Group items tagged

The Cambria Hotel Savannah Downtown Historic District is now open in Savannah, Georgia. It was developed by HOS Management Group, led by Kurt Patel and Anil Patel as co-founders and chairmen, and is the first Cambria in Georgia. The 6-story, 101-room hotel is in the city's National Historic Landmark District, according to Cambria. It is near the Savannah Civic Center, the SCAD Museum and Forsyth Park, as well as several top area employers, including Georgia Ports Authority, Gulfstream, Hunter Army Airfield, St. Joseph's Hospital and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power System's North American headquarters. Amenities include meeting and event spaces and a fitness center.

U.S. HOTELS PERFORMANCE was down in the fourth week of December compared to the week before, according to STR. The market also saw lower performance in November compared to October, and performance during the month was also decreased when compared to 2019. Holiday shift affects week Occupancy was 43.9 percent for the week , down from 54.5 percent the week before and decreased 9.7 percent from 2019. ADR was $132.29 during the week, dropped from $135.08 the week before and up 2.3 percent from three years ago. RevPAR reached $58.04 during the week, decreased from $73.65 the week before and dropped 7.6 percent from 2019. Among STR's top 25 markets for the week, Houston reported the highest occupancy increase, up 3.4 percent to 43.1 percent, over 2019. Seattle posted the highest ADR lift, up 19.7 percent to $130.07, over 2019. Miami saw the steepest ADR, down 26.2 percent to $225.08 and RevPAR, dropped 42.4 percent to $138.19, declines from 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.

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.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING points are becoming a standard amenity at hotels, akin to the rise of Wi-Fi in the early 2000s. Benefits for the hotel owners and franchisers can include additional revenue, carbon credits as well as attracting guests from the growing number of electric vehicle drivers. A 2022 Green Lodging survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association revealed a surge in the deployment of EV chargers within the hospitality sector, with 26.6 percent of all U.S. hotels equipped with charging stations. The EV charging facilities are more commonly found at luxury hotels (nearly 90 percent offer them), while only about one in five limited-service hotels provides charging, representing significant growth opportunities. Hotel brands such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, BWH Hotel Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels International, Hyatt Hotel Corp. and G6 Hospitality have prioritized deploying EV charging based on customer preferences. Their franchisees have begun incorporating EV charging infrastructures into their properties. "We've heard from our owners that offering EV charging solutions is increasingly influential for guests when choosing hotels," said Brian McGuiness, IHG's senior vice president of global guest experience. "This is backed by our observation of guests using EVC filters on the IHG One Rewards mobile app and website. Our integrated EV-charger search filter within the IHG One Rewards mobile app allows travelers to easily find properties with EV charging capabilities, empowering them to plan their journeys conveniently and confidently."

Michael Harper is promoted to president of Hotel Lending at Peachtree Group, overseeing the company's entire hotel credit platform and guiding all aspects of the credit business. Similarly, Jared Schlosser rises to executive vice president of hotel lending and head of CPACE, while Michael Ritz is promoted to executive vice president of investments, Peachtree Group said in a statement. "These appointments underscore Peachtree's commitment to its core growth initiatives in hotel lending, as well as fostering talent from within our own ranks, with an eye toward further diversifying its allocation strategies as it taps into new investment opportunities," said Greg Friedman, Peachtree's CEO and managing principal. Since joining Peachtree in 2014, Harper has held a series of leadership positions, overseeing the company's credit business with a focus on loan originations and strategic acquisition of credit portfolios, Peachtree said. He has guided the team through over 500 investments totaling more than $6 billion.

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.

PEACHTREE GROUP, A commercial real estate investment firm with a $6.4 billion portfolio, has secured approximately $660 million in credit investments since Dec. 1, with an additional $350 million expected to close within the next 30 to 45 days. These investments focus on hotels, multifamily, industrial, and student housing, Peachtree said in a statement. "We are witnessing heightened activity in response to the anticipation of sustained elevated interest rates and continued reductions in bank exposure," said Greg Friedman, Peachtree Group's managing principal/CEO. "The pressing need to refinance maturing debt, estimated at $2.8 trillion in U.S. commercial real estate debt by the end of 2028, is a growing concern. Commercial real estate stakeholders are grappling with the challenges of increased capital costs and constrained liquidity, particularly in securing capital for acquisitions, recapitalizations and development initiatives." Peachtree recently closed one of its largest individual credit transactions to date, securing a $102.9 million, three-year loan to recapitalize a 350-room Marriott dual-brand AC Hotel Sunnyvale Moffett Park and TETRA Hotel, Autograph Collection in Sunnyvale, California, the statement added.

