Westin Hotels & Resorts

Major indices, including DJIA, Nasdaq, and the S&P 500, experienced significant drops. BHR reached a new low, and Bernstein and B.Riley adjusted ratings and price targets for several key hotels. Hotel Transactions & Development**: Numerous hotel properties underwent ownership changes, refinancing, or development, with notable mentions like the Delta Hotels by Marriott New York Times Square and the Four Seasons Private Residences Las Vegas nearing completion. Aimbridge Hospitality strengthened its team, Melia Hotels announced multiple openings in Mexico, and Selina Hospitality launched a new location in Evia, Greece.

China 's hotel RevPAR rose by 22% YoY as of the week ending August 5th, and by 6.7% compared to the same week in 2019. China lifted its ban on group tours to over 70 locations, including countries in Asia Pacific, Europe , Africa , and North America . Notably, group tours to South Korea are resuming for the first time in six years. Indonesia's ONE°15 Marina Nirup Island opened, with phase two set to include a Westin Hotels & Resorts property by Q4 2024.

DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 experienced gains, while the 10-year treasury yield decreased. Spending by international visitors in the U.S. increased significantly compared to the previous year, leading to a trade surplus in travel and tourism. Several hotels underwent renovations or acquisitions, and new hotels were announced in various locations across the United States.

Stock Market Update: DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 all ended the day with gains, reflecting a broad market RLJ Lodging Trust : Baird reports positive investor meetings, highlighting underappreciated growth outlook and company drivers. Hotel Developments: AC Hotels by Marriott planned in East Memphis , acquisition of Westin Annapolis , and Equinox Hospitality 's acquisition and rebranding of Four Points by Sheraton San Rafael Marin County.

Financial markets experienced declines with the DJIA falling 187 points and the S&P 500 down 13 points, while Nasdaq dropped 18 points. However, lodging stocks showed mixed to higher performance despite the overall market decline. Ashford Hospitality Trust (AHT) expects to return 19 hotels to lenders in various cities, including Las Vegas and Atlanta, due to missed repayment deadlines on a $982 million mortgage pool. AHT faced negative equity in the properties and opted not to pay for an extension, potentially impacting the hotel industry's debt situation. STR's global "bubble chart" update revealed that 85% of markets saw growth in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) compared to 2019. Occupancy rates played a significant role in driving RevPAR, with coastal countries along the Mediterranean Sea showing strong growth. However, Saudi Arabia experienced the largest decline in RevPAR at 51%.

Market Performance: DJIA fell 5 points, Nasdaq rose 128, and S&P 500 increased by 16 points; lodging stocks underperformed consumer and leisure stocks. Jefferies Nantucket Conference: Lodging companies report moderation in leisure demand, strength in group business, and mixed recovery of business transient; limited conviction impacting strategies and stock performance. Hotel Industry Updates: Canada's hotel industry shows improved performance; various hotels undergo renovations, acquisitions, and openings across different locations.

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.

Marriott International, Sonesta International Hotel Corporation, and Pyramid Global Hospitality , announced plans for expansion and introduced new brands in different locations, including Latin America, Canada, and several U.S. states. Accor highlighted the progress of its branded residences business, with numerous projects under development worldwide, including Dubai, Australia, and South Korea. The Plasencia Group facilitated the sale of The Westin Tampa Bay, and Dan Hansen returned from retirement to lead Hyatt's new mid-market extended-stay brand, Hyatt Studios, with a significant development pipeline.

Hotel industry news: Renovations, expansions, and openings across various cities, states, and countries. Notable updates include the completion of a multi-million-dollar renovation at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa in Georgia. Exciting developments include the opening of the first fully Pixar-themed hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, in Anaheim, California, and the debut of Six Senses Crans-Montana in Switzerland.

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%.