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The index decreased 12.6 percent year-to-date through the first eight months of 2022. In August it also surpassed both the S&P 500, down 4.2 percent, and the MSCI US REIT Index, which dropped 6.1 percent. Also, the hotel brand sub-index fell 2.3 percent from July to 8,959, while the hotel REIT sub-index dropped 3.7 percent to 1,143. "Hotel stocks took a breather in August after July's sharp rebound. Despite the slight decline in stock prices, both the Global Hotel Brands and Hotel REITs outperformed their respective benchmarks in August," said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. "Hotel trends have remained solid throughout the summer months despite all the capital markets volatility and macroeconomic uncertainties. However, investors appear somewhat skeptical about the prospects for a significant recovery in business transient travel post-Labor Day, and hotel stocks appear to be discounting this relatively conservative fundamental expectation, in our opinion."

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS now has a mobile tipping solution for its U.S. and Canadian franchisees, the company said in a statement. Developed by Béné, the platform enables guests to tip hotel team members digitally via their preferred mobile device. According to consulting firm McKinsey, 82 percent of Americans are now using digital payments, Wyndham said in its statement. The trend was accelerated by the pandemic, said Scott Strickland, Wyndham's chief information officer, and he expects it will only continue in the coming years. "Having previously empowered our franchisees to accept digital, contactless payment for stays at their hotels, the next logical step was to find a solution that allows guests to recognize housekeepers, wait staff and other frontline team members in a similar fashion," Strickland said. "This platform does exactly that and at virtually no cost to franchisees."

A CYBER-ATTACK "significantly disrupted" booking channels and other applications for InterContinental Hotels Group last week, according to a statement from the company. Now, AAHOA is demanding an explanation for the breach and assurances that its members' data is protected. IHG has implemented a response plan, including notifying the relevant regulatory authorities, working with its technology suppliers and engaging external specialists to investigate the incident, according to the company. 'IHG is working to fully restore all systems as soon as possible and to assess the nature, extent and impact of the incident," the company said. "We will be supporting hotel owners and operators as part of our response to the ongoing service disruption. IHG's hotels are still able to operate and to take reservations directly."

THE LABOR DAY calendar shift pulled U.S. hotel performance down in the second week of September, compared to the week before, as expected, according to STR. The weekly performance was also down when compared to 2019. Occupancy was 61.7 percent for the week ending Sept. 10, down from 62.8 percent the week before and decreased 11.2 percent from 2019. ADR was $146.80 for the week, down from $147.14 the week before and increased 10.6 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $90.50 during the week, dipped from $92.45 the week before and decreased 1.8 percent from 2019. Orlando reported the only occupancy increase, up 1.5 percent to 59.3 percent, among STR's top 25 markets, when compared to 2019.

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."

AURO HOTELS RECENTLY ACQUAIRED the Residence Inn by Marriott Atlanta Buckhead/Lenox Park. Hunter Hotel Advisors helped broker the deal, which it said is another example of the strength of the extended-stay segment that has been seeing increased interest from major hotel companies such as Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The 150-room Residence Inn is in Atlanta's upscale Buckhead neighborhood near shopping and dining outlets, such as Lenox Square Mall and Phipps Plaza, according to Hunter. Also, the hotel is across from AT&T corporate offices. "We are thrilled that the stars aligned on this acquisition - a smooth process with a highly professional seller, another collaboration with a trusted equity partner, and a further expansion of our relationship with Marriott," said D.J. Rama, CEO of Auro Hotels. "With the expertise brought by our investment, operations and design and construction resources, we believe strongly in the property's future performance potential."

SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS of the proposed Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2023 say it is needed to protect the rights of workers to organize under labor unions. However, the American Hotel & Lodging Association and others claim the PRO Act puts an undue burden on small businesses, including hotels. The PRO Act would authorize penalties against employers that interfere with employees' efforts to organize, according to Democratic Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott of Virginia, one of the co-sponsors of the bill. Also, the bill would facilitate collective bargaining agreements, close loopholes that allow employers to misclassify employees as supervisors and independent contractors. Other aspects of the PRO Act include protection for employees that experience retaliation for trying to organize a union, ensures that workers can collect "fair share" fees and authorizes a private right of action for violation of workers' rights. It also prevents employers from interfering in union elections or holding captive audience meetings. "Regrettably, for too long, workers have suffered from anti-union attacks and toothless labor laws that undermined their right to form a union," Scott said. "As a historic number of Americans put their support behind labor unions, Congress has an urgent responsibility to ensure that workers can join a union and negotiate for higher pay, better benefits, and safer workplaces."

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.

THE BAIRD/STR Hotel Stock Index was down 2.5 percent in February 2023 as the focus turned to earnings and initial 2023 outlooks, according to STR. Investors' confidence also was boosted some by strong fourth quarter results and rising demand. During the month, the Baird/STR Index surpassed both the S&P 500, down 2.6 percent and the MSCI US REIT Index, fell 4.9 percent, STR said in a report. Meanwhile, the index jumped 16.4 percent in January. According to the STR, the Hotel Brand sub-index decreased 1.2 percent from January to 10,219, while the Hotel REIT sub-index dropped 7 percent to 1,130. "Hotel stocks, just like the broader market, pulled back in February as the focus turned to earnings and initial 2023 outlooks," said Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird. "The global hotel brand stocks, while down slightly during the month, outperformed the S&P 500 on the heels on strong fourth quarter earnings reports and guidance that matched expectations; hotel REITs were weaker and relatively underperformed as investors focused on somewhat mixed fourth quarter earnings reports and 2023 guidance that embedded heightened expense pressures and outsized renovation disruption."