AT THE 2024 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show held last week in Orlando, Florida, history was being made at the same time it was being recalled. Miraj Patel assumed his role as the youngest chairman the association has had, while his predecessor Bharat Patel and AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake spoke on the legacy that led to the association's current success. AAHOACON24, the 35th national conference for the association, saw more than 7,000 registered attendees and 524 exhibitors at the Orange County Convention Center, blocks away from Disneyworld and Universal Studios. It included more than 44 education sessions and had two times the number of sponsors than in 2023 with 26. Event revenue was 6 percent higher than 2023 and 31 percent higher than in 2022. The tradeshow sprawled over more than 84,500 square feet of exhibit space. In a speech during the first general session, Bharat presented his theory on what led to AAHOA's current status: compound success.

U.S. HOTEL REVPAR is expected to grow steadily in 2024, driven by improving group business, inbound international travel, and traditional transient business demand, according to CBRE. This follows a strong performance in 2023 that muted the new forecast in some areas. The research firm forecasted a 3 percent increase in RevPAR growth in 2024, with occupancy improving by 45 basis points and ADR increasing by 2.3 percent. It indicates ongoing recovery of the lodging industry, with RevPAR in 2024 expected to surpass 2019 levels by 13.2 percent, CBRE Hotels said in a statement. CBRE's baseline forecast expects 1.6 percent GDP growth and 2.5 percent average inflation in 2024. Given the strong correlation between GDP and RevPAR growth, the economy's strength will directly impact the lodging industry's performance, the statement said. "We expect RevPAR growth to be slower in the first quarter due to last year's strong performance, but to reach its peak in the third quarter driven by the influx of inbound international travelers during the busy summer season," said Rachael Rothman, CBRE's head of hotel research and data analytics. "Urban and airport locations should particularly benefit from group and inbound international travel, as well as the normalization of leisure travel."

A STABLE ECONOMIC backdrop is expected to fuel a 10.7 percent year-over-year increase in the U.S. short-term rental industry in 2024, surpassing the 6.7 percent rise seen in 2023, according to AirDNA's 2024 outlook report. Moreover, AirDNA foresees balanced growth for the industry in 2024, marked by a projected 10.9 percent increase in supply expansion guided by rising demand for more sustainable market practices. "Approaching 2024, the industry anticipates balanced growth with a projected 10.9 percent increase in supply expansion," said Jamie Lane, senior vice president of Analytics at AirDNA. "Contrary to exaggerated reports of an STR 'collapse,' heightened market competition emphasizes the need for hosts and property managers to meticulously monitor data trends. This strategic approach is crucial for surpassing competitors and sustaining revenue, taking advantage of a strong economy and the growing preference of travelers for STR lodging."

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS reported a 23 percent increase in profit from reportable segments in 2023, surpassing the $1 billion milestone for the first time. The company also noted a 16.1 percent rise in RevPAR, a 5.1 percent increase in ADR, and a 6.4 percentage point uptick in occupancy during the previous year. It anticipates returning more than $1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks this year, IHG said in a statement. "Travel demand was strong across all markets, with RevPAR up 16 percent from last year and 11 percent ahead of the 2019 pre-pandemic peak," said Elie Maalouf, IHG Hotels & Resorts' chief executive officer. "Combined with the power of our enterprise and efficient operating model, profit from reportable segments grew by 23 percent, exceeding one billion dollars for the first time, and adjusted EPS grew by 33 percent." This marks one of the company's most significant quarters for development activity, IHG said. The company reported full-year revenue of $4.62 billion, marking a nearly 19 percent increase from $3.89 billion in 2022.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE showed improvement in the second week of January compared to the previous week, with mixed year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar. Key metrics, including occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR, saw moderate increases during the week compared to the New Year's commencement. The performance was influenced by the Consumer Electronics Show. Occupancy came in at 53.3 percent for the week ending Jan. 13, up from the previous week's 46.8 percent and reflecting a 2.8 percent year-over-year decrease. ADR rose to $153.84, compared to the prior week's $152.17, showing a 6.3 percent increase from the previous year. RevPAR increased to $81.96 from the prior week's $71.28, showing a 3.3 percent rise from the corresponding period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, Las Vegas demonstrated the largest year-over-year increases in each of the three performance metrics. Occupancy increased by 29 percent to reach 79.8 percent, ADR rose by 77.3 percent to $283.74, and RevPAR increased by 128.8 percent to $226.34.

