With the pandemic generally in the rearview for the market, Downtown Memphis hotels have yet to recover to occupancy levels realized in 2019. This is attributed to a slow recovery in both corporate and group demand, coupled with significant growth in new supply. However, rising average rates at new hotels have become the saving grace for market RevPAR levels.
The onset of COVID-19 in March 2020 had devastating effects for the tourism industry across the country, and the state of Connecticut experienced the third-largest decline in travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation employment from Q2 2019 to Q2 2020. Connecticut was quick to rebound, however, with 2022 occupancy levels only slightly below those of 2019 and average daily rate (ADR) levels far surpassing those of 2019. The upcoming renovation of the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut’s “Find Your Vibe” campaign, and the state’s current hotel development pipeline are all indicators of Connecticut’s recovery and success.Connecticut’s strong recovery in 2022 and further growth in 2023 can be linked to the state’s “Find Your Vibe” campaign that commenced in June 2022, which highlights the state’s year-round tourism activities, such as music and arts festivals, outdoor activities, and restaurants. CTvisit.com, the state’s official tourism website, drew a record 7.1 million visits this past year, which ranked it among the top-five state tourism sites in the nation for both traffic and engagement. Furthermore, select towns in Connecticut were recently featured as popular destinations in leading publications. The New York Times listed New Haven as one of the top places to go in 2023, and Mystic ranked fourth in USA Today’s list of “10 best summer vacation destinations in the U.S. for 2023.” Additionally, a study recently released by Tourism Economics illustrates that direct visitor spending in Connecticut generated roughly $17 billion in total business sales in 2022, approximately 3.7% higher than the previous peak in 2019 ($16.4 billion).Moreover, Hartford’s XL Center is slated for a $100-million renovation starting in 2024. Plans for the arena include the expansion of the loading dock, the addition of a sports-betting venue on the west side of the arena, and the creation of more luxury seating. The primary impetus behind the renovation is attracting an NHL team to call the facility home. Connecticut has been without an NHL team since 1997, when the Hartford Whalers moved to North Carolina. However, Connecticut governor Ned Lamont has said there is a group in place to buy the Arizona Coyotes and relocate them to Hartford. This comes in the wake of Arizona voters’ rejection of a $2-billion proposal for a new arena, leaving the Coyotes without a permanent place to play. Although the acquisition is highly speculative, a new sports team, coupled with the XL Center’s facelift, could bolster tourism demand for the state.
In 2022, the Coachella Valley experienced a resurgence in tourism, with visitor numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels and spending reaching new heights. The direct visitor spending of $7.1 billion had a total economic ripple effect of $8.7 billion, showcasing the area's growing appeal. A significant chunk of this spending, more than 30%, was dedicated to lodging, including hotels and short-term rentals. Tourism is expected to remain robust throughout 2023, with major events like the Power Trip music festival in October 2023 poised to attract visitors from across the region.
Each quarter, we continue to dig deeper into the traveler experience and identify barriers and points of friction that keep travelers at home or traveling less frequently based on a quarterly consumer survey with Ipsos.
Central Oregon is a drive-to destination market situated east of the Cascade Mountain range. Home to twelve cities, this region of Oregon benefits as a popular leisure destination for travelers from throughout the Pacific Northwest. Surrounded by a diverse natural landscape, Central Oregon welcomes nearly four million overnight visitors per year looking to take advantage of all the area has to offer. In recent years, cities throughout the region have seen significant changes in the travel industry as hotels, businesses, and attractions have weathered the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we enter the final quarter of the year, is this recession still happening? And what does this mean for travel?
Albany's hotel industry continues to rebound from the pandemic. This article reviews the performance and recent trends of two distinct Albany submarkets and the market’s extended-stay hotel segment. Through this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of Albany’s performance coming out of the pandemic.
The Meadowlands development in northern New Jersey features the Meadowlands Sports Complex, with the MetLife Stadium as a centerpiece, and hosts numerous major companies. This development is anticipated to strengthen its presence going forward with the addition of a convention center.
