The magnitude of change in the major industry indicators is not pleasing U.S. hotel owners and operators. New development activity continues to accelerate, while growth in average daily room rates (ADR) has decelerated. The sluggish start during the first half of the year resulted in another downgrade by CBRE Hotels’ Americas Research of its forecast for the entirety of 2016.

Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, private hotel management company, today announced that John Edwards has joined the company as vice president of design and construction. In his newly created role, Edwards will work closely with the business development team, as well as brand and investor partners, to oversee new development and renovation projects. He also will be responsible for capital expense planning for the company’s owned and managed portfolio.

Officials of the Southern Lodging Summit, an annual gathering of hoteliers specializing in development and operations in the southern United States, today announced that the event achieved record attendance. Additionally, the organization released the results of its second annual “State-of-the-Industry” report compiled from attendees’ opinions. Participants were queried on such topics as to which presidential nominee would likely have the “best” impact on the industry, social media, Millennial travelers and which recent issues have had the largest impact on the hospitality industry.

WoodSpring Hotels, the nation’s fast growing extended stay hotel brand has partnered with M2B2, LLC to build a new prototype WoodSpring Suites hotel in Wixom, Michigan. The property will be located between Grand River Avenue and Highway 96 near South Wixom Avenue. This new franchised location is the first of three that M2B2 plans to build in the region.