Development
New projects, strategies and trends in hotel development. A look at the different facets of development from financing, franchising, management, real estate and REITs in relation to the lodging industry.
Financing
Strategies, trends and news in the financing of new hotel and resort development, acquisitions and renovations. How to obtain debt and equity for the financing of projects in the lodging industry.
CMBS Distress Resolutions Are No Easy Feat
Commercial real estate professionals have always known that resolving distressed CMBS debt situations would be difficult, given the multitude of properties and note holders involved in every deal. A recent debt restructuring completed on the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas proves just how tricky CMBS distress resolutions can get....
New Appraisal Method Could Limit Lending
If you‘re not a real estate appraiser, you’re probably unaware of a major catastrophe looming that could effectively eliminate all types of hotel financing, making it all but impossible to either build or sell a hotel. Under potential new governmental lending regulations, hotel appraisers will be forced to utilize an appraisal methodology that will lower their hotel valuations by as much as 40%, forcing borrowers to finance significantly less of their acquisition prices at greatly inflated interest rates. While this topic is somewhat technical, I will attempt to describe the issues in simple terminology....
Franchising/Membership
A look at the many different brands and resort and hotel branding companies that offer membership, franchising and collection opportunities in the lodging industry, including their fees and costs, marketing programs, management opportunities, brand standards and development and conversion opportunities.
Motel 6 Celebrates 50-Year Milestone
Fifty years go, homebuilders Paul Greene and William Becker built their first motel on the sandy shores of Santa Barbara’s Cabrillo Beach. That no-frills property offered rooms for just $6 per night. Today, 1,100 hotels in the Motel 6 chain still offer some of the lowest rates in the nation. In fact,...
Marriott's Lasting Legacy
Don’t ask Bill Marriott about his retirement. He’s not retiring and has no plans to. Ever. “I’ve seen too many people retire, get bored and die,” he says. He then leans forward, for emphasis it seems, and adds, “That’s not what I plan on doing,” before letting out a hearty laugh. ...
Management
Strategies, trends and news about third-party management companies and owner/operators. A look at the costs, approaches and contracts for hotel and resort managers in the lodging industry.
AWH Holdings Primes Lane Hotels for Growth
Bill DeForrest admits it wasn’t an industry secret that Lane Hotels was on the market. With the third generation of the family now involved in the business, the Lanes were looking to...
Lone Star Court Introduces Retro Motor Court Concept
What’s old is new, again. And now, the motor court is back. “The idea came from passing by old motor courts that were kind of run down and saying, 'Wouldn’t it be fun to buy one and fix it up?’” says Doyle A. Graham Jr., president of Valencia Group. ...
Real Estate
Strategies, trends and news into the lodging segment of commercial real estate. How to buy and sell hotel and resort real estate and a look at the transaction market, including the valuation process.
REITs
Real Estate Investment Trusts make up a major part of all lodging industry transactional activity. Strategies, trends and news about REITs as they continue to raise debt and equity capital with a focus on lodging investments.
Another Optimistic Outlook for the Hotel Business
While the pace of the hotel industry’s rebound may at times seem to be excruciatingly slow, it is very real, particularly if you look street corner by street corner. “I think we were all hoping for a quick rebound, but ...
Top Hotel Owners Survey
The June 2012 issue of Lodging Hospitality will include our Top Hotel Owners Survey. Please take a few moments to complete this short questionnaire....
Timeshare
A look at the timeshare and vacation ownership segments of the lodging industry, including their branding partnerships, marketing programs, membership and points programs and management , and development approaches and opportunities.
Vacation Ownership Goes Global
The vacation ownership is undergoing a renaissance following its abrupt downturn as a result of the global financial meltdown. Wall Street and other investors are again looking at timeshare in a positive light. And many companies are looking beyond North America for development opportunities....