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.

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.

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.

AS NORMAL SPRING break patterns continue, U.S. hotel performance increased in the first week of April compared to the previous week, according to STR. Metrics improved over the previous week as well as year-over-year in most cases. Occupancy stood at 66.2 percent for the week ending April 1, up from 64.9 percent the week before, and rose 3.4 percent than the comparable week in 2022 and decreased 3.5 percent over the comparable week in 2019. ADR was $158.40, down from $158.61 the week before, increased 7.3 percent and 19.9 percent against 2022 and 2019, respectively. RevPAR was $104.78 from $102.98 in the last week and rose 10.9 percent and 15.7 percent over the same month in 2022 and 2019. Among the top 25 markets, Washington, D.C., registered the highest year-over-year increase in occupancy, up 18.2 percent to 78.7 percent, while Dallas saw the highest occupancy lift over 2019, up 6.2 percent to 73 percent. Houston showed the most substantial ADR, up 25.8 percent to $133.5, while Phoenix reported the highest ADR increase over 2019, up 49.4 percent to $232.54.

Peachtree Group has named Jarred Bussert as vice president of information technology. In this newly created role, Bussert will be responsible for the company's IT infrastructure, including all business applications, information security and data integrity, the company said in a statement. "Jarred's experience and achievements demonstrate his commitment to supporting business strategies with technology infrastructure," said Greg Friedman, Peachtree's managing principal and CEO. "As Peachtree continues to grow, I am pleased to attract talented leaders to our best-in-class team. His leadership will be instrumental in building a successful and high-performing organization." Bussert has extensive enterprise-wide technical and IT leadership experience. Before joining Peachtree, he was vice president, information technology for Majors Management, an Atlanta-based retail operator. Bussert started his career with RaceTrac Petroleum holding numerous leadership positions, leaving as director, information systems. He has an MBA and Master of Technology from Georgia Tech and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia.

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.

The Staybridge Suites in Duluth, Georgia, is now open. The hotel, owned and operated by Duluth Capital Investments led by Sonial Patel as principal, is the first Staybridge Suites in the country using the brand's new "Next Generation 7.0" design that incorporates elements to protect against COVID-19. The 99-room, 5-story hotel has more open room in its public spaces for social distancing, which is strictly enforced. It features no contact check in / check out, as well as extensive disinfecting as part of InterContinental Hotel Group's "Clean Promise" program, including completely cleaning each suite with an electrostatic sprayer. Guests select their housekeeping schedule to further avoid contact.

THE U.S. HOTEL construction pipeline was slightly up at the end of the first quarter of 2022, according to Lodging Econometrics. Dallas was the top U.S. market for building. The pipeline stood at 5,090 projects containing 606,302 rooms, up 2 percent by projects, but down 3 percent by rooms, during the period. There are 961 projects with 128,784 rooms currently under construction in the first quarter, down 27 percent by projects and 28 percent by rooms compared to 2021, stated the latest trend report by LE. There are 1,911 projects with 223,030 rooms are scheduled to start in the next 12 months, up 2 percent by projects and 3 percent by rooms. Projects and rooms in early planning reached a record high in the first quarter, with 2,218 projects containing 254,488 rooms, up 24 percent by projects and 12 percent by rooms, compared to a year ago.

Brian Leaf is now vice president and head of internal sales for Peachtree Hotel Group's broker-dealer affiliate Peachtree PC Investors. Previously, he was vice president for capital markets. Leaf joined Atlanta-based Peachtree in 2017, prior to which he was an internal wholesaler at Inland Securities Corp. in Oak Brook, Illinois. Before then he was a property manager for Colliers International in Atlanta. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration and real estate from the University of Georgia and holds the FINRA Series 7, 24 and 63 securities licenses.

The Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Pierre is now open in Pierre, South Dakota. It is owned by Pramukhraj Pierre ownership group led by Yogin Patel as principal. The 53-room, recently renovated hotel is near Pierre Regional Airport, the South Dakota State Capitol, the LaFramboise Island Nature Area on the Missouri River, the Steamboat Park amphitheatre and the South Dakota Discovery Center. Hotel guests will find themselves within walking distance of as well as numerous downtown restaurant options. Those seeking to explore the outdoors have no shortage of activities to choose from, with seasonal fishing, cross-country skiing, biking, hiking and birdwatching options available via the nearby and. Other easily accessible attractions include, among others. Amenities include a fitness center and meeting rooms.

THE WAR IN Ukraine and lingering concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic are making some travelers nervous, according to a survey from risk and crisis response provider Global Rescue. Still, Global Rescue found that fewer people are experiencing hesitancy about travel. About 71 percent of respondents to Global Rescue's Spring 2022 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey said they are somewhat concerned, concerned or much more concerned about international travel since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. The remaining 29 percent said they are not concerned at all. The respondents' destinations also caused some anxiety as well as returning to travel after two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions. At the same time, 89 percent of respondents said the war in Ukraine has not changed their travel plans and 70 percent are not experiencing any re-entry to travel anxiety. An even larger majority, 84 percent, of survey takers report they are less or much less concerned about travel today compared to the beginning of the pandemic.