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3H Group opens The Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Florida

The 88-room boutique is LBA's first Curio property

3H Group opens The Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Florida

The Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton is now open in Florida. 3H Group Inc., led by Hiren Desai as president and CEO, is the owner of the property, while hotel management firm LBA Hospitality will manage the operations of the beachside hotel.

The 88-room boutique-style hotel is the first Curio property to join the LBA portfolio and expands the partnership between LBA Hospitality and owner/developer 3H Group, the companies said in a joint statement.


“In January 2022, when LBA took over management of the 3H portfolio of hotels, I thought I would take a little break,” said Desai. “I told my family and colleagues I was going to take a little hiatus, and they had different ideas in store for me. My brother, Nick Desai—also a co-owner of 3H Group—said, ‘You can take a hiatus, but take it in Clearwater Beach.'”

New York City-based Celano Design Studio Co. designed The Hiatus' interior, the statement added. Guestrooms and suites feature balconies with Clearwater Beach views, while the seventh-floor rooftop restaurant and reception area offer Gulf and beach vistas.

“Clearwater Beach is well known as an award-winning, must-visit destination,” said Beau Benton, LBA Hospitality’s president. “At the Hiatus Clearwater Beach, our goal is to bring guests and locals together in a vibrant space where they can enjoy breathtaking views, savor delicious South Florida cuisine and embrace a relaxing moment at the heart of the beach.”

The hotel's exterior features a 10-story mural by local artist Derek Donnelly of Saint Paint Arts, featuring a theme of “celebrating Mother Nature and paying homage to Kali, the Hindu goddess.” The Hiatus amenities include a rooftop pool, two dining, three bar outlets and a fitness center.

3H Group recently broke ground on Caption by Hyatt Chattanooga, Hyatt Hotels Corp.’s inaugural launch of the brand in Tennessee. The upscale 123-room hotel, developed under a franchise agreement, is set to open in early 2026.

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Ex-U.S. congressman alleges H-1B visa fraud in India

Summary:

  • Former Rep. Dave Brat alleges large-scale H-1B visa fraud linked to India.
  • Claims Chennai consulate issued 220,000 visas, far above the 85,000 cap.
  • Former U.S. diplomat reported forged documents, political pressure at same consulate.

ECONOMIST AND FORMER U.S. Rep. Dave Brat alleged fraud in India’s H-1B visa system, claiming the Chennai consulate issued more than twice the legally permitted number of visas nationwide. He said on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast that while the national H-1B cap is 85,000, the Chennai consulate processed about 220,000 visas—2.5 times the limit.

Brat said the H-1B system was “captured by fraud,” asserting that visa allocations from India exceeded statutory limits, according to the Times of India.

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