Playa Hotels & Resorts

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 Grand Vacations is acquiring Bluegreen Vacations for approximately $1.5 billion, expanding its membership base and resort portfolio. HEI Hotels & Resorts takes over management of the Renaissance Times Square hotel in New York. Hyatt is collaborating with Parks Hospitality Holdings to develop four new properties in Mexico, including the Park Hyatt Cancun and Grand Hyatt Mexico Santa Fe.

Stock market rallied as treasury bond yields fell, with DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 gaining points, while lodging stocks like SOND, AHT, and others saw significant increases. Several hotel-related developments were announced, including renovations, new hotels, and property sales in various locations across the United States. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will introduce Rosewood Blue Palace in Greece in 2025, while the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas, will reopen on December 12 after a $100 million renovation.

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.

Stock market indices, including DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500, experienced declines on Friday, with the 10-year treasury yield also dropping notably. Some lodging companies reported mixed earnings, with Apple Hospitality , RLJ , and Sunstone Hotel Investors beating expectations, while DiamondRock Hospitality and Playa Hotels missed estimates. Several hotel chains, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and LuxUrban Hotels, Inc. , are making expansion deals, and various hotel properties are undergoing renovations and acquisitions in different locations.

Marriott Vacations had the worst earnings report, with a significant miss on analyst estimates and a reduced guide. Hyatt and Host Hotels also missed estimates, with Hyatt's miss tied to leisure and resort exposure. The U.S. hotel construction pipeline is active in markets like Dallas , Atlanta , Phoenix , Nashville , and Los Angeles .

Market summary: DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 experienced declines, while the 10-year treasury yield decreased slightly. Playa Hotels & Resorts downgraded by Bank of America Securities, with a lowered price target. In Europe and the Caribbean, look to the upcoming opening of One&Only Aesthesis resort in Greece , renovations at Club Med Buccaneer's Creek in Martinique , Eurostars Hotel's operation of a luxury hotel in Rotterdam

InterContinental Hotels Group announced Keith Barr has informed the Board of his decision to step down from his role as Group Chief Executive Officer and from the IHG Board. Playa Hotels & Resorts reported a 1Q beat and repurchased 5 million shares for $42.6 million in 1Q as well as another 2.1 million shares for $20 million in April. During Q1 2023, RevPAR grew 13% compared to 2019 , fueled by higher ADR and growth in business and group demand as well as strong leisure travel, according to JLL’s latest U.S. Hotel Investment Trends report.

Despite the jitters and dire predictions we have been hearing for getting close to a year, lodging demand remains consistent with any concern of deterioration stemming from headline economic risk not yet manifesting in fundamentals. Baird reported on something we touched on recently, insider buying at lodging companies . A majority of the U.S. corporate travel buyers expect their company’s business travel to ramp up and return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023

In a day that was everything that was expected, the financial indexes and individual stocks were whipsawed. B.Riley lowered their price target on Ashford Hospitality Trust to $6.50 from $9. They maintained their Neutral rating. Jon Bortz , chairman of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust has been on a bit of an insider buying spree the past few weeks. He has purchased a total of 64,000 shares between 2/28 and 3/9 at prices ranging from $14.30 to $14.67.