Newport Hospitality Group (NHG) has taken over the management of two Altoona, Pennsylvania hotels—Wingate by Wyndham Altoona Downtown/Medical Center and Microtel by Wyndham Altoona—effective October 1, 2024. This strategic move aligns with Newport’s commitment to enhancing guest experiences while expanding its presence in key markets.

Located in the heart of Altoona, both hotels offer convenient access to downtown attractions, medical facilities, and popular sites such as the Railroaders Memorial Museum and Lakemont Park. Their location and amenities cater to business travelers and leisure guests alike.

The Wingate by Wyndham Altoona features 82 rooms, including suites designed for both work and relaxation. It offers flexible meeting spaces for corporate events and gatherings. One of its highlights is Tōst at Market Square, a full-service bar undergoing revitalization to create a modern, social hub for guests and locals.

The Microtel by Wyndham Altoona is known for its smart design and streamlined service, featuring 72 rooms that prioritize comfort and efficiency. It offers meeting spaces for small groups, providing added convenience for business travelers.

Wayne West III, President of Newport, shared his excitement about the new additions, saying, “Adding these two properties to our portfolio further supports our mission to deliver exceptional hospitality in key markets. The Altoona market is an exciting area with growth potential, and we look forward to enhancing the guest experience and creating new opportunities within the community.”

The owners of both properties also expressed optimism about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to align with Newport, a company known for its dedication to excellence and guest satisfaction. We are confident that together, we will elevate the experience at both properties and strengthen their presence in the Altoona market.”

Newport plans to engage with the local community through these properties and aims to make Tōst at Market Square a popular venue for both residents and visitors. This acquisition reflects Newport’s goal of expanding its influence in hospitality by offering exceptional services and amenities.

For more information, visit Wingate by Wyndham Altoona Downtown/Medical Center and Microtel by Wyndham Altoona. 

Taiba Investments, a leader in Saudi hospitality and real estate, has announced a strategic partnership with Hilton (NYSE: HLT) to bring the renowned Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand to the holy city of Madinah. The agreement was signed during the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) in Dubai, emphasizing Taiba Investments' ongoing expansion into the luxury hospitality market. This collaboration aims to elevate Saudi Arabia's tourism sector through partnerships with world-class hospitality brands like Hilton.

“This agreement marks a pivotal moment in our strategic growth, reflecting our unwavering commitment to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s hospitality offering across diverse segments,” stated Sultan Al Otaibi, CEO of Taiba Investments. “Our collaboration with Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts will elevate tourism and hospitality by delivering an extraordinary guest experience in line with the ‘Pilgrim Experience Program.’ This project not only reaffirms our leadership in the sector but also highlights our dedication to Saudi Vision 2030 by providing world-class accommodation that honors the Kingdom’s rich heritage.”

Set to open in 2028, Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will be the brand’s debut in the city, introducing its unparalleled standards of luxury and signature service. Ideally located on the northern side of the Prophet’s Mosque (PBUH), the hotel offers exclusive, direct views of this holy site and is just a few minutes’ walk away.

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Taiba Investments through this remarkable project,” remarked Carlos Khneisser, Vice President of Development, Middle East and Africa at Hilton. “Saudi Arabia remains one of our fastest-growing markets where we plan to expand our footprint to exceed 100 hotels in the coming years. Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will bring the brand’s timeless hospitality and elegant service near one of the world’s most sacred sites. Together with Taiba, we look forward to expanding our network across the Kingdom and delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests.”

Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will feature over 300 sophisticated guest rooms and suites, three world-class dining concepts—including the celebrated Peacock Alley café—and two thoughtfully curated restaurants, including a signature venue. The hotel will also house two multi-functional halls, a boardroom, a private club lounge, a prayer room, and a fitness center.

By pioneering transformative projects, Taiba Investments aims to significantly contribute to local economic growth, generate valuable job opportunities, and support tourism infrastructure development, all while delivering an experience deeply rooted in tradition.

As part of this strategy, Taiba Investments plans to renovate the existing Taiba Front Hotel, rebranding it as Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah. This transformation will merge the global brand’s timeless luxury with the cultural essence of the holy city, enhancing the property’s sophistication and exclusivity while solidifying Taiba’s position as a key player in redefining Madinah’s hospitality landscape.

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 24 world-class brands comprising more than 8,000 properties and over 1.2 million rooms in 126 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history.

About Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning portfolio of 35 iconic properties that deliver a unique sense of place with a commitment to sincerely elegant service and culinary mastery in landmark destinations worldwide.

About Taiba Investments

Taiba Investments Co. (TASI: 4090), established in 1988, is a leading hospitality and real estate company headquartered in Saudi Arabia, managing a portfolio of 39 properties, including hotels and residential communities.

Mews, the leading cloud SaaS and fintech platform for the hospitality industry, has announced the appointment of Steve Cakebread to its board. Cakebread, renowned for his role in taking Salesforce, Pandora, and Yext public, brings a wealth of experience to Mews as it continues its rapid growth in the hospitality tech space.

Cakebread is the author of The IPO Playbook: An Insider’s Perspective on Taking Your Company Public and How to Do It Right and currently serves on the board of Bill.com, which went public in December 2019. He has also held leadership roles at SolarWinds, eHealth, Autodesk, and Hewlett-Packard.

Commenting on Cakebread's appointment, Matt Welle, CEO of Mews, said, “Steve’s capital markets expertise is unparalleled. His experience leading Salesforce, Pandora, and Yext through IPOs and beyond will be invaluable as Mews embarks on its next chapter of growth. We are thrilled to welcome Steve to our board at such a pivotal moment.”

Mews founder, Richard Valtr, added, “Steve is a strategic leader with exceptional experience in scaling financial teams. His insight and guidance will be critical in supporting our aggressive growth ambitions and securing Mews' position as the market leader in cloud hospitality.”

The appointment comes as Mews continues to experience significant growth, reaching unicorn status with a valuation surpassing $1.2 billion. Over the past year, Mews has seen a 250% increase in customers across North America and facilitated over 25 million hotel check-ins globally. The company recently secured $100 million in funding from Vista Credit Partners to fuel further growth and M&A activity through its investment arm, Mews Ventures.

Reflecting on his new role, Cakebread shared, “Mews has a tremendous opportunity in the $20 billion hospitality software and payments markets, driven by the shift to cloud-based technology. With over 5,500 hospitality brands and 1,000 integrations on its platform, Mews is well-positioned to lead the market. I’m excited to contribute to Mews’ continued success and work with the team to accelerate its next phase of growth.”

About Mews

Mews is the leading cloud platform transforming hospitality for the modern era. Serving over 5,500 customers in more than 85 countries, Mews Hospitality Cloud helps hoteliers streamline operations, elevate guest experiences, and build more profitable businesses. Its clients include leading hospitality brands like Generator-Freehand, Strawberry, The Social Hub, and Airelles Collection. Mews has been recognized as Best PMS (2024) and among the Best Places to Work in Hotel Tech (2021, 2022, 2024) by Hotel Tech Report, and awarded World's Best Hotel PMS Provider (2023) and World's Best Independent Hotel PMS Provider (2022, 2023) by the World Travel Tech Awards. Mews has raised $335 million from investors, including Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Kinnevik, and Revaia, to revolutionize the hospitality industry.