Experts Say Large Markets Could Be the Best Bet for Hotel Investment
Battered by the Pandemic, Cities Like New York Have More Room for Recovery
After a prolonged period of historically low interest rates, the math is suddenly getting more difficult for hotel investors.
CHICAGO - After a prolonged period of historically low interest rates, the math is suddenly getting more difficult for hotel investors.
Speaking during the "Transaction, Economic, Debt and Capital Market Update" session at the 2022 fall conference of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association, Mark Schoenholtz, vice chairman and co-head of lodging for Newmark, said high interest rates, operating costs and expectations for renovations from brand partners are all hitting owners at the same time.
"Owners are facing some tough choices coming up in terms of putting capital into properties versus what does the refinancing market look like today and what's the borrowing cost," he said.
The silver lining is that top markets across the U.S. have largely been sidelined during the lodging recovery and have the most room for improvement, he said.
"In some ways, the New Yorks of the world, the San Franciscos, the Los Angeleses, The Bostons, the Phillys ... have a lot more room to run in terms of the recovery versus some of these resort markets," he said. "We are starting to see investors look at those particular assets over the near term because they believe they have better growth prospects."