Hyatt Hotels Corporation

North America

Hotels Change Hands, Brands Enter New Markets

Lodging stocks were mostly lower. VCSA was down -12%, SOND was down -8% but MCG was up 5% on a new Buy rating. Northland Capital Markets initiated coverage on Selina Hospitality Group with an Outperform rating and $4.50 target price. The scheduled auction of the downtown Hilton Hotel Minneapolis , previously slated for Friday, has been postponed.
Asia-Pacific

Thailand May Add Tourism Fee and Expand Domestic Hotel Subsidy

Hotels in Thailand still want the government to accelerate the launch of the new phase of the domestic stimulus scheme even with an influx of Chinese tourists expected to show up. Hyatt Hotels announced the opening of Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach , the debut of the Andaz brand in Thailand . IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened its first Crowne Plaza hotel in Bangladesh in partnership with Doreen Hotels & Resorts
North America

Baird’s 2023 REIT Outlook Is Cautious

Lodging stocks were higher with the only big mover of note once again being AHT, up another 6%. Baird gave their 2023 Hotel REIT outlook saying they are taking a more balanced approach in early 2023 as macroeconomic risks and growing expense pressures keep them selective. STR announced U.S. lodging data for the week ended January 7th. Year over year RevPAR was up 21.8% on easy comps due to holiday/school timing and the Omicron outbreak last year.
North America

Hilton Launches Premium Economy Brand Spark

Lodging stocks were higher led by AHT, up another 10%. ABNB and PLYA were both up 7% on the day while VCSA was up 6% and HST rose 5%. Truist gave their 2023 lodging preview , saying they see a mixed bag for demand/pricing/supply trends for the lodging companies. Similar to the past nine months, they see “macro over micro” at the moment. DiamondRock Hospitality said their preliminary 4Q22 comparable revenue grew 23.4% year over year and 8.5% compared to 2019.
North America

60 Percent of Americans More Likely to Stay in Hotels in 2023 Than Last Year

JP Morgan gave their 2023 lodging outlook presentation, saying they see the REITs as relative underperformers versus the C-Corps. They see Wyndham Hotels and Hyatt Hotels as relative out performers within lodging. The DJIA rose 186 points while Nasdaq was up 107, the S&P 500 rose 27 points and the 10-year treasury yield was up .10 to 3.62%. Lodging stocks were higher. Barclays said December lodging RevPAR ended on a strong note, very notable after Pebblebrook Hotel Trust’s guidance cut during the month.
Asia-Pacific

Thailand Drops Vaccination Entry Policy

Thailand rescinded its entry policy which requires visitors to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccination, citing sufficient immunization levels in China and the rest of the world. Vietnamnet reported thousands of people lined up at the Mong Cai border gates this past weekend to cross into China. The main requirements to cross were removed on December 31. The first Marriott International property to open on the North side of Phu Quoc in Vietnam has launched.
North America

Jefferies Downgrades Marriott and Hilton

Jefferies downgraded both Marriott and Hilton to Hold , leaving only Wyndham with a Buy rating in their C-Corp coverage. They continue to favor Host Hotels and Hersha Hospitality. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is opening on February 15 on Kauai’s north shore. The resort will be the flagship hotel for 1 Hotels. The DJIA fell 113 points, Nasdaq was up 66, the S&P 500 was down 3 points and the 10-year treasury yield was down .05 to 3.52%. How was that for a mixed market?
North America

Hard Rock International Nears Completion of Mirage Hotel Acquisition

Aloft Hotels announced it has arrived in Playa del Carmen, Mexico , marking the third Aloft hotel in the Caribbean. Two new hotels are being planned by Performance Capital Partners LLC in Surprise, Arizona . A new dual-brand Marriott TownePlace Suites and Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites. MCR acquired the Hyatt Place Miami Airport East in Miami, FL , marking the company’s ninth hotel in Florida and its first Hyatt hotel.
North America

Deutsche Bank Forecasts Modest Hotel Sector Growth in 2023

Lodging stocks were modestly lower. SOND fell -8%, the biggest mover in the group Friday. SLNA traded down to yet another new low. Both Hersha Hospitality Trust and Host Hotels announced special dividends. HT announced its board of trustees approved a special dividend of $0.50 per common share for the year 2022. Deutsche Ban k said 2022 was a year when the lodging recovery was swiftly realized.
North America

Highgate Will Purchase Viceroy Hotels

JP Morgan said they see more compelling value and better risk-rewards in gaming versus lodging , given better values and differing sets of investors’ expectations for fundamentals. Barclays gave their US Gaming, Lodging & Leisure outlook, saying their preference is the Cruise Lines out of the sub-sectors. Highgate has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Viceroy Hotels & Resorts.