Lowe Joint Venture Acquires Three Hotels In The Woodlands® From The Howard Hughes Corporation®

Rhea-AI Summary

A joint venture between Lowe and an institutional investor has acquired three hospitality assets from The Howard Hughes Corporation (NYSE: HHC) for $252 million. The Woodlands Resort, The Westin at The Woodlands, and Embassy Suites by Hilton will continue to be managed by Lowe's CoralTree Hospitality. The deal aligns with Lowe's strategy to invest in quality resorts catering to leisure and corporate travel in a high-demand area. Following this acquisition, Howard Hughes has closed on $376 million of a targeted $600 million in non-core asset sales.

Positive

• Acquisition of three strategic hospitality assets for $252 million enhances Lowe's portfolio in a high-growth Houston area.
• Plans for $25 million capital investment to improve the hotels, potentially increasing revenue and guest satisfaction.
• Howard Hughes successfully divests $376 million of targeted $600 million in non-core asset sales, streamlining focus on core operations.

Negative

• None.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Sept. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A joint venture between Lowe and an institutional investor announced today its acquisition from The Howard Hughes Corporation® (NYSE: HHC) of three hospitality assets located in The Woodlands®, a 28,500-acre award-winning master planned community in the greater Houston area. The Woodlands Resort; The Westin at The Woodlands; and Embassy Suites by Hilton, The Woodlands at Hughes Landing were purchased for $252 million and will continue to be managed by Lowe's hospitality management subsidiary, CoralTree Hospitality, which took over management of the properties in September of 2020. Lowe will immediately begin a $25 million capital investment program at the three hotels, totaling 909 rooms.

"The Woodlands hotel portfolio acquisition is consistent with our broader hospitality investment strategy that targets quality, full-service hotels and resorts that draw significant leisure travel, but also cater to corporate and group business. Located in a high-growth Houston submarket with strong demand and compelling demographics, the hotels and resort draw from multiple demand segments attracted by the appealing location, lakes, outdoor recreation and considerable amenities within The Woodlands. Business has grown steadily over the past five years and the hotels have weathered the downturn and are rebounding strongly," said Mike Lowe, co-CEO of Lowe. 

With this sale, Howard Hughes has successfully closed on approximately $376 million of the targeted $600 million net proceeds in the sale of non-core assets outlined two years ago. "The sale of our hotel assets in The Woodlands further advances the disposition of non-core assets as outlined in our 2019 strategic initiative," said David R. O'Reilly, CEO of The Howard Hughes Corporation. "Lowe is recognized for its leading quality service within the hospitality industry, and we are pleased to have found a buyer who shares our commitment to providing visitors to The Woodlands with a best-in-class customer experience."

The Woodlands Resort

Built in 1974, The Woodlands Resort is the original hotel in The Woodlands master planned community. The AAA Four-Diamond property is an attractive resort with 402 rooms in a beautiful, expansive natural setting with many compelling amenities including the family-oriented Forest Oasis waterpark with its 1,005-foot Lazy River and 30-foot waterslide, 90,000 square feet of meeting space and a wide array of resort amenities. To further the resort's appeal and market position, Lowe and its partner intend to make a significant capital investment to redevelop and add new facilities. A key planned improvement is the top-to-bottom redevelopment of the existing 10,000-square-foot spa, which will include the repositioning of the spa pool with renovated indoor and outdoor spaces to provide a calming retreat. In addition, the fitness facility will be expanded and modernized to enhance the wellness program. The resort will also undergo a transformation of the dining and bar options including a waterside lobby bar and the addition of a gourmet grab-and-go market and general store, complementing the recently completed repositioning and redesign of Back Table Kitchen + Bar to offer a more attractive and contemporary dining experience.

In addition to being one of the area's top recreational destinations, The Woodlands Resort is the region's premier meeting location with 60,000 square feet of indoor group and social space including a 13,430-square-foot grand ballroom. The 28,000 square feet of outdoor event space has an unparalleled location overlooking Lake Harrison. The Forest Deck will be dramatically improved to provide a distinctive outdoor venue for group meetings, receptions and weddings. The Woodlands Resort also features a vast network of walking and biking trails and access to two championship golf courses and a world-class tennis center. 

Embassy Suites by Hilton, The Woodlands at Hughes Landing

The 205-room Embassy Suites by Hilton, The Woodlands at Hughes Landing, built in 2015, offers a business center, fitness facility, rooftop pool with views of Lake Woodlands, and 3,500 square feet of group and event space. Lowe plans to refresh guest rooms and upgrade some building systems to maintain its best-in-class position within the Embassy Suites brand. Located in Hughes Landing—a 79-acre upscale mixed-used development within The Woodlands community on the shore of Lake Woodlands—the hotel is proximate to a vibrant mix of shopping, entertainment, dining and businesses as well as boat rentals. The hotel offers the classic guest services that Embassy Suites is known for—a complimentary evening reception and made-to-order breakfast.

