Latest news: Wyndham subscription; Whitestone management co.; T&E spend up

Wyndham breaks new ground in loyalty. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has launched a subscription model to stay better connected with their customers with Wyndham Rewards Insider from its Wyndham Rewards program. For $95 a year, Wyndham Rewards members can gain automatic Gold level status, concierge services and the ability to double-dip on points with select partners, while saving on hotels, flights, car rentals, Carnival cruises and more. The program offers savings of 10% or more off standard rates on qualified stays at over 8,000 hotels, savings on flights, cruises, car rentals and more, and entertainment and lifestyle perks such as earning and redeeming with Ticketmaster across 50,000-plus concerts and live events. Accor and IHG also have subscription cards, but Wyndham’s includes more significant non-hotel travel discounts.

Whitestone launches management company. Columbus, Ohio-based developer Whitestone Companies has launched Soartress Hospitality, which comes to market with 13 contracts, and not just with properties owned by the parent company. Whitestone CEO Jay Batra said the plan has been four years in the making, having made a strategic decision to fold a legacy management company under Whitestone Group of Companies, alongside Whitestone Capital and Striv Design. The initial Soartress portfolio includes select-service, extended-stay, and full-service hotels across leading brands.

T&E spending up. Travel and entertainment spending by American Express U.S. commercial customers increased 5% year-over-year in the third quarter, as Amex chairman and CEO Stephen Squeri reported a broader “bounce back” in travel. The increase marks a reversal of a slowing growth trend in previous quarters this year. T&E spending by Amex’s U.S. consumer customers was up 9% year-over-year in Q3, and Amex CFO Christophe Le Caillec said airline spending “picked up” in the quarter. Amex reported continued strong growth for spending among its customers outside the U.S. in the third quarter as well. Total international SME and large corporate spending, inclusive of T&E and goods and services, was up 12% YOY. Total T&E spending among international customers, inclusive of commercial and consumer customers, increased 8% YOY.

New Foley CEO. Foley Entertainment Group has appointed Joe Leinacker as CEO of its hotel division to oversee business operations for luxury hotel collection, including the MacArthur Place and Farmhouse Inn in Sonoma County, 27 North in Healdsburg, the Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard in Willamette Valley, Oregon, and Wharekauhau Country Estate in Palliser Bay, New Zealand. Most recently, Leinacker led teams at Pacific Hospitality Group as regional managing director, overseeing the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley and Pasea Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, California.

SingleThread expands. Vertice Hospitality Management, which created SingleThread in Sonoma, California, has announced plans for The Selvedge, A SingleThread Inn, at the former River Belle Inn, a Healdsburg, California, mansion first built in 1895. After a redesign and reimagined guest experience the 10-room hotel will open in late 2026.

New Hakkasan CEO. Mohari Hospitality has appointed Yavuz Pehlivanlar as CEO of Hakkasan Group, a newly established entity consisting of the Hakkasan, Yauatcha, Ling Ling and Sake No Hana brands. As CEO, Pehlivanlar will lead the continued expansion and strategic growth of Hakkasan Group’s modern Asian dining brands, beverage program and design. Pehlivanlar previously served as COO of Caprice Holdings Ltd., overseeing a portfolio of dining destinations including Balthazar, Sexy Fish and Scott’s Mayfair. His career includes c-suite roles at 50 Eggs Hospitality Group, Yardbird Group, Dream-Dogus Group and Mina Restaurant Group. In 2021, the entity formerly known as Hakkasan Group was acquired by Tao Group Hospitality, and, in 2023, Tao Group Hospitality was acquired by Mohari. As of September 2025, all branded locations (with the exception of Hakkasan Las Vegas and Sake No Hana NYC which will continue to be owned and operated by Tao Group) will resume operations under the Hakkasan Group name as an independent corporate entity backed by investment from Mohari.

New US marketing plan. Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, has launched America the Beautiful, a global tourism marketing campaign aiming to increase inbound tourism to the U.S. The platform debuts during this week's Brand USA Travel Week U.K. and Europe. The campaign is timed to accelerate growth ahead of 2026, a milestone year marked by the FIFA World Cup, America’s 250th anniversary, and the Route 66 centennial. The news comes shortly after the U.S. Travel Association forecast earlier this month that international travel to the U.S. will fall 6.3% in 2025, the first decline since 2020. USTA added that inbound visitation is not expected to recover to 2024 levels until 2027.

Resolute Road deal. Boise, Idaho-based third-party manager Resolute Road Hospitality has entered into a management agreement with Live Wide Ventures to operate a new dual-brand Marriott property in Caldwell, Idaho, with 119 rooms. The project marks the start of a long-term strategic collaboration between the two companies and the first of several anticipated joint ventures. Currently under construction, the dual-brand property is scheduled to open in mid-2026 and will feature both a TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.

EQT sells. EQT has announced that its affiliated real estate fund (BPEA Real Estate) has completed the sale of Holiday Inn Express Osaka City Centre Midosuji to a major domestic institutional investor. Under EQT’s ownership, the property acquired in November 2021 underwent a swift rebranding and comprehensive renovation program in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts, coinciding with Japan’s post-COVID reopening.

Magma sells in Malaysia. Malaysia-based Magma Group Bhd and KLCC Holdings Sdn Bhd are selling the Heritage Lane Sdn Bhd, the holding company of the 519-key Impiana KLCC Hotel, to Malaysia-based Harum Aspirasi Sdn Bhd for MYR315 million. The sale is expected to generate a MYR20 million gain for Magma, with proceeds allocated towards loan repayment, business support and other costs.

Hong Kong trade. The Tang Shing-bor family has sold to an undisclosed buyer the 44-key Yo Hotel in Hong Kong’s Mong Kok district for HKD53.2 million. The property was acquired by the family in 2013 for HKD100 million, implying an estimated book loss of HKD46.8 million, or roughly 46.8%.