Today’s Hospitality Brief

Hospitality Highlights

Manhattan to Host a 1,000-Room Destination by Hyatt Hotel as Part of The Avenir Casino Complex.
AI-Powered Startups D3x and Yipy Win at HITEC ’25 Nextwave Seed Challenge for Hospitality Innovation.
San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado Completes a $550 Million Restoration.
Stonebridge Appoints Adam Snow as EVP and Chief Strategy Officer to Drive Portfolio Growth.
Peachtree Group Tops Out 171-Room Residence Inn in San Antonio, Opening in Summer 2026.

1. Major Developments & Projects

The Avenir To Feature Hyatt as Hospitality Partner for Manhattan Casino Complex

The Avenir plans a mixed-use entertainment complex on Manhattan's Far West Side, featuring a Destination by Hyatt hotel with 1,000 rooms. The project aims to boost convention business and increase foot traffic to the Javits Center.

The hotel will showcase luxury suites with floor-to-ceiling windows and include a vibrant culinary scene, with restaurants and a food hall highlighting local eateries. Nearly 5,000 union jobs are expected during construction and operation, emphasizing industry-leading benefits and workforce training.

Expected employment: 4,000 construction jobs
Permanent jobs: Nearly 5,000
Hotel rooms: 1,000
Key partners: Silverstein Properties, Rush Street Gaming, Greenwood Gaming

The development leverages Hyatt’s global sales force and loyalty program to attract visitors, with a focus on community engagement and workforce development. The complex aims to revitalize the site, generating substantial economic benefits for New York City and fostering neighborhood growth.

Hotel del Coronado Completes $550 Million Restoration

Hotel del Coronado, located in San Diego, California, announced the completion of its extensive $550 million restoration. It revitalized the historic Victorian building, including public spaces, guestrooms and event venues, introducing a modern yet heritage-inspired aesthetic.

The project involved meticulous restoration of the front porch, lobby and main entry, alongside updates to the Victorian garden courtyard and event spaces like the Crown Room. It also features two new dining destinations: Nobu Del Coronado and Veranda, with oceanview outdoor seating.

Restored historic front porch and lobby
Revamped Victorian guestrooms with floral textiles
Restoration of event venues including the Crown Room
Introduction of Nobu Del Coronado and Veranda restaurants

Notable design highlights include upgraded bathrooms, Victorian-inspired lighting and authentic decorative details. The renovation preserves the property's National Historic Landmark status while modernizing guest experiences for future generations.

Topping Out Ceremony for New Residence Inn in San Antonio

Peachtree Group celebrated a major milestone in the construction of a 10-story, 171-room Residence Inn located in downtown San Antonio. The hotel’s structural phase was completed during a topping-out ceremony, with an expected opening in Summer 2026.

The upscale extended-stay hotel is being co-developed with Merritt Development Group within a Qualified Opportunity Zone. It will feature studio suites with fully equipped kitchens, private living spaces, a fitness center and communal outdoor areas.

Hotels: 171 rooms
Construction milestone: Structural phase complete
Developed with Merritt Development Group
Located in an underserved community within QOZ

The property will provide direct access to key San Antonio sites, including the Riverwalk and the University of Texas downtown campus. Managing its growth, Peachtree emphasizes community impact and market demand for prolonged stays in the area.

2. Technology & Innovation

Winners Announced at HITEC ’25 Nextwave Seed Challenge

During HITEC ’25, the Nextwave Seed Investment Challenge highlighted innovative startups using artificial intelligence to transform hospitality. D3x and Yipy emerged as the top winners after impressing judges with practical solutions designed to enhance guest experience and operational efficiency.

Co-hosted by Techne Infiniti Ventures and GAIN, the competition attracted diverse early-stage companies focused on sustainable and AI-powered hospitality innovations. Both startups will undergo final due diligence with potential to join a strategic investment portfolio supported by industry leaders.

Winners: D3x and Yipy
Impact areas: Guest engagement, efficiency, sustainability
Awards include: Strategic guidance and growth support

As hospitality continues embracing AI, this year’s challenge underscores the increasing demand for value-driven solutions capable of redefining industry standards and delivering measurable business impact.

First Hospitality Partners With Stayntouch To Enhance Hotel Operations

Stayntouch announced a strategic partnership with First Hospitality, supporting its independent hotels with the Stayntouch PMS platform. The system aims to boost operational efficiency, enhance guest experiences and streamline property management processes.

First Hospitality selected Stayntouch for its 100-percent uptime, response times over 30% faster than previous legacy systems and a mobile-first design that enables staff to assist guests anywhere on the property. The platform's open API structure allows seamless integration with evolving technology strategies, fostering future growth.

The implementation was smooth, with hands-on support minimizing disruption to daily operations. Nick Johnson, SVP, emphasized the system’s flexibility and guest-centric approach, aligning with their vision of moving fast while focusing on people.

Performance: 100% uptime, response times 30% faster
Design: Mobile-first, intuitive interface
Integration: Open API for flexibility
Support: Minimal disruption, customized rollout

Stayntouch’s PR engineer Priya Rajamani highlighted the platform’s ability to empower hotel teams through reliable and efficient technology, driving a human touch in hospitality. The partnership underscores the shift towards technology that makes work easier and improves guest engagement at independent hotels nationwide.

3. Executive Moves

Stonebridge Names Adam Snow as EVP and Chief Strategy Officer

Denver-based Stonebridge announced the appointment of Adam Snow as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. Snow will oversee strategic development, including brand alignment and property-level initiatives, aiming to elevate asset performance across the portfolio.

According to CEO Rob Smith, Snow’s unique blend of strategic leadership and analytics makes him a key driver of innovation at the property level. Stonebridge seeks to embed data-driven strategies directly into operations to foster a transformational culture.

Snow's background includes senior roles at Aimbridge Hospitality, Disney, Dell and Dine Brands
Holds a BS in Engineering from University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from University of Chicago Booth
Focuses on integrating market insights and data to boost property performance

Snow expressed his enthusiasm for Stonebridge’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to value creation. His goal is to deepen property-driven strategies to deliver exceptional results for owners and guests alike.