SMEs represent 95% of Europe's accommodation properties but face significant barriers in financing and technology adoption compared to larger chains.
The author argues reinvestment in existing hotels offers the best risk-adjusted returns in 2026, as transaction math improves but sellers resist higher cap rates.
Ignacio Masias discusses how his family-run Andean collection of six Peruvian hotels creates authentic, transformative experiences while stewarding local culture and heritage properties.
Based on 22 industry interviews, the analysis reveals 100% of European property owners see growing HAM relevance, driven by competitive markets and the shift toward franchise models.
The 25-room property opened in March 2024 using local Chukum materials and employing exclusively regional talent to create an unpolished luxury experience.
The Beck Group's Summer 2025 Cost Report shows five-star hotel construction costs rising twice as fast as general commercial building inflation.
Multiple new hotels and repositioned properties are targeting upscale segments in mountain markets like Boone and Highlands, with RevPAR growth strongest during off-peak months from 2016-2024.
THE WELL Coconut Grove sold 20% of its $1.5M+ units within 48 hours, demonstrating strong demand for wellness-integrated residential developments that hotels can learn from.
Industry experts discuss muted RevPAR growth, challenging financing conditions, and renovation projects dominating activity over new development.
The author argues that hotel development stagnation stems from financing constraints and regulatory barriers, calling for renewed collaboration between developers, operators, and local governments.
Hotels across regions are under pressure to operate efficiently despite persistent labor shortages, cost inflation, and global instability. In the US, political tensions, evolving immigration policies, and a slowdown in international tourism have added pressure to the labor market. These challenges have been compounded by the recent government shutdown, which has led the FAA to reduce flight capacity at several major airports, creating further uncertainty for travel and hospitality operations.
A major decision for any hotel owner or investor is whether to affiliate their property with a brand. As ever so often, the trade-offs are as comprehensive as they are complex. We do note that the comparison is between the general independent vs branded hotel. There certainly are independent properties who do very well, yet those remain few and far. We shed light on the key considerations.
Hotel tech looks simple from the lobby; but as we know, behind the front desk it’s anything but. Recently, Otelier’s Distinguished Architect Lex Raleigh sat down with SnapLogic CMO Dayle Hall to explain why hospitality’s data problem is unlike any other – and how progressive hoteliers are solving it with a mix of pragmatic integrations. Below is a recap of the conversation focused on how innovative hoteliers have already turned to automation, including AI that actually answers questions to help you drive real-life demand.
HVS was pleased to sponsor this fall’s pinnacle event for our industry, a highly-attended and hopeful Lodging Conference, despite the challenges currently facing our industry. HVS President, Rod Clough, MAI, CRE, MRICS, helped open the conference during the Speed Stats session, followed by a presentation later that day. Neil Flavin, COO of HVS Asset Management & Advisory, also participated on a panel. Our suite was bustling with meetings all week, held by leaders from the HVS Design, Executive Search, Brokerage & Advisory, Asset Management & Advisory, and Consulting & Valuation divisions.
In 2024, the fees a hotel owner paid to support their brand’s guest loyalty program continued to grow at a relatively strong rate. During the year, the annual growth of guest loyalty program fees exceeded the increases in brand royalty payments, as well as the brand marketing and reservation assessments. Further, the pace of growth for guest loyalty program fees was greater than the increases in both rooms occupied and rooms revenue, two factors that influence the guest loyalty program fees charged to hotels.
In the lead up to the Future Hospitality Summit - FHS World 2025, taking place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from 27-29 October, we asked several industry partners about what's next for hospitality investment in line with this year's event theme: "Where Vision Leads, Investment Follows."
CEE hotel investment volumes reached €682M in H1 2025, marking a 364% year-on-year increase and the highest volumes since 2019. This rise was primarily driven by heightened activity in the Czech Republic, which led the region in hotel investment, followed by Poland and Hungary. Most transactions within the region involved Upper Upscale properties, followed by Luxury assets. The positive momentum is expected to continue throughout the second half of 2025 and into 2026, with numerous deals advancing through various stages of the sales process, and additional opportunities anticipated to enter the market soon.
In the competitive world of hotel development and acquisitions, few incentives capture an owner’s attention more quickly than key money. This upfront payment, offered by a hotel brand or operator, can feel like free capital. However, behind the allure lies a complex set of trade-offs that can significantly impact profitability, flexibility, and asset value for years. Understanding how key money works—and the strings attached—is critical for making a sound business decision.
In the lead up to the Future Hospitality Summit - FHS World 2025, taking place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from 27-29 October, we asked several industry partners about what's next for hospitality investment in line with this year's event theme: "Where Vision Leads, Investment Follows."
In the lead up to the Future Hospitality Summit - FHS World 2025, taking place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from 27-29 October, we asked several industry partners what's next for hospitality investment in line with this year's event theme: "Where Vision Leads, Investment Follows."