Hilton has announced an agreement with Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners (AJ Capital) to acquire the Graduate Hotels brand. Hilton will invest $210 million to acquire all rights to the Graduate brand worldwide, enter into franchise agreements for all existing and signed pipeline Graduate Hotels, and be responsible for the brand’s future development. AJ Capital will remain the owner of the 35-plus operating and pipeline Graduate properties, each of which will be operated under long-term Hilton franchise agreements.
The addition of Graduate Hotels to Hilton’s global portfolio will offer millions of travelers access to hospitality in their favorite university towns. Each Graduate hotel is designed to reflect the character of its local university, offering an ideal setting for game days, reunions, graduations, campus visits and more. Since its inception in 2014, the brand has grown to span the U.K. and the U.S., including locations in Ann Arbor, MI; Knoxville, TN; Palo Alto, CA; State College, PA; and Oxford and Cambridge, U.K. New hotels are opening soon in Austin and Dallas, TX; Auburn, AL; and Princeton, NJ.
The Graduate brand will be incorporated into Hilton’s lifestyle portfolio alongside Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Tempo by Hilton and Motto by Hilton—each of which has been launched in the last 10 years to respond to growing demand from travelers for localized travel experiences. Hilton’s 2024 “Trends Report” identified that nearly a quarter of global travelers are planning getaways for concerts, sporting events and other local experiences this year, many of which are happening in secondary markets anchored by universities.
Graduate Hotels are expected to be available for booking via Hilton channels later this year and will participate in Hilton Honors, Hilton’s guest loyalty program.
For more information, visit www.hilton.com.
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