Group items tagged

EXTENDED-STAY HOTELS experienced limited growth in July, reflecting the summer travel season's tendency to favor the overall hotel industry more than extended-stay establishments, according to The Highland Group. Total hotels reported a smaller decrease in occupancy and a slightly higher increase in ADR compared to all extended-stay hotels in July 2022. According to Highland, Extended-stay hotels performed similarly to the preceding three months in July. The economy segment reported a decrease in RevPAR, while upscale extended-stay hotels saw the strongest RevPAR increase. However, ADR growth across extended-stay segments has noticeably narrowed over the last three months. For the second consecutive month, the economy segment achieved faster ADR gains compared to mid-price extended-stay hotels. "Extended-stay hotels' 9.2 percentage-point occupancy premium above the overall hotel industry is slightly below the long-term annual average range but typical for the summer travel season," said Mark Skinner, partner at The Highland Group.

THE BAIRD/STR HOTEL Stock Index jumped in July, ending a downward trend for two consecutive months. The index decreased 10.4 percent year-to-date for the first seven months of 2022. Baird/STR Index recorded a sharp increase of 14.3 percent in July, according to STR. The index fell 19.3 percent in June and dropped 5.8 percent in May. It went up 0.7 percent during April. It increased 2.2 percent in March after rising 4.1 percent in February. The Baird/STR Index surpassed both the S&P 500, up 9.1 percent from June, and the MSCI US REIT Index, increased 8.7 percent, respectively during July. The hotel brand sub-index rose 14.2 percent from June, while the Hotel REIT sub-index increased 14.6 percent during the month. "Hotel stocks rebounded sharply and outperformed their respective benchmarks in July; relative outperformance has continued in August," said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. "Despite the big gains in July, hotel stocks did not fully recapture June's losses. Positively, second quarter earnings exceeded analysts' and investors' expectations, and broader recession fears have begun to subside, which has boosted sentiment and stock prices. All eyes are on the post-Labor Day outlook that should reflect a more normalized travel environment."

MOST RECOVERY INDICES of U.S. extended-stay hotels declined slightly in October compared to the month before, according to hotel investment advisors Highland Group. Economy extended-stay hotels continue to lead the RevPAR recovery during the month with a 20 percent gain over the same period two years ago. The mid-price segment has more than recovered RevPAR every month since July and upscale extended-stay hotels continue to lag mainly due to the relatively high concentration of rooms in urban locations, according to "U.S. Extended-stay Hotels Bulletin: October 2021" report from to The Highland Group. According to the report, the 4 percent increase in extended-stay room supply in October was the lowest monthly gain in 2021. Mid-price and upscale supply growth should be well below pre-pandemic levels in the near future as the impact to supply growth from reopening hotels closed during the pandemic is almost over, the report added. The recent Highland Group report said that U.S. extended-stay hotels saw all-time highs in third quarter.

THE DEMAND PREMIUM that extended-stay hotels have experienced over the past two years compared to other types of hotels is beginning to ebb, according to consulting firm The Highland Group. Also, ADR growth decelerated for the fourth consecutive month in July but remains higher than any other period before 2021. The overall hotel industry revenue recovery is now only one half a point greater than extended-stay hotels, according to the US Extended-Stay Hotels Bulletin: July 2022 report by the Highland Group. According to STR, all hotel room revenue was up 12.1 percent in July this year compared to last year. "For the first time in more than two years all three extended-stay segments reported a monthly decline in demand compared to the previous year. Demand declines in economy and mid-price segments, which were less than corresponding falls for all hotels in the same rate categories, are mainly correlated to strong growth in ADR. The upscale segment's demand decline is correlated to both increasing ADR and the contraction in supply," the report said.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE dropped in the second week of July, as expected due to a holiday calendar shift, according to STR. The performance was skewed downward due to a comparison with a non-holiday week in 2019. STR said that performance is expected to improve for the remaining weeks of July after two consecutive weeks of lower demand around the Independence Day holiday. Occupancy was 63.3 percent for the week ending July 9, down from 67.3 percent the week before and dropped 14.5 percent from 2019. ADR was $153.71 for the week, slightly up from $153.32 the week before and increased 15.7 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $97.37 during the week down from $103.24 the week before and down 1.1 percent from 2019.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE dipped in the first week of July when compared to the week before mainly due to decline in demand on account of the Independence Day holiday, according to STR. STR predicted that occupancy and demand are likely to fall again for a week before strengthening in the remaining weeks of July. Occupancy in the week before the holiday fell by more than four percentage points with most of the losses beginning on Wednesday and continuing into the weekend. Since 2000, the fourth of July holiday has fallen on a Monday seven times, including in 2021 and in 2016. Occupancy was 67.3 percent for the week ending July 2, down from 72.3 percent the week before and dropped 2.9 percent from 2019. ADR was $153.32 for the week, declined from $157.05 the week before and increased 19.7 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $103.24 during the week down from $113.55 the week before and up 23.1 percent from 2019.

