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THE BAIRD/STR Hotel Stock Index rose in March, continuing a trend from the previous month. Still, continued growth remains at risk by factors such as inflation and political unrest. The index increased 2.2 percent in March after rising 4.1 percent in February. It rose 2.4 percent year to date through the first three months of 2022. However, Baird/STR fell behind both the S&P 500, up 3.6 percent in March, and the MSCI US REIT Index, which rose 5.9 percent. The hotel brand sub-index rose 1.4 percent from February, while the Hotel REIT sub-index jumped 5.1 percent. "Hotel stocks increased in March but underperformed their benchmarks as stock market volatility eased and geopolitical concerns did not worsen," said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. "Underlying hotel fundamentals continued to improve in March, and the outlook appears more favorable today than just one month ago despite all of the background noise in the stock market and with interest rates on the rise. Higher gas prices and heightened concerns about a slower growth backdrop have been topical with investors lately, but broader travel momentum and pent-up demand should keep the lodging recovery going over the near term, in our opinion."

IN THE WAKE of spring break travel, U.S hotel performance continues to register growth in the third week of March compared to the previous week, according to STR's latest data through 18 March. Occupancy stood at 67.6 percent for the week ending March 18, up from 64.7 percent the week before, 1.3 percent more than the comparable week in 2002 and 2.5 percent down the comparable week in 2019. ADR was $167.04, increased from $158.20 the week before and up 8.9 percent and 23.9 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019, respectively. RevPAR arrived at $112.89 in the third week, up from $102.38 the previous week, and an increase of 10.4 percent and 20.8 percent against the same month in 2022 and 2019. Among the Top 25 Markets, Boston saw the highest year-over-year increase in occupancy, up 17.8 percent to 71.8 percent, while Houston witnessed the highest occupancy increase over 2019, increased 9.6 percent to 72.5 percent. Las Vegas reported the highest ADR, up 77.9 percent to $306.79 and RevPAR increased 101.5 percent to $277.09 year-over-year. Las Vegas market also posted the highest increases in the measuring of ADR (up 113.2 percent to $306.79) and RevPAR (increased 116.9 percent to $277.09 percent), against 2019.

PROFITS FOR U.S. hotels reached a 28-month high in March, according to STR. Spring break travel and higher rates are pushing performance up on all levels. GOPPAR was $83.81 for the month, the highest level for the metric since November 2019. It was less than $10 shy of reaching the pre-pandemic comparable from March 2019. In February GOPPAR stood at $58.88. EBITDA PAR was $62.68, TRevPAR was $204.84 and labor costs per room were $61.45. For the latter two it was their highest mark since March 2020.

THE HOTEL PROPERTY types most associated with business travel, upper upscale hotels, are well represented in the U.S. hotel construction pipeline. The volume of projects in the segment points to confidence in the future of business travel, according to STR. "Upper upscale saw the slowest recovery, but a steady climb in performance and the business travel indicators have supported developer confidence in the segment," said Isaac Collazo, STR's vice president for analytics. "The more than 23,000 upper upscale rooms in construction right now represent 3.4 percent of the segment's existing supply. That is well above the long-term growth average, up 2 percent in the U.S." According to STR, a total 154,284 rooms were under construction in March, down 0.5 percent compared to the same period last year. As many as 239,995 rooms are in the final planning state, an increase of 34.6 percent over last year. STR pipeline data showed that 232,517 rooms are under planning, a decline of 21.6 percent compared to March 2022. After three consecutive month-over-month increases, the overall number of U.S. rooms in construction fell slightly in March, which aligns with patterns in previous years. Among the chain scale segments, luxury shows the highest number of rooms as a percentage of existing supply. Luxury segment reports the highest increase in hotel construction in March, up 5.2 percent containing 7,136 rooms, followed by upscale, up 4.1 percent with 36,089 rooms and upper midscale, increased 3.7 percent containing 43,470 rooms.

