Sonesta International Hotels
An American hotel company operating a multi-brand portfolio of hotels, resorts, extended-stay properties, and cruise-related hospitality businesses.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Sonesta International Hotels is an American hospitality company headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts. Its business spans hotels, resorts, extended-stay lodging, independently styled properties, franchised accommodations, and cruise operations. The company is best known under the Sonesta name and operates a broad collection of brands, including The Royal Sonesta, Sonesta Hotels, Sonesta Select, Sonesta ES Suites, Sonesta Simply Suites, Sonesta Essential, Red Lion properties, Signature Inn by Sonesta, and Americas Best Value Inn by Sonesta. As of 2023, the group operated more than 1,200 properties in eight countries, making it one of the larger hotel companies in the United States. The company traces its origins to 1937, when real-estate investor A.M. "Sonny" Sonnabend and six other investors acquired the Preston Beach Hotel in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Sonnabend personally managed the property and subsequently built a hotel-operating business through Sonnabend Operated Hotels. During the 1940s, the company expanded through acquisitions in Florida and Ohio, including the Palm Beach Biltmore, the Palm Beach Country Club, the Terminal Tower, and Hotel Cleveland. Its geographic reach grew again in 1948 with the acquisition of Chicago's Edgewater Beach Hotel. In 1953, Sonnabend acquired New York City's Plaza Hotel from Conrad Hilton in a transaction reportedly valued at $15 million. A major corporate turning point came in 1956, when Sonnabend Operated Hotels merged with Childs Company to form the Hotel Corporation of America. That company acquired the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and developed the Charterhouse hotel concept, beginning with a property in Bangor, Maine, in 1957. The Charterhouse network eventually expanded to 25 additional hotels. From the late 1950s, the Sonesta name increasingly appeared on hotels in the United States and abroad. The name was formed from Sonnabend's nickname, "Sonny," and his wife Esther's name. Sonesta's international development accelerated in the late 1960s. The company built Sonesta Montreal in 1968 and opened the first Royal Sonesta hotel in New Orleans in 1969. In 1970, Hotel Corporation of America adopted the name Sonesta International Hotels, establishing the corporate identity used today. The company also developed distinctive guest-experience programs. Its Just Us Kids children's club was introduced in 1975, while the Sonesta Art Collection, established in 1976, created a corporate program for displaying original artwork in hotels. The collection later grew to thousands of works. During the 1980s and 1990s, Sonesta expanded in Egypt, including hotel properties and Nile cruise operations, and later added hotels in South America and the Caribbean. In 2011, the company was sold to an affiliate of Hospitality Properties Trust, later known as Service Properties Trust, and returned to private ownership. The 2020–2021 period produced a particularly significant expansion: Service Properties Trust transferred more than 200 hotels from Marriott and IHG-related management arrangements to Sonesta brands as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted hotel operations. Sonesta's portfolio grew from approximately 80 hotels in early 2020 to a much larger system through those transfers and subsequent brand development. The company entered United States franchising in September 2021 through Sonesta Franchising. Its present portfolio combines company-operated, managed, franchised, and affiliated properties across full-service, select-service, extended-stay, boutique, economy, and resort segments. By 2024, Sonesta was described as the eighth-largest hotel company in the United States. Its largest concentrations of hotels include Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and New Orleans.
