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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."

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 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."

HUNTER HOTEL ADVISORS secured $60.2 million in financing for seven hotels, with loans ranging from $5.73 million to $12.8 million and up to 85 percent financing. Prada Hotels, led by CEO Hemal Patel and Lotus Hospitality Investments used the financing to support their expansion. The financing includes SBA 7(a) and 504 loans for: JLL report highlights strong investment opportunities in select-service and extended-stay hotels for 2025, driven by high demand and stable returns JLL: Select-service, extended-stay hotels offer stable returns Extended Stay America Washington D.C. Chantilly Airport, Virginia Extended Stay America Washington D.C. Chantilly, Virginia Candlewood Suites Louisville Airport, Kentucky Candlewood Suites Indianapolis Airport, Indiana Staybridge Suites Denver Tech Center, Colorado Residence Inn Lake Charles, Louisiana Fairfield Inn & Suites Atlanta Vinings/Galleria, Georgia "The year 2024 ended on a strong note and a tailwind propelling us into 2025," said Adeel Amin, Hunter's senior vice president, capital markets. "A renewed appetite for traditional bank loans is emerging, particularly from local institutions, while innovative structures like variable-rate SBA 504 programs are also gaining traction. As the market finds its footing in this evolving landscape, lending is increasingly dictated by debt-service coverage ratios. Consequently, government-backed loans are poised to remain a critical component of the financing landscape for loan requests requiring maximum leverage up to 80 percent or low DSCRs."

APPROXIMATELY THREE OUT of four travelers agree that Americans are prioritizing travel more in 2024 and prefer a digital, self-service experience for their hotel stays, according to a recent survey by Mews, a hospitality cloud provider. Nearly 80 percent of U.S. travelers favor hotels with fully automated front desks or self-service kiosks, and more than 40 percent prefer checking in via a hotel's website, app, or digital kiosk. "Trends in hospitality are ever-changing but we're seeing indicators that people are prioritizing travel again," said Richard Valtr, Mews's founder. "While we're seeing some softness in mid-market and select service hotels, the luxury sector seems resilient. Guests visiting luxury properties are spending more on bucket list trips and staying for longer." The poll of 2,000 people, evenly split between travelers and hotel workers, revealed that hotel workers anticipate an increase in guest use of technology during travel. A quarter of them expect guests to check in more frequently via hotel websites, apps, or digital kiosks compared to previous years.

HOTELS STRUGGLED WITH rising costs outpacing revenue growth in 2024, hindering economic growth and job creation, according to American Hotel & Lodging Association's 2025 State of the Industry report. Despite these challenges, opportunities remain, driven by guest spending trends, shifting traveler behaviors, and major upcoming events. The report, published with Accenture, found property costs outpacing revenue, with operations, maintenance, sales, marketing, and IT expenses rising nearly 5 percent in 2024, adding to hotel industry challenges. "America's small business hotel owners have been struggling as rising costs, compounded by high inflation and interest rates, make it difficult to stay open and serve guests," said Rosanna Maietta, AHLA's president and CEO. "That's why we will be focused on promoting policies that help our members overcome these challenges so they can focus on what they do best-creating pathways for their employees to find lasting careers and creating unforgettable experiences for their guests."

U.S. HOTEL INVESTORS are growing more optimistic, with 94 percent planning to maintain or increase investments this year, up from 85 percent last year, according to a recent CBRE study. Key drivers include improved return expectations, distressed opportunities and favorable pricing. CBRE's U.S. Hotels Investor Intentions Survey shows only 6 percent of investors plan to reduce allocations, down from 16 percent last year, amid slowing RevPAR growth and cost concerns. "We anticipate an acceleration in hotel investment activity in 2025, as investors are eager to seize new buying opportunities amid increasingly favorable economic conditions," said Bill Grice, CBRE Hotels' president of the Americas. "With ample liquidity accessible through the debt capital markets, investors are targeting assets that offer substantial in-place cash flows and are actively seeking value-add properties that can be repositioned to yield above-market returns."

U.S. EXTENDED-STAY HOTEL occupancy declined across 59 MSAs in 2023 compared to 2019, primarily due to significant ADR growth over the past three years, according to The Highland Group. Additionally, extended-stay hotel RevPAR surged in more than 80 percent of MSAs, with ten of them, including four major hotel markets, experiencing gains exceeding 10 percent. Despite an 8 percent increase in the number of extended-stay hotel rooms under construction in the 100 largest MSAs over the past year, the figures remain below pre-pandemic levels, the report said. The resurgence in occupancy was notably led by smaller markets, where strong ADR increases and supply expansion played pivotal roles in driving the lowest occupancy recovery indices for MSAs in 2023.

