Marriott unveils Mobile Request: Marriott Hotels launched its new Mobile Request option on the Marriott Mobile app. The feature enables guests to request services and amenities from their mobile devices.
Read more at Marriott’s website
Autograph Collection comes to Baton Rouge: The old State Office Building in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will be converted to a Marriott Autograph hotel. The 148-room hotel is set to open in 2016.
Park Inn to debut in China: Carlson Rezidor signed the 200-room Park Inn by Radisson in the Guizhou province of China. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2016 and will be the first Park Inn in China.
Read more at Travel Daily Media
Expedia releases U.S./U.K. comparison study: A recent study from Expedia Media Solutions found 73% of people in the United Kingdom are engaging with digital content across smartphones, tablets and PCs and are interacting with travel-related content, compared to 63% in the United States. The study also revealed U.K. smartphone users are the most likely to access travel content.
Embassy Suites Charlotte sold: SREE Hotels acquired the 274-suite Embassy Suites Charlotte in North Carolina for US$32 million. SREE Hotels is planning a US$8 million renovation to upgrade guest suites, meeting and banquet space, the lobby and atrium.
Fibra Inn grows in Mexico: Fibra Inn has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the 95-room Holiday Inn Reynosa Industrial Poniente hotel in Mexico. The acquisition price was Ps. 103.6 million (US$6.9 million), and the land will be acquired for Ps. 11 million (US$730,000). An additional Ps. 81.9 million (US$5.4 million) will be used for a 100-room expansion.
Hotel Niagara to become a Radisson: Reception Hotels and Resorts will buy the Hotel Niagara in Niagara Falls for US$4.4 million from JSK International and turn it into a Radisson hotel. The renovation is estimated to amount to US$21.5 million.
New Era Hotels to develop in Dallas: New Era Hotels & Resorts and Sunset Legacy will develop a hotel and conference center in Flower Mound, Texas. The Pearl on the Peninsula Hotel & Conference Center will feature 220 rooms and suites, an infinity pool, two restaurants and more.
CSM Corp. completes multi-hotel sale: CSM Corp. completed the sale of six hotels to Blackstone. The hotels were Courtyard by Marriott – Minneapolis/St. Paul-Roseville, Residence Inn by Marriott – Minneapolis/St. Paul-Roseville, Courtyard by Marriott – Portland Southeast, Hilton Garden Inn – Portland/Beaverton, Residence Inn by Marriott – Phoenix-Mesa, and Residence Inn by Marriott – Portland North/Vancouver.
Midas Hospitality sells two Ohio hotels: Schulte Hospitality Group purchased the StayBridge Suites in Dublin, Ohio, for US$8.7 million and the Residence Inn in Worthington, Ohio, for US$6.2 million. Midas Hospitality was the seller.
Read more at Columbus Business First