Choice Hotels taps AI leader to board, Aspen Hospitality launches luxury Nell Hotels brand

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The Lodging Lowdown is a series from Hotel Dive highlighting major headlines that hospitality professionals may have missed from the week.

This week in hotel news saw European hotel operator Fattal Hotel Group acquire its first U.S. hotel with the purchase of The Blakely Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, as well as Hilton and Reuben Brothers partnering to bring the Marriott-branded W South Beach & Residences under Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria flag. 

Additionally, Amsterdam-based hospitality software provider Mews announced it is cutting staff by 15% as the company pursues an “AI-native” future. 

Here are other headlines from this week that hoteliers should know about: 

Choice Hotels appoints artificial intelligence leader to board of directors

Choice Hotels International has appointed CVS Health executive Ali Keshavarz to its board of directors. 

As president and chief data and analytics officer of CVS Health, Keshavarz has “a proven track record of leading enterprise data, analytics and AI transformation at scale,” Dominic Dragisich, interim chief executive officer at Choice Hotels, said in a statement. 

The appointment comes as Choice Hotels deploys artificial intelligence across its business. 

Aspen Hospitality launches luxury brand Nell Hotels

Aspen Hospitality, a division of Aspen One, has launched Nell Hotels, the company announced Tuesday. The new luxury brand is inspired by the legacy of The Little Nell, an acclaimed ski-in/ski-out hotel in Aspen, Colorado. Nell Hotels aims to bring The Little Nell’s “signature approach to warm, personalized luxury” to “illustrious destinations” across the world, according to the release. 

Jeff Toscano, CEO of Aspen Hospitality, said in a statement that the brand “builds on what The Little Nell has always been about — something personal, something you come back to that feels familiar every time.” 

Nell Hotels will debut with The Nell New York, a 134-room hotel located within Rockefeller Center, expected to open in fall 2027. According to Aspen Hospitality, the property will debut as the only Relais & Châteaux property in New York City.

Also a part of Nell Hotels is the original The Little Nell in Aspen, which will temporarily close in April 2027 for a “comprehensive renovation,” with upgrades across its guest rooms, public spaces and dining. 

Ascendant Capital Partners acquires 8-hotel portfolio in the Southeast

Ascendant Capital Partners has purchased an eight-hotel, 965-key portfolio from Coastal Hospitality Associates for an undisclosed amount. The majority of the assets are beachfront properties, with six located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and the other two in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. 

The transaction reflects Ascendant’s strategy of focusing on “high-quality assets in dynamic, supply-constrained markets with resilient demand drivers,” said Alex Halpern, co-founder and chief investment officer, in a statement. 

The firm said it plans to invest in the portfolio’s overall long-term success through targeted capital investments and operational enhancements. Schulte Hospitality Group will assume operations of the properties. 

Beechwood Hospitality, MMI Hotel Group merge to form new group

Beechwood Hospitality and MMI Hotel Group have merged to form Beechwood Hospitality, an MMI Company, in a move that brings together two established groups to create a “stronger, more dynamic hotel management platform,” according to a Wednesday news release. 

Blair Allen, founding partner at Beechwood, will serve as president of the “newly aligned” organization, which has more than 24 properties across the Sun Belt, including a variety of hotels, resorts, private clubs and restaurants. The unified organization, which now operates under the parent company MMI Hospitality Group, has plans to “thoughtfully expand their collective footprint.” 

“As our industry continues to evolve, we recognize the importance of building scale, expanding our capabilities, and positioning ourselves to remain competitive,” Allen said in a statement.