Peachtree Group to operate Merrill Hotel in Iowa

Peachtree Group's hospitality management division was recently selected to manage the Merrill Hotel, Muscatine in Iowa. The hotel has 122 guest rooms, 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a heated indoor saltwater pool, and a fitness center, Peachtree said in a statement.

"We're truly delighted to have been chosen by Jim and Rebecca Howe to be the hotel's management operator," said Patrick Short, Peachtree’s president for hospitality management. "The Howe family embodies a steadfast dedication to unparalleled hospitality experiences. We will carry on their commitment to excellence by delivering exceptional guest experiences, enhancing and elevating the hotel's reputation while generating results commensurate with this exceptional hotel's status, which continues to serve as one of the city's economic foundations."

The hotel was opened in March 2018 along the Mississippi River in downtown Muscatine and is located near cities like Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island and Moline/East Moline in Illinois, the statement said.

"We take our role as stewards of this incredible hotel seriously, committed to keeping it at the heart of the town's culture and economy,” said Caroline Royster, Peachtree’s vice president of business development, hospitality management. “It's a responsibility we embrace with dedication and pride.”

Peachtree Group's hospitality management division operates hotels across upper-midscale and upscale segments. With the Merrill Hotel, the company now manages 91 hotels, spanning 27 brands and 11,180 rooms across 23 states, expanding its third-party operations to 28 hotels. It is led by Greg Friedman as managing principal and CEO, Jatin Desai as managing principal and Mitul Patel as principal.

"Embracing an experienced management firm like Peachtree Group signifies a collaborative effort ensuring operational excellence while fostering a partnership geared towards the growth of Muscatine, which continues to serve as the family’s’ and investors' goal," the hotel’s owner Jim Howe said.

Meanwhile, Peachtree Group recently acquired the 180-room Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center in Denver, its second hotel in the city following the Element Denver Park Meadows.