Latest news: RevPAR better than expected; new AAHOA chair; IHG adds in India

RevPAR trends better than expected. RevPAR trends have been better than expected across the board year to date, according to a note from analyst Michael Bellisario of R.W. Baird. Bellisario said RevPAR growth in the first quarter was about 200 basis points ahead of Baird’s beginning-of-the-year expectations, with particular strength in February and March. “The low end is improving due to easier comparisons, the high end is still outperforming, and San Francisco, South Florida and New York City have been strong,” he said. He said favorable calendar and holiday timing shifts in both February and March boosted leisure and resort performance, and, according to many of the airlines' recent commentary, corporate travel demand and bookings have remained at record levels.

New AAHOA chair. Rahul Patel has become the 36th chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), serving for the 2026–2027 term. Patel assumed the role at the conclusion of AAHOACON26, the association’s annual convention & trade show, held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. He was elected secretary in 2023, beginning a leadership journey that culminates with his chairmanship. The organization announced its new board of directors for the 2026-27 term, including newly elected Secretary Dhiren Masters.

IHG adds in India. IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with NCPL to develop the 100-key Holiday Inn Goa Kadamba in India, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2030. IHG currently operates 51 hotels across six brands in India and has a pipeline of 89 hotels due to open over the next three to five years.

New Sleep Inn prototype. Choice Hotels International is debuting its new “Scenic Dreams” prototype for its Sleep Inn brand in Tennessee, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. Choice said early results show that the Scenic Dreams investments are translating into stronger performance, with hotels that have undergone the renovations seeing a RevPAR premium of +1.71, and among properties that have completed the majority of their upgrades, guest satisfaction scores have also risen. The new hotels are in Ashland City and Savannah, Tennessee; Middletown, Pennsylvania and Henderson, Nevada. Choice said there are more than 40 Sleep Inn hotels with the Scenic Dreams prototype in the pipeline.

Ascott Ltd. adds in Nairobi. Singapore-based The Ascott Ltd. has signed the 160-key Citadines Westview Nairobi in the capital’s Kilimani district. The new property will complement the existing 162-key Somerset Westview Nairobi serviced apartments, forming a strategic dual-brand offering. The new hotel is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2028. The Nairobi signing forms part of Ascott’s broader expansion across Africa, where the company has secured 10 signings over the past year.

Ritz-Carlton Savannah update. The LCP Group LP has closed on $104.5 million in construction financing for The Ritz-Carlton Savannah, Downtown, a 168-key luxury hotel currently under development, which is expected to open in the first quarter of 2028. The project and developer is Boca Raton, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina-based TMGOC Ventures on the previously reported deal.

Luxury-tier boutiques led last year. Comparisons with the same class of traditional US hotels indicate that boutique hotels continued to perform very well in 2025, according to data in The Boutique Hotel Report 2026. Demand and revenues reached all-time highs, and the strongest year belongs to luxury-tier boutiques, which saw across-the-board gains, including a 6% increase in revenues. “Lifestyle hotels increased supply at the fastest pace in 2025, gaining from the largest number of affiliations with former indie boutiques, many with an emphasis on outdoor lodging… A focus on the outdoor lodging concept will be an interesting boutique trend to watch as this segment continues to evolve,” said Kim Bardoul, owner, Bardoul Hotel Advisors.