Opinion Articles

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Creating the Entertainment Capital within the Entertainment Capital of the World

Las Vegas is a city that lives on reinvention to keep drawing ever-larger crowds to this oasis in the desert that, for full transparency, wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for the entertainment industry. While the world’s entertainment capital started out with gaming, shows and conventions, in recent decades it has also become a culinary mecca and now a world-class sports destination.

Resurgence and Strength: Demand and Supply Growth in Wichita

Given its location and position as the state’s largest city, Wichita serves as the primary economic hub for central Kansas. Wichita, known as the “Air Capital of the World,” is home to several major aircraft-manufacturing facilities and McConnell Air Force Base. The local economy is further supported by major employers in the manufacturing industry and healthcare and education sectors including Koch Industries, Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital, and Wichita State University (WSU). This strong and diverse economy supported stability in the local hotel market’s occupancy and ADR through 2019.

Seattle Hotel Market: A Shining Beacon of the Pacific Northwest

A key driver of Seattle’s leisure demand is its cruise industry. In 2023, the number of Alaska cruises reached 291, a record number compared to 213 in 2019. The Port of Seattle estimates the annual impact of a cruise season on the region at $900 million. This demand particularly benefits local hotels, as passengers typically stay overnight in Seattle before and/or after their trip.