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THE U.S. HOTEL construction pipeline ticked up in September for the third consecutive month, according to STR. Also, year-over-year declines have been lessening each month since May. In STR's pipeline, 156,861 rooms were in construction during the month, down 8.9 percent from the same time last year. Another 173,932 rooms were in final planning, down 15.5 percent, and 282,225 rooms were planning, up 7 percent. New York City, Phoenix and Nashville are set to see the largest supply percentage increases from current construction, according to STR. Among the chain scales, the luxury and upscale segments led in that measurement.

U.S. HOTEL LEISURE travel revenue is projected to rise 14 percent this year over pre-pandemic levels and business travel revenue is expected to be within 1 percent of 2019 range, according to a report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Kalibri Labs. However, these projections are not adjusted for inflation, and real hotel revenue recovery may take many years, a statement said. Among the top 50 U.S. markets, 80 percent are projected to see hotel leisure travel revenue exceed 2019 levels, but just 40 percent are expected reach that milestone for business travel revenue. Many urban markets are yet to recover due to their dependence on business from events and group meetings, the report said. All markets in the top 10 are likely to report increase in leisure travel revenue except New York, Washington and San Francisco. Whereas, in business travel revenue only Orlando, Las Vegas and San Diego will end up this year in green among the top 10.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE rose from the previous week, while occupancy and RevPAR levels reached the second highest of the year, behind the week ending 18 March, according to STR's latest data through 22 April. Occupancy for the week ending April 22 came in at 67.2 percent, up from 64.2 percent the week before, and increased 2.3 percent than the comparable week in 2022. ADR stood at $155.76, up from $155.33 the previous week and 4.2 percent over the same period in 2022. RevPAR was $104.64, also up from $99.67 the week before and 6.6 percent rise over 2022. Among the Top 25 Markets, Chicago posted the highest year-over-year increases in each of the key performance metrics: occupancy rose 23.9 percent to 72.2 percent, while ADR increased 29.6 per cent to $174.71. RevPAR also rose 60.6 percent to $126.13. Notably, New York City (82.1 percent) and Las Vegas (80.8 percent) were the only two markets to report occupancy above 80 percent.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE showed mixed results from the previous week, according to STR's latest data through the end of April. However, it remained up year over year. According to STR, occupancy stood at 66.6 percent for the week ending April 29, down from 67.2 percent the week before and increased 0.1 percent over the comparable week in 2022. ADR came in at $156.14, up from $155.76 the week before, and rose 5.5 percent from 2022. RevPAR was $104.01 in the last week, down from $104.64 the week before and increased 5.6 percent against the same period in 2022. Among the Top 25 Markets, Boston registered the highest year-over-year increase in occupancy in the fourth week of the month, up 15.3 percent to 75.6 per cent. Meanwhile, New York City (87.8 percent), Las Vegas (81.5 percent), and San Francisco (81.1 percent) were the only three markets to post occupancy above 80 percent.

THE REVPAR OF U.S. hotels reached an all-time weekly high on a nominal and a pandemic-era high on an inflation-adjusted basis in the third week of June, according to STR. Boosted by the highest weekly demand of 28 million room nights sold since August 2019, occupancy was the highest of the pandemic-era during the week. Occupancy was 71.8 percent for the week ending June 18, up from 70.6 percent the week before and dropped 4.8 percent from 2019. ADR was $155.02 for the week, slightly down from $155.37 the week before and increased 14.9 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $111.29 during the week up from $109.76 the week before and up 9.4 percent from 2019. San Diego saw the only occupancy increase, up 0.5 percent to 86 percent, over 2019 among STR's top 25 markets. According to STR, New York City (86.6 percent), San Diego and Seattle (85 percent) led the major markets in absolute occupancy for the week.

DALLAS TAKES THE lead in top five U.S. hotel construction markets in the third quarter of 2023, setting a record with 189 projects and 21,840 rooms, according to Lodging Econometrics. The top markets all saw growth in new openings as well. Atlanta follows closely with 140 projects and 17,775 Rooms, while Nashville comes next with 122 projects and 16,046 rooms. Phoenix recorded 119 projects, totaling 16,455 rooms, while the Inland Empire reported 117 projects comprising 11,784 rooms, according to the third quarter United States Construction Pipeline Trend Report by LE. New York City leads with the highest number of projects under construction, totaling 46, and 8,386 rooms at the close of the third quarter, LE said. Phoenix follows with 26 projects and 5,353 rooms, followed closely by Atlanta with 26 projects and 4,354 rooms. Dallas trails with 25 projects and 3,178 rooms, and the Inland Empire with 23 projects and 2,386 rooms.

