Best Western Hotels & Resorts

MAR and HLT lodging stocks hit new highs, while several stock targets and ratings were adjusted. Q2 2023 shows a total construction pipeline of 552 projects/88,477 rooms in Latin America. Mexico leads with 213 projects/33,853 rooms. Marriott International dominates the franchise scene with 116 projects/18,733 rooms. Project MidX Studios is renamed StudioRes by MAR for the US and Canada market.

Hilton and Marriott are expected to report strong 2Q23 results with international strength as a key driver. Various hotels in different regions are undergoing significant expansions, renovations, and acquisitions, with Hilton announcing a new property in Cancun and Scandic Hotels Group expanding its portfolio in Sweden . Accor is in exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake in Potel & Chabot, potentially becoming the sole shareholder of the company.

DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 experienced gains, while the 10-year treasury yield decreased. Spending by international visitors in the U.S. increased significantly compared to the previous year, leading to a trade surplus in travel and tourism. Several hotels underwent renovations or acquisitions, and new hotels were announced in various locations across the United States.

Stock market indices showed positive movement, with the DJIA rising 317 points and the Nasdaq up 75 points, while lodging stocks mostly saw gains. IHG Hotels & Resorts clarified that it did not experience a demand reversal for leisure bookings, refuting an earlier misleading report. Choice Hotels issued a business update reaffirming full-year guidance, highlighting a drop in share repurchases and a higher-than-expected 2024 EBITDA projection, possibly indicating upcoming announcements or unique circumstances in the industry.

Financial markets experienced declines with the DJIA falling 187 points and the S&P 500 down 13 points, while Nasdaq dropped 18 points. However, lodging stocks showed mixed to higher performance despite the overall market decline. Ashford Hospitality Trust (AHT) expects to return 19 hotels to lenders in various cities, including Las Vegas and Atlanta, due to missed repayment deadlines on a $982 million mortgage pool. AHT faced negative equity in the properties and opted not to pay for an extension, potentially impacting the hotel industry's debt situation. STR's global "bubble chart" update revealed that 85% of markets saw growth in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) compared to 2019. Occupancy rates played a significant role in driving RevPAR, with coastal countries along the Mediterranean Sea showing strong growth. However, Saudi Arabia experienced the largest decline in RevPAR at 51%.

Stock market performance: DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 rose while the 10-year treasury yield was down. Lodging industry updates: Sonder Holdings downgraded, EF Hutton assumes coverage of Selina Hospitality, Ryman Hospitality Properties acquires JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. New hotel developments: Chartwell Hospitality and Rockbridge developing three new hotels, Innisfree Hotels and RREAF Holdings open Fairfield Inn & Suites Pensacola Beach, Great Wolf Resorts opens Great Wolf Lodge Maryland.

Market Update: DJIA up 270 points, S&P 500 rose 23 points, Nasdaq remained flat, and 10-year treasury yield jumped to 3.85%. Lodging Industry News: STR reported a slight decline in hotel RevPAR , but a 12% increase compared to the same week in 2019. Hotel Renovations and Openings: StepStone Hospitality completed a $3.5 million renovation at Fairfield Orlando I-Drive Convention Center, and The Ritz-Carlton Naples reopens after extensive renovations with new amenities and redesigned rooms.

Choice Hotels to integrate nearly 600 Radisson Americas hotels onto its reservation delivery engine and loyalty program. Dauntless Capital Partners purchases Hilton Garden Inn Bethesda Downtown for immediate renovation. Excel Hotel Group plans to build a 130-room SpringHill Suites Hotel in Grover Beach, California.

The DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 experienced growth with varied changes in lodging stocks. Morgan Stanley adjusted price targets for numerous lodging companies, including Sunstone Hotels and Host Hotels . Major hospitality companies, such as Selina Hospitality , Whitestone Companies , and Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa, announced important business updates including investments, renovations, and acquisitions. EOS Hospitality , Hotel Equities , and Aimbridge Hospitality made key personnel changes. Accor plans to open 1,200 hotels in the next five years, with a RevPAR growth of 15% to 20%. Aimbridge Hospitality will manage the Alliance Palace Aparthotel in Batumi, Georgia.

Market Performance: DJIA fell 5 points, Nasdaq rose 128, and S&P 500 increased by 16 points; lodging stocks underperformed consumer and leisure stocks. Jefferies Nantucket Conference: Lodging companies report moderation in leisure demand, strength in group business, and mixed recovery of business transient; limited conviction impacting strategies and stock performance. Hotel Industry Updates: Canada's hotel industry shows improved performance; various hotels undergo renovations, acquisitions, and openings across different locations.