RICHMOND-Apple REIT and White Lodging Services have closed a deal in which White Lodging is transferring 16 of its Marriott and Hilton affiliated hotels in seven states to Apple REIT. As part of the agreement, the properties will remain under a long-term management agreement with White Lodging. These 16 properties bring Apple REIT’s total ownership of hotels to more than 240 across the country.

Based in Merrillville, IN, White Lodging began its relationship with Apple REIT in 2005, when Apple REIT acquired its Marriott Hotel in Boulder, CO. White Lodging is now managing 31 hotels for Apple REIT, according to Deno Yiankes, president and CEO of investments and development at the company.

The hotels included in this transaction are the SpringHill Suites in Fishers, IN and Salt Lake City, UT, as well as the Residence Inns in Mishawaka, IN; Phoenix; and Mettawa, IL. The Courtyard by Marriott properties in the deal are located in Phoenix and Chandler, AZ and in Austin, TX. Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Mettawa, Warrenville and Schaumburg, IL; Austin; and Novi, MI, were also part of the deal. Apple REIT is also acquiring the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Austin and Chandler, and one Embassy Suites hotel in Tampa/Brandon, FL.

Formed by Glade Knight, Apple REIT consists of four non-listed, public REITs: Apple REIT Six, Apple REIT Seven, Apple REIT Eight and Apple REIT Nine, which is currently on an acquisition spree having acquired some $467.6 million in assets this year. Knight also formed Apple Hospitality Two, which was sold to an affiliate of ING Clarion in 2007 and Apple Hospitality Five, which was sold to Inland American Real Estate Trust, also in 2007.