GOPPAR FOR U.S. hotels dropped in July but once again exceeded 2019 levels for the fourth consecutive month, according to STR. The summer peak still brought an increase in demand, but the cost of ramping up to meet that demand cut into profit margins. GOPPAR was $78.30 for the month, down from $91.23 reported in June. It was $88.63 in May and stood at $90.96 in April. EBITDA PAR was $55.29 for July, TRevPAR was $209.66 and labor costs per room were $67.27. "While each of the key bottom-line metrics decreased slightly from June on a per-available-room basis, total profits increased with peak summer room demand and revenues," said Raquel Ortiz, STR's director of financial performance. "Profit margins were stronger than July 2019 for both full- and limited-service hotels, but GOP margins were at lower levels than the previous four months. The dip in margins can be attributed to higher expenses associated with more ramped-up operations as well as the general rise in costs around the country. Rising wages are being somewhat balanced by hotels using more contract labor and reducing benefits costs."

THE BAIRD/STR HOTEL Stock Index dropped 2 percent to 5,739 in September, influenced by higher interest rates impacting stock prices and investor sentiment, according to STR, although the hotel stocks outperformed their relative benchmark. That is the second month of decline in the index following a surge in July. "Hotel stocks declined in September, yet they exceeded their relative benchmarks," said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. "Both the S&P 500 and the RMZ recorded their poorest monthly performance this year due to elevated interest rates affecting stock prices and investor sentiment. Hotels likely gained from sustained, albeit gradual, RevPAR growth throughout the month. Year-to-date, the hotel brand sub-index stands at 23 percent, whereas the Hotel REIT sub-index lags at negative 1.5 percent."

THE BAIRD/STR HOTEL Stock Index dropped 2.4 percent to 5,600, influenced by increasing interest rates affecting both real estate stocks and investor sentiment, according to STR. Moreover, U.S. hotel demand saw a 1.3 percent decrease in October, linked in part to a calendar shift. This marks the third consecutive month of stock decline after a surge in July. "Hotel stocks declined for the third straight month in October, aligning with broader market trends," said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. "Elevated interest rates continued to drive performance, with real estate stocks bearing the brunt. Hotel REITs stood out as relative outperformers. The global hotel brands experienced a roughly 2 percent decrease, closely mirroring the S&P 500's retreat in October." In October, the Baird/STR Index fell behind the S&P 500, down 2.2 percent, but surpassed the MSCI US REIT Index, down 4.5 percent.

THE OMICRON COVID-19 variant could derail the hotel industry's fledgling recovery if countries like the U.S. move forward to tighten testing policies, according to HotStats. Future hotel bookings, meetings and other hotel-related activity will be impacted by the expectation of travel impediments, whether self-imposed, company-imposed or government-mandated, it added. In the U.S., major indices were still down double digits in October 2021 compared to same month two years ago, according to a blog post by HotStats. "Since a rapid uptick in occupancy from the beginning of the year through the summer, hitting an apex in July, occupancy in the U.S. has since more or less flatlined, a signal that the leisure boom could not be sustained at the same levels prior," said HotStats. "Though much maligned, there is propitious data surfacing in corporate travel. In October, corporate ADR was $7 higher than in October 2019 and $35 higher than in the previous month. Corporate volume mix, defined as the proportion of rooms sold at the corporate rate compared to total rooms sold, has grown 6 percentage points since July."

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE bounced back in the third week of July after two consecutive weeks of lower demand due to the Independence Day holiday, according to STR. Occupancy was 72 percent for the week ending July 16, up from 63.3 percent the week before and dropped 7.4 percent from 2019. ADR was $157.23 for the week, up from $153.71 the week before and increased 14.9 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $113.28 during the week, up from $97.37 the week before and increased 6.4 percent from 2019. San Diego reported the only occupancy increase among STR's top 25 markets during the week, up 1 percent to 89.9 percent, over 2019. According to STR, San Diego (89.9 percent), Oahu Island (87.2 percent) and Seattle (85.8 percent) led the major markets in absolute occupancy. Miami posted the largest ADR gain, up 29.9 percent to $204.15, over three years ago. Only San Francisco reported an ADR decrease, down 4.1 percent to $229.24, compared to 2019.

U.S. HOTELS REPORTED record-high monthly room rates on a nominal basis in July, according to STR. RevPAR on a nominal basis hit an all-time high during the month and occupancy was the second highest since August 2019. However, performance dipped some in the third week of August on a weekly basis, but performance improved during the week over 2019. Occupancy was 69.6 percent in July, down from 70.1 percent in June and down 5.4 percent from three years ago. ADR was $159.08 during the month, up from 155.04 in June and up 17.5 percent over 2019. RevPAR reached $110.73 in July, up from $108.64 the month before and increased 11.2 percent three years ago. At the same time, occupancy dropped to 67.3 percent for the week ending August 20, down from 68.5 percent the week before and dropped 3.9 percent from 2019. ADR was $150.96 for the week, decreased from $152.34 the week before and increased 16.7 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $101.59 during the week, fell from $104.30 the week before and increased 12.2 percent from 2019.