THE PERFORMANCE OF U.S. hotels ended strong in the first quarter with March profit surging across most global regions, according to HotStats. The research firm said stronger revenues, better conversion rates and less worry by travelers about a COVID upsurge drove the first quarter surge in performance. During the quarter U.S. hotels saw an increase in its operating fortunes, according to a blog post on the HotStats website. GOPPAR in March 2022 was up $70 over January 2022 and at $90 was closing in on March 2019's level. It was the highest profit month in the U.S. since February 2020, the last normalized month of performance before COVID-19 reframed the world. ADR growth in the U.S. led the way in recovery with March ADR on a nominal basis was at its highest level since October 2018.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE was up in the second week of March from the week before, according to STR. ADR was up during the week compared to two years ago. Occupancy was 63.2 percent for the week ending March 12, up from 61.2 percent the week before and down 9.8 percent for the same period in 2019. ADR was $144.68 for the week, increased from $137.96 the week before and up7.7 percent from two years ago. RevPAR was $91.45 for the week, up from $84.39 the week before and down 2.8 percent from the same period two years ago. None of STR's top 25 markets showed an occupancy increase during the period when compared to two years ago. Miami came closest to its 2019 comparable, down 4.7 percent to 84.1 percent.

U.S. HOTEL OCCUPANCY was down in first week of March week-over-week, according to STR. All metrics were higher than comparable time periods in the last two years. Occupancy stood at 62.8 percent for the week ending March 4, down from 64.2 percent the week before, 3 percent more than the comparable week in 2022 and 5.6 percent below the comparable week in 2019. ADR stood at $151.35 for, up from $156.51 the previous week and also up 8.9 percent and 14.1 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019, respectively. RevPAR was reported at $95.06, down from $100.43 the previous week, and up 12.1 percent and 7.7 percent increase over the same month in 2022 and 2019. Among the Top 25 Markets, Detroit saw the highest occupancy increase over 2019, up 5 percent to 63.2 percent, while Washington, D.C., was up the most from last year, an increase of 23.6 percent to 64.1 percent. D.C. also reported the most substantial year-over-year RevPAR growth, up 52.2 percent to $113.56. Las Vegas reported the highest ADR increase at $196.65 when measuring against 2019, up 56.8 percent and an increase of 33.7 percent in 2022. Las Vegas also saw the largest jump in RevPAR over 2019, up 54.3 percent to $153.55.

HELPED BY THE onset of spring break travel, U.S. hotels' performance bettered in the second week of March from the previous week, according to STR's latest data through 11 March. The top 25 markets were up on a weekly basis but still behind 2019 levels. Occupancy for the week ending March 11 came in at 64.7 percent up from 62.8 percent the week before, 2.8 percent more than the comparable week in 2022 and 7.5 percent below the comparable week in 2019. ADR stood at $158.20, up from $151.35 the previous week and also up 8.1 percent and 16.6 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019, respectively. RevPAR was reported at $102.38, up from $95.06 the previous week, and an increase of 11.1 percent and 7.8 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019. Among the top 25 markets, Washington, D.C., witnessed the highest year-over-year occupancy increase compared to 2019, up 21.8 percent to 67.6 percent. However, none of the Top 25 Markets saw an occupancy lift over 2019. Meanwhile, D.C. also registered the most substantial ADR increase at $183.86 against 2019, up 23.4 percent. D.C.'s RevPAR rate also climbed up 50.2 percent to $124.33 year-over-year. Anaheim reported the highest ADR increase for spring break week, up 51.4 percent to US$245.62 and RevPAR rose 42.2 percent to $189.81, when measuring against 2019.

