Markets & Performance

Halifax Hotel Market Revitalization

The Nova Scotia lodging market, particularly in Halifax, has experienced rapid growth in the years following the pandemic. With welcoming immigration policies and a perceived lower cost of housing, the province has seen substantial population growth and increased capital investment, fueling lodging demand. In 2024, provincial RevPAR levels are projected to reach 128% of their 2019 benchmark, driven by rising ADR and an enhanced hotel supply.

HOTEL CURRENTS™: Hotel Financial Performance in Central and Non-Central City Submarkets, 2018 and 2024

During the pandemic, residential and commercial property prices in the central business districts (CBDs) of large metropolitan areas (MSAs) declined while prices generally increased in suburban areas. Many businesses located in CBDs that were dependent on residents, commuters, and tourists either ceased operations or relocated to the suburbs, often within the same MSA.

U.S. hotel commentary - November 2024

The U.S. presidential election, a year-over-year Thanksgiving calendar shift, ongoing hurricane recovery efforts, and an extra weekend all factored into the equation as U.S. revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased 2.5% in November. Like in October, occupancy growth was the main driver as the gain in average daily rate (ADR) was under 1%. Even with the stronger occupancy, the measure remained 2 percentage points (ppts) in arrears versus November 2019.

U.S. hotel conversion activity remains muted

U.S. hotel conversion activity, which involves changing an existing hotel from its independent status, or affiliating it with a new brand; continues to trend below the long-term average of the 20-year period ending 2019. We are benchmarking to this period given that it excludes the disruption in hotel development brought about by the pandemic.