April 15, 2011
FORUM
Hoteliers Have Plenty to Worry About
The hotel industry is grappling with a lot of issues these days: the still-weak consumer economy, stagnant rate growth, worries over potentially restrictive legislation in Washington and in state capitals, and political conditions and natural events beyond its control. Here are a few other concerns that could derail the ongoing recovery in the lodging business:...
CHECK IN
Hotel Distress Buys: ‘There’s Something for Everyone Right Now’
The Ashford Hospitality Trust joint-venture acquisition of Highland Hospitality’s 28-hotel portfolio earlier this month reveals how far the hotel transaction market has come. The $1.28 billon deal alone was more than half the $2.1 billion transacted in the Americas through all of 2009, according to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, which tracks asset sales $10 million and higher....
Low Cap Rates a Result of Projected Recovery
We’ve recently seen a number of hotel transactions showing capitalization rates below 5%. In fact, some major transactions were yielding cap rates of only 2% to 3%. In the past, the standard hotel cap rate generally ranged from 8% to 12%. Why are cap rates so much lower today and is a cap rate the best way to value a hotel?...
The Online Travel Agency Conundrum
Since 2008, U.S. hotels have lost approximately $8 billion in market value. At the same time, online travel agency giant Expedia has gained about $4 billion in market value. The Expedia organization includes Hotwire, Trip Advisor and Hotels.com, in addition to the Expedia brand. What’s been bad news for hotel owners has been good for Expedia shareholders. Are the opposite trends related? ...
FEATURES
Cosmopolitan Reaches New Heights in Vegas
It’s almost hidden, tucked down a long hallway on the third floor of the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The small pizza place without a name or storefront serves the best ...
Design Awards: High Honors
From the towering 54-story L.A. Live project all the way down to the eight-story Padre Hotel in Bakersfield, CA, this year’s Design Award winners all stand out. Lodging Hospitality editors chose five projects to honor that displayed innovative, effective and creative architecture and design....
BACK OF HOUSE
Behind the Scenes April 2011
Operational insight to help keep your hotel running at full speed....
Products April 2011
Innovations in hotel products and services....
Vender News April 2011
Roundup of personnel and company moves and news for lodging manufacturers and providers....
