citizenM

Dolly Parton Could Open a Nashville Hotel 

Truist reports that lodging companies aren't experiencing recession-driven demand declines, with strong group and individual business but weak domestic leisure. Dolly Parton may be venturing into Nashville's hotel market with a $75 million building acquisition, and Toftrees Golf Resort in Pennsylvania announces a $50 million renovation. A new $175 million development in Mishawaka, Indiana, includes apartments, townhomes, and a 125-room hotel.

Hilton Unveils Plans for Luxury Hotels in 2024

Wells Fargo downgraded Sunstone Hotels and revised DiamondRock Hospitality and Apple Hospitality's ratings. According to the National Travel and Tourism Office, international visitors to the U.S. in October 2023 spent $18.9 billion, marking a 23% increase from the previous year. In 2024, Hilton’s luxury portfolio, inclusive of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts and LXR Hotels & Resorts will announce offerings that will provide guests with new brand signatures.

Ennismore Moves to Market All-Inclusives Amid International Push

Corporate travel data company TRIPBAM reports a 25% increase in booking volumes for US travel in mid-September compared to 2022, with expectations of a return to pre-Covid levels by the end of the quarter and surpassing them in 2024, albeit slower in tech-heavy San Francisco. The third edition of the Hospitality Industry Sentiment survey shows a shift in expectations, with group demand and major events on the rise, while labor costs and supply challenges remain top concerns for the hotel industry. Various hotels announce renovations and openings, including Le Meridien Tampa, Springhill Suites Truckee, Hotel Dena Pasadena, Omni Charlottesville Hotel, and a new hotel project in East Austin. Nashville International Airport opens a new international arrivals facility, and citizenM appoints Rani Gharbie to lead its Americas expansion. Ennismore aims to change the reputation of all-inclusive resorts, and LEGOLAND Windsor Resort announces a LEGO Woodland-themed holiday village. London & Regional is close to acquiring the Kempinski Hotel Bahia in Estepona, Spain.

A Sad Sack of Lodging SPACs Struggling as Public Companies

In an amazing recovery from over 700 points down, the DJIA ended the day down only 280 points while Nasdaq rallied to end up 6. Vacasa’s stock price plunged well into penny stock category, joining Sonder, before recovering somewhat, ending the day down -25%. Braemar Hotels & Resorts and Ashford Hospitality Trust both issued press releases, clarifying that their cash holdings are safe . STR reported US lodging data for the week ended 3/11. US hotel RevPAR was up 11.1% year over year.

Lodging Stocks Surge With Broader Market Gains

Let’s go backwards to give you an overview of today’s market. The 10-year treasury yield plunged 0.32 to 3.83%. That is a nearly 8% drop in the yield on a modestly better CPI report. Vacasa reported 3Q results that went over as well with investors as their weak fourth quarter guidance. The LWHA Q3 2022 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey includes 119 single asset sale transactions over $10 million which totaled roughly $3.7 billion.

Business Travel Shows No Sign of a Recession

The  DJIA fell another 0.6% on Tuesday, Nasdaq was down 0.1%, the S&P 500 fell 0.5% and the 10-year treasury yield rose to 3.963%, its peak since 2010. Truist reported on a conference call it held with corporate travel data company Tripbam . Takeaways included that any indications of a recession have not yet shown up in business travel bookings and pricing data . Evercore ISI Group upped its rating on Hyatt to Outperform from In Line. Their price target is $100.