Latest news: Westgate buys VOS; EasyHotels sold; Driftwood’s $40M in financing

Westgate completes acquisition of VOS. Orlando-based Westgate Resorts has completed the acquisition of Bellevue, Washington-based Vacation Ownership Sales (VOS), which has the exclusive management, sales, and marketing rights of VI Resorts, North America’s largest owner-controlled timeshare and vacation club. The purchase price was not disclosed. As part of the transaction, the vacation club will now operate as VI Resorts by Westgate. Westgate will invest over $4 million in marketing, branding, and technology enhancements for VI Resorts.

EasyHotel sold to London firm. London-based EasyGroup has agreed to sell the share capital of its EasyHotel brand to London-based Tristan Capital Partners. Tristan is using its discretionary fund European Property Investors Special Opportunities 6 for the transaction. EasyGroup founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou announced the deal, which is subject to approval by shareholders. According to EasyGroup, the recommended mandatory cash offer featuring approximately 189.5 million shares, or 81% of the entire share issue, was transferred at an aggregate price of €196.13 million ($222 million). The deal includes 17.38% of EasyHotel, which is owned by the Haji-Ioannou family office, thus placing an overall equity value of the entire EasyHotel firm at approximately €242 million.

Driftwood provides $40.15M in mezz. Miami-based Driftwood Capital, through its lending fund Driftwood Lending Partners (DLP), provided $40.15 million in mezzanine loans for the refinancing of The Westin New Orleans in Louisiana as well as a select-service portfolio in the Northeast U.S. with five properties of Hilton and Marriott branded select-service hotels across New Hampshire and Massachusetts. An affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management and The Berger Co. secured a $21.65 million mezzanine loan for The Westin New Orleans. Cerberus and Highgate secured a $18.5 million mezzanine loan from DLP for the portfolio, which includes the 139-key Courtyard Manchester Boston Regional Airport, 131-key Homewood Suites Manchester/Airport, 100-key Springhill Suites Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, 116-key Homewood Suites Portsmouth and the 108-key Residence Inn Boston Franklin. 

Pebblebrook earnings. Bethesda, Maryland-based Pebblebrook Hotel Trust said its same-property total RevPAR increased 2.1% year-over-year as part of its first-quarter earnings. Pebblebrook also reduced its 2H25 outlook (RevPAR flat to 2%) in response to rising macroeconomic uncertainties, but the company noted it is not seeing any material business or leisure transient demand slowdown yet (other than in the government segment and with Canadian travel). The REIT also said the Los Angeles fire disruption is still occurring, but the impact has been less severe than initially anticipated (+$1 million variance in 1Q25 and +$1 million expected in 2Q25).

Apple Hospitality earnings. Richmond, Virginia-based REIT Apple Hospitality Group reported a RevPAR decline of 0.5% as part of its first-quarter earnings. The decline came on an ADR gain of 1% and an occupancy loss of -1.5%. The REIT said performance was weaker due to a pullback of government-related demand in March. Apple also cut its comparable full-year 2025 RevPAR guidance to a range of -1% to 1%. The often-acquisitive REIT announced the pending acquisition of the 126-key Homewood Suites Tampa Brandon in Florida for $18.8 million and the Q1 sales of the 76-key Homewood Suites by Hilton Chattanooga-Hamilton Place for approximately $8.3 million and the 130-key SpringHill Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Fishers for approximately $12.7 million. Apple also announced it has entered into a contract for the sale of the 206-key Houston Marriott Energy Corridor for approximately $16 million. The company expects to complete the sale of the hotel in the third quarter of 2025.

First Tempo in Canada. Hilton has signed a franchise agreement with Toronto-based Inspiration Group for the new-build 193-key Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport, which will mark the brand’s debut in Canada. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2028. Hilton has more than 190 hotels open and a pipeline of nearly 110 properties in various phases of development in Canada.

Ennismore adds in Australia. Ennismore has signed the Melbourne Place in Melbourne, Australia. The property will be reimagined and relaunched as Hyde Melbourne Place on May 2. Hyde Melbourne Place will join Ennismore’s trio of flagship openings in Australia this year — Hyde Perth, Mondrian Gold Coast, and 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia — marking the group’s debut in the country.

Outrigger acquires in Thailand. Honolulu-based Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has acquired the Zeavola Resort on Thailand’s Phi Phi Island from an undisclosed seller for an undisclosed amount. The hotel will temporarily suspend operations, undergo renovations and rebrand as the Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort on October 1. After the renovations, the resort will feature 63 suites and villas. This will be Outrigger’s fourth operating property in Thailand.

Palladium rebrands in Mexico. Madrid-based Palladium Hotel Group is investing $6 million to reimagine and relaunch the Grand Palladium White Sand Resort & Spa in Riviera Maya, Mexico, into the 425-key Grand Palladium Select White Sand. The hotel will debut on January 1, 2026. This transformation marks the latest expansion of the exclusive Grand Palladium Select Collection, designed to elevate personalized service and curated experiences for today’s discerning traveler.

Marriott adds Autography in the Philippines. Marriott International and Dubai-based CG Hospitality will convert the 70-key The Farm at San Benito in the Philippines wellness retreat to an Autograph Collection resort, the first in the country. The hotel is scheduled to open at the end of the third quarter of this year.

Wyndham rebrand in Singapore. The 591-key Peninsula Excelsior Singapore Hotel has been rebranded to the Wyndham Singapore Hotel following $50 million in renovations. The 51-year-old hotel is now repositioned as an upper upscale hotel.