USA & Canada Opinion Articles

May 16, 2023

ADA Update: Accessibility Legislation and the Importance of Website Compliance

The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) is an important piece of legislation guaranteeing equal access to public facilities to the nearly 60 million people with disabilities in the US today. Stuart Tubis, a partner in JMBM’s ADA Compliance and Defense practice, recently presented on why accessibility legislation is something all business owners should be aware of, and how many lawsuits have shifted focus to online spaces instead of brick-and-mortar locations.

By Stuart Tubis, Lawyer, JMM

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

May 12, 2023

The Diverse Factors Driving the Austin Lodging Market

Austin has enjoyed a strong and resilient lodging market since the Great Recession. But why? This article explores the lodging demand drivers that make Austin one of the most attractive hotel markets in the U.S.

By Shannon Sampson, Senior Vice President and Director of South Texas, HVS

Austin, Texas, United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

May 10, 2023

Travel Trends and Supply Changes for the Hawaii Lodging Market

Hawaii enacted some of the strictest travel measures in the United States in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A mandatory two-week quarantine was enforced in March 2020 for all travelers arriving to the Hawaiian Islands; this quarantine applied not only to out-of-state visitors, but also to local interisland travel. As a result, a majority of hotels and resorts suspended operations. In October 2020, a Safe Travels program was introduced, easing the quarantine for inbound travelers contingent upon a negative COVID-19 test result within three days prior to arrival. This policy, in addition to the outdoor living and lifestyle of the islands, contributed to Hawaii being perceived as a safe haven from the pandemic.

By John Berean, Managing Director, HVS

Hawaii, United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

May 9, 2023

U.S. Major Market RevPAR Rebounds in 2023

For the first time since the onset of the COVID pandemic, CBRE is forecasting the 2023 aggregate revenue per available room (RevPAR) for the nation’s 65 major markets to return to 2019 levels. In 2022, RevPAR recovered nationally but continued to lag in the major markets. According to the February 2023 edition of Hotel Horizons®, 88% of the 65 Horizons® markets are expected to have reached or surpassed their 2019 RevPAR levels by year-end 2023. This compares favorably to 2022 when just 58 of the Horizons® markets saw RevPAR return to 2019 performance levels. The eight markets lagging in recovery are in northern California, the upper-Midwest, and along the northeast corridor from Washington, D.C. through New York.1

By Lindsay Dyer, Senior Research Analyst, CBRE Hotels

United States

Opinion Article Finance

May 9, 2023

Impact of Recent Interest Rate Increases on Commercial Real Estate Transactions and Pricing

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the global economy, leading to widespread inflationary pressures. Governments around the world responded with unprecedented levels of fiscal and monetary support to stimulate their economies, the impact of which was felt months later as economies reopened and consumers once again began spending. This trend, along with supply chain issues, led to a noticeable increase in the cost of goods and services.In response to the inflationary pressures resulting from these factors, the United States Federal Reserve System (known as the Fed) has embarked on an interest rate-hike cycle in an effort to taper inflation. However, the rate increases have been the fastest in recent history, since the federal funds rate (FFR) reached a peak in 1980, as illustrated below by the sharper slope of the recent hike cycle.

By Luigi Major, Managing Director, Advisory of HVS Americas, HVS

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

May 8, 2023

International travel’s gradual return in an increasingly competitive global market

We are well into 2023, and the U.S. finally officially announced this week that it will be ending the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international air travelers on May 11, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. This announcement is especially symbolic as the U.S. was the last major market to have such a restriction in place

By Aaron Szyf, Economist, U.S. Travel Association

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

May 5, 2023

Kansas City’s Flourishing Demand Generators Bolster Hotel Interest

The Kansas City hotel market has rebounded following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and high levels of leisure demand and the return of convention activity have driven the recovery. Despite rising construction costs, a number of hotel developments are proposed in Kansas City, signaling an optimistic outlook for the market.

By Daniel P. McCoy and Benjamin Giebler

Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Ad AI Hospitality

Ernest - Lighthouse's AI for hoteliers

"Just tell me why my weekend pickup dropped." With Ernest, now you can ask your commercial data anything, and act on the answer.

Lighthouse

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

May 4, 2023

Dallas Hotel Development: A Success Story Amid the Pandemic Recovery

Within the hotel and lodging sector, Dallas’s popularity with visitors and its ability to attract new businesses have contributed to an unhesitating redemption. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, revenue per available room (RevPAR) in the greater Downtown Dallas area for 2022 rebounded to levels similar to 2019; however, the year-to-date period ending February 2023 shows RevPAR exceeding prior peak levels, as illustrated in the Kalibri Labs data below.

By Kathleen Donahue, Senior Managing Director and Practice Leader, HVS

Dallas, Texas, United States

Opinion Article Food & Beverage

May 4, 2023

Florida Jury Awards $5.6 MM For Alcohol-Fueled Pool Party Injury

A Florida jury awards $5.6 million for a spinal cord injury sustained during an alcohol-fueled pool party at the Retreat in Gainesville. According to the Complaint, the Defendant, Retreat at Gainesville, LLC, hosted a St. Patrick’s Day event and provided free beer at the Retreat on March 17, 2017. Promotional materials for the event encouraged attendees to bring their beer and did not mention any age restrictions.