History
Sonesta International Hotels developed from the hotel-investment activities of A.M. "Sonny" Sonnabend. In 1937, Sonnabend joined six investors in acquiring the Preston Beach Hotel in Swampscott, Massachusetts. He managed the hotel himself and used the experience as the foundation for a broader operating business. In 1944, his properties were organized through Sonnabend Operated Hotels. The company expanded through acquisitions in Florida and Ohio, including the Palm Beach Biltmore, the Palm Beach Country Club, Cleveland's Terminal Tower, and Hotel Cleveland. In 1948, Sonnabend acquired Chicago's Edgewater Beach Hotel, and in 1953 he purchased New York's Plaza Hotel from Conrad Hilton. In 1956, Sonnabend Operated Hotels merged with Childs Company, creating the Hotel Corporation of America. The new company acquired Washington, D.C.'s Mayflower Hotel and developed the Charterhouse brand, whose first hotel opened in Bangor, Maine, in 1957. Twenty-five additional Charterhouse hotels were built between 1957 and 1983. During the late 1950s, the Sonesta name began to be used for hotels in the United States and international markets. It combined Sonnabend's nickname, Sonny, with the name Esther, his wife. The group pursued international growth in the 1960s. Sonesta Montreal opened in 1968, followed by the first Royal Sonesta property in New Orleans in 1969. In 1970, Hotel Corporation of America changed its name to Sonesta International Hotels. The company later introduced the Just Us Kids children's club in 1975 and established the Sonesta Art Collection in 1976. The art program became a notable feature of the company's hotel identity and eventually included thousands of original works. Sonesta expanded in Egypt during the 1980s and 1990s, developing hotels and beginning Nile cruise operations. It also opened properties in South America and the Caribbean during the 1990s and 2000s. In 2011, an affiliate of Hospitality Properties Trust acquired the company. Hospitality Properties Trust was later renamed Service Properties Trust, and Sonesta became privately owned again while Service Properties Trust retained a minority interest. A decisive expansion occurred during the COVID-19 period. Sonesta had approximately 80 hotels at the beginning of 2020, but more than 200 hotels were transferred from Marriott and IHG-related arrangements to Sonesta brands between September 2020 and March 2021. This rapidly increased Sonesta's scale in the United States. The company began U.S. franchising through Sonesta Franchising in September 2021. By 2023, Sonesta operated more than 1,200 properties in eight countries. Its portfolio now includes full-service, resort, select-service, extended-stay, boutique, economy, and franchised brands. The company was described as the eighth-largest hotel company in the United States in 2024.
- 2023
Portfolio exceeds 1,200 properties
[1]Sonesta was reported to operate more than 1,200 properties in eight countries.
- 2021
U.S. franchising launched
[1]Sonesta Franchising began offering franchising in the United States.
- 2020
Rapid portfolio expansion begins
[1]Sonesta began a major expansion after Service Properties Trust moved hotels from Marriott and IHG-related arrangements into Sonesta brands.
- 2015
Sonesta ES Suites developed
[1]The company created the Sonesta ES Suites brand for extended-stay lodging in cities including Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.
- 2011
Acquired by an affiliate of Hospitality Properties Trust
[1]Sonesta was sold to an affiliate of Hospitality Properties Trust, later renamed Service Properties Trust, and returned to private ownership.
- 1976
Sonesta Art Collection established
[1]The company created an original-art program for its hotels, later growing to more than 7,000 works.
- 1975
Just Us Kids launched
[1]Sonesta introduced a children's club program called Just Us Kids.
- 1970
Corporate rebranding to Sonesta International Hotels
[1]Hotel Corporation of America adopted the Sonesta International Hotels name.
- 1969
Royal Sonesta introduced
[1]The first Royal Sonesta hotel opened in New Orleans.
- 1968
First major international hotel development
[1]The company expanded internationally with the construction of Sonesta Montreal.
Products and positioning
A broad, multi-brand hospitality platform serving leisure, business, extended-stay, resort, economy, and franchise customers. Sonesta combines heritage full-service brands such as The Royal Sonesta with select-service, extended-stay, boutique, and value-oriented concepts.
Full-service and luxury hotels · 1969
The Royal Sonesta
Sonesta's upper-upscale and luxury-oriented hotel brand, originating with the first Royal Sonesta property in New Orleans in 1969. The brand is associated with full-service urban, resort, and destination hotels offering restaurants, meeting facilities, and more extensive guest amenities.
Hotels, resorts, and cruises
Sonesta Hotels, Resorts & Cruises
The core Sonesta operating family covering full-service hotels, resort properties, and cruise-related hospitality, including the company's historic Nile cruise activities. It serves business and leisure travelers across urban, resort, and international destinations.
Extended-stay hotels · 2015
Sonesta ES Suites
An extended-stay concept designed for guests who need more space and longer-term accommodation than a conventional hotel room. The brand was developed in the mid-2010s and includes properties in U.S. metropolitan and regional markets.
