ibis Styles

North America

Accor and Hyatt Continue European Expansion

Jefferies downgraded Marriott Vacations to "Hold" from "Buy" and reduced their target price, expressing concerns over the macroeconomic outlook, particularly in consumer credit and interest rates. The 2023 survey from the Hospitality Asset Managers Association indicates optimism about RevPAR's return to 2019 levels, while various hotels announce new completions, renovations, and sales across the U.S. Key personnel appointments are announced in major hotel groups, and international brands like Wyndham, Accor, and Hyatt unveil expansion plans and new properties in locations such as Barbados, France, and Spain.
North America

Canada Notches Record High Average Room Rates

Wedbush initiated coverage on lodging REITs, with Ryman Hospitality and Host Hotels receiving Outperform ratings and price targets of $94 and $19, respectively. Park Hotels and Pebblebrook Hotel Trust were initiated with Neutral ratings and price targets of $13 and $14, respectively. Keybanc downgraded Airbnb's rating to Sector Weight from Overweight. A report by Morning Consult indicates that the "revenge travel" trend may be declining, with travel intentions increasing in some countries but declining in others, particularly in Europe. China is experiencing a significant surge in travel, driven by pent-up demand.
Asia-Pacific

Hilton Debuts in China's Hainan Island

Hilton, InterContinental, Melia, Wyndham, Accor, Hyatt, and Marriott are among the hotel chains expanding their presence in various cities across Asia-Pacific. New hotel openings and renovations are bringing luxury accommodations and unique experiences to destinations like Hainan Island, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney , and more. From all-women managed hotels to rooftop pools and innovative dining options, these developments cater to the diverse needs of travelers seeking comfort, convenience, and memorable stays.
North America

Hotel Recovery Is Uneven Worldwide

STR's global report reveals positive RevPAR growth in most markets, with notable gains in occupancy, particularly surpassing 2019 levels in half of all markets. Israel, Singapore, Greece, Italy, and Ireland emerge as top performers in terms of RevPAR among countries with over 50,000 rooms, indicating strong tourism and hotel demand. Summer approaches with rising occupancy rates in 40 out of 48 countries , signaling a promising season for the hospitality industry worldwide. However, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia experience significant declines in RevPAR compared to 2019.
Asia-Pacific

Foreigners Buying Japanese Hotels at a Higher-Than-Usual Rate

Bloomberg published an article saying foreign investors are buying up Japanese hotels at a scale unseen in almost a decade , as the nation’s tourism recovery, weak currency and low-interest rates drive an appetite from abroad. As expected, the Japanese government wasted no time in approving the Osaka prefecture Integrated Casino Resort plan once the Governor was reelected and the first poll came out showing a favorable view. Accor is expanding its presence in Japan with the signing of ibis Styles Tokyo Ginza East , centrally situated in the shopping and entertainment district of Ginza.
North America

Spark by Hilton Is a Conversion Favorite

BofA Securities initiated coverage on Marriott Vacations with a Neutral rating and a $180 price target. The Wall Street Journal published an article on how hotel companies are stepping up efforts to lure competitors’ hotels to their own brands. The article referenced Hilton’s new Spark by Hilton brand. We had heard those concerns about upcoming maturities from Service Properties Trust when we were positive about their resumption of the previous dividend, giving them an 11% yield at the time.
Asia-Pacific

Accor Reveals Asia Property Openings for 2023

Accor announced its list of highly anticipated properties that will open in 2023 . Marriott International announced it expects to reach 50 hotels in Thailand by mid-2023, including adding an anticipated eight hotels next year. Anantara Veli Maldives Resort reopened on December 1, following nine months of extensive renovations.
Asia-Pacific

India Hotels Projected to See 23% Growth Over Pre-Pandemic Levels

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended 11/19. RevPAR was up 9.8% year over year in China while down -37.6% versus the same week in 2019. CapitaLand’s Ascott Limited unveiled its refreshed Somerset brand. This is the second largest brand in Ascott’s Global Portfolio. Crisil Ratings said the Indian hotel industry is likely to witness 23% growth in revenue this fiscal over the pre-pandemic level, driven by a strong recovery in business travel and continued traction in leisure travel.
Asia-Pacific

Cambodia Is Recovering, But Still Struggling

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended 8/20 was up 89.7% year over year, up against an easy -43.4%. Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism said that while tourism is recovering, almost 50% of businesses in Cambodia’s main tourism hub of Siem Reap are still closed . In India, mid-sized hotel brands have embarked on aggressive plans and are signing up hotels at a record pace, encouraged by a major turnaround in performance across the country.
Asia-Pacific

Hong Kong Will Ease Quarantine on International Arrivals

Hong Kong announced plans to further ease its arrivals quarantine requirements . More than 50 luxury hotels are set to open in Jakarta and Bangkok within the next five years , highlighting the expectations of a strong economic recovery. Accor is teaming up with PT. Mega Hotel Lestari in introducing the first ibis Styles in Semarang in Indonesia .