14 22 18 September 2026 USA.BOUTIQUEHOTELIER.com • Issue 035 In this issue SEPTEMBER 2026 / USA.BOUTIQUEHOTELIER.COM / 3 Power List special Industry Titans 14 The aspirational figures driving real change Business Leaders 18 Resilient figures leading their hotel from the front Game Changers 22 The brains behind new-to-market concepts Young Trailblazers 26 Hospitality staff who are rising up the ranks Hidden Heroes 30 Celebrating the behind-the-scenes stars “These heroic leaders encourage others” Discover what makes an Industry Titan Page 18 10 34 06 “Growth shouldn’t sand down a brand’s edges” Amber Asher on maintaining a unique identity Page 34 In this issue 4 / USA.BOUTIQUEHOTELIER.COM / SEPTEMBER 2026 Regulars Headlines 06 The news stories that have hoteliers talking In-depth 10 SiteMinder explores how hotels can implement AI without losing hospitality’s human touch Seven Lessons 34 Amber Asher, partner at Helbraun Levey and former chief executive officer of Standard International, reflects on the biggest takeaways from her career so farOCTOBER 2025 / BOUTIQUEHOTELIER.COM / 5 Zoe Monk Managing Editor Eamonn Crowe Senior Editor ITP Media (UK) LTD 140 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BJ Tel: +44 (0)20 3176 4228 Editorial Editorial Director Andrew Seymour andrew.seymour@itp.com Tel: +44 (0)20 3176 4234 Managing Editor Zoe Monk zoe.monk@itp.com Tel: +44 (0)20 3176 4237 Senior Editor Eamonn Crowe eamonn.crowe@itp.com Tel: +44 (0)2031 76 5658 Commercial Group Brand Manager Caroline Kelly caroline.kelly@itp.com Tel: +44 (0)203176 4258 Design Senior Designer Ogo Ikeogu ogo.ikeogu@itp.com Production & Distribution Senior Production & Distribution Manager Balasubramanian P balasubramanian.p@itp.com ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Managing director Martin Chambers Deputy Managing Director Holly Sands ITP Media UK Managing Director Lee Cashman Circulation & Subscription Tel: +44 (0)20 3176 4228 subscriptions@itp.com Web www.usa.boutiquehotelier.com The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exception is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. SEPTEMBER 2026 / USA.BOUTIQUEHOTELIER.COM / 5 Now in its third year, our annual USA Power List recognises hotel professionals from across the nation who have had a remarkable 12 months. Whether through aggressive expansion, major investment programmes or stellar leadership, the hard-working individuals that we profi le each year are chosen because of their impact on the hotel industry. Each year, the USA Power List is spread across fi ve key categories, which are: Industry Titans, Business Leaders, Game Changers, Young Trailblazers, and Hidden Heroes. The hotel owners, general managers and rising stars that make up this year’s list have helped their businesses to excel against a backdrop of soaring operational costs, fast-moving global confl icts and tourism slumps, all of which have made running a profi table hotel that much more diffi cult. Despite the challenges facing operators, we were thrilled to receive so many Power List nominations this year showcasing incredible work, which made deciding who was going to make the cut as diffi cult a task as ever. We’re lucky that we can rely on our engaged readership to help shape the list. Once again, we invited the market to nominate their personal hotel heroes and sought feedback from the supply chain. We have also taken into account the news stories and developments we have featured in both our print and online output this year, paying close attention to examples of best practice and growth. We have been seriously impressed by the stories we have come across; from creative masterminds launching successful new brands through to CEOs who have found time in their busy schedules to support the next generation of talent. This year’s USA Power List will be revealed for the fi rst time at an invite-only networking event, the ‘Power Breakfast’, which will take place on the second morning of Independent Hotel Show Miami this month, hosted at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Whether you are discovering the list at the event or reading this at your desk, we hope you fi nd this year’s Power List success stories as informative and inspirational as we did. From the editors Power surge Foreword Published by and copyright 2026 ITP Media (UK) Ltd, incorporated and registered in the United Kingdom under company number 10982417.6 / USA.BOUTIQUEHOTELIER.COM / SEPTEMBER 2026 Lark signs deal with Airbnb for all US hotels Independent hotel operator Lark has signed an agreement with Airbnb to add all of its US hotels to the holiday rental firm’s platform. Rob Blood, Lark founder and chairman, and Lou Zameryka, Airbnb’s global head of hotel enterprise and connectivity partnerships, announced the news in separate LinkedIn posts. The new distribution agreement will allow Airbnb users to choose from more than 75 hotels operating across the US. Posting on LinkedIn, Blood said he was ‘thrilled to partner with Airbnb’ and the new deal gives owners ‘something rare’ in a new channel mix and access to more Lark followers. He said: “This partnership gives our owners something rare: a diverse channel mix and direct access to guests who already love what we do. Airbnb travelers seek out unique, characterful stays, exactly the guests our hotels are built for. That’s what Lark does best: helping distinctive independent spirited hotels stand out and reach the guests who value them most.” New Hampshire-based Lark oversees five brands and a collection of nearly 100 independent hotels across the U.S. and Mexico. In the headlines The stories that have hoteliers talking Nantucket’s Greydon House expands with new luxe suites Greydon House on Nantucket has unveiled a new lounge and four individually styled guest suites as part of its latest expansion. Connected to the original Broad Street property by a brick pathway, the expansion has been designed by Nantucket's Emeritus with interiors by Natasha Willauer. On the ground floor, a generous new lounge anchored by a bold wraparound 14-seat bar offers an intimate setting for cocktails and light bites. Aptly titled The Green Room, the space’s color palette is a nod to the original property, featuring a medley of seagreens. The four bespoke guest suites feature soft blues and greens layered with warm woods, brick