77 Million Travelers Expected to Visit the U.S. in 2025

The National Travel and Tourism Office released the official forecast of international visitation to the United States. NTTO forecasts the total volume of international visitors to the U.S. will increase to 77.1 million in 2025, up 6.5% from 72.4 million visitors in 2024. The forecast also estimates international visitor arrivals will reach 85 million in 2026 and will reach 96.7 million in 2029. Additionally, international arrivals are forecasted to reach 90.1 million in 2027, meeting the five-year goal set by the 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy to rebuild and strengthen the industry by attracting 90 million international visitors who would spend $279 billion across the nation in 2027.

With more hotel owners facing brand-required renovations this year, there will be a lot of construction projects to manage. Hospitality Ventures Management Group sees that as a chance to grow and has a new venture, Elevate Renovations + Development, to act as a third-party project manager and asset lifecycle services provider for hotel owners preparing for property-improvement plans or those considering hotel acquisitions and dispositions. Since its start, HVMG has had its own design and construction department that has focused on its own portfolio. In recent years, though, the company has explored renovating properties it doesn't own or manage, according to Suzanne Saunders, chief elevation officer at Elevate and senior vice president of design and construction at HVMG. The company is opening itself up to the rest of the hospitality industry and taking its services to other ownership groups. Elevate can do the whole PIP, part of the PIP, a la carte, or the whole thing. It's another way to offer HVMG's services and expertise. It's also a revenue generator.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. has propelled the performance of Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in the two years since its combination with Radisson Hotels Americas. Driven by Choice's strategic investments in brand enhancements and the power of its franchisee support system, Country Inn & Suites has achieved a 19-point increase in the RevPAR Index, a 20% rise in direct online contribution, and an increase in revenue from group and business travelers year-over-year. The Radisson Americas brands have seen increased digital traffic and higher booking conversion rates, leading to new hotel development commitments, including 38 new Country Inn & Suites added to the pipeline in the last two years.

Great Lakes Capital, in collaboration with Nebraska Furniture Mart and the City of Cedar Park, has finalized an agreement to develop a Marriott hotel and convention center within CedarView, an emerging premier mixed-use district in Cedar Park, Texas. The upcoming full-service Marriott hotel will offer approximately 300 guestrooms, 30,000 square feet of event and meeting space, a full-service restaurant, a breakfast café, and an expansive pool area. Construction is set to begin in May 2025, with a grand opening planned for early 2027.

Columbia, Pennsylvania business owners Don and Becky Murphy plan to construct a new, four-story, 80-room hotel that preserves the façade of the former Becker Pretzel Bakeries potato chip division building. The Hampton Inn by Hilton at The Chip Factor will include a first-floor restaurant, rooftop lounge, and a fitness center. The $22 million project is expected to take a little more than a year to construct. Originally proposed by the Murphys in 2018, the project looked as if it would begin construction in 2020 until the pandemic derailed the financing. They continued to work on the plan, enlisting Shaner Hotel Group, which led them to partner with Hilton Hotels and ultimately obtain financing for the project.

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia announced an upcoming ballroom redesign and expansion, scheduled to be completed in early October 2025. The newly re-imagined ballroom, located on the 5th floor, will boast nearly 9,000 square feet to allow for a wide range of events. In addition to the transformation of the ballroom itself, the pre-function areas on Levels 2 and 5 will be equally enhanced.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, in conjunction with owner and management OHM Management, LLC, recently opened a new dual-branded avid hotel and Candlewood Suites hotel in West Memphis, Arkansas. The Candlewood Suitesside offers 77 suites and the Candlewood Cupboard market, while the avid hotelside offers 66 guestrooms and a fitness center.

Work crews are moving and installing utilities for The Ophelia Hotel and Conference Center in Marble Falls, Texas. The project has experienced minor delays due to a change in lenders but is still scheduled for a 2026 completion date. The 127-room hotel will stand five stories tall and include an attached restaurant and bar. The Ophelia is a private-public partnership between Marble Falls and the developers. The lender is First United Bank. While the hotel and conference center will be owned and operated by Phoenix Hospitality Group and Castle Hospitality, the City of Marble Falls was instrumental in bringing it to town. Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. contributed a value of $7.6 million in incentives, including the $2.5 million property the hotel and center will be built on.

Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota is now under contract to be sold to a local investment group led by Jamie Tatge, president of Leisure Hotels and Resorts. This is the 12th property in Minnesota for Leisure Hotels and Resorts, a third-party resort and hotel management firm. Terms of the sale have not been disclosed and will remain private. The sale is expected to be finalized before the summer.

The Horton Hotel & Rooftop Lounge in Boone, North Carolina, announced an ambitious expansion. The Horton is preparing to introduce eight additional luxury hotel rooms and an array of upscale amenities, expected to debut in Fall 2025. The Horton is introducing amenities such as a Gym & Wellness Center with a high-end fitness facility and a relaxation sauna; and a multi-functional space that serves as a conference area or event space. The Horton Rooftop Lounge will continue to serve as a social hotspot. SPA Properties is the owner of The Horton Hotel & Rooftop Lounge.

Related California is pushing ahead with ambitious plans for a $750 million, 41-story luxury office and hotel tower development in San Francisco's North Financial District. The project, which is being co-sponsored by The City, would demolish an aging fire station at the corner of Sansome and Washington streets and deliver, free of charge to San Francisco, a new $40 million firehouse on the other side of the block. Related California hopes to start construction in 2027 and finish by 2030.

Cronheim Hotel Capital secured a $54,000,000 loan for affiliates of Concord Hospitality in order to refinance the existing note on the 211-room Homewood Suites located in Uptown Charlotte.

HVS Brokerage & Advisory announced the sale of the 118-key Hilton Garden Inn Houston Cypress Station located in Houston, Texas. The property was purchased by Kapstones Hotel Franchises, LLC from Level X Group.

Personnel Move

Hunter Hotel Advisors announced the appointment of Riana Stadlen as vice president. Based in Hunter's New York City office, Stadlen will play a key role in the investment sales process with responsibilities spanning underwriting, client relations, and transaction execution. Prior to joining Hunter, Stadlen worked at Three Wall Capital.

Europe Highlights

HotelREZ adds a further 100 independent hotels and apart hotels to its portfolio, as the demand for strategic distribution and direct booking solutions accelerates. New additions to the HotelREZ membership include the Galgorm Collection, Classik Hotel Collection, Harte & Garter, Key Hotels & Resorts, Viridian Apartments, Condor Hotels, Rest Group and Gretna Green Group. 

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of Bristol Berlin, Vignette Collection. The hotel is part of Aroundtown's extensive hospitality portfolio, which comprises over 150 hotels across Europe. The upcoming Bristol Berlin Vignette Collection will feature 303 rooms, an all-day dining brasseries, a lobby lounge and bar, a spa complete with a pool, and 1,500 square meters of versatile meeting and event space. 

Hyatt Hotels Corporation officially opened the doors to Hyatt Place Leeds and Hyatt House Leeds, marking a significant milestone as the Hyatt brands make their debut in the UK city. Hyatt Place Leeds boasts 217 rooms while Hyatt House Leeds features 88 apartment-style rooms. The properties offer four versatile meeting rooms, a fitness center, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and a ground-floor restaurant & bar. The hotels and restaurants are managed by Aimbridge Hospitality.