PEACHTREE GROUP SECURED a $73 million construction loan and C-PACE financing to fund the development of a 263-key dual-brand Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton Hotel in San Diego, California, on behalf of the locally based Baxter Hotel Group. Baxter is set to commence construction on its 16-story, dual-branded hotel this month, with a projected 22-month construction timeline, Peachtree said in a statement. Peachtree facilitated a $50.4-million floating-rate construction loan with a three-year term and secured $22.6 million in fixed-rate C-PACE financing, amortized over 25 years. Collectively, these funds covered 64 percent of the total development cost, the statement said. "We were able to execute an innovative capital stack with the addition of C-PACE in an otherwise challenging financing market, providing ample capital for the construction to begin while saving the sponsor 200 basis points in interest rate spread," said Jared Schlosser, Peachtree's senior vice president, head of hotel origination and C-PACE.

THE STATE OF the U.S. hotel industry is strong going into 2024, according to American Hotel & Lodging Association's 2024 State of the Hotel Industry report. Average hotel occupancy is expected to reach nearly 63.6 percent in 2024, a slight increase from the 62.9 percent in 2023 but below the 65.8 percent rate recorded in 2019. Nominal RevPAR is also anticipated to rise to $101.82 in 2024, up by 4 percent from 2023 and over 17 percent from 2019. AHLA projects hotels will pay employees a record sum of over $123 billion in wages, salaries, and compensation in 2024, surpassing $118 billion in 2023 and $102 billion in 2019. Hotels are expected to add approximately 45,000 employees this year, while the industry's workforce remains nearly 225,000 below the almost 2.37 million employed in 2019, the AHLA report said. The report, projecting persistent challenges for hoteliers in the face of nationwide labor shortages as they approach 2019 occupancy levels, draws on data and analysis from Oxford Economics. It was developed in collaboration with AHLA Premier Partners: STR, Avendra, Ecolab, Encore, JLL, Oracle, and Towne Park.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE rose in the second week of February compared to the previous week, according to CoStar. However, year-over-year comparisons remained mixed. Key metrics, such as occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR, all showed increases in the second week of February compared to the preceding week. Occupancy rose to 56.2 percent for the week ending Feb. 10, from the previous week's 55.2 percent, reflecting a 2.7 percent year-over-year decrease. ADR increased to $160.96 from $147.99 the prior week, marking a 6.8 percent rise compared to the previous year. RevPAR also increased to $90.4 from $81.69 the prior week, reflecting a 3.9 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, Oahu Island saw the largest year-over-year increases, with occupancy rising 8 percent to 82.9 percent.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE improved in the third week of May compared to the previous week, with positive year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar. Key metrics, including occupancy, RevPAR, and ADR, all saw week-over-week increases. Occupancy increased to 67.4 percent for the week ending May 18, up from 66.1 percent the previous week, marking a 0.2 percent year-over-year rise. ADR rose to $163.11 from $162.14, reflecting a 2.6 percent jump compared to last year. RevPAR reached $109.93, up from $107.24 the prior week, showing a 2.8 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, Houston experienced the only double-digit occupancy increase, rising 10.5 percent to 67.9 percent. Atlanta reported the highest year-over-year increases in ADR, rising by 10 percent to $137.30, while RevPAR increased by 18 percent to $98.86.

U.S. HOTEL WEEKLY performance showed mixed results in the fourth week of May compared to the previous week but posted positive year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar. Despite a slight uptick in occupancy, both ADR and RevPAR decreased week-on-week across all key metrics. Occupancy rose to 67.7 percent for the week ending May 25, up from 67.4 percent the prior week, reflecting a 1.6 percent year-over-year increase. ADR decreased to $160.67 from $163.11, yet still representing a 2.3 percent surge compared to last year. RevPAR stood at $108.73, a decline from the previous week's $109.93, but marking a 3.9 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, Houston experienced the most significant year-over-year boosts in occupancy, soaring 20.9 percent to reach 74.1 percent, while RevPAR surged by 29.2 percent to $89.15. Las Vegas recorded the sole double-digit increase in ADR, climbing by 10.9 percent to $217.53.

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.