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL is working with Westgate Resorts to make 21 properties bookable on choicehotels.com, with reservations available using Choice Privileges points. The hotels will join Choice's upscale portfolio, including Radisson, Cambria and Ascend Hotel Collection. Westgate amenities include Treasure Cove Water Park at Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa in Orlando, horseback rides at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo in River Ranch, Florida, and ski-in, ski-out access at Westgate Park City Resort & Spa in Park City, Utah, the companies said in a joint statement. "We're excited to collaborate with Westgate Resorts, offering travelers and more than 68 million Choice Privileges members a broad range of hotel options," said Noha Abdalla, Choice's chief marketing officer. "The addition of these properties strengthens our commitment to diverse travel experiences, while providing members more ways to use their points and maximize rewards."

DALLAS TAKES THE lead in top five U.S. hotel construction markets in the third quarter of 2023, setting a record with 189 projects and 21,840 rooms, according to Lodging Econometrics. The top markets all saw growth in new openings as well. Atlanta follows closely with 140 projects and 17,775 Rooms, while Nashville comes next with 122 projects and 16,046 rooms. Phoenix recorded 119 projects, totaling 16,455 rooms, while the Inland Empire reported 117 projects comprising 11,784 rooms, according to the third quarter United States Construction Pipeline Trend Report by LE. New York City leads with the highest number of projects under construction, totaling 46, and 8,386 rooms at the close of the third quarter, LE said. Phoenix follows with 26 projects and 5,353 rooms, followed closely by Atlanta with 26 projects and 4,354 rooms. Dallas trails with 25 projects and 3,178 rooms, and the Inland Empire with 23 projects and 2,386 rooms.

HIHOTELS BY HOSPITALITY International, a franchiser of conversion and new-build economy hotels, recently expanded its communication suite to enhance dialogue with its franchisees, supporting hotel owners through multi-channel engagement. The company maintains open channels at all levels, including direct access to the CEO, hihotels said in a statement. "At hihotels, the strength of our brands is rooted in the voices of our franchisees and the relationships we build," said Chris Guimbellot, hihotels' president and CEO. "We are small enough to listen, yet large enough to deliver-enabling us to focus on individual properties and provide unparalleled industry support." The expanded communication suite includes: Advisory council: Launched in 2023, this forum meets quarterly and includes franchisees, a vendor and the hihotels director, allowing franchisees to help shape hihotels' hihub: Introduced in December 2023, this digital platform facilitates continuous communication between franchisees and the hihotels team, offering educational resources to enhance hotel operations. WhatsApp group: Rolled out in the first quarter of 2024, the real-time messaging platform enables franchisees to contribute to system-wide improvements and build relationships with other franchisees and the hihotels corporate team. Newsletters: INNside Track, a quarterly newsletter, keeps franchisees informed on industry and marketing trends, company updates, events and networking opportunities. It is complemented by "An Update from Guimbellot," which highlights challenges, opportunities and new programs. Each communication includes Guimbellot's phone number and encourages franchisees to reach out with questions, concerns, ideas and feedback. Assurance & marketing program: This initiative has directors who help service properties and provide owners with ongoing sales, marketing and operations support. Regional conferences: Hihotels conducts smaller, regional conferences to nurture pe

U.S. HOTEL INDUSTRY reported lower performance results in the first week of June from the previous week, according to CoStar. However, there was slightly positive comparisons year over year. All key metrics including occupancy, RevPAR and ADR were down compared to prior week. Occupancy declined to 62 percent for the week ending June 1, down from 67.7 percent the prior week, reflecting a 0.9 percent year-over-year increase. ADR decreased to $150.87 from $160.67, yet still showed a 0.1 percent increase compared to last year. RevPAR stood at $93.50, a decline from the previous week's $108.73, but marking a 1 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Among the top 25 markets, New Orleans experienced the highest year-over-year occupancy increase, rising 17.8 percent to 66.8 percent.

