April saw a good amount of news about hotels and resorts, from the news about a well-known resort closing to a new acquisition by Marriott, new resort openings and performance metrics that show the first glimpses of the impact of economic uncertainty on U.S. hotel performance.?

Read on to see the news you might have missed this past month, and click the links provided to read the full stories.?

Beaches Ocho Rios to Close

Beaches Ocho Rios aerial view. (Photo Credit: Sandals Resorts International)

The family-friendly Beaches Ocho Rios resort in Jamaica will close May 31. The resort is the only Sandals Resorts International property to be owned by third-party owner Guardian Resorts Jamaica Ltd. It will undergo a significant renovation, but it seems the resort will no longer boast the Beaches name.?

Marriott to Acquire citizenM Hotel Brand

Marriott International is continuing its period of growth with the acquisition of the globally minded citizenM hotel brand. The brand offers 36 hotels in cities across the globe, as well as two in development. Marriott will purchase the brand and its two upcoming hotels for a reported $355 million.?

Trump��s Travel Impact on US Hotel Performance

Policy shifts, recession fears and a worsening trade war have all impacted US hotel performance in the first few months of the Trump Administration. A new report analyzing over 35,000 hotels found that 53 percent of them saw year-to-date declines in hotel performance, with total room night volume decreasing one point and future bookings through April and into early May decreasing 4 percent from last year.?

Accessibility Expands?

Accessibility is an increasingly crucial part of the travel industry puzzle, and Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts celebrated a key milestone: several of its properties have become Autism Double-Checked, offering key information, safety measures, planning resources and trained staff to increase the resorts�� ability to welcome those with autism.?

Rental Escapes Offering Bonus Commissions for Advisors This May

Rental Escapes is offering up to $5,000 in bonus commissions and double REwards points earned for every new booking a travel advisor makes in May, which is Travel Advisor Appreciation Month.?

New Hotels and Resorts

Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique Debut (Photo Credit: Waldorf Astoria)

There were several new hotels and resorts that were either announced or celebrated openings in April.?

The Hard Rock Hotel London, Ontario and the Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique?both debuted this month.?

The Mapito Safari Camp, Serengeti, an Autograph Collection safari camp, will open later this year, as will the new Secrets Playa Esmeralda and Dreams Playa Esmeralda resorts in the Dominican Republic.?

Hilton also announced plans to open a new Waldorf Astoria resort and residences in Turks and Caicos in 2028. The new resort will be called Waldorf Astoria Turks and Caicos Dellis Cay and will offer over three miles of beachfront and villa-style accommodations on a practically private island oasis.?

Renovations

Master bedroom in a family suite at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo Credit: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar)

Two all-inclusive resorts unveiled key renovations in April.?

The Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta just completed a $20 million renovation with updated accommodations, new restaurants and some more amenities, like a brand-new terrace for weddings or other events.?

The Grand Hyatt Baha Mar unveiled new suites designed with families in mind in its West Tower. The family suites offer bunk beds to accommodate larger families, a king-sized bed for parents in a private room and a dedicated living area for the family to gather.?

The Club Med Phuket also unveiled the first-ever Family Oasis, complete with waterpark, in the Asia Pacific region this month.?

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