Sonesta Outlines Strong H1 2026 Momentum with 22 Openings and Accelerating Franchise Growth
Jul 22, 2026 3 mins read
Growth Continues Across Global Portfolio, Driven by Strong Domestic Openings and Robust Pipeline Execution
Newton, MA (July 22, 2026) – Sonesta International Hotels (Sonesta), the 8th largest hotel company in the US, today announced significant portfolio expansion during the first half of 2026, highlighted by 22 new hotel openings and the execution of 28 new franchise agreements. This steady growth reflects Sonesta’s sustained momentum and the continued appeal of its diverse brand portfolio among owners and developers.
“Our strong performance in the first half of 2026, punctuated by over 2,000 new rooms, demonstrates the resilience of our growth strategy and the deep trust our franchisees place in Sonesta,” said Keith Pierce, Co-CEO of Sonesta International Hotels. “We are seeing sustained interest from owners who value our nimbleness and the distinct market advantages our portfolio offers across multiple segments.”
Sonesta’s ability to consistently scale its footprint highlights its success in navigating the hospitality landscape with a fast, friendly, and flexible model. The company’s ongoing momentum is further reinforced by 28 new franchise executions spanning popular brands including Signature Inn by Sonesta, Americas Best Value Inn by Sonesta, Sonesta Essential Hotels, and Red Lion Inn & Suites by Sonesta.
Sonesta expanded its global footprint with 22 new hotel openings in the first six months of 2026, including:
- William Tell, MOD A Sonesta Collection – Chicago/La Grange, IL
- Americas Best Value Inn Brownsville – Brownsville, TX
- Americas Best Value Inn & Suites Tomball – Tomball, TX
- Sonesta Select Statesville – Statesville, NC
- Signature Inn Medford – Medford, OR
- Americas Best Value Inn Canton – Canton, TX
- Americas Best Value Inn & Suites Monroe – Monroe, LA
- Signature Inn Mountain View – Mountain View, CA
- Sonesta Hotels and Resorts Curacao – Curacao
- Americas Best Value Inn Raleigh – Raleigh, NC
- Americas Best Value Inn Irving DFW Airport South – Irving, TX
- Red Lion Inn and Suites Houston IAH Airport – Houston, TX
- Sonesta Essential Houston Hobby Airport Road – Houston, TX
- Red Lion Inn & Suites Kansas City – Kansas City, MO
- Americas Best Value Inn Knoxville Downtown North – Knoxville, TN
- Americas Best Value Inn Globe – Globe, AZ
- Sonesta Essential Houston Hobby Airport – Houston, TX
- Red Lion Inn & Suites Bucyrus North – Bucyrus, OH
- Sonesta Select Houston IAH Greenspoint – Houston, TX
- Sonesta Essential Longview – Longview, TX
- Knights Inn Hartford – Hartford, CT
- Red Lion Hotel Kalispell – Kalispell, MT
Sonesta’s diverse portfolio of 13 distinct brands provides owners and developers with a single brand in each category across a wide range of options including the upper-upscale, lifestyle, upscale, midscale, extended-stay, and economy segments. With a focus on strategic growth, an owner-first approach, available market opportunities, and direct access to its leadership team, Sonesta stands out as an attractive choice for developers seeking flexibility and innovation in hospitality.
Guests of these new locations (excluding Knights Inn) can earn or redeem points as members of the award-winning Sonesta Travel Pass guest loyalty program.
ABOUT SONESTA
About Sonesta International Hotels
Sonesta is the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S. according to Smith Travel Research (STR) with approximately 1,100 properties totaling 100,000 guest rooms across 13 brands in 11 countries. Sonesta owns, manages and/or franchises under The Royal Sonesta®; The James™, Classico Collection by Sonesta™, Sonesta Hotels, Resorts & Cruises®; MOD Collection by Sonesta™, Sonesta Select®; Sonesta Essential®, Sonesta ES Suites®, Sonesta Simply Suites®, Red Lion Hotels, Inns & Suites by Sonesta®; Signature Inn® by Sonesta; Americas Best Value Inn by Sonesta™ and Canadas Best Value Inn by Sonesta™. Redefining hospitality through its award-winning Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program, Sonesta offers guests the opportunity to earn and redeem points for unparalleled value and personalized experiences. Sonesta Travel Pass members receive the best rates, earn immediate points towards free nights, and accelerated status progression based on stays. Join now at https://www.sonesta.com/join-travel-pass. For more information about Sonesta visit Sonesta.com or to join our portfolio visit Franchise.Sonesta.com, email development@Sonesta.com or call 617.658.1596.
