Hospitality Highlights
- Hyatt completes acquisition of Playa Hotels & Resorts, adding 15 all-inclusive properties to its portfolio.
- Charlestowne Hotels takes over management of Hotel Nell, enhancing D.C.’s Union Market hospitality scene.
- Elavon expands cloud payment solutions for over 6,000 Wyndham franchisees in the U.S. and Canada.
- HotelKey and Sojern launch real-time guest feedback integration for 16,000+ hotels.
1. Strategic Acquisitions & Portfolio Growth
Hyatt Completes Acquisition of Playa Hotels & Resorts
Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the full acquisition of Playa Hotels & Resorts, expanding its portfolio of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. The deal includes 15 resorts, with eight already under Hyatt’s Hyatt Ziva and Zilara brands.
This strategic move enhances Hyatt’s leadership in the luxury all-inclusive segment and adds notable properties such as Secrets La Romana, Dreams La Romana and Hyatt Vivid Playa del Carmen. The acquisition aims to strengthen Hyatt’s market position and global reach.
Hyatt’s journey in all-inclusive travel began in 2013, boosted by the Apple Leisure Group acquisition in 2021 and a joint venture with Grupo Piñero in 2024. Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian emphasized that the integration will enable the brand to "deliver compelling guest experiences" while driving performance growth.
- 15 resorts acquired
- 8 resorts already branded as Hyatt Ziva/Zilara
- Key locations: Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico
- Part of Hyatt’s strategic expansion since 2013
The move underscores Hyatt’s commitment to the all-inclusive market with plans to provide additional financial details during their 2025 Q2 earnings call. Industry leaders see this as a natural evolution for Hyatt’s brand portfolio.
2. Hotel Management & Operations
Charlestowne Hotels Assumes Management of Hotel Nell in Washington, D.C.
Charlestowne Hotels has expanded its portfolio by managing the 106-room Hotel Nell in Washington, D.C.'s Union Market neighborhood. The company aims to enhance the property's vibrant food and beverage scene and elevate its positioning as a destination for both locals and visitors.
Located in a historic Bolgiano Seed Factory, the hotel offers over 10,000 sq ft of event space, including a rooftop venue with city views and three dining venues. A redesigned dining outlet developed by Charlestowne's F&B team is set to open soon, emphasizing bold culinary experiences.
Hotel Nell features:
- 106 rooms
- Over 10,000 sq ft of event space
- Rooftop venue with city views
- Three dining outlets
CEO Kyle Hughey highlighted the property's potential to become a modern retreat with a strong food & beverage program. Currently managing more than 60 hotels nationwide, Charlestowne seeks to enrich Hotel Nell’s unique sense of place, making it a premier hospitality destination in DC.
3. Technology & Guest Experience
Elavon Expands Partnership with Wyndham To Enhance Hotel Payment Solutions
Elavon, a subsidiary of U.S. Bank, announced the expansion of its relationship with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, making its Cloud Payments Interface (CPI) available to over 6,000 franchisees across the U.S. and Canada.
By adopting CPI, Wyndham’s 25 brands can benefit from scalable payment services, integration with third-party systems like property management and reservation platforms and advanced encryption technologies.
Nicole Tackett highlighted that CPI provides secure and adaptable payment processing to meet the evolving needs of hotels and guests. Wyndham’s Chief Commercial Officer, Scott Strickland, emphasized that CPI improves guest experiences with faster check-ins, touchless payments and PCI DSS compliance.
- Over 6,000 Wyndham franchisees to access CPI
- Supports secure, PCI-compliant transactions
- Enables faster, touchless check-ins
Enhanced Guest Feedback via HotelKey and Sojern Integration
HotelKey and Sojern have introduced a real-time guest feedback feature embedded directly into the property management system (PMS). This native tool allows hotels to collect instant in-stay ratings and comments, enabling proactive service improvements.
Building on their April 2024 partnership, this solution modernizes feedback loops moving beyond traditional post-stay surveys. Hoteliers can now receive timely alerts and utilize AI-driven responses to address guest issues during their stay, improving satisfaction levels.
Currently deploying across properties, the technology is set to expand within HotelKey’s portfolio of over 16,000 hotels worldwide, including brands like Red Roof. This integration aims to boost operational efficiency and deliver highly personalized guest experiences both branded and independent.
- Real-time feedback collection within PMS
- AI responses for instant guest engagement
- Timely alerts for operational issues
- Deployment planned across 16,000+ hotels globally
