Edinburgh

STR reported a 3.3% increase in U.S. Hotel RevPAR, led by a 4.5% rise in ADR and a 5.1% increase in Group RevPAR. Deutsche Bank provided a cautious 2024 outlook for the hotel industry, highlighting a balanced risk-reward scenario with potential bull and bear cases. Keybanc reduced their price target on Xenia Hotels & Resorts, while Truist offered a differing view on Airbnb compared to Barclays.

As of November 11, 2023, 79% of markets showed growth in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) compared to 2019, with leadership positions shifting from Europe to other regions as the Northern Hemisphere approaches winter. New York City led U.S. hotel sales in the last three months with transactions totaling $1.35 billion, despite a significant decrease in overall disclosed hotel transaction volume in 2023 compared to 2022. Several key hotel developments and acquisitions include KSL Capital Partners acquiring Hersha Hospitality Trust, the opening of the avid hotel Chattanooga South - Ringgold, and proposed sales like the Hyatt Place Pittsburgh Airport hotel.

Canopy by Hilton in Scottsdale, Arizona sold for roughly $102 million, and Home2 Suites by Hilton in Colonie, New York was acquired for $12.75 million. The Floridian Palace Hotel in Tampa is undergoing a $30 million renovation to become "The Flor" and join Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, while Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal partners with Mattel for a Barbie-themed experience. Online travel companies, including Orbitz and Expedia, face a lawsuit in Nevada over alleged avoidance of hotel room taxes, potentially amounting to over $1 billion in damages.

Somm Hotel and Spa in Woodinville, Washington, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, is set to open in the summer of 2025 as part of a $700 million development. Home2 Suites by Hilton Houston/Katy in Texas completed renovations, featuring upgraded guestrooms and amenities. The Balbin Bros. Cigar Factory in Tampa, Florida, is undergoing transformation into a 70-room boutique hotel, aiming to open by March 2025 while preserving its historical value.

CNBC discusses the repercussions of New York City's crackdown on Airbnb, suggesting that hotels will benefit from higher prices during the holiday season due to Airbnb's cancellation of bookings after December 1. Legacy Development & Management acquired the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North and plans a $22 million, two-year renovation, including room upgrades, new amenities, and exterior improvements. Various new hotel development projects are underway, including a Marriott Westin at the Indianapolis International Airport, a Hilton-branded hotel in Decatur, Georgia, a Four Seasons Hotel & Residences in Jacksonville, Florida, and a $2 billion theme park called American Heartland in Vinita, Oklahoma.

MAR and HLT lodging stocks hit new highs, while several stock targets and ratings were adjusted. Q2 2023 shows a total construction pipeline of 552 projects/88,477 rooms in Latin America. Mexico leads with 213 projects/33,853 rooms. Marriott International dominates the franchise scene with 116 projects/18,733 rooms. Project MidX Studios is renamed StudioRes by MAR for the US and Canada market.

Stock market indices, including the DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500, experienced declines on Friday, while the 10-year treasury yield saw a slight increase. Barclays expects some REITs, such as Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and DiamondRock , to be disproportionately impacted by below-expectation revenue per available room (RevPAR), while they believe Apple Hospitality will outperform. Oppenheimer slashed price targets on several lodging stocks, including Chatham Lodging Trust , RLJ Lodging Trust , Braemar , and Apple Hospitality , while maintaining their Outperform ratings on these companies.

Stock market performance: DJIA and lodging stocks showed mixed results, while Nasdaq and S&P 500 experienced gains. Hotel openings and renovations: New hotels and renovated properties were announced by various companies, including Wyndham Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Candlewood Suites, and Knott's Berry Farm Hotel. Business updates: Remington Hotels promoted Keith Oltchick to Chief Development Officer, Hunter Hotel Advisors facilitated the sale of Hilton-branded assets, and Wyndham Hotels completed the refinancing of its Senior Secured Term Loan B Facility. Additionally, Mandarin Oriental revealed plans for a new hotel and residences in Athens, Greece.

Marriott International, Inc . said Monday it had completed its acquisition of the City Express brand portfolio from Hoteles City Express, S.A.B. de C.V. A solid beat and raise was repeated over and over again today by analysts when commenting on Park Hotels & Resorts’ earnings report. Vacasa Inc. has become the second new-age lodging SPAC to receive notice from Nasdaq that if they don’t get their stock price above $1, they could be delisted .

Walt Disney World’s Star Wars hotel has seen demand cool so dramatically that the Florida theme park giant has been forced to reduce dates during the busy Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Membership Collective Group reported strong 4Q results, a profitable quarter, today STR reported U.S. lodging data for the week ended March 4. Hotel RevPAR was up 12.1% year over year for the week.