Omni Hotels & Resorts
An American upscale hotel and resort company operating urban hotels, destination resorts, golf properties, and conference facilities.
Last updated October 24, 2026
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Overview
Omni Hotels & Resorts is a privately held American hotel management and ownership company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The business traces its origins to 1958, when the Dunfey brothers added a small motel to Lamie's Tavern in Hampton, New Hampshire. From that local beginning, the company developed a New England hotel network, later combining regional hotel operations with major urban and resort properties. The business is now part of TRT Holdings, the Texas-based investment group associated with Robert Rowling. The company’s present identity emerged through a series of ownership changes and acquisitions. In the 1960s, Dunfey Hotels expanded through hotel development and franchising, including a group of Sheraton properties. Its acquisition of Boston’s financially troubled Parker House Hotel in 1968 gave the company an important historic landmark and helped broaden its operating experience. Dunfey Hotels was sold to Aetna Life Insurance Company in 1971 and then to Aer Lingus in 1976. In 1983, Dunfey acquired Omni International Hotels, a smaller Atlanta-based chain created in the 1970s. The Omni name was subsequently used for the company’s larger, upscale, modern hotels, while other assets remained under the Dunfey name or were divested. Aer Lingus sold Omni Hotels in 1988 to World International Holdings and The Wharf (Holdings) Limited. In 1996, Texas investor Robert Rowling’s TRT Holdings acquired the chain. The headquarters moved first to Corpus Christi and then to Dallas in 1997, establishing the geographic and corporate base from which Omni expanded its American resort portfolio. Omni’s business encompasses full-service city hotels, historic properties, destination resorts, golf resorts, spas, restaurants, meeting venues, and event facilities. Its portfolio has included prominent properties such as Omni Parker House in Boston, Omni Royal Orleans in New Orleans, Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Pennsylvania, Omni Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire, Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, and Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville. The company has also operated major convention-oriented urban hotels, including the Omni Dallas Hotel and the Omni hotel associated with Atlanta’s CNN Center. A major growth phase occurred in the 2010s. Omni purchased Amelia Island Plantation in Florida in 2010, acquired the Montelucia Resort & Spa in Arizona in 2013, and purchased or added operating control of several well-known American golf and resort properties in the same year. These transactions strengthened Omni’s positioning in leisure travel, golf, meetings, and destination hospitality rather than limiting the brand to conventional city hotels. The company also expanded its Canadian presence through the King Edward Hotel in Toronto. Omni has adjusted its portfolio as market conditions and asset strategies changed. It sold five older American hotels in 2021 and continued renovating and repositioning selected resort properties. The company remains active in North America, with future development plans reported for Mexico and additional United States markets. A new Omni hotel in Fort Lauderdale opened in 2025. Omni’s overall positioning is upscale, service-oriented hospitality combining recognizable urban hotels with distinctive historic and resort destinations.
History
Omni Hotels & Resorts began in 1958 as Dunfey Hotels, founded by the Dunfey brothers in Hampton, New Hampshire. The first operation was a 32-room motel added to the family’s Lamie’s Tavern property. The company expanded around New England during the 1960s and held a number of Sheraton franchises, giving it experience in operating branded full-service hotels. In 1968, Dunfey Hotels acquired Boston’s Parker House Hotel, a historic property that had fallen into severe financial difficulty. The acquisition gave the company a prominent urban landmark and helped establish a pattern of combining conventional hotel operations with properties possessing strong local identity. Dunfey Hotels was sold to Aetna Life Insurance Company in 1971, although the Dunfey family continued managing the properties. Aer Lingus acquired the business from Aetna in 1976. Dunfey Hotels purchased Omni International Hotels from Cousins Properties in 1983. Omni International had been established in 1973 and operated three hotels in Atlanta, Norfolk, and Miami. Following the acquisition, the business was reorganized into divisions. Larger upscale modern hotels used the Omni name, while smaller motels and Sheraton franchises remained associated with Dunfey Hotels as those assets were gradually sold or otherwise separated from the core Omni operation. In 1988, Aer