THE U.S. HOTEL industry showed improved performance in May compared to the same month last year, according to CoStar. All three performance metrics-occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR-increased year-over-year. The top 25 markets reported higher occupancy and ADR than all other markets. Occupancy increased to 65.7 percent in May, up from 65.2 percent in April, and increased by 1.5 percent compared to May 2023. ADR climbed to $160.40 from $157.31 the previous month, a 2.4 percent rise from 2023. RevPAR reached $105.46, up from $102.51 the preceding month, reflecting a 4 percent increase from May of the previous year. Among the top 25 markets, New York City led in all three key performance metrics: occupancy rose 5.8 percent to 88.9 percent, ADR increased 6.3 percent to $339.25, and RevPAR climbed 12.5 percent to $301.57. Markets with the lowest occupancy for the month included Detroit at 46.1 percent and Chicago at 49.4 percent.

U.S. HOTEL METRICS improved for the week ending Feb. 15, with both week-over-week and year-over-year gains, according to CoStar. Chicago led the top 25 markets in year-over-year occupancy growth. Occupancy rose to 60 percent for the week ending Feb. 15, up from 55.9 percent the previous week, reflecting a 1.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year. ADR climbed to $164.79 from $156.03, marking a 2.2 percent year-over-year gain. RevPAR also saw an increase, reaching $98.83 from $87.22, representing a 3.4 percent improvement over the previous year. Among the top 25 markets, Chicago led in occupancy growth, rising 14.4 percent to 55 percent.

Mary Beth Cutshall is the new chief growth officer at Vision Hospitality Group. In this role, she will oversee the expansion of the company's U.S. hotel portfolio. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Vision Hospitality is led by founder and CEO Mitch Patel. "With 35 years of hospitality experience across sales, marketing, acquisitions, and business growth, Mary Beth is the perfect candidate to lead Vision's growth into new markets and segments with new partners," said Patel. "She has worked at all levels of the industry-from property-level sales to C-suite positions with major hotel management companies-providing her with invaluable industry insights and meaningful relationships with brands, owners, operators, and virtually every other hotel stakeholder. Mary Beth shares Vision's purpose-driven mentality, and we have no doubt she will help us achieve our expansion goals."

U.S. HOTELS SAW their performance improve for the week ending Feb. 1, with year-over-year gains, according to CoStar. ADR dipped slightly, while occupancy and RevPAR rose week over week. Occupancy increased to 56.5 percent for the week ending Feb. 1, from 54.3 percent the previous week, marking a 2.3 percent year-over-year increase. ADR dropped to $150.25 from $154.21, while still reflecting a 1.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year. RevPAR rose to $84.90 from $83.74, a 4.1 percent year-over-year increase. Minneapolis led the top 25 markets in year-over-year occupancy growth, up 13.6 percent to 47.4 percent, while RevPAR rose 16.7 percent to $56.67. Orlando saw the largest ADR increase, up 7.4 percent to $224.62.

DALLAS LEADS THE U.S. hotel construction pipeline for the fourth consecutive quarter, according to Lodging Econometrics. Among brands, Marriott International led the pipeline. Dallas had a record 173 projects with 20,707 rooms in the second quarter of this year, followed by Atlanta with 140 projects containing 18,131 rooms, Los Angeles with 124 projects with 20,365 rooms, New York, with 113 projects with 19,238 rooms and Phoenix with 108 projects containing 14,964 rooms, Marriott had 1,355 projects with 167,034 rooms, up 4 percent by projects year-over-year, tops the pipeline during the period. The Q2 2022 U.S. Construction Pipeline Trend Report said that major markets and popular tourist destinations in the U.S. reported highest occupancy rates since the pandemic began in early 2020 in the second quarter mainly due to robust leisure travel, group, and international travel. New York City with 78 projects with 13,063 rooms, Atlanta with 25 projects containing 3,905 rooms, Dallas with 25 projects with 3,725 rooms, Phoenix with 23 projects with 4,955 rooms and Los Angeles with 22 projects with 3,606 rooms are the top five markets with the most projects under construction during the end of June. They account for 22 percent of rooms under construction in the U.S.

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 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.

AAHOA AND KALIBRI Labs launched a national study on the impact of federal policy changes and industry challenges, showing a mixed outlook for U.S. hospitality in 2025. About one-third of hotel submarkets are ahead of 2024 benchmarks, but more are seeing declines-particularly in government and corporate segments-raising concerns ahead of peak summer travel. AAHOA's March 2025 survey found 69 percent of hotel owners reported business declines linked to recent federal policy changes. "These findings are not just numbers-they reflect the real-world challenges and opportunities facing our members," said Miraj Patel, AAHOA chairman. "It's encouraging to see that some markets are holding steady or growing, but the overall outlook calls for close attention and action. As owners, we are on the front lines, and partnerships like this help ensure our perspective is represented in broader industry discussions."