Market Trends

💰 Choice Hotels International, Inc. reported a 16% rise in net income to $299.7 million for 2024, with a 22% increase in EPS to $6.20. Adjusted EBITDA hit $604.1 million, up 12%. Adjusted diluted EPS grew 13% to $6.88. Global rooms grew 3.3%; domestically, upscale, extended stay, and midscale rooms went up by 4.3%. The company opened 407 hotels, marking a 21% increase. A partnership with Westgate Resorts added 21 hotels and 14,471 rooms. Domestic RevPAR rose 4.5% for Q4. The company repurchased 3.1 million shares for $382.1 million and forecasts 2025 net income of $288-$300 million, with adjusted EBITDA between $625-$640 million.

🏨 The National Landing Hotel in Arlington, Va., formerly Marriott Crystal City, is undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, set to complete in May. The 347-room hotel will feature a new exterior, modernized rooms, public spaces, a restaurant and lounge. It stays open during renovations and will join Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio post-update. The redesign aligns with the National Landing district, including Amazon’s HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus. Amenities include a 24/7 fitness center and 8,500 sq ft of event space. Located near Crystal City Metro and Reagan National Airport, it offers access to Washington D.C. landmarks and the upcoming National Landing Water Park Food Hall.

🏨 Radisson Hotel Group expands in Spain with Radisson RED Malaga (102 rooms, opening Q2 2027) and Radisson Resort & Residences Tenerife (242 units, opening Q4 2025). In Portugal, Radisson RED Porto Gaia (250 rooms, opening early 2027) and Radisson Blu Hotel Lisbon renovation (starting 2025) announced. Over 10 properties operational or in development, targeting urban and leisure destinations across Spain and Portugal, such as Balearic Islands, Costa del Sol, Canary Islands, Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville, Malaga, San Sebastián, and Valencia. These projects align with Radisson's strategy to increase Iberian presence and enhance guest experiences.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, has a long-standing track record in food journalism. He wrote for The New York Sun from 2005-2008 and was a part of the New York City food scene. Before joining NRN, Thorn spent five years in Thailand writing for Manager magazine and Asia Times. He received a BA in history from Tufts University and studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Thorn was in Beijing in 1989, covering the Tiananmen Square protests for ABC News. His work earned him the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and an induction into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. Thorn currently resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

🏡 In Phoenix, Arizona, JLL arranged a $29.5 million refinancing for The Maxwell Hotel, a 139-key boutique hotel in Seattle, Washington's Queen Anne neighborhood. The 10-year, fixed-rate loan was secured through a regional credit union for borrower Staypineapple. The Maxwell Hotel, opened in 2010, includes modern amenities, an indoor pool, fitness center, restaurant, bar, and 1,600 square feet of meeting space. Located near Seattle Center, Space Needle, and Climate Pledge Arena, it caters to business and leisure travelers. JLL's team, led by Adrienne Andrews and Jessica Mehra, highlighted the hotel's strong cash flow and prime location. Staypineapple President Dina Belon praised JLL for their expertise and finding a lender that matched their vision.

🏨 Henderson Park and Atream acquired a portfolio of five Novotel Suites hotels with 645 rooms in Paris (Issy-les-Moulineaux, Montreuil, Saint-Denis), Lille, and Cannes. The hotels were built between 2000 and 2011 and have been poorly invested in due to fragmented management. The acquisition included the properties and simultaneous operations transfer. Henderson Park plans a modernization program in line with the Paris Agreement goals for 2050. The hotels will continue to be managed by Accor with new contracts. This acquisition augments Henderson Park’s global portfolio, which totals over 11,000 rooms.