Japan’s APA Hospitality Announces U.S. Joint Venture

Japanese hospitality company APA Hotel announced entry into the United States hotel market via a joint venture with New Jersey-based Friendwell Group of Companies, which currently counts more than 3,000 hotels in its U.S. portfolio. The new partnership, APA Hotel Franchise, plans to grow to 100 properties over five years. The first will open in Metropark, N.J., as a reflagging of the former Hilton Woodbridge. No date was announced.