The Westin at The Woodlands

The 302-room Westin at The Woodlands, built in 2016, is a AAA Four-Diamond property that provides modern amenities and facilities including a 24-hour fitness facility, a rooftop infinity pool, cabanas and firepit, in-room massage, more than 28,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and three food and beverage outlets. Lowe and its partner will invest in several property upgrades including the guest rooms, the meeting and conference space, and public areas.

The contemporary hotel overlooks Waterway Square—a one-acre public plaza with captivating water features and green spaces that serve as the centerpiece of The Woodlands—and sits just steps from upscale shopping, fine dining and world-class entertainment.

The Woodlands is a 28,500-acre community located 27 miles north of Houston's central business district. Since its inception in 1974, it has been among the most successful developments of its kind in the United States. Consistently recognized as one of the best places to live in the country, The Woodlands is a thriving business community with a major presence by 13 Fortune 500 companies and offers more than 24 million square feet of office, retail and hospitality, along with 7,665 acres of open green space, 220 miles of connected hike and bike trails, and 151 parks.

The Lowe venture was represented by Greenberg Traurig while K&L Gates provided legal counsel to The Howard Hughes Corporation. CBRE and JLL represented the seller in the transaction.

ABOUT LOWE
Los Angeles-based Lowe, formerly known as Lowe Enterprises, is a leading national real estate investment, development and management firm. Over the past 49 years, it has developed, acquired or managed more than $32 billion of real estate assets nationwide as it pursued its mission to build value in real estate by creating innovative, lasting environments and meaningful experiences that connect people and place. Lowe currently has more than $2 billion in commercial real estate projects in the pipeline or under development. In addition to its Los Angeles headquarters, Lowe maintains regional offices in Southern California, Northern California, Charleston, Denver, Seattle, and Washington, DC. Lowe's hospitality affiliate, CoralTree Hospitality, operates numerous hotel and resort properties across the U.S. Lowe's commercial property operations affiliate, Hospitality at Work®, brings hospitality- inspired property management service to office buildings nationwide. For more information visit www.Lowe-RE.com    www.hospitality-work.com    www.coraltreehospitality.com

ABOUT THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION®
The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Its award-winning assets include the country's preeminent portfolio of master planned communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including: the Seaport in New York City; Downtown Columbia®, Maryland; The Woodlands®, The Woodlands Hills®, and Bridgeland® in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin®, Las Vegas; and Ward Village® in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. The Howard Hughes Corporation's portfolio is strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, resulting in one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Dedicated to innovative placemaking, the company is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. The Howard Hughes Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC. For additional information visit www.howardhughes.com.  

ABOUT CORALTREE HOSPITALITY  
Launched in December 2018, CoralTree Hospitality is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Los Angeles based Lowe, a real estate investment, management and development firm. Colorado-based CoralTree delivers distinctive, memorable experiences that celebrate the surroundings, culture and community of each property. CoralTree was named among the top 20 hotel management companies in the U.S. after only one year of operation by Hotel Business magazine. The company provides marketing licensing, hospitality, and asset management services to 22 hotels and resorts in the United States. The collection includes independent, branded and soft-branded properties such as Terranea Resort on the Southern California coast, Hotel Lincoln in Chicago, The Woodlands Resort in Houston, Suncadia in Cle Elum, Washington and the new Eddy Taproom & Hotel in Golden, Colo. The company also is overseeing the creation of the Lake Nona Wave Hotel in Orlando, Florida, which is scheduled to open in late 2021. For more information on CoralTree, visit www.CoralTreeHospitality.com

Contacts:
Lowe
Karen Diehl, 310-741-9097
Diehl Communications
karen@diehlcommunications.com

The Howard Hughes Corporation
Cristina Carlson, 646-822-6910
Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Communications
cristina.carlson@howardhughes.com

For HHC Investor Relations
Correne S. Loeffler, 281-929-7787
Chief Financial Officer
correne.loeffler@howardhughes.com

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SOURCE The Howard Hughes Corporation

FAQ

What hospitality assets were acquired by Lowe from Howard Hughes Corporation?

Lowe acquired The Woodlands Resort, The Westin at The Woodlands, and Embassy Suites by Hilton at Hughes Landing.

How much was the acquisition of the hotels in The Woodlands?

The acquisition was for $252 million.

What is the expected investment for improvements after the acquisition by Lowe?

Lowe plans to invest $25 million for capital improvements across the three hotels.

How does the acquisition fit into Lowe's overall strategy?

The acquisition aligns with Lowe's strategy to target quality full-service hotels that cater to leisure and corporate travel.

What is the significance of Howard Hughes closing on $376 million of asset sales?

It represents significant progress in their strategic initiative to divest non-core assets, moving towards their goal of $600 million.