REFLECTING THE NORMAL ebb and flow of spring break season, U.S. hotel performance has decreased in the fourth week of March from the week before, according to STR. Chicago and Phoenix saw rises in occupancy. Occupancy was 64.9 percent for the week ending March 25, down from 67.6 percent the week before and 0.6 percent down than the comparable week in 2002 and 6.3 percent down the comparable week in 2019. ADR was $158.61, down from $167.04 the week before, up 4.7 percent from last year and up 19.5 percent from 2019. RevPAR stood at $102.98 in the last week, down from $112.89 the week before and increased 4.1 percent and 12 percent against the same month in 2022 and 2019. Among the top 25 markets, Chicago saw the highest year-over-year increase in occupancy in the fourth week of the month, up 12.2 percent to 63.4 percent, while Phoenix witnessed the only occupancy lift over 2019, up 3.1 percent to 81.5 percent. Washington, D.C., reported the most substantial ADR, up 20.9 percent to $194.18, while RevPAR increased 33.4 percent to $139.83 year-over-year. Las Vegas reported the highest growths in the measuring of ADR, up 42.7 percent to $187.21, and RevPAR, which increased 31.5 percent to $148.86 percent, against 2019.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE exhibited mostly positive year-over-year trends in the first week of March, compared to the previous week, according to CoStar. Despite a slight increase in occupancy, RevPAR declined, while RevPAR remained static. Occupancy rose to 62.5 percent for the week ending March 2, up from the previous week's 62 percent, marking a 0.3 percent year-over-year decline. ADR decreased to $155.29 from $156.62 the prior week, reflecting a 2.7 percent increase compared to the previous year. RevPAR remained unchanged at $97.12 from the prior week's $97.12, indicating a 2.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, Seattle reported the largest year-over-year occupancy increase, rising 12.1 percent to reach 66.5 percent.

THE EIGHTH CALIFORNIA Lodging Investment Conference is scheduled for March 5 to 6 in Long Beach, California. It begins with a networking mixer and the 2025 Hotel Development of the Year Award, sponsored by Lodging Econometrics. The conference continues on March 6 with a full day of panels and networking, CLIC said in a statement. "The business outlook remains positive, with an increased level of consumer confidence laying the groundwork for a boom in travel and hospitality," said Craig Sullivan, CLIC's founder and president. "Savvy hoteliers who want to gain valuable knowledge on the California hotel market and network with the leading hospitality players on the West Coast will gain valuable insight into the ever-changing hotel landscape." Following opening remarks, Rachel Humphrey and Lan Elliot of the Women in Hospitality Alliance will present on the Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance, the statement said. Bruce Ford, senior vice president of global business development at Lodging Econometrics, will then deliver the annual hotel market update before the day's panels.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE was down in the first week of March from the week before, according to STR. However, ADR was up during the week compared to 2019. Occupancy was 61.2 percent for the week ending March 5, down from 62.2 percent the week before and down 8.2 percent for the same period in 2019. ADR was $137.96 for the week, decreased from $143.83 the week before and up 4.7 percent from two years ago. RevPAR was $84.39 for the week, down from $89.45 the week before and down 3.8 percent from the same period two years ago. None of STR's top 25 markets showed an occupancy increase during the period over 2019. Norfolk/Virginia Beach came closest to its 2019 comparable, down just 0.8 percent to 56.3 percent.

THE BAIRD/STR HOTEL Stock Index rose again in April, continuing a trend the index has followed for the past four months. Investors' optimism is driven by the travel industry's ongoing recovery due to pent-up demand that is overriding negative influences, such as the Russia/Ukraine war and rising interest rates. Baird/STR went up 0.7 percent during the month, according to STR. The index rose 3.1 percent over the first four months of 2022. In March it increased 2.2 percent in March after rising 4.1 percent in February. The index also surpassed both the S&P 500, which dropped 8.8 percent in April, and the MSCI US REIT Index, which went down 4.6 percent. The hotel brand sub-index rose 0.5 percent from March, while the hotel REIT sub-index jumped up 1.5 percent.

