Mergers & Acquisitions

🏠 NORWALK, Connecticut—Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel acquired by HEI and Westport Capital Partners joint venture, marking HEI's first partnership with Westport. Hotel features include 167 guestrooms, Finch’s Restaurant and Lounge, a fitness center, and approximately 5,700 sq. ft. of meeting space. Located near American Dream, Meadowlands Stadium, and Teterboro airport. Meadowlands Stadium to host 8 FIFA World Cup games in 2026. CEOs of both HEI and Westport express enthusiasm for the property and partnership's potential.

🎄 Blenheim Palace experienced a 50% increase in group visits during the 2024 festive season with its Neverland themed Christmas event, in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital. Key events for 2025 include the Blenheim Palace Food Festival (24th – 26th May), Flower Show (27th – 29th June), and a Jousting Tournament (3rd – 5th May). Planning is already in progress for Christmas 2025. The success supports the hospital with each ticket sold.

🔔 Marcus & Millichap announced the sale of Hu. Hotel, a 110-room property, located at 79 Madison Ave., Memphis, Tennessee. The local private buyer, Nick Patel, was represented by Mitchell Presas, Skyler Cooper, Chris Gomes, and Allan Miller. The hotel is in the former Tennessee Trust Building, built in 1905 and on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. It's close to Beale Street and features a rooftop bar and fitness center. The property was a bank before turning into a hotel in 2002 and was renovated around 2018-2019.

🍔 New York-based Goode Partners LLC invests in Texas-based Wings ‘N More Restaurants LLC, which operates seven locations in College Station/Bryan, Corpus Christi, and Houston. Wings ‘N More, founded in 1986 by former NFL player Mark Dennard, features a full-service and express model offering wings, ribs, and more. Goode Partners, also an early investor in Chuy's in 2006, alongside debt financing from Gladstone Capital Corporation, aims to accelerate Wings 'N More's expansion. Dennard expresses excitement for the brand's growth and new opportunities for team members.

📌 In Dallas, Texas, TPG Hotels & Resorts has added the Sheraton McKinney Hotel to its managed portfolio following the acquisition by LXMI Capital. The 187-room hotel features an outdoor pool, a fitness center, over 16,000 square feet of meeting space, and an 82-seat restaurant. It is located at the intersection of US-75 and SH-121, close to North Dallas corporations and attractions. The nearby $200-million Sunset Amphitheater is set to open in 2026.

🏨 Aligned Hospitality Management acquired The Kennedy Hotel in Tucson, Arizona, growing its local portfolio to six properties. The Kennedy Hotel, part of the SureStay Collection by Best Western, offers 98 rooms with a nostalgic roadside motel vibe and resort amenities. Area attractions include the University of Arizona and Pima Air & Space Museum. Aligned, with over 40 years of experience, is led by founder and CEO Bryan Tubaugh, who emphasizes the company's commitment to strategic expansion in Tucson.

🏨 Woodvale Opportunity Fund I acquired Southaven Marriott Portfolio for $25 million, including Courtyard Memphis Southaven (85 keys) and Residence Inn Southaven (78 keys), as well as Fairfield Inn & Suites Buford for $11 million, totaling 94 suites. Located in Mississippi and a suburb of Atlanta, respectively, these hotels built in 2007 and 2006 offer amenities for business and leisure with access to local attractions. JLL Capital Markets facilitated the deal with strong expected returns for investors.

🏨 Peachtree Group acquired the 90-room Home2 Suites by Hilton St. Augustine I-95, their sixth Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) hospitality investment, in the Jacksonville, Fla. area. In 2023, they closed their third DST investment following the Residence Inn Tampa Wesley Chapel DST in November. Peachtree's six DST acquisitions represent roughly $175 million in debt-free real estate transactions, targeting high-growth markets with a focus on recognized hotel brands and value-add opportunities for 1031 exchange investors.

🛫 Zurich Insurance Group acquired AIG’s personal travel insurance and assistance business for $600 million with an additional potential earn-out payment, positioning itself as a major global travel insurer. The deal involves AIG’s Travel Guard and combines it with Zurich's Cover-More Group, now operating under Zurich Cover-More brand. New HQ in the US, David Fike as CEO, and the acquisition expands Zurich's global market share in a sector worth $20 billion in gross written premiums, serving over 20 million customers annually and partnering with over 200 distributors. Zurich's SST ratio was affected by 5 percentage points.