SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Corp. added 37 new franchised hotels to its global portfolio in the second half of 2024. The openings nearly doubled the number in the first half, reflecting growth in the U.S. and internationally.
“The addition of 37 new franchised hotels in the second half of 2024 speaks to Sonesta’s growth, driven by our commitment to franchise partners across our brand portfolio,” said Keith Pierce, executive vice president and president of franchise and development at Sonesta. “Sonesta’s organic openings nearly doubled those in the first half of 2024, further illustrating our strategic growth plans in the U.S. and internationally.”
The new hotels, totaling more than 3,300 rooms, include:
- Costa Sur, Classico Collection by Sonesta—Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Sonesta Essential Houston Energy Corridor—Houston
- Americas Best Value Inn Vandalia—Vandalia, Illinois
- Signature Inn Indio—Indio, California
- Sonesta Essential Augusta—Augusta, Georgia
- Americas Best Value Inn Aiken—Aiken, South Carolina
- Sonesta Hotel Baltimore—Baltimore, Maryland
- Signature Inn Danville—Danville, Illinois
- Americas Best Value Inn Danville—Danville, Illinois
- Americas Best Value Inn Opelika—Opelika, Alabama
- Americas Best Value Inn Humble—Humble, Texas
- Americas Best Value Inn Monroe—Monroe, Louisiana
- Americas Best Value Inn Pittsburgh—Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Sonesta Hotel Houston IAH Airport—Houston
- Americas Best Value Inn Yakima—Yakima, Washington
- Sonesta Essential Rapid City—Rapid City, South Dakota
- Americas Best Value Inn Sonora—Sonora, Texas
- Sonesta Essential Junction City—Junction City, Kansas
- Red Lion Inn & Suites IAH Airport East—Humble, Texas
- Americas Best Value Inn La Porte—La Porte, Texas
- Sonesta Essential Beaumont—Beaumont, Texas
- Knights Inn Houston—Houston
- Americas Best Value Inn Moline—Moline, Illinois
- Sonesta Essential Savannah—Savannah, Georgia
- Canadas Best Value Inn Kapuskasing—Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada
- ACP Hotel Houston Westchase, MOD Collection by Sonesta—Houston
- Sonesta Essential Columbus—Columbus, Georgia
- Americas Best Value Inn Jay—Jay, Oklahoma
- Red Lion Inn & Suites Grimes—Grimes, Iowa
- Americas Best Value Inn Franklin—Franklin, North Carolina
- Knights Inn Montgomeryville—Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania
- Sonesta ES Suites Goodyear—Goodyear, Arizona
- GuestHouse Extended Stay Laredo—Laredo, Texas
- Signature Inn San Jose—San Jose, California
- Sonesta Simply Suites Houston Brookhollow—Houston
- Sonesta Essential North Houston—Houston
- Sonesta Essential Ames—Ames, Iowa
“The team also converted 16 managed hotels to franchise under new ownership over the same period, adding 2,000 rooms to our franchise total,” Pierce said. “Our flexible franchising framework is a key driver in differentiating Sonesta as the partner of choice for owners.”
Sonesta RL Hotels Franchising Inc. launched four Sonesta-branded hotel concepts in the U.S. in late 2021, offering franchise services, hotel operations, and support. In 2023, it introduced four new brands: The James, Sonesta Essential, and two soft brands—Classico Collection by Sonesta and MOD Collection by Sonesta. In 2024, the company consolidated brands and added the “by Sonesta” endorser branding to the Red Lion portfolio.
Brian Quinn, Sonesta’s chief development officer, said the company remains focused on creating value for franchise partners and guests as it drives success into 2025.
“At Sonesta, our experience as owners and operators gives us a unique point of view and approach that has supported our portfolio’s growth throughout 2024,” he said.
In October, Sonesta signed 30 franchise agreements in the third quarter, expanding seven brands and adding nearly 2,150 keys to its pipeline. In January, it opened the 47-room Signature Inn San Jose in California and the 85-room Simply Suites Houston in Brookhollow, Texas.
Sonesta’s portfolio of 13 brands spans upper-upscale, lifestyle, upscale, midscale, extended-stay, and economy segments. According to STR data, it ranks as the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S., with about 1,100 properties and 100,000 rooms.
