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Morgan Stanley Prefers C-Corps Over Hotel REITs for Strong Growth Outlook

Morgan Stanley favors C-Corps over hotel REITs for their growth potential and downside protection, while Barclays upgraded Park Hotels and Resorts due to its high dividend yield. Choice Hotels missed estimates, and the potential acquisition by Wyndham remains uncertain, with suggestions for possible negotiation tactics.   Various hotels reported earnings and developments, with openings, auctions, and construction plans in different regions, including California, Texas, and North Carolina.

IHG Launches New Brand Garner

Market Performance: DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 experienced declines while the 10-year treasury yield increased. Lodging stocks showed mixed to modestly lower results. BHR traded down to a new low. Hotel Investment Insights: Baird reported on meetings with Xenia Hotels & Resorts' management, highlighting patience required due to leisure trends and Scottsdale renovation disruption. S&P upgraded XHR's ratings based on improved RevPAR and EBITDA outlook. Industry Developments: Hilton plans automatic housekeeping, Courtyard Wichita completes renovation, District Hospitality Partners acquires Westin Annapolis, Cascade Hotel Kansas City to open, Aimbridge to manage Marriott properties, Hyatt introduces Hyatt Studios brand, IHG launches midscale brand Garner, various expansion and renovation projects noted.

Great Wolf Chooses Maryland for Its Largest Resort

Stock market performance: DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 rose while the 10-year treasury yield was down. Lodging industry updates: Sonder Holdings downgraded, EF Hutton assumes coverage of Selina Hospitality, Ryman Hospitality Properties acquires JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. New hotel developments: Chartwell Hospitality and Rockbridge developing three new hotels, Innisfree Hotels and RREAF Holdings open Fairfield Inn & Suites Pensacola Beach, Great Wolf Resorts opens Great Wolf Lodge Maryland.

Service Properties Trust Completes Sale of TravelCenters to BP

Last week BP plc completed the acquisition of TravelCenter of America Inc . Service Properties Trust received $379.3 million in cash as part of the transaction. Sonder Holdings was cut to Perform from Outperform by Oppenheimer and InterContinental Hotels Group was upgraded to Neutral from Sell by Redburn. The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index rose 1.4% in April from March. The Hotel Brand sub-index rose 2.5% from March while the Hotel REIT sub-index was down -2.6%.

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.

All Hotel Classes Are Showing ADR Recovery

The DJIA fell 400 points on Friday while Nasdaq was down 328, the S&P 500 fell 86 points and the 10- year treasury yield pierced the 4% ceiling and probably is not done yet. According to CoStar , boutique hotels are performing well in 2022 and all classes show recovery in ADR, surpassing 2019 peak levels and leading the U.S. hotel industry. Hilton and Dittmar Company announced the signing of Hilton at The Key, Arlington-Rosslyn , located just minutes from Washington D.C. in Arlington, VA.

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.

Upbeat Expectations for 2023

The DJIA  rose 30 points while Nasdaq was up 86, the S&P 500 rose 13 points and the 10-year treasury yield was down .01 to 3.41%. Truist reported on a call they held with the CEO of hotelAVE . The takeaways included that they saw leisure demand start to slow in May while group and corporate recovery is now benefiting from urban and convention hotels. JP Morgan reported on meetings held with Wyndham Hotels’ CEO and SVP, IR. JPM said the meetings were generally upbeat, reflective of strong demand and pricing trends as well as steady new development and conversion signings.