You’ve likely heard that Taylor Swift recently completed the U.S.-based first leg of her Eras Tour, but have you heard about the impact that tour had on local communities and economies across the United States? We lay it out below.
Phoenix has exploded in growth over the last decade, developing a diverse and welcoming economy that has allowed the city and surrounding communities to outperform other top-25 markets.
A strong RevPAR rebound in the first quarter of 2023 was stalled by increasing costs of capital, inflationary pressures, outflow of domestic demand with limited international infill, and economic concerns. How can hoteliers expect 2023 to end and the next few years to trend? This article presents our latest forecast and insights.
In the past three years, the city of Richmond has seen significant growth in RevPAR, outpacing the regional area and the state of Virginia in the post-pandemic recovery period. This article provides an overview of Richmond’s hotel performance and demand sources.
Conroe provides small-town living while located only 40 miles north of Houston, the fourth-largest city in the country. This quaint city is currently having a resurgence and is considered one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas. Conroe has a reported population of 103,035 as of August 31, 2023, a 36% increase from 2013, and it is only projected to grow. The town has ample land for new development, and the recent improvements are heavily influenced by the city development model of The Woodlands just ten miles south.With this location near The Woodlands and so much available land, Conroe is starting to experience spillover from that city and become popular as a "bedroom community," resulting in additional residential development. One such project in the city is the highly anticipated Grand Central Park, a 2,046-acre residential community development along Interstate 45 and South Loop 336, just five miles north of The Woodlands.
In 2022 and the first half of 2023, San Diego hotels experienced unprecedented RevPAR growth, similar to much of California, as markets recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, hotel development and transactions have been strong. However, construction of full-service hotels remains challenging amid a steep rise in development costs.
Approximately 92,000 Nebraska volleyball fans packed Memorial Stadium on August 30, 2023, to watch the Nebraska Huskers sweep Omaha in an outdoor match, setting a new women’s sporting event attendance record. Local hotels benefited from the midweek event, as most available guestrooms in the market were filled.
International visitors to the U.S. love to shop and spend money at stores across the country. In fact, according to NTTO’s Survey of International Travelers (SIAT), more than 80% of overseas travelers reported that they engaged in shopping, more than any other activity. The U.S. was—and remains—the “single most popular destination for shopaholics” according to a recent WTTC report. In an age when online shopping has replaced many in-person purchases at diverse U.S. businesses throughout the country, the full return—and continued growth—of inbound travel is critical for numerous U.S. retailers.
The COVID-19 pandemic initially posed a major threat to the leisure-heavy Gulf Coast tourism industry, as the market only benefited from one month of Spring Break travel before the stay-at-home orders were issued. However, the state of Mississippi relaxed its COVID-19 restrictions sooner than competitive markets in nearby states, thereby allowing the state’s Secret Coast resorts to capture large amounts of pent-up leisure demand. As a result, occupancy and ADR for July and August nearly reached pre-pandemic levels.
Known for its beautiful beaches stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, the Jersey Shore comprises four diverse counties, each with its own distinct character and attractions. Featuring all types of lodging, from economy motels to luxury beachfront resorts, the Jersey Shore is a hot spot for many leisure travelers seeking a coastal getaway during the summer months.
The Florida Panhandle remains popular among hotel developers and investors given the strength of the market in the post-pandemic period. An easy-to-reach destination for drive-to and out-of-state travelers alike, this Gulf Coast region has been a hotbed of activity for construction and transactions in the traditional-model hotel space since the summer of 2020.
Leisure demand normalizing and returning to pre-pandemic trendsHilton CEO, Chris Nassetta: Leisure demand in the U.S. remained strong but grew more modestly year-over-year due to tougher comparisons. We’re having a wildly strong summer in leisure. The only places where leisure has backed off a bit is where you would expect it, where it’s normalizing from crazy highs.