Kim Woinski

Truist  reported on its visit to  San Francisco  for the Visit Impact Summit. The good news is that the fall 2023 events are showing improvement. Marriott International  announced the completion of a recent redesign and renovation to the 146-room  Courtyard by Marriott Denver Central Park  in Denver, Colorado . Airbnb  stock received a big lift with the announcement of its  inclusion in the S&P 500 .

DJIA fell 169 points in August; Nasdaq rose 16; S&P 500 down 7. Travel intent increases: 21.8% plan foreign trips, 45.9% plan vacations. Hotel developments: New AC Hotel in Lansing, Sheraton San Diego rebranded as Sheraton Resort & Marina, TRS Coral Hotel added to Wyndham's Registry Collection. Upcoming: Highgate manages Hilton Garden Inn Kauai, IHG's Atwell Suites in Henderson and Fort Worth, proposed dual-tower project near Austin Convention Center.

Q2 '23 saw 14,572 global hotel projects. Luxury and upscale chains dominate, led by Hilton, Marriott, and IHG. Urban hotels lag in post-pandemic recovery compared to resorts and suburban counterparts, with rate management playing a vital role. Notable new hotels, rebranding, and appointments are taking place, with Hilton, Riu Caribe, Choice Hotels, and Sonder making moves. London's Broadwick Soho hotel is set to open with unique additions.

DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 all experienced gains, while 10-year treasury yield decreased. Lodging stocks surged, led by lodging REITs AINC and ABNB, potentially narrowing the gap between NAV and stock prices. Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group takes over management of Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites in Los Angeles. Manhattan's Park Lane Hotel sold to Qatar's sovereign wealth fund. Wingate by Wyndham near LAX sold to Greens Group. IHG announces new Crowne Plaza in Saint John, New Brunswick. Kintetsu Group plans new hotel in Plano, Texas. Choice Hotels breaks ground on Cambria Hotel in East Tampa, Florida. Evans' Tempo by Hilton project falls apart. Philadelphia's former Family Court building to be transformed into a boutique hotel with an African American Museum nearby. East Bay Resort rebrands as Salterra Resort and Spa in Turks and Caicos after major renovation.

DJIA gained 213 points, Nasdaq increased by 114 points, and S&P 500 rose 28 points; 10-year treasury yield decreased by 0.03 to 4.21%. Lodging stocks surged on Hersha Hospitality buyout news, particularly REITs: HT up 56%, BHR up 16%, AHT up 10%, others up 6% each, while AINC traded down -9%. Hersha Hospitality Trust and KSL Capital Partners will merge in an all-cash deal worth $1.4 billion, where common shareholders receive $10.00 per share and preferred shareholders receive varying amounts based on their holdings. The merger aims to close in Q4 2023, leading to a rally in hotel REIT stocks. Major US and Chinese hotel groups have strengthened post-pandemic, while Europe lags behind. Marriott, Jin Jiang, and Hilton lead the world hotel ranking, with only one European representative (Accor). US has six companies in top 10, China has three, and Spanish companies see shifts in their rankings.

-Stock market saw gains: DJIA up 247, Nasdaq up 127, S&P 500 up 29. Various hotel reopenings and renovations, including The Hadsten Solvang and The Woodlands Resort. New hotel projects and expansions, such as Deer Valley Resort and Canopy by Hilton Cannes.

DJIA, Nasdaq down; S&P 500 fell; 10-year treasury yield up. Hotel Trends: Global RevPAR growth; Canada's record ADR and RevPAR; mixed occupancy rates. Developments: Hotel expansions, renovations; Hyatt Vacation Club launch; new CEOs, brand in Croatia.

Hotels are increasingly charging for early or late checkouts, impacting both regular guests and loyalty program elites. This comes alongside a 1.8% rise in US hotel RevPAR and a 3.1% increase in Group RevPAR. Waramaug Hospitality acquires Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners with 222 rooms and versatile meeting spaces. SpringHill Suites by Marriott open in Delaware, Scottsdale, and Lansing. Oyo Hotel in St. Louis undergoes a $46 million renovation to become a Sheraton, introducing Bonvoy Apartments. Leading Hotels of the World adds four member hotels: The Adria (London), Azur Legacy Collection Hotel (Vancouver), Chedi Katara Hotel (Qatar), and Aleenta Retreat (Chiang Mai). These properties offer unique amenities, including a tranquil spa, rooftop dining, private beaches, and repurposed Thai dwellings.

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust warns of 3Q impact from Tropical Storm Hillary. CoStar's July 2023 report shows mixed U.S. hotel performance. Global travel deal activity down -35.7%. Travel & Tourism investment grows 11.1% in 2022, below 2019 levels. WTTC forecasts 11.5% growth in 2023, warns of challenges from interest rate hikes. Ashford converts hotel, St. Joe builds new property. Personnel changes across industry, Alberto Pirozzini joins Pellicano Hotels as COO.

DJIA down 37 points, Nasdaq up 207, S&P 500 up 30; 10-year treasury yield rises to 4.34%. Lodging stocks mixed, SLNA up 9%, BHR down -6%, VAC trades lower. Florida reports strong international visitor numbers, overseas travel up 21.8%, Canadian visitation up 81.1% in H1 2023. Florida sees 70.8 million annual visitors, leading post-pandemic recovery in overseas travelers. Grand Galvez hotel joins Marriott's Autograph Collection with elegant renovations. Aloft Chicago Schaumburg transforms former Holiday Inn into 119-room boutique hotel. IHG's Kimpton to open two boutique hotels in Mexico City. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport plans new administration building and mid-tier hotel. New hotel in Milwaukee's Deer District and upgraded Enclave at The Vendue opening in Charleston. US Real Estate Credit Holdings to purchase bankrupt Banyan Cay Resort.