Why investors are teaming up with hotel operators, in the search for solid returns; as travel opens up, the pundits upgrade growth estimates - but there are growing pains, too; and as Oyo stalls its IPO, how can the tech disruptors differentiate themselves?
Subscriptions look to be delivering for Soho House - with a longer waiting list despite raised prices - who else will jump to the subscription model? With more dry powder than ever, investors are challenged to look for decent returns, often from operational real estate. (Don't forget our Operational Real Estate Festival - https://op-re.com) And as more hotel groups get to grips with reducing carbon, how will progress be measured, and the process take all participants forward together?
Hotels are just becoming aware they can be part of the electric vehicle revolution, by installing EV chargers for either a quick top-up, or to allow guests an overnight refuel. While there are costs involved, there's also a revenue stream - and an opportunity to meet growing demand from guests for chargers, where they stay. Bruce Galliford of RAW Charging explains why it makes sense to look at installing EV chargers
Results from Airbnb suggest guests are booking and staying away longer - and it's not just the digital nomads. Investors are piling into other buildings in beds, in the residential sector, requiring hotel-like operations to support their assets. And is the glass half full or half empty? Reading the latest market information, and setting it against popular sentiment, to understand what the coming months will look like in hospitality.
Franchise operators Choice and Wyndham have a great first quarter - what to do with the profits? The OTAs Booking and Expedia appear to have rediscovered their mojos, but are their share prices too optimistic. And investors like the look of third party operators, as they expand their global reach.
Thoughts from the Berlin hotel conference, where economic worries took the shine off what has, so far, been a strong recovery. But the global majors are setting such worries aside, helped by the return of the US market to 2019 levels, or even better. The laggard is China, where frustrations over the Chinese government’s Covid-19 lockdown policy are becoming evident - and forcing Chinese hotel groups to keep cutting back. Will they sell up their European operations?
Retail landlords learn that operational real estate is the key approach to reviving shopping centres - an area we'll be covering at our www.op-re.com event in September. How Chinese partners are driving the growth of Western hotel brands - but will they have the capacity to carry on? And as we chew over the positive noises of hotel chief executives in Europe, was locking down really an effective way to treat the pandemic?
Co-living gets another shot as Asian giant Capitaland commits to massive growth for its Lyf brand. Israeli group Fattal kills off the Jurys Inn brand, as it plans a fresh growth spurt. And as GreenTree mulls going private, why are overseas investors falling out of love with Chinese hotel groups?
A refresh at Travelodge, as the UK's economy hotel players rev up for a strong 2022. Why KSL has its trotters in the trough over at Pig Hotels. And as Australia reopens, so its hotel sector is awakening, with deals in the offing - and a new third party manager.
As plenty look to buy European hotels, there are few signs of distress in investment pricing. Say goodbye to Covid, as much of the world - excluding China - heads back to normal. Plus, new funders including Topland and Cynergy come into the hotel market.
Chinese hotels are stuck in stop-start mode, due to the government's zero-covid policies. Calls for more action from international brands, to pull out of Russia. Plus those getting into operational real estate look forward to a bright future.
More thoughts on how the hotel sector is setting about its carbon reduction journey; why flex office providers are excited about the future - and are becoming increasingly hotel-like; and as Europe's serviced apartment sector booms, why have so few US extended stay brands crossed the pond?
Hybrid accommodation gets a boost as new brand LyvInn launches - taking over former Meininger premises in Frankfurt. Students are back on campus - and investors are equally keen to buy into student accommodation. Plus we talk through Hotstats' review of 2021 - and what comes next.
A Ukraine war special, as we take an in-depth look at the humanitarian and economic impacts - plus some of the supportive acts as hospitality once again comes together to support those facing hardship
Hotels get to the carbon reduction challenge; franchise giants Wyndham and Choice power on with the pandemic in the rear view mirror; and CEOs at Accor and IHG ponder the return of business travel - pessimists or realists?
Results season - so how are listed companies around the hotel space faring? Hyatt is leading Hilton and Marriott in the race for growth, while CEOs were optimistic about the return of business travellers. Hotel owners Pandox, Host and Park see contrasting fortunes - largely defined by whether their hotels favour leisure travellers, or big business events and conferences. And Airbnb says it wants to sign lots more amateur hosts - but will it ever repay investors in its stratospheric valuation?
Corporates insist their staff will never travel to the same extent as they did pre-pandemic - but do we believe them? The allure of branded residences, as Marriott and Four Seasons build more stand-alones; and where are we with rent arrears?
Like a frog slowly coming to the boil in a pot, the hospitality sector has finally realised it has a problem - and it's time to look after its people better. Hotel brands and collection affiliations win, with more signups as brands outperform OTAs. And we're surely seeing a travel recovery as 2022 unfolds.
Real estate remains a major attraction for international investors - with no end of competition for hotels. Asia Pacific slowly recovers from the pandemic. Plus optimism in Spain that 2022 will see a busy summer.
There are few takers for retail space right now, and so we’re seeing a rise in conversions to hotels - but it’s not as easy as it might look. Secure Income Reit and Merlin come to an unusual lease extension agreement. And TUI is looking for well-backed partners to help them bulk up their hotel portfolio.
Looking forward as agents report increased optimism in the hotel sector. Looking back at investment deals that made it over the line towards the end of 2021. And discussing how third party managers are faring, as Henderson Park buys Amaris.
We debate the consequences of the Omicron panic, as knee jerk government reactions do more harm than good. Investor Brookfield takes a step into the left field, backing French group Experimental - so why are Accor's shares so low? And we consider whether the heat in the student accommodation market is justified, and likely to continue.
More hospitality businesses list on the public markets, and we look at one of them - Selina; amalgamating third party managers look forward to a busy 2022; and a breakthrough deal in the Italian hotel market for investor Azora
An optimistic outlook from Deloitte's annual hotel conference; why the newly listed MCG (or Soho House, as you know it) may struggle mixing growth with exclusivity; and how new banks have created a new lending environment. Plus - ever the danger when talking current affairs - we guess wrong on UK government covid policy.....
We discuss the omicron omnishambles, as government knee-jerk reactions to the new covid strain further kick the travel sector; find optimism nonetheless from hotel investors; and talk about how major hotel groups are now outsourcing tech, which means they'll enjoy smarter IT in future
Profits are up at UK hotels, as strong trading continues after the staycation summer boost. But what has the sector lost, permanently, to covid-19? With COP26 taking place, there are plenty of commitments to more sustainability - though flying remains problematic. And the Spanish hotel groups fight their way back to profit - with upmarket hotels doing particularly well.
Big groups Wyndham, Marriott and Choice bounce back, with US hotels leading the charge; the OTAs are chipper, too - but why are Airbnb shares still so overvalued? And Accor makes a big Middle Eastern play
Results season comments looking at the contrasting fortunes of Whitbread and Scandic; how variable rents are returning for landlord Pandox; and Hilton's strong performance, and even stronger optimism from CEO Chris Nassetta
TUI struggles to recover, tapping shareholders for more funds despite a busy summer. IHG's surprisingly strong summer, as it continues to cull older hotels from its US portfolio. Plus, views on recovery in the UK - will it continue as strongly as it appears. And, just as important for investors, when will lenders start tightening the screws on overleveraged hotel owners?
In conversation with Simon Allison, chairman and CEO of Hoftel, the hotel owners’ network, talking post-pandemic tensions between owners and brands. Along the way discussing how the brands love to charge, what they deliver in return - and why some owners are wondering whether those two items still remain in balance.
