Opinion Articles

Correctional Crisis Spurs Hotel Boom in Upstate New York

On February 17, 2025, thousands of corrections officers at more than 25 prisons across Upstate New York went on strike over staffing shortages, poor working conditions, and the implementation of the HALT Act, which limits the use of solitary confinement in New York State prisons and jails. In an address to the public, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul reported that these strikes were considered illegal, as the state’s Taylor Law prohibits public employees from striking. The strike lasted 22 days before the State and the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) reached an agreement that brought many of the striking employees back to work.

HVS ANAROCK Northeast India: A Hidden Gem for Tourism Potential

Northeast India represents one of the country’s most compelling frontiers for tourism development. Despite its exceptional natural beauty, cultural diversity, and strategic location, the region remains underrepresented in India’s tourism narrative. In 2024, it accounted for just 0.43% of domestic and 1.17% of foreign tourist visits, underscoring its vast untapped potential.

Hotel Market Beat 2025 H1 - Ireland

The Irish hotel investment market remained strong in the first half of 2025, with transactions totalling around €375 million. Major Dublin deals dominated activity, including the €86 million sale of the Ruby Molly Hotel by ESR Group to German investor Deka Immobilien, leased to Ruby Hotels Group. The Fleet Hotel was also acquired by the Lanthorn Group for TMR Hotel Collection. Beyond the city centre, the Grand Hotel in Malahide, the Marine Hotel in Sutton, and the Radisson Blu at Dublin Airport all changed hands. Activity outside Dublin was limited, with the standout being the €21 million sale of Clayton Whites Hotel in Wexford to the Neville Hotel Group.

Hotel Market Beat 2025 H1 - Greater Paris

In the first half of 2025, hotel transaction volume in Greater Paris exceeded €600 million, with a total of 28 hotels and 2,120 rooms sold. Although transaction volume has declined by 46%, there was a significant increase in the total number of properties and rooms sold. This decline in transaction volume is mainly due to fewer large-scale deals compared to H1 2024, when four hotels accounted for nearly 80% of the total volume. Despite this, the hotel market remains in good momentum supported by a strong demand.

Market Snapshot: Asia Pacific 2025

In 2024, hotel transaction volume in the Asia Pacific recorded approximately USD11.5 billion, a modest 3% decrease from USD11.9 billion in 2023. While activity has softened, the pace of decline has significantly improved compared with the sharper 14% decline recorded between 2022 and 2023. The slowdown can be attributed not only to elevated borrowing costs but also to factors such as prolonged transaction timelines due to cautious due diligence and lingering macroeconomic uncertainties across major markets. On a trailing 12-month basis, transaction volume decreased 9% from USD12.4 billion to USD11.2 billion, with deal count easing from 492 to 456. Despite this, the narrowing pace of decline, together with resilient travel demand and selective regional growth, suggests that investors are likely to remain cautiously optimistic and selective.

Island of Opportunity: Curaçao’s Tourism Transformation

Once economically reliant on petroleum refining, with additional support from financial services and tourism, Curaçao has seen tourism emerge as the cornerstone of its economy since the refinery’s closure in 2018. This shift has become even more apparent in the post-pandemic era. The island boasts dozens of white-sand beaches, vibrant reefs, and world-class snorkeling, as well as the historic capital of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Dutch Colonial architecture. Willemstad’s growing art, shopping, and dining scene and the island’s natural assets, rising visitation, and sustained investment are positioning the country for continued growth as a premier Caribbean destination.

Hotel Market Beat 2025 H1 - Spain

The hotel investment market in Spain showed remarkable momentum and consolidation during the first half of 2025. With a total investment volume of €2.1 billion, the sector not only recovered to pre-pandemic levels but also recorded the third-highest first semester in history. Driven by robust demand and high-performing assets, the leisure sector regained its leadership, boosted by the record-breaking €430 million acquisition of the Mare Nostrum Resort in Tenerife. Domestic investors led the transactions, accounting for 66% of the volume. With a strong pipeline for H2 2025, the sector is on track. to surpass 3 billion mark, reinforcing Spain’s appeal to both domestic and international capital.