Sean McCracken

Cleveland, Rocky River

News Editor at Hotel News Now

I write for @Hotel_News_Now for a living. I worked at a couple newspapers before that.

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Articles

Why Extended Stay America plans to keep its hotel conversions pace flowing

1 month ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

LOS ANGELES — The continued high cost of construction is expected to make growth via conversions more of a focus for Extended Stay America this year. Mark Williams, managing director of franchise development for the company, said conversions also have the advantage of getting new hotels online significantly faster.
Choice looks international and to Southeast US for growth

1 month ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

LOS ANGELES — Choice Hotels International executives see potential for growth in 2025, both domestic and abroad, but noted hotel investors focused on the U.S. seem to be favoring "tax-free states."Speaking at the 2025 Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Chief Development Officer David Pepper noted that focus is primarily in the Southern U.S."It seems like everyone's moving to the tax-free states," he said. "You're seeing a lot of Texas, Florida, the Southwest as well.
Why high-end hotels are the big opportunity for operators like Davidson

1 month ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

LOS ANGELES — For decades, luxury hotels have largely been operated by brands, but third-party management is growing more prevalent in that space. That's why Davidson Hospitality Group President and CEO Thom Geshay sees great potential in developing expertise in that area to help fuel growth for his company.
News | See you at NYU

1 month ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

As I sit here to write this, my calendar still says February, but already my mind is on June. More specifically, my mind is wondering just where the hotel industry will be when we reconvene for the traditional mid-year check-in in midtown Manhattan, the conference now officially known as the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum.
Hyatt exec believes new structure will yield benefits for performance, guests

1 month ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

Following several years of acquisitions to build out a more robust brand portfolio, Hyatt Hotels Corporation ended 2024 by realigning its brands into collections that can better focus on specific segments in the industry and the guests they serve. Now in the early days of 2025, Dan Hansen, head of Americas development and global head of Hyatt Studios, said the company is poised to realize the benefits of those efforts.
Hyatt exec says new structure will yield benefits for performance, guests

1 month ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

Following several years of acquisitions to build out a more robust brand portfolio, Hyatt Hotels Corporation ended 2024 by realigning its brands into collections that can better focus on specific segments in the industry and the guests they serve. Now in the early days of 2025, Dan Hansen, head of Americas development and global head of Hyatt Studios, said the company is poised to realize the benefits of those efforts.
RLJ Lodging Trust optimistic about business travel rebound, but realizes mix will be different

1 month ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

The demand environment in 2025 will be driven primarily by growth in business transient and urban leisure travel, according to executives with RLJ Lodging Trust. During the hotel-focused real estate investment trust's fourth quarter and full-year 2024 earnings call, RLJ President and CEO Leslie Hale said her company is poised to benefit from fewer price-sensitive business travelers.
Hyatt launches new select-service hotel brand Hyatt Select

1 month ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

Hyatt Hotels Corporation is looking to grow in the upper midscale segment with the launch of its newest brand, Hyatt Select. The select-service brand will be geared toward transient guests and is billed as a "conversion-friendly" addition to the company's brand portfolio. No deals have been signed yet. It is the sixth brand to join the company's "Essentials Portfolio" of select-service brands, along with Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Studios and UrCove.
Why Remington sees its biggest growth opportunities south of the border

2 months ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

LOS ANGELES — Remington Hospitality President and CEO Sloan Dean saying he's seeing a big uptick in hotel owners looking to change management, which will be a big driver for growth for operating companies like his, but he said the biggest opportunity for Remington could be south of the border.
Hilton exec defines what 'lifestyle' means for large hotel brands

2 months ago | costar.com | Sean McCracken

When Hilton bought Graduate Hotels in 2024, it marked a large-scale shift for both of those companies and executive Kevin Osterhaus, who came over to Hilton as part of that deal. Now serving as president of global lifestyle brands for Hilton, Osterhaus said his company's newly formalized approach to lifestyle hotels is a reflection of the types of experiences guests want to see in modern hotels.