hues, and brass accents. Custom furnishings crafted on-island are set alongside antiques and vintage pieces sourced throughout New England. Select bathrooms feature dual shower systems, marble finishes, and custom walnut vanities. “The goal was never to replicate the original, but to create something that feels like a natural extension – more like a cousin than a twin,” said Willauer. “We wanted each space to feel individually lived-in, while still connected to the larger story of Greydon House.” The expansion will also include a patio and garden, set to be completed this fall. Two development firms have joined forces on a $160m luxury resort project that will include two hotels in Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas. Woodbine Development and Delightful Development have partnered to create a new three-acre resort that will comprise 225 bedrooms across two independently- operated hotels, multiple F&B venues and event spaces. The project is scheduled to break ground next fall, with an opening planned for spring 2030. Alongside the bedrooms, there will be rooftop meeting space and dining, a full- service spa and lobby bars at both hotels, as well as a vast ballroom and event barn. Retail space will also be incorporated across the site. Two development firms plan $160m luxury hotel scheme in Fort WorthSEPTEMBER 2026 / USA.BOUTIQUEHOTELIER.COM /7 Stoa Lodging will rebrand and reposition an existing hotel in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, before relaunching the property as Stellen San Diego Gaslamp in early 2027. The project will transform the existing Hotel Z, located at 521 Sixth Ave, through an extensive renovation and repositioning. Hotel Z will continue to operate during the transformation. The new hotel will be designed by San Diego-based architecture firm Delawie and will feature 100 redesigned guestrooms, enhanced public spaces, and new amenities. The exterior will feature a bright, contemporary façade accented with natural materials and landscaping. Inside, public spaces will embrace a modern residential aesthetic, blending warm natural materials, botanical accents and communal spaces. The property will also be home to a ‘locally driven’ food and beverage concept open to both hotel guests and locals. Stellen San Diego Gaslamp will join the Marriott Bonvoy family, Series by Marriott when it reopens and will be managed by Evolution Hospitality. Michael Murray, VP operations for Evolution Hospitality, said: “Our goal is to create a hotel to serve downtown’s diverse mix of business, convention and leisure travelers while delivering the warm, service-first hospitality and local character of a boutique hotel.” Stoa Lodging to reposition San Diego property News Subscribe to our daily news alerts online Boutique Bath Lighting for Boutique Hotels lucasmckearn.com ZIGGY BATH SCONCE - BB1185LG-1VETIVER BATH BAR - BB1022G-2-F1G L&M_BoutiqueHotelier_185x121.6mm_Aug 2026.indd 113/07/2026 10:54:238 / USA.BOUTIQUEHOTELIER.COM / SEPTEMBER 2026 The Warbler to open in NOLA next month The Warbler Hotel in New Orleans, the hotly-anticipated debut hotel from real estate firm Verdad, is accepting reservations from October. The 58-key hotel on St Charles Avenue in New Orleans spans six storeys, following the conversion of the former Trolly Stop Café. F&B is being created in partnership with CureCo, the New Orleans hospitality group led by Neal Bodenheimer and Kirk Estopinal. The Warbler Hotel will be home to Mildred’s, a martini bar and restaurant, and poolside lounge, Upstairs. Details for the hotel were first announced in June this year and now reservations are being accepted from October 15. New Orleans-based architecture firm EskewDumezRipple has led the design, with interiors by Los Angeles- based studio Jamie Bush & Co. Verdad Real Estate is the developer behind the project, led by principal Joe Mann and once open, the property will be managed by Lark Hospitality. “As a team of native New Orleanians, we see an opportunity to reimagine this stretch of St. Charles Avenue with a space that reflects the warmth and convivial spirit of the city,” Mann said. “We’ve assembled a group of partners, each with a deep personal connection to New Orleans, to bring The Warbler Hotel to life.” Thrash Group launches boutique hotel in Longmont, Colorado Hotel Longmont, an 84-bedroom boutique hotel, has opened in the Colorado city. Located in downtown, Hotel Longmont has been developed by The Thrash Group and Vertikal and is managed by Tandem Hospitality Group. The hotel’s guest rooms include 44 king rooms, 11 doubles, three full suites and a family-friendly bunk room featuring two queen beds with twin bunks above. Hotel Longmont is anchored by Longmont Supply, a rooftop restaurant and bar ‘celebrating the Front Range’s farms and mountain views’. The restaurant serves a seasonally rotating menu built around local farms and purveyors including Buckner Family Ranch, Forever Green Farms and Blue Point Bakery, with dishes including wild game like the pulled duck sandwich and game sliders. Hotel Longmont is also home to 3,700 square feet of meetings and events space, including its 1,928-square-foot Golden Ballroom and an executive boardroom. Joe Thrash, partner at The Thrash Group, said: “We’re grateful to the city and residents for welcoming us with open arms, and we look forward to becoming a gathering place for locals and home base for visitors exploring Colorado.” Dolly Parton hotel coming to Nashville SongTeller, a hotel inspired by the late Dolly Parton, is to open its doors in Nashville this month. The hotel is housed in a 12-story building, situated on Commerce Street in downtown Nashville, with rooms that are inspired by Dolly’s ‘songwriting spirit’. There are four bedroom categories, ranging from signature rooms to Six Sisters Suites and The SongTeller Suite. The hotel is also home to two live music venues, a speakeasy, an all-day cafe, and the Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum — the largest exhibition dedicated to Parton to date. Located on the third floor of the hotel, the museum invites fans to experience Dolly’s expansive career and most personal memories through the eyes of the iconic songwriter herself. The Museum will open to hotel guests and the public later in 2026. @boutiquehotelierusaFor breaking news and analysis follow:Next >