Sotherly Hotels Inc. Announces Plans for Tampa Hotel; to Join Hilton’s Tapestry Collection

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., March 08, 2018 -- Sotherly Hotels Inc. (NASDAQ:SOHO) (the “Company”) announced today that it has entered into a 10-year franchise agreement with Hilton to rebrand its Tampa, Florida hotel (the “Hotel”) as Hotel Alba, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel. The conversion is scheduled to take place on or before March 6, 2019, subject to the completion of certain product improvement requirements.

Tapestry Collection by Hilton is a portfolio of original upscale hotels that caters to guests seeking reliability and value in their independent hotel choices. Each hotel will maintain its individual spirit, offering guests an experience that is approachable and familiar. In addition, each stay is backed by the reassurance of the Hilton name and award-winning Hilton Honors program – providing guests the best of both worlds.

The new Hotel Alba will be the latest addition to Sotherly Hotels’ collection of boutique hotels centered on providing local experiences and true Southern hospitality to guests throughout the Southern United States. The Hotel is schedule to undergo a multi-million renovation effort that includes a total refresh of all areas of the property. With interior design rooted in mid-century modern style and complemented by well-appointed touches of industrial and wood aesthetics, planned guestroom upgrades include hardwood floors, elevated bedding packages, and high-end marble bathroom finishes. Public space design highlights include the expansion of the lobby area, an art gallery featuring original artwork by students and alumni of the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), and the addition of a signature restaurant featuring open-air dining and innovative dishes from locally-sourced ingredients drawing inspiration from Florida’s culinary traditions and coastal flavors. Additionally, the Hotel Alba lobby will feature Buffalo Bayou, a gourmet-to-go café serving locally ground coffees, teas, and house made light fare.

With its name inspired by Tampa’s cigar industry, Hotel Alba aims to provide travelers with a unique localized experience in the vibrant Westshore business district. The Spanish word for sunrise, “alba” is a historic nod to the rise of Tampa’s cigar industry in the late nineteenth century, a transformative shift that ushered in the cultural diversity and economic prosperity that continues to define Tampa today.

Drew Sims, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, “We are pleased to announce our plans for our Tampa asset. We believe the Hotel Alba rebranding, coupled with the power of the Hilton reservation system via its new Tapestry Collection by Hilton, will be an exciting change for this hotel and will be well received in the Tampa lodging market.”  

About Sotherly Hotels Inc.

Sotherly Hotels Inc. is a self-managed and self-administered lodging REIT focused on the acquisition, renovation, upbranding and repositioning of upscale to upper-upscale full-service hotels in the Southern United States. Currently, the Company’s portfolio consists of investments in twelve hotel properties, comprising 3,156 rooms, and an interest in the Hyde Resort & Residences, a luxury condo hotel. Most of the Company’s properties operate under the Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group and Marriott International, Inc. brands. Sotherly Hotels Inc. was organized in 2004 and is headquartered in Williamsburg, Virginia.

About Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Tapestry Collection by Hilton (tapestrycollection.com), launched in 2017, is a portfolio of original upscale hotels that caters to guests seeking reliability and value in their independent hotel choices, with each stay backed by the reassurance of the Hilton name and its award-winning Hilton Honors program. Learn more about Hilton’s newest brand at news.tapestrycollection.com and connect with Tapestry Collection by Hilton on facebook.com/tapestrycollection, instagram.com/tapestrycollection and twitter.com/tapestryhilton.

Contact at the Company:        

Scott Kucinski
Sotherly Hotels Inc.
410 West Francis Street
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185 
(757) 229-5648