Hospitality Trends

Noble Announces Pioneering Strategic Partnership with Host Hotels & Resorts

Noble Announces Pioneering Strategic
Noble Investment Group ("Noble"), a leading real estate investment management firm specializing in the upscale U.S. lodging sector, and Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. ("Host"), a member of the S&P 500, the largest lodging real estate investment trust, and one of the most respected investors in luxury and upper-upscale hotels in the world, have formed a transformational strategic partnership to cultivate and expand innovative travel, leisure, and hospitality opportunities within Noble's real estate investment management and fund sponsorship platform.The partnership will combine Noble's operational expertise and development acumen with Host's scale, market insights, data analytics, and breadth of resources to cultivate and source differentiated investment strategies including property technology solutions, development, and alternative lodging.

As announced by Host, they are making a $150.0 million capital commitment as a limited partner in an existing Noble investment vehicle and will provide Noble with exclusive first-look at select-service and extended-stay hotel opportunities sourced through Host's channels. Host is also making a minority investment in Noble's fee-based asset management business, independent from the Noble team's investment interests in their existing funds.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             


"As we continue to expand our institutional investment management platform, this strategic partnership further augments Noble's ability to develop, source, and execute innovative growth strategies in travel, leisure, and hospitality," 

-Mit Shah, Noble's Chief Executive Officer.

We are incredibly excited to invest with Noble, a leading private hospitality investment manager. In addition to operating through multiple cycles over three decades, we were particularly attracted to Noble's proven expertise in sourcing and executing scalable select-service and extended-stay hotel investment opportunities," said James F. Risoleo, Host President and Chief Executive Officer. "Host will benefit from both chain scale diversification and the ability to incubate and invest in future lodging-adjacent strategies.

Both Host and Noble are deeply committed to corporate responsibility and operating with high business standards, principles, and integrity. Ranked among the world's most sustainable companies in S&P Global's Sustainability Yearbook, named one of America's Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, and a recognized leader by Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI World and DJSI North America) and CDP, Host is dedicated to investing in industry leading ESG best practices and strategies. The majority of the Noble organization is comprised of women and minority leaders. Host is expected to provide thought leadership to Noble's ongoing environmental, social, and governance strategies.

Noble Investment Group
Founded in 1993, Noble is a leading real estate investment manager with a diverse team specializing in the upscale U.S. lodging sector. Through its institutional real estate funds, Noble has invested nearly $5 billion in communities throughout the country, adding value across cycles and creating thousands of jobs. As a signatory to the UNPRI. the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, and a fiduciary to foremost pensions plans, endowments, and foundations, Noble's endeavors help to preserve and grow its limited partners' capital, which assists in providing retirement benefits for our country's teachers, law enforcement, firefighters, other pensioners, and financial resources for students to attend college. For more information, please visit www.nobleinvestment.com

Host Hotels & Resorts
Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and is the largest lodging real estate investment trust and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. The Company currently owns 75 properties in the United States and five properties internationally, totaling approximately 44,400 rooms. The Company also holds non-controlling interests in six domestic and one international joint venture.

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OsaBus Seeks Dynamic Partnership with US-Based Tour Operator to Offer Exclusive European Tours

Business Wire | January 30, 2024

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CheckMyBus and redBus partner in international markets to simplify Bus Travel experience

Business Wire | January 29, 2024

CheckMyBus, the world’s leading metasearch engine for intercity bus, and redBus, the world’s largest online bus ticketing platform, have announced their partnership for Southeast Asia and the LATAM markets. redBus offers online bus booking services in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as the LATAM markets of Peru and Colombia. With this partnership, redBus will provide comprehensive inventory and ease of online bus booking options for both domestic and international travellers through the CheckMyBus platform. Travellers can discover best bus trips on CheckMyBus, the world’s most comprehensive long-distance bus content platform with millions of connections across more than 90 countries. After the rebound of the travel industry, there has been a surge in both domestic and international travel. However, as a result of these changes, flights and other modes of private transportation have become more expensive, leaving budget-conscious travellers in search of cost-effective alternatives. Buses have consistently remained an affordable and budget-friendly option. Through this collaboration, CheckMyBus and redBus are committed to providing the best and most affordable bus booking experience for their users. In addition to domestic users, it is now much easier for international travellers to find the right buses to exciting destinations in South America and Southeast Asia having access to the largest bus inventory in these regions. Marc Hofmann, CEO of CheckMyBus, said: “Our mission is to make bus travel simple. By providing access to the extensive redBus inventory to our global audience, we are taking a significant step toward promoting bus travel in Southeast Asia and LATAM, making it more accessible. We are excited to contribute to the growth of the travel industry by assisting both domestic and international travellers in the region in collaboration with a strong partner like redBus.” Krishnan Ramaswami, Chief Business Officer - International Businesses, redBus, said: “Through this one partnership, we can offer extensive bus ticketing options to the international traveller. Global travellers can book a ticket & discover a range of services in Southeast Asian and Latin American markets as conveniently as locals. We expect this will improve our discoverability in newer markets and provide better accessibility to a larger customer base. We look forward to working with CheckMyBus to improve the ease & convenience of bus bookings.”

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Sonesta Announces First Sonesta Es Suites Ground Up Development

PR Newswire | January 24, 2024

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Auberge Resorts Collection Announces Strategic Partnership with Bdt & Msd Partners

PR Newswire | February 02, 2024

The Friedkin Group announced today that the company has entered into a strategic partnership with BDT & MSD Partners ("BDT & MSD"), a merchant bank built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. BDT & MSD, through its affiliated hospitality investment vehicle, will make a minority investment in Auberge Resorts Collection, the manager of the award-winning portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs set in some of the world's most desirable locations. In addition, BDT & MSD's hospitality vehicle intends to invest significant capital towards acquiring and developing luxury hotel and residential assets that will be branded and managed by Auberge Resorts Collection. The partnership reflects BDT & MSD's belief in Auberge Resorts Collection's unique brand positioning and focus on creating one-of-a-kind luxury hospitality experiences. The investment will support Auberge's continued strategic growth in the Americas, Europe and beyond, with a focus on gateway urban markets and high-profile experiential destinations. "This partnership further solidifies Auberge Resorts Collection's position as the leading name in boutique luxury hospitality and marks a new and exciting era for our world-class portfolio," said Dan Friedkin, chairman of Auberge Resorts Collection and chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group. "BDT & MSD's differentiated, long-term capital and expertise in luxury hospitality investments makes them a perfect strategic partner and will allow us to further grow the strength of the Auberge brand." "Auberge is a world-class manager of distinctive luxury hotel properties, with an exceptional track record of delivering curated guest experiences in the world's leading hospitality markets. We are excited to be a part of its future and look forward to partnering with Auberge's talented team to build on its differentiated strengths and accelerate further growth," said Coburn Packard, partner & head of real estate at BDT & MSD. Since becoming part of The Friedkin Group in 2013, Auberge Resorts Collection has grown into the leading name in boutique luxury hospitality, comprising 27 unparalleled properties across the U.S., Latin America and Europe, with a development pipeline of over a dozen hotels and two additional hotels planned to open in Florence and South Carolina this year. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the essence of the location to life through one-of-a-kind design that reflects the destination, exceptional cuisine and dining experiences that attract both the local community and global traveler, innovative spas and wellness retreats and highly personalized service.

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