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT firm Hersha Hospitality Trust will sell seven of its select service properties outside New York for $505 million, or approximately $360,000 per key, according to a statement. Proceeds will go to cover some of the company's debt and provide liquidity. The properties in the deal are the Hotel Courtyard Brookline, Hampton Inn - Philadelphia, Hilton Garden Inn M Street, Hampton Inn - Washington, Courtyard Sunnyvale, Courtyard Los Angeles Westside and TownePlace Suites Sunnyvale. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2022 subject to customary closing conditions, the statement added. The revenue from the sale reduce debt of approximately $460 to $480 million, and around $390 to $410 million of Hersha's corporate debt. The company also wants to reduce mortgage debt by approximately $75 million. The company also wants to reduce mortgage debt by approximately $75 million.

THE REVPAR OF U.S. hotels reached an all-time weekly high on a nominal basis in the second week of June as performance jumped, according to STR. The ADR and occupancy levels were the second and third highest of the pandemic-era, respectively, during the week. Occupancy was 70.6 percent for the week ending June 11, up from 63.2 percent the week before and dropped 4.1 percent from 2019. ADR was $155.37 for the week, up from $147.35 the week before and increased 15.4 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $109.76 during the week, up from $93.16 the week before and up 10.7 percent from 2019. According to STR, the top 25 markets posted their highest metrics since the beginning of the pandemic in aggregate during June's second week. Leading the major markets in absolute occupancy for the week were Seattle with 85.2 percent, San Francisco/San Mateo with 84.3 percent and New York with 85.1 percent.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH is a time to think about unity in general and hoteliers of all races acknowledged that this year. AAHOA observed the month, as did others in the industry through actions and testimonials. A way to engage the local community California hotelier and philanthropist Sunil "Sunny" Tolani in a recent article discussed the importance of the month to him. Tolani is CEO of the Prince Organization in Anaheim, California, and in an interview with New York Wire magazine, he discussed diversity and his company's participation in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in January. The event supports a sense of family among his employees, Tolani said. "Employees make time to volunteer and the MLK Day of Service is a great way we engage with our local community while honoring the legacy of Dr. King," Tolani said. "Whether we plan on cleaning up a public space, mentoring and providing internships to young people, mentoring our staff, inviting the local students to tour the back of house hotel operations, what they do makes a world of difference. Our entire organization felt a sense of pride at what we were able to achieve." Tolani said supporting minority rights also builds meaningful relationships within the communities in which they operate and "taps the passions of millions of guests."

NEWCRESTIMAGE AND HOSPITALITY Capital Partners have acquired 11 hotels in seven states with a total of 1,551 rooms in a joint venture. Al Calhoun and Mark Fair at CBRE in Atlanta handled the transaction. The properties are 10 Courtyards and one Residence Inn in Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia, according to NewcrestImage. Dallas-based NewcrestImage owns more than 70 hotels across the country with almost 8,000 rooms. Since its founding in 2013, the company has completed more than $3 billion in transactions involving almost 275 hotels with almost 30,000 hotel rooms in 130 communities across the country. "Our company has a strong appetite for solid investment opportunities," said Mehul Patel, NewcrestImage managing partner and CEO. "These properties and markets offer attractive potential for both profits and appreciation value." HCP and its principals Keith Mishkin and Primo Parmar have owned nearly 50 hotels in the western U.S., including The Saguaro Scottsdale in that Arizona city's historic Old Town area. Other projects include 25 golf courses through their associated company, Parks Legacy Project.

A JOINT VENTURE between NewcrestImage and Hospitality Capital Partners recently acquired 16 hotels for $137.3 million from Service Properties Trust, a Massachusetts-based REIT. The deal includes a total of 2,155 rooms in nine states. The portfolio consists of 13 Courtyard and three Residence Inn hotels by Marriott hotels, which are in Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Eleven of the properties underwent major renovations between 2018 and 2019, the company said in a statement. "This transaction suits our company's style of strategically acquiring properties with strong fundamentals, especially during times of a difficult or slowed down economy," said Mehul Patel, managing partner and CEO, NewcrestImage. "It's an opportunity for our joint venture with NewcrestImage to add revenue immediately, while also growing long-term profit potential and asset value," said HCP principals Keith Mishkin and Primo Parmar. The transaction was handled by Al Calhoun and Mark Fair at CBRE in Atlanta. "Closing this transaction was particularly satisfying given the size of the deal and the challenges we're facing in the debt markets," added Al Calhoun, vice chairman with CBRE Hotels in Atlanta. "We were able to complete this transaction by breaking it up into three deals with three different lenders. These lenders had great confidence in the sponsorship and the quality of the brands and markets."

INFLUENCED BY EASTER and Passover calendar shift, U.S. hotel performance registered lower year-over-year comparisons from the previous week, according to STR's latest data through 8 April. Occupancy was 61.3 percent for the week ending April 8, down from 66.2 percent the week before, and dipped 7.4 percent than the comparable week in 2022. ADR stood at $153.30, down from $158.40 the week before, and rose 0.8 percent compared to 2022. RevPAR was $94, down from $104.78 in the last week and slipped 6.7 percent over the same month in 2022. Among the Top 25 Markets, New York City saw the highest year-over-year increases in occupancy, up 6.3 percent to 82.2 percent and RevPAR rose 19.4 percent to $232.80 over 2022.

