Colliers

KSL to Take Hersha Hospitality Private in $1.4 Billion Deal

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.

Global Travel Investment Still 22.5% Below 2019 Levels

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.

Surge in Global Summer Travel Bookings

Summer travel bookings on Trip.com have surpassed 2019 levels, with intra-regional travel leading the way and significant increases in Asia and European markets. Top booked cities in Asia include Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei , while European users show interest in hotels in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations such as Bali, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Marrakech. Forecasts by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) indicate strong growth in international visitor arrivals across Asia Pacific destinations, although full recovery is expected to vary by scenario and region, with China projected to reach pre-pandemic volumes by 2024.