Two established regional hotel sector players in the US market have announced a strategic partnership, as their preferred option to drive further growth.
Hospitality management specialist Waterford Hotel Group will be linking arms with Maverick Hotels & Restaurants. At a stroke the new entity will have more than 50 properties under one leadership team, giving renewed momentum as expansion beckons. “Last year, we set an ambitious goal to reach 50 hotels within two years — a milestone we have now surpassed,” said Len Wolman, chairman and CEO of Waterford Hotel Group.
Portfolios that complement one another
Maverick has a concentration of properties in the Chicago region, plus a broader spread across New England to the Midwest. Its portfolio adds up to 20 hotels and restaurants. These include seven properties trading under various Marriott flags, two Hilton branded hotels, plus an Ascend Collection and a Hyatt Centric property close to Chicago’s O’Hare airport.
“This merger allows us to build on our collective achievements while unlocking even greater opportunities,” said Robert Habeeb, founder and CEO of Maverick Hotels & Restaurants. “Waterford’s proven track record in hospitality management, combined with our shared commitment to excellence, makes this a powerful combination. We are well-positioned to expand our footprint, strengthen our competitive edge, and create greater value for owners and investors.”
Waterford has a history of close to 40 years, offering hotel management, investor support and project management. Its geographic focus is on the east coast of the USA, and down to the south in Louisiana.
Up to the merger, Waterford’s portfolio of hotels numbered 39 properties, with over 4,800 rooms stretching across 12 US states. The greatest concentration is in the state of Louisiana, where Waterford operates 11 hotels, featuring a major concentration of independent properties in New Orleans.
The group also manages hotels under a number of Marriott flags including Sheraton, Aloft and Element. Hilton and Hyatt properties also feature in the portfolio, across regular hotel brands and extended stay formats.
Building on a trend
The combination of Waterford and Maverick comes as hotel management groups across the US look for growth opportunities. A constrained development market has limited opportunities to sign new properties, and has seen many of the larger brand groups focus instead on conversions and rebranding to drive their portfolios ever larger. Management companies can improve scale efficiencies by merging, while their larger scale increases visibility and leverage in front of the likes of Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Choice.
A similar choice was made in mid 2025 by Hotel Equities and Springboard Hospitality, who announced a strategic merger. That deal created a larger group of managed properties stretching across the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Hotel Equities is known more for its portfolio of branded select service and full service hotels, while Springboard’s experience has predominantly been with independent, lifestyle, and resort properties.
