Latest news: Yiankes launches Chimera; Nobu residence in Miami; Wyndham CFO leaves

Chimera launches, make acquisition. Industry veteran Deno Yiankes announced today the launch of Chimera Hospitality Corporation (CHC), a privately held investment and asset management firm focused exclusively on the lodging sector. The company has also completed its first acquisition: the 95-key voco Sarasota in Florida, in partnership with Intermountain Hotel Management, which will also manage the property. The price and seller were not disclosed. Chimera is focused on acquiring high-quality, differentiated properties in growing markets that it believes are not operating at optimal levels. Yiankes was president and CEO of investments & developments for Merrillville, Indiana-based White Lodging for 30 years. 

Nobu adding residences in Miami. Nobu Hospitality is partnering with a pair of Miami-based companies, 13th Floor Investments and Key International, for its first residential project in Miami along Biscayne Bay. Located in Miami’s Brickell district, the 74-story tower will feature 300 residences and 90,000 sq. ft. of private amenities. The development will feature a luxury spa and wellness retreat, a fitness center, poolside café and Miami’s second Nobu restaurant.

Wyndham CFO leaving. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts CFO and head of Strategy Michele Allen is departing the company to pursue a new career opportunity outside of the hotel industry. Kurt Albert, currently treasurer and head of Financial Partnerships & Planning, has been appointed Interim CFO, effective immediately. Allen will serve in an advisory role at Wyndham through the end of 2025. In conjunction with this announcement, Wyndham reaffirmed its full-year 2025 outlook provided in its third-quarter 2025 earnings materials.

Sandals reopening Jamaican resorts. Sandals Resorts International said it will reopen its resorts in Ocho Rios and Negril, Jamaica, on December 6, after a comprehensive post-storm assessment of each of the company’s eight resorts across Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa. After the clearing of debris and completion of landscaping and repair work at each location, Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Ocho Rios, Sandals Negril, and Beaches Negril will open their doors with all facilities and amenities available to guests. The company’s three remaining resorts in Jamaica — Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, and Sandals South Coast — will have a more extended timeline for improvements and are scheduled to open on May 30, 2026.

Mit Shah receiving ALIS award. Mit Shah, CEO of Atlanta-based Noble Investment Group, will be the recipient of the 2026 Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the AHLA Foundation and The BHN Group/Northstar Travel Group. The honor recognizes exemplary leaders who advance positive societal change across the lodging industry and the communities it serves. The award will be presented at the Night of a Thousand Stars gala on January 25, 2026, and onsite at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) being held January 26-28, 2026, at the JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles.

Ryman earnings. Nashville-based REIT Ryman Hospitality Properties reported a RevPAR decline of 2.1% year-over-year for the third quarter while posting a hospitality revenue increase of 7.2% as part of its third-quarter earnings. The REIT reported consolidated revenue of $592.5 million, driven by Hospitality segment revenue of $500.9 million and Entertainment segment revenue of $91.6 million. Ryman reported that over 667,000 same-store hospitality gross definite room nights are projected for all future periods, at a quarterly record estimated ADR of $291. Additionally, the JW Marriott Desert Ridge booked nearly 50,000 gross definite room nights for future periods, at an estimated ADR of $372. Ryman President and CEO Mark Fioravanti said, “As anticipated, the uncertainty associated with the new U.S. tariff announcements earlier in the year and the pause in meeting planner decision-making that followed marginally impacted our group business in the third quarter. However, estimated same-store group rooms revenue on the books for the fourth quarter is comparable to the same time last year, and for 2026 it is pacing up nearly 8% as compared to estimated group rooms revenue on the books at the same time last year for 2025.”

Crescent adds in Ohio. Fairfax, Virginia-based Crescent Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage the 188-key The Westin Great Southern Columbus in Columbus, Ohio, a historic property owned by Whitestone Companies, based in Lewis Center, Ohio. Built in 1897, The Westin Great Southern Columbus has more than 13,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space.

LatAm pipeline continues momentum. At the close of Q3, the hotel construction pipeline in Latin America currently stood at 751 projects and 116,480 rooms, representing year-over-year (YOY) increases of 17% in projects and 11% in rooms, according to Lodging Econometrics. The region had 308 projects with 51,984 rooms under construction, reflecting a 14% YOY rise in projects and 10% in rooms. Projects scheduled to start construction within the next 12 months grew to 211 projects and 32,424 rooms, up 15% by project count and 7% by room count YOY. The luxury and upper upscale chain scales hit record-high project counts at Q3 as luxury closed the quarter at 143 projects/27,387 rooms, while the upper upscale chain scale reached 124 projects/22,420 rooms, and the upscale chain scale reached 144 projects/20,904 rooms. Mexico reached an all-time high with 264 projects/40,412 rooms, accounting for 35% of both the total project count and room count.

Hyatt Centric debuts in France. Hyatt Hotels Corp. is opening a 155-key Hyatt Centric Reims, marking the debut of the Hyatt Centric brand in France. The hotel opening supports Hyatt Centric brand growth globally, with plans to expand its brand footprint by 50% by the end of 2029, reaching over 100 hotels.

Kata rebrands Thailand resort. Phuket, Thailand-based Kata Group Resorts is rebranding of the Beyond Khaolak Resort to the 177-key ananea Beyond Khaolak — the first ananea-branded property in Thailand and the brand’s flagship hotel in Southeast Asia.

The First Group adds in the Middle East. Dubai-based The First Group Hospitality has signed several agreements for the rebranding of three flagship Dubai properties under Marriott International’s Tribute Portfolio and Autograph Collection brands: The First Collection Marina, Dubai, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel; The First Collection Waterfront, Dubai, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel; and Hotel Local Dubai, Jumeirah Village Triangle, Autograph Collection. The First Group is also partnering with BB Holding to sign the 261-key Radisson RED Marjan Island, which is scheduled to open in 2027.

Hyatt adds in India. Hyatt Hotels Corp. is partnering with Primitive Property for the 125-key Hyatt Place Bhuj, which will mark the brand’s debut in the historic city of Bhuj, Gujarat in India. This new project is expected to open in 2029.

Pandox earnings. Stockholm, Sweden-based Pandox reported total revenues up 5% in the third quarter of 2025, as it plans for significant further earnings growth by adding the hotels from its acquisition of Dalata Hotel Group to its portfolio. Denmark was the standout market, with RevPAR up 14% year-over-year. In Copenhagen, room rates increased by 17%, while in Norway, strong demand led to a 9% rise in RevPAR, surpassing Sweden's 5% growth. In contrast, RevPAR declined by 6% in Germany. The Pandox-Dalata acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Swiss-Belhotel adds in Oman. Hong Kong-based Swiss-Belhotel International is partnering with Nizwa, Oman-based Bawareq Nizwa International For Investment SAOC to develop the 81-key Swiss-Belhotel Nizwa. The upscale hotel is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2026. Swiss-Belhotel has over 150 hotels, resorts, and projects operating in 20 countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.