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Opinion Articles

Opinion Article General Management

Junk Fees are banned in California as of July 1, 2024! What does the California Junk Fee Law (SB 478) mean?

California businesses brace for Senate Bill 478‘s impact. SB 478 was signed by Governor Newsom in October 2023 and became effective July 1, 2024. It cracks down on hidden fees, often referred to as “junk fees” and “drip pricing” (because the full cost is only disclosed drip by drip). It will likely change how businesses approach pricing strategies. Many say it is part of a nationwide response to President Joe Biden’s call to eliminate Junk Fees.

Mark Adams
By Mark Adams, Partner at Blank Rome LLP, Blank Rome
California, United States
Opinion Article Markets & Performance

Cornell Hotel Indices First Quarter 2024: Large Hotels Reach a New Statistical Low

Only the Midwest, South Atlantic, and West South-Central regions posted moderate single-digit hotel-price gains in the first quarter 2024 (Midwest, 3.2%; South Atlantic, 3.8%; and West South-Central, 1.6%). Hotels in gateway cities experienced a reversal, exhibiting better performance than hotels in non-gateway cities this quarter. Transaction volume fell year over year and quarter over quarter for both large and small hotels in gateway and non-gateway cities. Standardized prices of large hotels continue to soften while those of smaller hotels remain relatively stationary. The cost of hotel debt financing and the delinquency rate for hotels rose in the recent quarter, even though credit spreads continued to tighten and relative risk narrowed. As in prior periods, borrowing costs still exceed the return on hotels. Expect to see a rise in the price of large hotels and a decline in prices for small hotels next quarter based on our leading indicators of hotel price performance.

Crocker LiuAdam D. NowakRobert M. White
By Crocker Liu, Adam D. Nowak, and Robert M. White
United States
Opinion Article Operations & Strategy

Checking the Changes to Hawaiian Luxury with the Halekulani

For those who are unfamiliar, the Halekulani is (pardon the alliteration) a hallmark of Hawaiian hospitality, with the property acting as the keystone for the densely populated beach tourism area of Waikiki in Honolulu. At 453 rooms and suites, the luxury hotel has a time-honored history, first established in 1917 and now comprising five buildings and three signature restaurants, all with an unparalleled onsite experience. Further to this article, the property closed completely for an 18-month renovation at the outset of the pandemic in 2020.

Larry MogelonskyAdam Mogelonsky
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
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Opinion Article Design & Architecture

A Case Study in Upleveling Rooms and Expanding Wellness at the Fairmont Tremblant

As background for those not from Canada, Tremblant is a picture-perfect ski village under two hours northwest of Montreal in the Laurentian Mountains. With numerous small hotels, chalets, lodges and short-term rentals to choose from, Tremblant is perhaps the closest thing that North America has to a charming French of Swiss alpine town, wherein the 312-key Fairmont Tremblant has always stood at the luxury resort pillar of the destination since its opening in 1996.

Larry MogelonskyAdam Mogelonsky
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
Canada
Opinion Article Markets & Performance

HVS Las Vegas Casino and Hotel Market Outlook 2024

Las Vegas continues to evolve, with billions of dollars being spent on the development of new world-class venues in recent years. In 2023, occupied room nights, as well as total occupancy (83.5%), continued to lag 2019 performance; however, like gaming revenue, the market’s ADR ($191.29) and RevPAR ($159.73) for 2023 reached record levels for the second year in a row. This article examines the latest trends and developments that are relevant to the Las Vegas casino and hotel markets.

Shannon Okada
By Shannon Okada, Managing Director of Gaming with HVS, HVS
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

Are You Leaving Money on the Table? Turning Casino Resorts into Go-To Venues for Profitable Groups and Events

Historically, Las Vegas was a gaming-centric market, with 61% of revenues coming from the casino category in 1990. Although gaming continues to serve as an economic engine in Las Vegas, according to CDC Gaming, food, beverage, and other departments accounted for a record 73.4% of total revenue, up from a combined 69.6% year over year. This trend is not limited to Las Vegas; it is being observed in casino markets worldwide.

Mike Pavicich
By Mike Pavicich, Director, Global Sales, SalesAndCatering.com, LLC
Cookstown, Ontario, Canada
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Opinion Article Markets & Performance

Outpacing and Evolving: Metro Atlanta Hotel Supply Growth

According to Lodging Econometrics’ Q4 2023 US Construction Pipeline report, Atlanta ranked second nationally in the number of hotel openings in 2023, third in the number of hotels actively under construction, and second in the number of projects in the pipeline. Below, we provide an overview of the market’s hotel demand and its notable new supply, both recently opened and on the horizon.

Brett TestaCourtney Vris
By Brett Testa and Courtney Vris
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Opinion Article Markets & Performance

Man-Made Lagoons Gain Popularity

Man-made swimming lagoons, not to be confused with pools or waterparks, have emerged as a new and innovative way to enjoy recreational water activities. These large (over one acre of water surface) and uniquely designed aquatic venues present new opportunities within the residential, resort, and attractions industries. Over the past several years, H&LA has seen the emergence of swimming lagoons in many facets of leisure development from large-scale resort settings to residential developments.

Stephen Szczygiel
By Stephen Szczygiel, Senior Associate, Hotel & Leisure Advisors (H&LA)
United States