APPROXIMATELY 75 PERCENT of Americans plan to take road trips this summer, with about 33 percent intending to travel more than 250 miles from home, according to a recent study by WalletHub. However, choosing an affordable travel destination is challenging due to higher gas prices, currently averaging over $3.45 per gallon nationwide, and increased accommodation costs. The WalletHub study, which assessed all 50 U.S. states across 32 metrics to identify the most budget-friendly road-trip destinations, ranked Texas, Minnesota and New York as the top three states to visit this summer. "Taking a summer road trip can be a very exciting way to experience a new place, but with the prices of gas, food and accommodations heavily impacted by inflation, you'll want to be in a state that makes this type of vacation affordable," said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub's analyst. "Safe roads are also key, and so is having plenty of worthwhile attractions to stop at along the road. The best states for summer road trips therefore are those that keep costs low while providing the best driving experience and most fun activities."

U.S. HOTEL CONSTRUCTION increased slightly in December after 25 consecutive months of decline, according to STR. Projects in the later stages of development saw a reversal in their decline and luxury projects were up. There are 159,344 rooms in construction during the month, up 0.3 percent, over Dec. 2021. As many as 213,066 rooms are in the final planning state, an increase of 15 percent over last year. STR pipeline data added that 240,092 rooms are under planning, a decline of 15.6 percent. New York City, Phoenix and Dallas are set to see the largest supply percentage increases from current construction. The luxury and upscale segments would see the most supply. "While the overall pipeline continued to contract year over year, December showed strength in the later phases of development," said Alison Hoyt, STR's senior director of consulting. "Over the past year, we've seen late-stage pipeline rooms consistently decline from 2021 levels, while rooms in the planning phase often showed double-digit growth. We started to see a change in this pattern in November, when final planning rooms significantly jumped year over year and planning rooms came down pretty firmly. The same occurred in December, with the only difference being construction increasing slightly over 2021. When looking strictly at volume, the in-construction phase has been fairly stable throughout the year, remaining under 160,000 rooms and showing month-over-month increases from July through October and again in December."

HYATT HOTEL CORP. plans to acquire Dream Hotel Group's lifestyle hotel brands, including the Dream Hotels, The Chatwal Hotels and Unscripted Hotels brands, for approximately $300 million. The deal will add more than 1,700 rooms to Hyatt's lifestyle portfolio and increase Hyatt's room count in New York City by more than 30 percent. The acquisition includes a portfolio of 12 managed or franchised lifestyle hotels, with another 24 signed long-term management agreements for hotels expected to open in the future, Hyatt said in a statement on Nov. 29. The transaction, expected to close in the coming months, continues Hyatt's asset-light growth strategy following acquisitions of Two Roads Hospitality in 2018 and Apple Leisure Group in 2021. Post-acquisition, Hyatt will pay a base purchase price of $125 million, with up to an additional $175 million over the next six years. It would generate management fees of about $12 million a year on the first dozen hotels.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE direct lender Stonehill recently originated a $79.8 million, three-year, floating-rate bridge loan for New York-based Churchwick Partners for the acquisition of a 12-property, extended-stay hotel portfolio. The deal was premised on the strong performance by extended-stay hotels even during the pandemic. Stonehill is an affiliate of Peachtree Hotel Group, led by Jatin Desai and Mitul Patel as managing principals. The deal includes 1,432 rooms in nine states, mostly Sonesta Hotels brands. "Our sponsors benefit from experienced real estate lenders able to originate and close complex transactions," said Nick Baer, Stonehill's vice president for business development. "With funding options from traditional lenders limited for hotels and other commercial real estate properties, we are pleased to provide Churchwick Partners with the lending solution, financial capacity and hospitality expertise to close this transaction in a challenging capital market environment."

Vince collection was what originally piqued your interest. Its comfortable silhouettes, archetypal tailoring all wrapped up with some cutting-edge quality, spoke to me. Although, in my opinion, the layered knits, maxi skirts, sparkle dresses and basic tees are just too pricey for basic closet staples.

I have a confession. When I lived in New York City, I was a gym-a-holic. This is a more serious distinction than being a gym rat. A gym-a-holic spends most of her time working out at an indoor fitness center. Ask her to go away for a hiking weekend, and she will worry about missing her Saturday 8am aerobic class.

The London Wing Fest is enlivened by the National Buffalo Wing Festival that is held yearly in New York and sees 2.4 million chicken wings expended more than two days. Being a resident at Edward Hotel Paddington, you can easily visit various food courts to taste delicious chicken wings with fresh beverages.