Latest news: Big Nashville project; developer adds 2 in Mesa; GHA adds Tokyu's 40

New Signia in Nashville. San Diego-based Southwest Value Partners, which is developing the Nashville Yards mixed-use project in Nashville, is in talks with Hilton for a new Signia hotel that would be the largest in the city, according to a story in the Nashville Business Journal. The new hotel would be an 800-plus room convention-style hotel brand. Hilton founded the Signia brand six years ago.

Two hotels coming to Mesa. Scottsdale, Arizona-based Sunny Day Sports is developing two hotels at the former Fiesta Mall site in Mesa, Arizona. The 80-acre site, called the Palo District, will also include medical facilities, a women’s soccer stadium, offices, and retail and restaurants. The early plans call for hotels with 400 rooms and 200 rooms. The larger hotel would be next to the stadium and be the largest hotel in Mesa and the East Valley. Sunny Day Sports and its development partner, Plaza Cos., have not settled on a hotel operator, but both hotels are expected to open in early 2028.

GHA adding 40 in Japan. The Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has signed an agreement with Tokyo-based Tokyu Hotels & Resorts (THR) for more than 40 of THR's hotels in Japan to join the independent hotel network. THR’s properties are located in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Okinawa, offering a range from beach resorts to premium business hotels.

Westin Cancun deal finalized. Denver-based Black Creek Mexico said affiliates of Alojica, its sponsored investment platform, together with Royalton Hotels & Resorts, have completed the acquisition of the 372-key The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun, from affiliates of Marriott Vacations Worldwide for an undisclosed amount. The new owners plan to renovate the hotel and convert it into an all-inclusive resort under the Westin brand. This marks Alojica’s fourth lodging investment in Mexico and its second partnership with Royalton.

Marriott CALA growth. Marriott International signed a record 94 deals in 2025 in Caribbean and Latin America (CALA), adding 10,461 rooms to the pipeline, an increase of 40% in signed transactions and more than 30% in signed rooms compared to 2024. In 2025, Marriott expanded its portfolio with 39 properties and 4,292 rooms, growing its regional footprint to 555 open properties and more than 95,000 rooms across 37 countries and territories by year's end. Conversions were a key driver of Marriott’s signings growth across CALA in 2025, with nearly 30 properties and 3,000 rooms signed, approximately 30% of the rooms signed in 2025. At year‑end 2025, the CALA development pipeline included 45 conversion projects representing more than 6,000 rooms.

$33M refi in DC. The Donohoe Companies has reportedly secured a $33 million loan provided by Peachtree Group to refinance the 154-key Cambria hotel in Washington, D.C., at the Navy Yard entertainment district. The $33 million bridge loan has an initial three-year term and includes two 12-month extension options.

Schulte adds 7. East Syracuse, New York-based Widewaters has selected Louisville, Kentucky-based Schulte Hospitality Group (SHG) as the management company for its portfolio of seven hotels. Through this partnership, SHG will assume responsibility for operations, revenue management, sales and marketing strategy, and F&B programming. Basin Ventures will continue to provide asset management oversight for the portfolio.

Trade in Texas. Dallas-based LIG Hotels has sold the 50-key Super 8 by Wyndham in Stanton, Texas, to a Houston-based private partnership for an undisclosed amount. The three-story hotel was built in 2015 and is located in the Permian Basin. Marcus & Millichap brokered the transaction.

Japan hotel sells. Nagoya Hotel Investments TMK has sold the 130-key Compass Hotel Nagoya in Japan to ES-CON Japan REIT  Investment Corporation for JPY 4.4 billion. The hotel was completed in 2019 and is located in the Nagoya Station area. JLL advised on the sale.

Minor adds in Laos. Minor Hotels is adding Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane in Laos, a lifestyle hotel scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2026. It will be Minor Hotels’ second hotel in Laos, joining Avani+ Luang Prabang.

Centara launches budget brand. Bangkok-based Centara Hotels & Resorts has launched a budget hotel brand through a joint venture with PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR). This project accounts for nearly one-third of the hospitality group’s 1,429-room development pipeline announced for 2026. The concept, with an average of 69 to 80 keys priced 800-900 baht (US$25-29) per night, will target domestic transit demand at service stations along major highways. The partnership will introduce six properties between 2027 and 2028, leveraging OR’s national network of over 2,000 service stations and integrated retail outlets. Many of these sites sit in prime areas near airports and key tourist destinations. The joint venture also plans at least one Bangkok property with 120 keys with nightly rates of 1,200-1,300 baht.

Milan thrives for the Olympics.  Milan, Italy’s hotel industry recorded the highest occupancy peak of any Winter Olympics host since 2010, according to CoStar data. Milan averaged 83.4% occupancy over the event period, peaking at 89.3% on February 14. Throughout the event, the market’s occupancy increased 18.3% year over year. Year-over-year growth was more pronounced in ADR and RevPAR, which rose 215.5% and 273.3%, respectively.