He has also built his career by supporting the expansion of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group in Chicago and Dunkin Donuts in China.

Hyatt Regency debuts in Kenya. Hyatt Hotels Corp. has opened the 219-key Hyatt Regency Nairobi Westlands, marking the brand’s debut in Kenya. There are more than 230 Hyatt Regency hotels in over 40 countries worldwide.

Crescent adds in Texas. Fairfax, Virginia-based Crescent Hotels & Resort has added the St Anthony luxury hotel in San Antonio, Texas, to its management portfolio. The St Anthony was the first luxury hotel in San Antonio and completed a multi-million renovation in 2015. Crescent operates more than 120 properties in the U.S. and Canada.

Minor plans for 850-plus hotels. Minor Hotels said it plans to surpass 850 properties by 2027, as the company has a pipeline of almost 300 hotels slated to open over the next three years. Minor currently has more than 560 properties operating worldwide. While more than 50% of the company’s portfolio is in Europe, the pipeline will add more than 100 properties in Asia, more than 60 in EMEA and 40 in Australia and New Zealand. More than one-third of the pipeline properties are in the luxury segment and another third are in the premium segment. While approximately 70% of the current portfolio is owned or leased, Minor aims to bring this ratio closer to 50-50 by 2027. More than 90% of the deals in the pipeline will be under hotel management agreements or franchise deals.