The Massachusetts-based asset management company which owns the Sonesta Nashville Airport hotel currently under threat of legal action over its decision to cancel the use of its venue for the 2024 Israel Summit did not respond to a Wednesday press inquiry by The Tennessee Star.
The hotel company’s silence comes amid conflicting claims by the Sonesta Nashville Airport hotel’s general manager, Troy Carver, and the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD).
Carver initially asserted the hotel’s decision to withdraw from the Israel Summit was made after warnings from police, but MNPD explicitly denied offering such advice to Sonesta.
MNPD claimed in a statement to Fox 17, “The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department did not advocate, in any shape or form, for the cancellation of the conference at the Sonesta Hotel. Any inference to the contrary is false. Equally false is the assertion in an on-line article that this police department voiced concerns about persons being in physical danger.”
The department confirmed, “In the end, the Sonesta Hotel made a corporate decision to cancel. This police department was in no way a party to that decision.”
The Star sent press inquiries to both an executive and an advisor at the The RMR Group, the asset management company affiliated with Sonesta International Hotels, to seek clarification and details about their decision, but did not receive a response prior to press time.
RMR Group’s website explains the asset management company manages “over $41 billion in assets,” and that its subsidiary, Sonesta International Hotels, generates “approximately $330 million” in annual revenues.
Sonesta grew rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic when another subsidiary of RMR Group transferred more than 200 hotels to Sonesta.
The Star additionally contacted the Sonesta Nashville Airport hotel to ask for clarification from Carver, the hotel’s current general manager, or another spokesman, but a voicemail was not immediately returned.
Sonesta’s silence comes despite the threat of legal action by First Liberty Institute and a demand for the hotel company to reverse course by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) association, both sent on behalf of HaYovel, the organizers of the Israel Summit.
“HaYovel respectfully requests you fulfill your contractual obligations as agreed and provide HaYovel express written affirmation that you will do so. Failure to provide the written affirmation and fulfill the Contract may result in legal action against the Sonesta and all other responsible parties,” the First Liberty Institute wrote in its letter.
The group’s executive general counsel, Hirram Sasser, additionally warned during an appearance on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, “We’re a nation of laws and the Sonesta Hotel has to follow the law. They’re not allowed to follow the mob. They need to restore the rights of HaYovel to be able to have their event… I fully expect them to honor their contract and to follow the law because if they don’t, then they’re going to be held responsible.”
Following Sonesta’s decision to withdraw its venue from the Israel Summit, the event organizers relocated to the Ramsey Event Center in Franklin, Tennessee. The Star contacted two hotels in Franklin and confirmed they have rooms available around the time of the Israel Summit, which remains slated for May 20-22.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Sonesta doesn’t have enough attic space for its guests.