THERE WAS A slight dip in U.S. hotel performance in the fifth week of July compared to the week before, which was the traditional summer travel peak, according to STR. Performance metrics for hotels were lower during the week compared to the week before, but higher when compared to 2019. Occupancy was 71.9 percent for the week ending July 30, down from 72.8 percent the week before and dropped 3.8 percent from 2019. ADR was $158.32 for the week, a slight dip from $158.79 the week before and increased 18.3 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $113.90 during the week, down from $115.59 the week before and up 13.9 percent from 2019. Nashville reported the largest occupancy increase during the post summer travel peak week, up 4.2 percent to 77.8 percent, over 2019 among STR's top 25 markets. The highest occupancy were in San Diego (87.4 percent), Boston (85.5 percent), and Oahu Island (85.3 percent) during the week under review.

THE RevPAR OF U.S. hotels in the third week of May was the highest it has been since mid-July 2019, according to STR. Also, all metrics in April as a month improved compared to March, and hotels reported all-time high room rates during the period. Occupancy was 68.6 percent for the week ending May 21, up from 66.5 percent the week before and down 3.5 percent from 2019. ADR was $151.75 for the week, increased from $148.31 the week before and up 13.4 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $104.06 percent during the week, up from $98.59 the week before and rose 9.5 percent from 2019. STR's top 25 markets saw their highest weekly occupancy, ADR and RevPAR levels of the pandemic-era during the week.

ALL PERFORMANCE METRICS of U.S. hotels improved in the fourth week of July and RevPAR reached an all-time high on a nominal basis during the week, according to STR. Occupancy was the highest since early August 2019 in the week. Occupancy was 72.8 percent for the week ending July 23, up from 72 percent the week before and dropped 6 percent from 2019. ADR was $158.79 for the week, up from $157.23 the week before and increased 16.4 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $115.59 during the week, up from $113.28 the week before and increased 9.3 percent from 2019. Among STR's top 25 markets, Orlando reported the only occupancy increase, up 2.2 percent to 81.8 percent, over 2019. San Diego (87.1 percent) led the markets in absolute occupancy during the week, followed by Oahu Island (86.2 percent) and Seattle (85.7 percent). San Diego also posted the largest ADR gain, increased 40.5 percent to $286.50, over 2019.

THE REVPAR RECOVERY of U.S. extended-stay hotels remain unchanged in August compared to July, according to consulting firm The Highland Group. However, ADR growth for mid-price and upscale segments decreased for the fifth consecutive month but remained higher than any other period before 2021. STR said that hotel occupancy gained 5.3 percent in August 2022 compared to same period last year, decreasing extended-stay hotel's occupancy premium to 12.6 percentage points compared to more than 14 points in August 2021. But the premium remains well within its long-term average range. Economy and mid-price extended-stay segments reported much faster ADR growth compared to corresponding segments during the month, according to the US Extended-Stay Hotels Bulletin: August 2022. The economy segment continued leading the RevPAR recovery compared to 2019, but demand declined 1.9 percent for the fifth consecutive month compared to August 2021 due to strong increases in ADR.

INTERNATIONAL INBOUND TRAVEL is expected to slow down in the fall after surging over the summer, according to the latest U.S. Travel Association forecast. USTA also expects it may take until 2025 for the travel segment to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Inbound travel recovery picked up in summer and reached a pre-pandemic high of 35 percent below 2019 levels in July 2022, said U.S. Travel Association. It improved from a 41 percent decrease in May and declines of more than 50 percent earlier in 2022. The latest report by Aaron Szyf, economist, USTA, said that inbound travel recovery continued from Europe and Latin America in the past few months, which was 22 percent below 2019 levels in July. Meanwhile, Asian markets declined 66 percent in July, largely due to stagnation from China and a very slow return from Japan.

GOPPAR FOR U.S. hotels improved in September compared to the month before and it exceeded the pre-pandemic levels, according to STR. Meanwhile, the cost of labor per available room came in higher than the pre-pandemic comparable for the first time. GOPPAR was $84.03 for the month, up from $64.26 reported in August. It was $78.30 for July and $91.23 in June. The performance index was $88.63 in May and stood at $90.96 in April. EBITDA PAR was $60.71 for September, TRevPAR was $222.97 and labor costs per room were $71.52. "Labor costs moved ahead the 2019 comparable due to continued high levels of hospitality unemployment and more spending on contract labor," said Raquel Ortiz, STR's director of financial performance. "Total labor costs were up 5 percent year to date, with all departments reporting higher expenses, except F&B, due to less group demand earlier this year. GOPPAR was the strongest since June 2022, and profit margins came in higher than September 2019. Profit margins have been strong for some time caused by lower employment levels and reduced services."