Caravan Court by Valencia Hotel Collection has appointed Anna Darden as director of sales and marketing. The appointment, announced in February 2026, comes as the property prepares to open its doors in Arlington, Texas, with the hotel scheduled to debut in May 2026 as the eighth property in the Valencia Hotel Collection portfolio.
Darden joins with five years of hospitality sales experience, including area-level sales leadership roles. She previously held positions within Loews Hotels & Co and is a graduate of Texas A&M University. Her appointment places her at the forefront of Caravan Court’s commercial launch – a critical window for any pre-opening property as it establishes market presence, builds corporate accounts and drives initial group and event bookings.
The appointment was announced alongside that of John Thomas as general manager of Caravan Court. Thomas brings deep familiarity with the Valencia portfolio, having most recently led the Texican Court in Irving and previously holding leadership roles at both Lone Star Court in Austin and Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio.
Caravan Court represents a significant moment for Valencia Hotel Group – its first property in Arlington and a project developed in partnership with Sam Mahrouq and Walid Joulani of Division Hotel Management LLC. The hotel rises on the site of the former Caravan Motel and Dollar Car Sales on Division Street, a location steeped in local history and one the group intends to position as a catalyst for the area’s ongoing revitalisation. The design takes its cues from the mid-century motor court era, paying deliberate homage to the original Caravan Motor Hotel sign while translating that aesthetic into a 143-room upscale property comprising seven suites and approximately 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event and meeting space.
The food and beverage programme is already taking shape ahead of opening. Executive chef Preston Nguyen – a 2025 honoree of Arlington’s 40 Under 40 and a competitor on the Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay – will helm the signature mid-century American dining concept. The property will also feature a rooftop bar with views over Division Street and the nearby sports complex, an elegant martini bar and a poolside bar and restaurant.
Valencia Hotel Group’s wider portfolio spans Texas and California, encompassing properties that blend luxury accommodation with a strong sense of place. The collection includes Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose, Texican Court in Irving, Lone Star Court in Austin, Cotton Court in Lubbock, and Cavalry Court and The George in College Station. Each property carries a distinct character rooted in its location, a philosophy that Caravan Court – designed to channel the nostalgia of 1960s Americana through a contemporary lens – is built to continue.
For Darden, the role represents an opportunity to shape the commercial identity of a new hotel from the ground up – a pre-opening brief that demands deep market knowledge, strong owner relations and the ability to build a sales pipeline before a single room has been occupied. With a prominent location near the Texas Live entertainment complex and AT&T Stadium in Arlington’s sports and entertainment corridor, Caravan Court is positioned to draw a diverse mix of leisure, corporate and events business from across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
