Austin

Marriott International announced a year of robust room signings and additions across the Caribbean and Latin America in 2023. The Company nearly doubled its number of organic deal signings in the region versus the prior year.

Hilton and Small Luxury Hotels of the World announced an exclusive strategic partnership that will welcome Hilton guests to hundreds of independently minded luxury hotels in the most sought-after destinations around the world.

Canada is seeing a surge of hotel construction in major cities, with Vancouver leading the way in new building applications. It is now seen as the most attractive bet by analysts because it leads the way in hotel profits and occupancy, which was almost 80% in October.

Almost three quarters of Americans plan to either maintain or increase their number of hotel stays in 2024 compared to 2023, and hotels remain the top lodging choice for likely travelers, according to a survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Truist met with Wyndham and Choice franchisees who had strong opinions about the merger and broad frustrations about brand costs and property valuation in limited service today.

Marriott International, Inc. announced plans to further expand its new Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy brand offering with signed agreements in the United States, Italy, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

JP Morgan upgraded Choice Hotels to Neutral and shifted Host Hotels, Park Hotels, Ryman Hospitality, and Sunstone Hotels to Neutral, citing less downside in lodging REITs. CoStar forecasts U.S. hotel demand growth of 1.8% in 2024, with occupancy increasing by 1% and room rate growth aligning with inflation, leading to RevPAR growth of 4.8% this year and 4% in 2024. Barclays shifted to Equal Weight on Marriott Vacations, expressing uncertainty in company-specific execution and favoring Hilton Grand Vacations in the timeshare sector.

Major hospitality companies reported mixed trends at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference, with lodging demand remaining positive but margins affected by high wages. Several companies, including Crescent Hotels & Resorts and HHM Hotels, announced the addition of new properties to their portfolios. Evermore Orlando Resort is set to open a unique beach paradise, and other hotels are undergoing significant renovations and refurbishments, indicating a continued focus on luxury and expansion in the hospitality industry.

Top U.S. hotel construction markets in Q3 2023: Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville, Phoenix, and the Inland Empire lead in the number of projects and rooms. Hotel renovation and conversion pipeline activity remains strong with 1,912 hotels and 285,568 rooms currently undergoing renovations. Notable openings and developments include the Candlewood Extended Stay Suites in Kennesaw, Avenue Hotels & Residences in Coral Gables, Hotel Lucine in Galveston, and Radisson RED Helsinki.

Choice Hotels has urged Wyndham Hotels to consider a merger, but Wyndham has firmly declined any interest in the proposal. The chairman of Wyndham revealed they almost acquired Choice Hotels 20 years ago. The U.S. construction pipeline shows growth, with over 5,700 projects and 672,000 rooms, driven by a strong upper midscale chain scale presence. Renovation and conversion projects are on the rise, and new hotel openings are expected to increase in the coming years. Several hotel and resort projects are underway, including Westin Washington, DC Downtown, Opry Entertainment Group's renovation in Austin, Four Seasons expanding its Private Retreats collection, and Tommy Bahama's debut resort in California. Additionally, new developments in Florida, Rhode Island, and Indiana are on the horizon.