"Lodging Lowdown" is a series from Hotel Dive that focuses on major headlines that hotel industry professionals may have missed.

This week's hotel news highlights include: Sunstone agrees to sell the 821-room Hyatt Regency San Francisco to a Blackstone-affiliated fund; W South Beach in Miami plans to drop its Marriott brand affiliation and cut 337 employees; Choice Hotels' Chief Data, AI, and Technology Officer Anna Scozzafava spoke exclusively with Hotel Dive about the company's next phase of digital innovation.

Additionally, as the 2026 FIFA World Cup progresses, hotel workers in host cities have launched strikes at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown and Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square, demanding new union contracts.

Here are other headlines hotel operators should watch:

Hyatt launches structured debt program for Hyatt Studios developers

According to a press release, Hyatt Hotels Corporation has partnered with Hall Structured Finance to offer exclusive financing solutions for developers building new Hyatt Studios hotels in the U.S.

The program, designed specifically for the upper-midscale extended-stay brand, aims to help developers "overcome financing challenges by providing more efficient access to capital, accelerating project timelines, and supporting new construction starts in an increasingly competitive lending environment."

Dan Hansen, Hyatt's head of global growth strategy and operations, said in a statement that the program launches as Hyatt continues to "see strong interest in the Hyatt Studios brand from developers across the country." The Hyatt Studios brand was launched in 2023.

Aimbridge Hospitality launches operations platform for hotel owners

Hotel management company Aimbridge Hospitality announced in a press release that it has launched its proprietary enterprise platform, S.P.A.R.K., designed to provide hotel owners with greater consistency and performance transparency. The platform serves as a digital record system for property site inspections, audits, and operational actions.

"With S.P.A.R.K., our operations teams have a unified, consistent view of property health across every area—allowing us to identify and resolve issues faster, before they impact guest experience or owner returns," said Keryn McNamara, CIO of Plano, Texas-based Aimbridge, in a statement.

Hilton dual-brand hotel concept breaks ground in Gypsum, Colorado

According to a press release, Gypsum Hotel Partners will begin construction on a Hilton dual-brand hotel in Gypsum, Colorado, adjacent to Eagle County Regional Airport. The property will feature 140 rooms across Home2 Suites by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton, with completion expected in early 2028 and operation by Crestline Hotels & Resorts.

Tempo by Hilton Nashville Midtown opens

Hilton announced the opening of Tempo by Hilton Nashville Midtown, the brand's second property in the city. According to a press release, the hotel was developed in partnership with Vision Hospitality Group and features 161 rooms with a focus on wellness lifestyle amenities, "bringing Tempo's signature blend of design, wellness, and productivity to the city's vibrant Midtown district."

Marriott partners with Fitwel to advance latest wellness strategy

Marriott International has partnered with Fitwel, a healthy building certification system, to integrate wellness solutions across its global branded residential portfolio. According to a press release, this portfolio-wide agreement "aims to go beyond individual residential properties, extending solutions across Marriott International's entire residential portfolio, aligning operational excellence with measurable, globally recognized healthy building standards."