Lingus sold Omni Hotels to World International Holdings and The Wharf (Holdings) Limited. The chain changed hands again in February 1996, when Texas investor Robert Rowling and TRT Holdings acquired it. Omni moved its headquarters from Hampton to Corpus Christi and then to Dallas in 1997, placing the company within TRT Holdings’ Texas corporate structure. The company broadened its urban and convention business in the 2000s. In 2000, Omni reached an agreement with Turner Broadcasting to add a 600-room tower beside its hotel at Atlanta’s CNN Center. The addition opened in 2003. Omni later acquired Time Warner’s interest in the building in 2017. Omni’s most significant portfolio expansion came through resort acquisitions and management agreements. In 2010, it acquired Amelia Island Plantation in Florida. In 2013, it purchased ClubCorp’s Montelucia Resort & Spa and expanded into a group of prominent golf and leisure destinations, including Barton Creek Resort & Spa, La Costa Resort and Spa, Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, The Grove Park Inn, and The Homestead. The company also assumed management of Toronto’s King Edward Hotel and obtained an ownership interest. In 2015, Omni acquired the Omni Mount Washington Resort, a property it had operated since 2009. Leadership changed in 2018 when Peter Strebel became president and again in 2022 when Kurt Alexander was appointed to the role. During the COVID-19 period, unions criticized Omni’s use of Paycheck Protection Program financing, making the episode a notable labor and public-policy controversy. In 2021, Omni sold five aging hotels in several United States cities, indicating a move toward portfolio selectivity. Omni remains an active privately held hospitality company. Its portfolio centers on upscale city hotels, historic landmarks, golf resorts, destination resorts, spas, and meeting facilities. The company operates primarily in the United States and Canada, with international development interests including Mexico. A Fort Lauderdale property opened in 2025, and the company has also reported further plans for Mexico and Raleigh, North Carolina.
- 2025
Fort Lauderdale hotel opened
[1]Omni opened a new hotel in Fort Lauderdale while pursuing additional development in Mexico and Raleigh.
- 2022
Kurt Alexander became president
[1]Kurt Alexander was appointed president of the company.
- 2021
Five properties sold
[1]Omni sold five older properties in Texas, Florida, and other United States markets.
- 2018
Peter Strebel became president
[1]Peter Strebel was appointed president of Omni Hotels & Resorts.
- 2017
Time Warner interest in CNN Center property acquired
[1]Omni bought Time Warner’s share of the building associated with its Atlanta hotel.
- 2015
Omni Mount Washington Resort acquired
[1]Omni acquired the New Hampshire resort after operating it under the Omni brand since 2009.
- 2013
Major resort expansion
[1]Omni acquired Montelucia Resort & Spa and expanded into several notable golf and destination resorts.
- 2010
Amelia Island Plantation acquired
[1]Omni acquired the Florida destination resort, strengthening its resort and leisure portfolio.
- 2003
CNN Center tower opened
[1]A new 600-room tower associated with Omni’s Atlanta hotel at the CNN Center opened after an agreement with Turner Broadcasting.
- 1996
TRT Holdings acquired Omni
[1]Robert Rowling’s TRT Holdings acquired the company and moved its headquarters to Texas.
Products and positioning
Upscale full-service hotels and destination resorts with an emphasis on historic properties, golf, meetings, regional character, and personalized hospitality.
Hotel accommodation
Urban full-service hotels
Omni operates upscale city hotels serving business travelers, leisure guests, group travelers, and convention demand. These properties typically combine guest rooms with restaurants, meeting spaces, event facilities, and concierge-oriented services. Historic urban assets such as Omni Parker House and Omni Royal Orleans give the brand a presence in destination cities where architecture, local history, and neighborhood identity are part of the guest proposition.
Resorts
Destination resorts
Omni’s resort portfolio includes coastal, mountain, spa, and regional destination properties. These resorts are designed for leisure stays, family travel, weddings, corporate retreats, and extended on-property visits. The brand’s resort strategy emphasizes distinctive settings and extensive amenities, including pools, restaurants, recreational facilities, wellness services, and organized activities.
Golf hospitality
Golf resorts
Golf is a major component of Omni’s leisure offering. Properties such as Barton Creek, La Costa, and other resort destinations combine accommodation with golf courses, instruction, tournaments, club facilities, and meeting infrastructure. This format allows Omni to serve both individual leisure guests and group or corporate demand while operating properties with substantial recreational assets.