By Preston Rideout, CEO of Rideout Hospitality, Founder of The Dram Shop Experts and Nightclub and Bar Consultant, Cayuga Hospitality Consultants

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

May 3, 2023

Incentive Management Fees Return with Recovery

Most management contracts include an incentive management fee in addition to the base management fee. The incentive fees are designed to make management more conscious of the bottom line since owners achieve their returns and pay their debts from profits, not revenue. Incentive management fees are earned by the operator once a designated profit threshold is achieved.

By Robert Mandelbaum and Tim Dick

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

May 1, 2023

The Travel Industry’s Vital Role in Bolstering Our Economy

The industry’s outsized role in bolstering the U.S. economy is clear. Direct travel spending totaled $1.2 trillion in 2022, which produced an economic footprint of $2.6 trillion—a return to 2019 levels. Travel directly employed 8 million Americans and supported nearly 15 million jobs.

By Aaron Szyf, Economist, U.S. Travel Association

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

April 28, 2023

Boise's Rise: Small Big City in the Convention Landscape

In 2022, Boise's convention industry flourished thanks to expanded Boise Airport routes. Despite lacking a large convention hotel, Boise hotels enjoyed a remarkable rise in RevPAR in 2022, with Downtown hotels surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Furthermore, Micron Technology's expansion and the city's growth in tech and commercial development bode well for Boise's economic future.

By Eileen Bosworth and Lauren Reynolds

Boise, Idaho, United States

Opinion Article Finance

April 24, 2023

Stay Innovative with Automated Hotel Processes

Automation in the hospitality industry continues to evolve and represents innovation at its finest. Automated processes promote hoteliers to build financial and operational success within hotels that are necessary to remain competitive in the market. Hoteliers can bring their focus back to guests by reducing tasks from their ever-growing to-do list by opting to use automated solutions.

By Shane Middleton, Strategic Partnership Manager, M3

United States

Opinion Article Development

April 24, 2023

Q1 2023 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey

With continued elevated levels of inflation and interest rates, and fears of an impending economic recession, the U.S. commercial real estate industry continues to find itself in choppy waters. The recent stunning and swift collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), and subsequent failures of Signature Bank (SB), and Credit Suisse Group AG (CS) has created a perceived credit crunch now rippling across the global financial system.

By Daniel Lesser, President & CEO, LW Hospitality Advisors LLC (LWHA)

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

April 20, 2023

Portsmouth, NH Shakes off Pandemic-Era Rust & Shows Promise for Future

Situated midway between Boston and Portland, picturesque Portsmouth features a waterfront downtown with a growing hotel market. This article serves as a primer on the market’s history, recent performance, and outlook.

By Erich Baum, Senior Vice President, HVS

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States

Opinion Article Operations & Strategy

April 20, 2023

Independent Hotels Have Largely Shed 'Inferiority Complex'

Between the 1950s and the year 2000, hotel owners wishing to expand business beyond their local community had two options.

By Thomas Magnuson, Co-Founder & CEO Magnuson Hotels, Magnuson Hotels

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

April 18, 2023

U.S. Waterparks Poised for More Growth Amid Robust Recovery

In 2022, waterpark owners and operators breathed a sigh of relief as the industry shifted back to normal in the wake of two years of uncertainty. With the pandemic a rearview concern in 2022, most waterparks continued their recovery to see attendance improve. This robust performance paved the way for new growth in all segments of the industry. Several large-scale projects planned for 2023 and beyond will alter the waterpark landscape at both indoor and outdoor waterparks. These projects will continue to encourage existing properties to innovate and update to keep market share.

By David Sangree, MAI, CPA, ISHC, is President of Hotel & Leisure Advisors, Hotel & Leisure Advisors (H&LA)

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

April 13, 2023

Nashville Q2 2023 Lodging Update

This article provides a brief update on the state of Nashville’s lodging market as of April 2023.

By Marc Greeley, Director, HVS Nashville, HVS

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Opinion Article Operations & Strategy

April 12, 2023

Hotel Conversions to Residential Use Heat Up

As economy and budget hotels are nearing the end of their economic life, some properties are finding new capital for renovations from buyers seeking to convert properties to residential use. In this article, we provide a sample list of hotels that have gone through this metamorphosis.

By Rodney Clough and Koby Kearney

United States

Opinion Article Markets & Performance

April 12, 2023

Destination Los Angeles: A Look at the Future of the Hotel Market

Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world, boasts a thriving tourism industry that draws millions of visitors every year. In this article, we will pinpoint the trends, innovations, upcoming events, and challenges that are shaping the future of the Los Angeles hotel industry.

By Kirsten Smiley and Aidan Martin

Los Angeles, California, United States

You have reached the last article

To discover more content beyond these 20 pages, please use our search feature or browse by category.

Technology 4 hours ago

RoomPriceGenie launches Portfolio Calendar to give hotel groups clearer control of revenue performance

RoomPriceGenie's Portfolio Calendar gives multi-property hotel groups a single dashboard view of occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, and pricing across all properties to streamline revenue oversight.

RoomPriceGenie

Steinhausen, Switzerland

Technology 5 hours ago

VDA Telkonet and Cloudbeds Announce Strategic Partnership to Connect Smart Room Automation with Cloud Hospitality Management

VDA Telkonet and Cloudbeds will integrate guestroom automation with Cloudbeds PMS to auto-trigger room settings at check-in, with commercial availability planned for Q1 2027.

Cloudbeds

Italy

Technology 6 hours ago

Avalora Introduces Cross-Platform Guest Intelligence™

Avalora launched Cross-Platform Guest Intelligence (CPGI) at The Hospitality Show in Miami Beach, an AI platform that aggregates guest interaction data across hotel systems to surface revenue and service insights.