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David Eisen

63 posts
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  • 5 min

From ICE to cap rates, hoteliers have an opinion

🏨 The triannual meeting of the Lodging Industry Investment Council took place at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in January. Hilton deflagged a Minneapolis hotel for refusing ICE agents, with 83% of LIIC members agreeing hotels should accommodate them. In 2025, U.S. hotel transactions totaled $24 billion, a 17.5% increase from 2024, yet lower than the 2015 peak of $45.7 billion. Hotel cap rates hovered above 5%, with predictions of staying flat or rising in 2026.
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  • 8 min

Out of the past: Gilda Perez-Alvarado drives Orient Express down the track

🛡️ Gilda Perez-Alvarado, CEO of Orient Express for Accor since 2023, is leading the revival of the historic brand. Accor acquired full ownership of Orient Express by 2022 and opened the Orient Express La Minerva hotel in Rome in 2025. Plans include a Venice property debut in 2026 and a Caribbean yacht launch in 2023. Perez-Alvarado, influenced by her childhood in Costa Rica and her hotel industry background, aims to honor the brand’s rich history through these new ventures.
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Wyndham Hotels chief talks up AI as a moneymaker, cost saver

📈 In Q4 2025, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts spotlighted AI's role in cost savings and direct booking enhancements. Their $425 million AI investment includes Wyndham Connect, which handled 885,000 upsell requests and self-served 25% of inquiries in 2025. A Howard Johnson in Anaheim earned $120,000 annually through this system. Despite AI advancements, global RevPAR decreased by 6% in Q4, with a 4% drop in the U.S. for 2025. System-wide rooms grew 4% YOY. Revo's bankruptcy led to a $160 million write-down.
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