The connection between real estate and the hospitality industry
Hospitality and real estate are two sides of the same coin. At its core, hospitality is about providing service and experiences to guests, but it all starts with real estate. Hotels, resorts and vacation rentals are all real estate investments. Without the right property, there’s no hospitality business to run.
Real estate decisions are critical to the success of a hospitality business because they determine a property’s potential for growth, income and long-term value. A well-located, well-designed hotel or resort can generate significant returns. But it’s not just about location and design, it’s also about how efficiently the property is run.
Operational decisions, such as pricing strategies, guest experience and cost management, all impact the bottom line and can ultimately affect the value of the property itself.
For investors, hospitality real estate is not limited to collecting rent or watching property values increase over time—it also involves actively managing the asset to improve its performance. Investors who understand hospitality trends, such as customer preferences, the rise of eco-tourism and shifts in business travel, can make smarter decisions about where and how to invest.
At the same time, professionals with a background in hospitality can gain an edge by applying their operational knowledge to real estate investment. For example, by understanding what guests want and how to create exceptional experiences, they can identify properties with untapped potential and manage them more effectively to maximize returns.
One example is Laetitia Dreux, a Glion alumna who made a successful career shift from hospitality finance to real estate investment. After more than a decade in senior finance roles at a number of hotels in Paris, she brought her industry knowledge into the property sector, which gave her a clear edge when identifying high-performing assets and managing them with both guest experience and investor returns in mind.
In essence, real estate is the foundation of hospitality and professionals who understand both sides of the equation are best positioned to succeed.
