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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.

Choice Hotels International issued an investor presentation that they said disputed the false and misleading antitrust claims made by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in connection with CHH’s attempt to acquire WH.

Wells Fargo predicts a stabilization in interest rates in 2024, benefiting hotel sector growth, with a focus on high-end leisure and Asia Pacific markets. Oppenheimer raised the target price for Host Hotels, and Driftwood Capital secured a significant refinancing loan for Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Hotel. There were key personnel changes in various hotel groups, such as Concord Hospitality and Great Wolf Resorts, indicating a focus on business development and wellness.

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.

The DJIA jumped 490 points while Nasdaq surged 327. The S&P 500 rose 84 points and the 10-year treasury yield was down .19 to 4.44%, all on a low inflation report. HLT and HT hit new highs while…

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.

Earnings reports from various hotel and hospitality companies have mixed results, with Marriott International and Hyatt facing disappointment, while Park Hotels, Chatham Lodging Trust, Host Hotels, RLJ Lodging Trust, and Summit Hotel Properties pleased investors. Hyatt Hotels plans to double its brand footprint in Canada with 23 new hotels by 2026, including airport locations and Hyatt Centric and Hyatt House properties. Various hotel acquisitions, openings, and renovations are announced, including the launch of Pendry Tampa and Pendry Residences Tampa, and the renovation of L'Ermitage Beverly Hills. Selina Hospitality faces financial challenges and seeks to restructure its debt.

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.

Truist expects varied 2Q earnings for the hotel sector, with C-Corps' results depending on geography and customer mix. U.S. hotel industry performance in June 2023 showed improvements from the previous month but lower year-over-year changes. RLJ Lodging Trust 's Nashville property joins Hilton's Tapestry Collection after a comprehensive renovation, marking the company's third conversion in 2023.

Blackstone announced the final close of its Blackstone Real Estate Partners X fund with $30.4 billion of total capital commitments, the largest real estate or private equity drawdown fund ever raised. Truist lowered their target price on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, saying they have concerns over 2024 San Francisco conventions along with rising hotel-level costs. Celebrating its five-year anniversary, the Hard Rock Hotel Dayton Beach in Florida debuted a multimillion renovation including refreshed guestrooms and youth club and revamped memorabilia.