Hospitality events
Meetings and events
Omni hotels provide conference rooms, ballrooms, event planning, catering, and audiovisual support for corporate meetings, conventions, weddings, and social gatherings. Large urban hotels and resort properties are particularly suited to group business because they can combine sleeping rooms, food service, recreation, and meeting space in one destination.
Controversies
2020
Labor criticism over Paycheck Protection Program financing
Unions criticized Omni’s use of a Paycheck Protection Program loan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The criticism centered on whether the financing was being used primarily for business purposes rather than to preserve employee pay and employment, which would have affected the treatment of the loan as a grant.
Brand decisions
2025
Fort Lauderdale expansionProduct launchBackground
Omni continued developing its North American hotel network while reporting future plans for Mexico and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Action taken
The company opened a new Omni hotel in Fort Lauderdale and continued renovation and development activity in selected markets.
Aftermath
The opening extended Omni’s presence in the Florida market and supported its ongoing expansion strategy.
2021
Portfolio rationalization through property salesStrategyBackground
Omni reviewed its hotel portfolio during a period of significant disruption in the hospitality industry.
Action taken
The company sold five older properties, including hotels in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Jacksonville, and Austin.
Aftermath
The divestitures reduced the company’s exposure to selected aging assets while leaving its upscale urban and resort strategy intact.
2013
Shift toward iconic golf and destination resortsStrategyBackground
Omni sought to broaden its portfolio beyond city hotels and develop a stronger presence in leisure, golf, meetings, and destination travel.
Action taken
The company acquired or added operating control of several well-known resort properties, including Barton Creek, La Costa, Rancho Las Palmas, Grove Park Inn, and The Homestead.
Aftermath
The expansion made golf and destination resorts central components of Omni’s upscale hospitality positioning.
1996
TRT Holdings acquisitionM&ABackground
Omni changed ownership after the chain had been held by Aer Lingus and then by World International Holdings and The Wharf.
Action taken
TRT Holdings, associated with Robert Rowling, acquired Omni and relocated its headquarters to Texas.
Aftermath
The acquisition placed Omni within a privately held Texas investment group and preceded later expansion into major American resorts.
1983
Acquire Omni International Hotels and prioritize the Omni name for upscale propertiesM&ABackground
Dunfey Hotels acquired a small Atlanta-based chain whose hotels were located in Atlanta, Norfolk, and Miami.
Action taken
The company reorganized its operations so that larger upscale modern hotels used the Omni brand, while smaller motels and Sheraton franchises remained separate or were divested.
Aftermath
This transaction established the core brand architecture that developed into Omni Hotels & Resorts.
Recent events
Omni announces holiday discounts and loyalty rewards[3]
Reported:
Omni Hotels & Resorts announced holiday promotions offering hotel discounts of up to 30%, dining credits and double loyalty rewards at selected properties in the United States and Canada. Booking and stay periods vary by offer.
- Unconfirmed
Omni Berkshire Place Hotel closure[4]
Omni Berkshire Place Hotel in Manhattan was permanently closed. Employees say they were told on June 8 that COVID-19 layoffs would be extended indefinitely because the hotel was permanently closed.
Escoffier offers free e-learning access to hospitality workers[5]
Reported:
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts announced free access to its proprietary e-learning tools for hospitality industry staff, including culinary videos, recipes and assessment tools.
Omni Hotels & Resorts appoints Mark Wykes as vice president of hotel sales and marketing[6]
Reported:
Omni Hotels & Resorts announced that Mark Wykes was appointed vice president of hotel sales and marketing.
Omni Hotels appoints Tom Santora as chief marketing officer[7]
Reported:
Omni Hotels announced that Tom Santora had joined the organization as its new chief marketing officer and senior vice president of sales.
Sources7 sources
- 1Omni Hotels & Resortsen.wikipedia.org
- 2Omni Hotels & Resorts official websiteomnihotels.com
- 3Omni宣布假日折扣及忠诚奖励rustourismnews.com
- 4Omni Berkshire Place Hotel关闭ny1.com
- 5Escoffier 向酒店餐饮业从业者提供免费在线学习资源prnewswire.com
- 6Omni Hotels & Resorts任命Mark Wykes为酒店销售与营销副总裁eturbonews.com
- 7Omni Hotels任命Tom Santora为首席营销官eturbonews.com
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