SPRING BREAK TRAVEL helped U.S. hotel performance to rise in the third week of March from the week before, according to STR. Occupancy for the week was the highest since the week ending Aug. 7, 2021, and ADR was the second highest on record. Occupancy was 66.9 percent for the week ending March 19, up from 63.2 percent the week before and down 3.7 percent for the same period in 2019. ADR was $151.63 for the week, up from $144.68 the week before and increased 13.6 percent from two years ago. RevPAR was $101.44 for the week, rose from $91.45 the week before and up 9.5 percent from the same period two years ago.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE saw an uptick in the third week of March compared to the previous week, although year-over-year figures continued to decline, according to CoStar. Key metrics such as occupancy, ADR and RevPAR continued their upward trajectory during this period compared to the preceding week. Occupancy increased to 66.5 percent for the week ending March 16, up from the previous week's 63.2 percent, reflecting a 1.4 percent year-over-year decline. ADR rose to $163.21 from $156.96 the previous week, marking a 2.1 percent decrease compared to last year. RevPAR reached $108.51, up from the previous week's $99.17, signifying a 3.5 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, Seattle reported significant year-over-year increases in occupancy, rising by 12.7 percent to 73 percent, and in RevPAR, which increased by 21.7 percent to $120.29.

TOTAL REVENUES FROM extended-stay hotel rooms fell by 0.2 percent in March, marking the first monthly decline in over three years, according to The Highland Group. However, the revenue decline was smaller than the 1.6 percent contraction estimated by STR/CoStar for the overall hotel industry. Meanwhile, extended-stay room supply increased by 2.7 percent in March, a slight uptick compared to the average monthly growth over the past two years, the report said. This marks the 30th consecutive month of supply growth at 4 percent or less, with the annual change remaining below 2 percent for two years. However, both these figures lag behind the long-term average. The 14.2 percent rise in economy extended-stay supply, coupled with a small increase in mid-price segment rooms, primarily stems from conversions, The Highland Group said. New construction in the economy segment is estimated to account for approximately 3 percent of open rooms compared to one year ago.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE rose in the second week of March compared to the previous week but declined year over year, according to CoStar. Key metrics, including occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR, all saw increases compared to the prior week. Occupancy climbed to 63.2 percent for the week ending March 9, up from the prior week's 62.5 percent, reflecting a 2.2 percent year-over-year decline. ADR rose to $156.96 from $155.29 the previous week, marking a 0.6 percent decrease compared to last year. RevPAR reached $99.17, up from the previous week's $97.12, signifying a 2.8 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, Minneapolis saw significant year-over-year growth across all three key performance metrics: occupancy surged by 25.1 percent to 63.7 percent, ADR rose by 15.9 percent to $143.12, and RevPAR increased by 45.1 percent to $91.11.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE dipped in the fourth week of March compared to the previous week but showed positive year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar. Across all key metrics-occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR-there was a decline in this period compared to the preceding week. Occupancy dropped to 65.3 percent for the week ending March 23, down from the previous week's 66.5 percent, with a 0.7 percent year-over-year increase. ADR decreased to $162.28 from the previous week's $163.21, showing a 2.5 percent climb compared to last year. RevPAR was $106.01, down from the previous week's $108.51, indicating a 3.2 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, New Orleans saw the highest year-over-year occupancy increase, rising 13.6 percent to 75.5 percent.

TRADE TENSIONES BETWEEN the U.S. and Canada are beginning to impact the U.S. travel and tourism industry as Canadians cut back on trips. The number of Canadians driving to the U.S. fell 23 percent in February from a year earlier, marking the second straight monthly decline and only the second since March 2021, according to Statistics Canada. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing 25 percent tariffs on nearly all Canadian and Mexican goods on Feb. 1, which took effect on March 4. He also repeatedly called for making Canada the 51st state. The decline in Canadian tourists followed former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's call to reconsider U.S. travel and support domestic tourism. Trudeau, who was succeeded by Mark Carney on March 14, made the remarks in response to Trump's tariffs.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE improved for the week ending March 1 compared to the previous week, according to CoStar. Occupancy and RevPAR increased week over week, while ADR saw a slight decline, but all three metrics showed year-over-year growth. Occupancy increased to 62.8 percent for the week ending March 1, up from 60.3 percent the previous week and 0.4 percentage points higher year over year. ADR declined slightly to $159.26 from $159.90 the prior week but remained 2.7 percent higher than the same week last year. RevPAR increased to $100.06 from $96.49, reflecting a 3.1 percent gain compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, St. Louis recorded the highest year-over-year occupancy gain, rising 12.1 percentage points to 59.4 percent.