Select-service hotels
Sonesta Select
A select-service hotel brand positioned for practical business and leisure stays. Properties generally emphasize accessible locations, consistent accommodation, and a more limited service model than Sonesta's full-service hotels.
Extended-stay suites
Sonesta Simply Suites
An extended-stay suite concept focused on apartment-style functionality and longer visits. The brand is intended to provide practical lodging for business travelers, relocating guests, and other customers seeking residential features.
Economy and limited-service hotels
Sonesta Essential
A value-oriented hotel brand within Sonesta's portfolio. It serves guests seeking straightforward accommodation and essential services, complementing the company's full-service, resort, and extended-stay concepts.
Full-service, select-service, and value hotels
Red Lion Inn, Hotels and Suites
A group of hotel brands operated within Sonesta's expanded portfolio following the company's growth through properties associated with Red Lion Hotels Corporation and related lodging operations. The collection includes inns, hotels, and suites serving multiple market segments.
Value and economy hotels
Americas Best Value Inn by Sonesta
A value-oriented hotel brand within the Sonesta system, providing franchised and affiliated lodging for price-conscious travelers across the United States.
Value and economy hotels
Canadas Best Value Inn by Sonesta
A Canadian value-hotel brand operated within Sonesta's broader portfolio, serving travelers seeking economical accommodation in Canadian markets.
Boutique hotels
Signature Inn by Sonesta
A boutique-oriented lodging brand emphasizing distinctive property identities and a more individualistic guest experience than standardized economy or select-service formats.
Boutique and independent hotels
MOD, a Sonesta Collection
A collection concept for distinctive, design-led, or independently characterized hotels operating under the Sonesta umbrella.
Hotel collection
Classico
A Sonesta hotel collection listed among the company's contemporary brands. Public reference material identifies the collection but does not provide sufficient detail on its individual service proposition.
Boutique hotels
The James Hotels
A boutique hotel brand included in Sonesta's portfolio. The brand is associated with design-conscious, urban hospitality, although the supplied reference material does not document its full operating history.
Brand decisions
2021
Launch Sonesta Franchising in the United StatesStrategyBackground
After its rapid expansion through transferred properties, Sonesta sought an additional asset-light route for continued domestic growth.
Action taken
The company began franchising hotels in the United States through Sonesta Franchising.
Aftermath
Franchising became another channel through which Sonesta could expand its brand presence beyond directly operated and managed properties.
2020
Accelerate portfolio expansion through hotel transfersStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected hotel operations and disrupted existing management arrangements involving Marriott and IHG-related properties.
Action taken
Service Properties Trust transferred more than 200 hotels to Sonesta brands between September 2020 and March 2021.
Aftermath
Sonesta expanded from approximately 80 hotels in early 2020 to more than 1,200 properties by 2023.
2011
Sell Sonesta to a Hospitality Properties Trust affiliateM&ABackground
Sonesta's ownership structure changed as the company was acquired by an affiliate of Hospitality Properties Trust.
Action taken
The hotel company was sold to the affiliate and returned to private ownership; Hospitality Properties Trust later became Service Properties Trust.
Aftermath
Service Properties Trust retained a reported 34% interest and later became a significant source of hotel transfers into the Sonesta system.
1970
Adopt the Sonesta International Hotels nameStrategyBackground
The company had begun using the Sonesta name on hotels in the United States and abroad during the preceding decade.
Action taken
Hotel Corporation of America was rebranded as Sonesta International Hotels.
Aftermath
The Sonesta name became the central identity for the company's international hotel expansion and subsequent brand portfolio.
1956
Merge Sonnabend Operated Hotels with Childs CompanyM&ABackground
Sonnabend's hotel operations had expanded through multiple property acquisitions and required a broader corporate structure.
Action taken
The businesses merged to form the Hotel Corporation of America.
Aftermath
The new company continued acquiring properties, including the Mayflower Hotel, and developed the Charterhouse hotel network.
Recent events
Sonesta completes acquisition of RLH Corporation[2]
Reported:
Sonesta announced that it completed its previously announced acquisition of RLH Corporation on March 17, 2021. Sonesta said the acquisition added more than 900 franchised locations to its global footprint of branded hotels.
Sources2 sources
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