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Opinion Articles

Opinion Article

Tariffs and Turbulence: Navigating Hotel Operations in a Travel Downturn

The hospitality industry is currently facing a confluence of challenges that threaten to curtail travel demand and strain hotel operations. Economic uncertainties, compounded by recent tariff implementations, are reshaping traveler behaviors and demand forecasts. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for hoteliers aiming to navigate the impending downturn effectively.

Jason Q. Freed
By Jason Q. Freed, Hospitality Data Evangelist, Otelier
Opinion Article

Breaking Barriers: Black and Latino Hotel Ownership

“I didn’t know you could own a hotel” is a common response to the idea of hotel ownership. For many, it seems like an unattainable goal, reserved for the lucky or well-connected. Yet, for those willing to navigate the industry or carve their own path, hotel ownership is not only possible but can also serve as a powerful means of generating wealth and uplifting communities.

Brylynn Swayzer
By Brylynn Swayzer, Consultant, CBRE Hotels Advisory, CBRE Hotels
Opinion Article

How a Travel Downturn Could Shape the Future of Hotel Operations

The hospitality industry, like much of the global economy, is facing an uncertain road ahead. From fluctuating tariffs and inflation to wavering consumer confidence and international travel slowdowns, macroeconomic forces are pressuring our sector in 2025. While the word “recession” remains speculative, the signs of a travel downturn are present – and hoteliers must prepare accordingly.

Rob Lawrence
By Rob Lawrence, CEO, Otelier
Opinion Article

The USALI 12th edition is finally out. Why is this good news and why it is never too late to adopt it.

On February 2025 HFTP finally launched the long-awaited 12th edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI), the standardized financial reporting system the hospitality industry has relied on for decades. The release of the 12th Revised Edition marks a significant milestone, introducing enhancements that align with contemporary industry practices and address emerging global challenges long ignored by the industry. What are the changes and how are these going to impact the hotel real estate business?

Giuliano Gasparini
By Giuliano Gasparini, Board member of HAMA Middle East, HAMA MEA
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Opinion Article

Optimizing Hotel Selling Prices: who is the right investor at each stage of the life cycle?

Hotel investments represent a dynamic asset class within commercial real estate, attracting a broad range of investor types from private equity firms to real estate investment trusts (REITs) and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). Each investor category has a unique approach to asset acquisition, management, and divestment, making the timing and investor fit critical for maximizing a hotel’s selling price during its life cycle.

Giuliano Gasparini
By Giuliano Gasparini, Board member of HAMA Middle East, HAMA MEA
Opinion Article

The Role of Hotel Asset Management: Cultivating Prosperous Relationships

Hotel Asset Management is an intricate and essential facet of the hospitality industry. At its core, it is about optimizing the performance and value of a hotel property to achieve the owner's investment goals. But beyond the numbers, it is about identifying value creation initiatives, nurturing relationships that drive success, cultivate innovation and, most importantly, maximise asset potential in this vibrant sector.

Giuliano Gasparini
By Giuliano Gasparini, Board member of HAMA Middle East, HAMA MEA
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Opinion Article

2025 Hotel Transactions: Market in Motion

Every January, the ALIS conference serves as a barometer for the hotel investment landscape, and in 2025, the mood was optimistic yet noticeably more restrained than in recent years. Regulatory optimism and improving labor dynamics were offset by potential tariff headwinds, lack of interest rate relief, and the rising cost of new tech and satisfying evolving guest preferences. These are but a few issues reshaping the industry in ways that demand both strategic foresight and operational agility. While some trends continue along familiar trajectories, others signal a reshuffling of the deck.

Charles Oswald
By Charles Oswald, CEO of Aperture Hotels and member, Cayuga Hospitality Consultants
United States
Opinion Article

U.S. Hotel Construction Hits Two-Year Low Amid Rising Costs and High Interest Rates

According to CoStar, there were 1,264 properties with a combined total of 151,129 guestrooms under construction in the United States as of November 2024, which represents approximately 2.6% of the existing inventory of U.S. hotel rooms. For perspective, the average monthly ratio of rooms under construction to total inventory since 2019 is 2.9%. Further, the 151,129 rooms under construction is the lowest figure since August 2022, which marked the end of the build out of projects that began prior to the pandemic. High interest rates for construction loans, combined with the relatively high costs for construction labor and materials, has suppressed development activity.

Robert MandelbaumWill Webster
By Robert Mandelbaum and Will Webster
Opinion Article

The Future of Hospitality: Harnessing Technology to Empower Human Connection

As technology evolves, so do the demands of our industry and workforce. Yet, in hospitality, technology’s role should be simple: it must empower people, not replace them. Our industry revolves around human connections, and while automation can streamline operations, it’s the personal touch that brings guests back and drives team engagement. In a recent conversation with Rob Smith, CEO of Stonebridge Companies, we explored the balance between digital innovation and human interaction—a conversation that feels more relevant than ever as labor challenges and shifting guest expectations reshape hospitality.

Moneesh Arora
By Moneesh Arora, Chief Executive Officer, Unifocus
Opinion Article

Talking Hotel Cap Rates

This month, I am using an article authored by Erich Baum, Senior Vice President at HVS. Working at HVS for over 30 years, Erich has performed appraisal and consulting assignments in 47 of the 50 states, as well as Mexico and the Caribbean. Because of his range of experience, Erich focuses on the most complex jobs, including litigation-related assignments and atypical consulting work. In short, Erich is one of the brightest hotel consultants and appraisers I know, and this article demonstrates his superior knowledge and expertise.

Stephen Rushmore
By Stephen Rushmore, Hotel Valuation Expert and Founder of HVS, Hotel Valuation Software