Sonesta International Hotels Corp. signed 15 new franchise agreements during the six-month period ending June 30, expanding Sonesta’s global footprint of branded hotels. The agreements add more than 1,000 new guestrooms to Sonesta’s portfolio, and come on the heels of the official launch of Sonesta Franchising, the company's expanded global hotel franchising organization. The debut of Sonesta Franchising in the U.S. includes its established Sonesta Hotels & Resorts and Sonesta ES Suites brands, along with recently introduced Sonesta Select and Sonesta Simply Suites brands.
“Our exceptional franchise support and operating model—informed by Sonesta’s 80-year legacy as a hotel operator—makes partnership with Sonesta a turnkey solution, allowing hotel owners to benefit quickly from Sonesta’s rapidly growing portfolio of more than 1,200 hotels,” said Brian Quinn, chief development officer for Sonesta. “Sonesta’s acquisition of RLH Corp. earlier this year, and [the] launch of domestic franchising of four Sonesta namesake brands, has expanded our reach in the world of hotel franchising. We remain optimistic about the rebound of new construction projects and are enthusiastic for new market opportunities across the U.S.”
In the nine months leading up to April, Sonesta grew its portfolio 350 percent. The company has approximately 1,200 franchised and managed properties.