Market Trends

🏨 Europe's hotel construction pipeline, as of Q4 2024, includes 1,661 projects with 244,464 rooms. The distribution is 736 projects under construction (112,904 rooms), 415 projects to start in the next 12 months (59,719 rooms), and 510 projects in early planning (71,841 rooms). In Q2 2021, Europe saw 169 hotels (24,472 rooms) open, coinciding with the Olympic demand. Upscale (352 projects/54,687 rooms), upper-midscale (322 projects/47,634 rooms), and upper upscale (276 projects/43,428 rooms) segments lead, comprising 57% of projects and 60% of rooms. Property conversions increased by 26% to 520 projects (61,550 rooms). The UK, Germany, Turkey, France, and Portugal account for 49% of pipeline projects and 46% of rooms; with London (77 projects/14,820 rooms) and Istanbul (49 projects/7,903 rooms) having the largest pipelines. The Hard Rock Hotel Athens Riviera, due in 2027 with 1,000 rooms, is a notable development. In Q4 2024, Europe saw 59 new hotels (7,368 rooms), with 342 hotels (48,564 rooms) expected in 2025 and 399 hotels (51,964 rooms) in 202

🏦 Marriott International announced 67 room agreements for about 8,000 rooms in the CALA region in 2024. 30 new properties were added, expanding to 528 properties across 37 countries by year-end. The company celebrated its 500th CALA property with Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort opening. Marriott’s CALA pipeline includes 183 properties, representing 27,817 rooms. The luxury segment signed 11 deals and anticipates openings like Salterra, St. Regis Punta Cana, and W Punta Cana in 2025. Marriott entered the all-inclusive market in 2019, now with 36 properties across nine markets and 19 all-inclusive properties in the global pipeline (15 in CALA). Post-City Express acquisition in 2023, Marriott boasts 153 open and 53 pipeline properties globally. Costa Rica and Dominican Republic are key growth markets with numerous developments and openings planned for 2025.

🌾 Salon International de l'Agriculture 2025 in Paris attracted 607,000+ visitors, up by 0.64%. Despite this, Paris Region hotels didn't mirror this success; 2024 hotel performance was better with RevPAR increasing by 2.8% from 2023.

🏢 Trainline Partner Solutions (TPS) research indicates that 60% of 1,001 surveyed UK Gen Z professionals are willing to engage in 'slower business travel' to decrease carbon footprint. 75% would prefer lower-carbon options if supported by company policies. However, just 44% report current company encouragement for sustainable travel methods. Career growth is important, with 94% valuing business travel for advancement, and 65% expecting its increased significance in their careers. Nearly 90% are concerned about travel's carbon impact; 37% experience a personal conflict due to environmental concerns, and 59% fear missing opportunities by cutting travel. Andrew Cruttenden of TPS comments on the necessity for the business travel sector to adapt to Gen Z's sustainability focus.

🏢 As of November 2024, the U.S. has 1,264 properties with 151,129 guestrooms under construction, constituting 2.6% of existing hotel room inventory. This is the lowest since August 2022. Upper-midscale and upscale categories dominate the new builds at 50.7% of rooms. Upper-upscale and luxury categories are at 10.7% and 5.3% respectively, while midscale and economy projects account for 15%. Nashville's construction pipeline represents 7.2% of its market's existing supply. A significant number of new rooms, totaling 190,464, are slated to open in 2026, exceeding the 105,957 in 2025 and 106,070 in 2027.

🏠 HEI Hotels & Resorts has taken over Claremont Resort & Club Berkeley management, expanding its U.S. portfolio to 103 properties. Owned by Ohana Real Estate Investors, the Berkeley, Calif. hotel features 276 rooms, 21,000 square feet of meeting space, and views of San Francisco Bay. The resort boasts the Spa at Claremont, Limewood restaurant, The Club at the Claremont with eight tennis courts, four pickleball courts, three outdoor pools, and a fitness facility. James Cole and HEI CEO Anthony Rutledge express excitement for the partnership and future enhancements.

🏠 Abdul Baaghil, co-founder of Harvest Cotton Tail, discusses authenticity in hospitality on March 6, 2025. The episode, supported by Sojern, aims to engage hoteliers in direct bookings and revenue retention through a transparent commission model. Listeners are encouraged to share insights to benefit their teams and businesses. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound accompanies the podcast.