Dive Brief:
- Sonesta added 13 hotels to its global portfolio during the first half of 2023, the company announced Tuesday. All but three are located in the U.S.
- The hotels span multiple chain scales and brand types, including two under the Red Lion Inn & Suites brand, which Sonesta acquired in 2021, as well as two in its newly announced upscale and upper-upscale soft brands.
- Sonesta claims to be one of the fastest-growing companies in the hospitality space. Much of that growth has occurred in recent years, despite the company’s 86-year history.
Dive Insight:
In the first half of 2023, Sonesta added hotels in U.S. markets including Philadelphia, Miami, Houston, Colorado, Nebraska and Florida. The 13 properties add more than 1,000 rooms to Sonesta’s portfolio.
“Sonesta’s progress in the first half of 2023 illustrates our success growing multiple brands across our platform and was driven by strong owner relationships and our ability to meet consumer needs," said Keith Pierce, Sonesta's executive vice president and president of franchise and development.
Sonesta launched its Sonesta Franchising platform in 2021. Since then, the company’s roster of franchisees has expanded greatly, bolstered in part by the creation of five brands: The James, Royal Sonesta, Sonesta Essential, Classico and Mod.
Sonesta launched its soft brands, Classico and Mod, in June. At the time, Chief Development Officer Brian Quinn said the brands would provide additional growth as Sonesta strengthened its franchising abilities.
Sonesta Chief Brand Officer Elizabeth Harlow previously told Hotel Dive that she considers the company to be “an 80-year-old startup because we grew so fast and so quickly.” Earlier this year, Sonesta launched its first integrated brand campaign, “Whisper,” in a bid to keep name recognition apace with its growth.
