Toronto

JP Morgan downgraded IHG Hotels & Resorts from Neutral to Underweight, favoring Premier Inn owner Whitbread in the European hotels sector. Canada has 275 hotel construction projects with 37,780 rooms in its pipeline, with 22 new projects announced in Q3. Ontario leads with 160 projects, and Toronto has the most projects with 61. A total of 16 new hotels opened in the first three quarters of 2023, with more expected in the last quarter and beyond. The latest GBTA Business Travel Outlook Poll reports that domestic business travel bookings have reached 75% of 2019 levels, while international bookings are at 70%. Spending on domestic business travel is at 77%, and international spend is at 74%.

HSBC initiates stock coverage in the leisure and travel sector, including Buy ratings for Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and Host Hotels, along with Hold ratings for Park Hotels, Choice Hotels, and Service Properties Trust. Several hotel projects and acquisitions are highlighted, including the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Portland, a new property by Maverick Hotels and Restaurants in Rockford, and North American Properties' approval for a Margaritaville hotel in Newport, Kentucky. Notable developments and changes in the international hotel industry, such as Adrian Messerli's promotion at Four Seasons, Hilton's plans to open Italy's first LXR Hotels & Resorts property, and Riu Hotels and Resorts opening a new all-inclusive resort in Jamaica next year.

Stock market performance: DJIA up 66 points, Nasdaq up 97, S&P 500 up 19 points, and 10-year treasury yield down to 4.60%. Lodging industry updates: US hotel RevPAR increased 5.2%, Group RevPAR was up 29.5%. Stifel lowered target price on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, while Exane BNP Paribas downgraded IHG Hotels & Resorts. International travel data: International visitors spent $19.0 billion on US travel in August 2023, with a trade surplus of $1.8 billion. Travel and tourism accounted for 7.4% of US exports of goods and services in August 2023.

Choice Hotels and IHG saw new 52-week highs after reporting their earnings. Service Properties Trust also had a positive day with a 4% stock increase. IHG introduced a new conversion-focused brand in the mid-market. Marriott acquired and integrated the City Express brand. Hilton introduced a new hotel in Times Square. Several other hotel groups, including Charlestowne Hotels, 21c Museum Hotels, and Six Senses, announced new properties or renovations. Tru by Hilton opened in Mississauga, Ontario. TUI is actively expanding its hotel portfolio. Mandarin Oriental and Six Senses revealed new luxury resorts in Italy and Greece, respectively. Personnel news highlighted new appointments at LBA Hospitality and Barriere.

Canada 's construction pipeline has a total of 275 projects and 37,359 rooms, with Ontario and Toronto leading in projects and rooms. Jeff Vinik is selling his share in the company that developed Water Street in Tampa, Florida, to Cascade Investment Fund LLC . Q Group Hospitality is launching a new LGBTQ+ boutique hotel, Queen Las Vegas, in Las Vegas , Nevada, featuring themed rooms and a nightclub.

Stock market: DJIA down 245 points, Nasdaq down 22, S&P 500 down 21 points Decline in travel and tourism deal activity: 41% YoY decline, all deal types registered a decline in volume Hotel transactions: Several hotels sold, renovated, or under development in different locations

US hotels surpass pre-pandemic revenue levels in Q1 2023, with a 13% increase compared to 2019, driven by higher room rates. Despite concerns of a recession and liquidity crisis, US hotels continue to perform well, with leisure travel showing strength and business travel gradually returning. Significant hotel developments and renovations are underway in various US cities, including new acquisitions, expansions, and upgrades to enhance guest experiences.

Heading into the upcoming 1Q earnings season, JP Morgan said they expect relative upside in 1Q23 RevPAR results and, for the C-Corps, at least in-line net rooms growth with both operating metrics benefiting from improvements in China. A record number of loyalty program members should help hotel brands lower their customer acquisition costs, increased direct-to-consumer engagement and offset any occupancy shortfalls during an economic downturn. Corporate travel spending is tracking toward full recovery to 2019 levels by 2024 or 2025 , but higher costs and climate concerns will keep trip volumes smaller than pre-pandemic levels in real terms.

Raines announced they acquired HP Hotels , a full-service, third party hotel management company. Raines said this will result in operational expansion throughout the Southeast and Southwestern U.S. The Courtyard by Marriott Long Beach Downtown announced the addition of two Topgolf Swing Suites at their 216-room hotel. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa , in Atlantic City, New Jersey , is embarking on a $55 million redesign and rebranding of The Water Club, in time for the resort’s twentieth anniversary.

The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index was up 16.4% in January from December. The Hotel Brand sub-index was up 16.2% and the Hotel REIT sub-index rose 17.1%. Hilton, Easton’s Group of Hotels and the Gupta Group announced the opening of Canopy by Hilton Toronto Yorkville, marking the brand’s Canadian debut. The DJIA rose 130 points on Friday while Nasdaq was down 69, the S&P 500 was down 11 points and the 10 year treasury yield took a breather, down -0.4 to 3.83%. Lodging stocks were lower.