Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, marked the start of a new monthly newsletter, Friday With Joan, starring meetings industry veteran and CIC Hall of

Blackstone Group LP agreed to buy Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. for about $3.93 billion (at an enterprise value of $6 billion including debt),

ORLANDOWestgate Lakes Resort & Spa, one of Orlando’s iconic condominium-style resorts

AUGUSTA, Ga.A historic property known for its Southern hospitality near the heart of downtown Augusta,

DALLASA groundbreaking ceremony held on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, marked the start of construction on a new Renaissance-branded hotel in Plano, Texas.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.The 942-room Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City recently debuted a new 15,

Hilton Worldwide announced a new set of parental leave policies last Friday that it claims will be the best offered by any major global hospitality

LOS ANGELESThe Garland, a longstanding North Hollywood icon of the San Fernando Valley,

ROHNERT PARK, Calif.The leadership of the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria broke ground on a $175 million expansion of the

SACRAMENTO, Calif.The Citizen Hotel

VICTORIA, British ColumbiaDoubleTree by Hilton opened the brand's first property on Vancouver Island with the new

Hilton Worldwide is partnering with Uber to offer expanded digital features through its Hhonors app—available to Hilton rewards program members

CHICAGOThe Gwen, a

BETTENDORF, IowaSoon to become the largest land-based casino resort with on-site convention space in Iowa,

LA CROSSE, Wisc.Aparium Hotel Group and Weber Holdings announced the opening of The

NORMAL, Ill.

ORLANDOUniversal Orlando Resort and Loews Hotels & Resorts announced an expansion of

MIDDLEBURG, Va.Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the luxury hotel management company founded by Sheila C. Johnson, unveiled its new

DECATUR, Ala.DoubleTree by Hilton announced the opening of the

CHARLESTON, S.C.Autograph Collection Hotels announced the newest hotel from The Kessler Collection to its portfolio—