Aspen Hotels Announces Major Expansion Across Alaska
Aspen Suites Hotel in Sitka.
Photo Credit: Aspen Hotels
Aspen Hotels are embarking on a major statewide expansion, after last year’s ownership handover. JL Hospitality Management acquired the broader Aspen Suites Hotels of Alaska portfolio (including locations in Haines, Homer, Kenai, Juneau, Sitka, Soldotna) last March. The acquisition reinforced its position as the largest Alaskan-owned and operated regional hotel brand in the state.
Expansion plans cover the acquisition and full renovation of three former Extended Stay America properties, the alignment of additional independent hotels under the Aspen Hotels brand, and the development of a new guest rewards program scheduled to launch later this spring.
Lodging Landscape
Aspen Hotels now operates the largest hotel portfolio in the state by location, with sixteen properties spanning nearly a dozen Alaska communities and 1,428 rooms statewide. The only two properties that weren’t included in the JL Hospitality Management acquisition—one at Old Seward Highway and 34th Avenue and the other along Tudor Road near the C Street “Hotel Row”—were picked up by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for patient lodging.
Current Issue
April 2026
As part of JL Hospitality Management’s growth, the following properties are being folded under the Aspen Hotels brand: Aspen Suites Hotel Juneau; Aspen Suites Hotel Anchorage North; Aspen Suites Hotel Haines; Aspen Suites Hotel Homer; Aspen Suites Hotel Kenai; Aspen Suites Hotel Sitka; Aspen Hotel Soldotna. The portfolio also includes Grande Denali Lodge, Denali Bluffs Hotel, River’s Edge Resort, Hotel Seward, Hotel Edgewater, and The Voyager Inn as affiliates. Soon to be added to the family are Aspen Suites Hotel Anchorage Downtown, Aspen Suites Hotel Fairbanks, and Aviator Suites Hotel Juneau Airport.
“Aspen Hotels has long been part of Alaska’s lodging landscape, but this expansion marks a significant new chapter,” says Stuart Newmark, operating partner at JL Hospitality Management. “We are growing the Aspen Hotels brand with sustained investment and an intentional, well-cared-for guest experience, building hotels Alaskans can confidently recommend and visitors will want to return to.”
Several newly acquired properties are currently undergoing comprehensive renovations, with phased reopenings planned in the first half of 2026. These investments focus on guest comfort, safety, and extended-stay functionality, while incorporating locally sourced elements that reflect the character of each community.
“We are creating a state-wide hospitality network that Alaskans can be proud of and visitors will want to return to again and again,” says Newmark.
In parallel with the portfolio expansion, Aspen Hotels is developing a new guest rewards program designed to allow travelers to earn and redeem benefits across all Aspen Hotels and affiliated properties statewide.
Beyond the Aspen Hotels brand, JL Hospitality Management operates Marriott-branded properties including Aloft Anchorage, Courtyard Anchorage Airport, Residence Inn Anchorage Midtown, SpringHill Suites Anchorage Midtown, SpringHill Suites Fairbanks, the Bridgewater Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, and Denali Park Hotel.
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