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THE U.S. LEADS the global full-service hotel pipeline in the first quarter of 2024 with 2,272 projects and 341,854 rooms, accounting for 41 percent of all planned or under-construction hotels worldwide, according to Lodging Econometrics. Dallas and Los Angeles are among the top five cities globally in the pipeline. The global pipeline totals 15,366 projects and 2,382,195 rooms, marking a year-over-year increase of 6 percent in projects and 3 percent in rooms. LE's Q1 2024 Global Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report showed a record high in global room counts and a significant rise in full-service projects by the end of the first quarter. In the first quarter, there are 6,195 projects and 1,101,602 rooms under construction worldwide, the report said. Projects set to start within the next 12 months total 3,840 projects and 528,251 rooms, an 8 percent increase in projects and a 5 percent increase in rooms year-over-year. Early planning stage projects and rooms have reached all-time highs at 5,331 projects and 752,342 rooms, rising 12 percent and 9 percent year-over-year, respectively.

LAS VEGAS SAW 18.5 percent year-over-year growth in group business this May, while Oahu Island, Hawaii, ranked second with a 17.9 percent year over year increase, according to Knowland. The average meeting space in the top 25 markets was 3,615 square feet, compared to 3,625 square feet in secondary markets. The top 25 markets averaged 128 attendees, while secondary markets had 127 attendees, Knowland said. Las Vegas led the top 25 U.S. markets in meeting growth in May, with an average space of 7,803 square feet and 287 attendees, the report said. Key drivers included technology events like the Electronic Distributor Show and national associations such as the International Council of Shopping Centers.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE improved in the first week of June compared to the previous week, with mixed year-over-year results, according to CoStar. All key metrics, including occupancy, RevPAR, and ADR, rose compared to the prior week. Occupancy rose to 69.1 percent for the week ending June 8, up from 62 percent the previous week, with a slight 0.1 percent year-over-year decrease. ADR increased to $160.90 from $150.87, showing a 1.8 percent rise compared to last year. RevPAR increased to $111.26 from the previous week's $93.50, marking a 1.7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, Houston saw the highest year-over-year increases in occupancy, rising 14.8 percent to 71.1 percent, and in RevPAR, increasing 19.3 percent to $85.20. New York City recorded the largest increase in ADR, rising 9.1 percent to $358.25.

HILTON HOTELS & RESORTS retained its title as the world's most valuable hotel brand for the ninth consecutive year, while Hyatt Hotels Corp. secured the second spot again, according to the latest data from Brand Finance. Meanwhile, India's Taj Hotels is the world's second-fastest-growing brand, primarily due to revenue growth and improved brand strength. Hilton's brand value is estimated at $11.6 billion in the Brand Finance Global 500 2024 ranking. Hyatt holds a value of $6 billion, and Taj increased its brand value by 45 percent to $545 million, Brand Finance said in a statement. "Many top hotel brands have struggled to grow their brand value as robustly as in the years leading up to 2020, and the Brand Finance Hotels 2024 ranking shows that these challenges are ongoing as the industry recovers," said Henry Farr, Brand Finance's associate director. "Despite an uptick in travel and hotel demand, the actual growth hasn't matched expectations, resulting in slight declines or minimal brand value growth for the world's leading hotel brands."

OKLAHOMA CITY HOTELIER Hemant Shantilal Mistry died on June 23 following an assault in his motel parking lot the previous night. Richard Lewis, 41, was arrested in connection with the attack in which police say he punched Mistry, who died from the impact. Mistry, 59, an AAHOA member, is the second Indo American hotelier this year to die from on-duty violence following the murder of Pravin R. Patel, owner of the Hillcrest Motel in Sheffield, Alabama, in February. A video of the assault has gone viral on social media, showing Mistry in a white t-shirt arguing with Lewis in a sky blue t-shirt. The argument escalates, culminating in Lewis punching Mistry in the face. Mistry collapses as Lewis walks away. Police found Mistry unconscious around 10:00 pm and transported him to a nearby hospital, where he died at 7:40 pm the following day from his injuries, according to a police report.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation's third annual "No Room for Trafficking Summit" will take place on July 30, coinciding with the United Nations' World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The upcoming summit will evaluate the first-year impact of NRFT Survivor Fund grants on nearly 650 human trafficking survivors, AHLA Foundation said in a statement. "In 2022, we launched the NRFT Survivor Fund - a first for the hotel industry - to expand the hotel and lodging industry's efforts to support trafficking survivors," said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation's president. "Since launching the Survivor Fund, we have grown our total raised to $7.5 million towards our goal of $10 million, and we look forward to awarding $1 million in grants to community-based organizations that support human trafficking survivors at our third annual summit." Last year's NRFT Summit announced the inaugural grantees of the NRFT Survivor Fund, including Safe House Project, BEST, Restore NYC, and the University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors, the statement said. AHLA Foundation also shared data showing the impact of the $500,000 distributed to the four Survivor Grantees.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE dropped in the first week of July compared to the previous week due to Independence Day on July 4, according to CoStar. Key metrics, including occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR, saw declines over the prior week. Occupancy was 61.3 percent for the week ending July 6, down from 71.9 percent the previous week, showing a 0.9 percent year-over-year decrease. ADR dropped to $157.27 from $162.81, marking a 0.5 percent increase compared to last year. RevPAR fell to $96.35 from $117.13 the previous week, reflecting a 0.4 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, New Orleans saw the highest year-over-year increases in each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy rose 15.5 percent to 56.6 percent, ADR increased 35.1 percent to $197.23 and RevPAR grew 56.1 percent to $111.72.

A brand new original theatrical magic spectacular, Incanto will feature Joe Laber, one of the world's top illusionists. It will also showcase an ensemble of 50 international performers in a high-energy combination of extraordinary illusion, acrobatics, vocals and dynamic dance moves.

Here are some lessons learnt as we got up close & personal with Taiwanese magician, Lu Chen.