RLJ gets hitched: RLJ Lodging Trust and FelCor Lodging Trust shareholders agreed to a merger in a stock-for-stock transaction according to terms agreed to in April. RLJ said in a securities filing last month that it had rejected a US$24-a-share offer from an unnamed private-equity firm, which turned out to be Blackstone, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Hyde Park inn: A joint venture of Bellefield Development Partners, an affiliate of T-Rex Capital Group LLC, and its partner, owner-operator The Shaner Hotel Group, received a franchise for a 133-room soft-branded Residence Inn in Hyde Park, N.Y., to be called The Hotel at Bellefield.
New Regent MD: Taiwan-based Regent Hotels Group named Mark Keith managing director. Keith had been the group’s adviser on human capital management and focused on strategic senior leadership development. As MD, he will oversee senior talent acquisition, training and development. Most recently, he was managing director at HVS, and he has held senior positions with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and The Peninsula Hotel Group.
Austin hotels sold: A dual-brand building comprising a 134-room Hotel Indigo Austin Downtown – University and the 171-room Holiday Inn Express Austin Downtown University, which share a building at East Eighth and Red River streets, has been acquired by Nimes Real Estate of Los Angeles-based. Journeyman Group was the seller; a purchase price was not disclosed.
Opportunity in Africa: The hospitality sector in Africa’s emerging markets looks set to profit from foreign investment and an influx of foreign travelers, according to PwC’s “Hotels Outlook: 2017-2021” report. Pietro Calicchio, hospitality & gaming industry leader for PwC Southern Africa, attributes the growth partly to a growing middle class and an increase in visits from foreign visitors.
Excel acquires Hyatt Place: Excel Group, a Washington, D.C.-based real estate investment firm, acquired the Hyatt Place Washington D.C. / U.S. Capitol. A purchase price was not given.