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David Eisen

109 posts
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  • 3 min

Not your father’s Hilton

🏨 Hilton, a 106-year-old company founded in 1919 in Cisco, Texas, has expanded to 24 brands and over 200 million loyalty members. The newly opened Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key, a 36-story hotel in Arlington, Virginia, exemplifies Hilton's refreshed identity. The hotel features 331 guestrooms, 28,000 sq ft of event space, and a signature 36th-floor venue. Key changes include a decentralized lobby and handheld steamers replacing irons. It’s a 15-minute drive from Hilton’s global headquarters in McLean, Virginia.
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Summer camp is over for lodging companies

🏨 The Lodging Conference, held annually at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, focuses on hotel industry trends. The industry is shifting from asset ownership and operations to specializing in franchising. JLL reports a 4.6 percentage point increase in global franchised hotels in the past 18 months, indicating a trend towards professionalization and growth of third-party management companies like Aimbridge. The change highlights a move from diverse operations to a singular, focused strategy.
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  • 2 min

Global hotel deals remained stunted in the first half of 2025. Could the second half be different?

🏨 Global hotel transaction volume in H1 2025 was $24.5 billion, down 17.5% from H1 2024 and over 30% from 2019. There were 600 transactions, 16.7% less than in H1 2024. The U.S. accounted for over half, with transaction volume at $9.7 billion, up nearly 4% from H1 2024. Global RevPAR saw uneven performance, with Middle East/Africa leading at 9.3% growth. JLL anticipates muted supply growth due to high construction costs.
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Soho House put private members’ clubs on the map. Now, it’s going private.

💰 Soho House, founded by Nick Jones in 1995, expanded to over 45 locations with 200,000 members. In 2021, it went public as Membership Collective Group after U.S. billionaire Ron Burkle acquired it in a £250-million deal in 2012. Now going private again, MCR Hotels leads a $2.7-billion acquisition. Ashton Kutcher joins the board, Neil Thomson becomes CFO, and shares are valued at $9 each—a 17.8% premium. MCR's Tyler Morse aims for sustainable growth and member experiences.
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  • 8 min

Luxury hotels are more expensive than ever to build. It doesn’t mean they aren’t getting done.  

📈 U.S. luxury hotel development costs exceed $1 million per room, with average daily rates at $398. Higher interest and operating costs hinder new projects. Marriott's 69% of luxury developments mix residential and hotel spaces, like W Pompano Beach, slated for 2027. Four Seasons plans 180 properties by 2033. Global luxury hotel openings increased from 140 in 2024 to 255 in 2025, particularly in Asia. Conversion projects are favored for cost efficiency.
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Highside draws loan package from Apollo to fuel Everhome Suites expansion

💸 Highside Companies secures a $500 million financing package from Apollo to expand Everhome Suites, a Choice Hotels brand. The deal supports 35 projects over five years across the U.S., enhancing Highside's $1 billion active projects in North America. Founded in 2019, Highside aims to build a $2 billion extended-stay portfolio. This financing, reported at the ExStay Conference near Washington, D.C., highlights the growing demand for extended-stay accommodations.
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Eternal Charm: The St. Regis Rome drives performance through heritage and innovation

🏨 1894: César Ritz and Auguste Escoffier, with a London consortium, opened The Grand Hotel in Rome. Now, as The St. Regis Rome, it features 138 rooms and 23 suites. General Manager Giuseppe De Martino, named Italian Hotel GM of 2024 by EHMA, emphasizes hospitality connections with a personal butler service. Acquired in 2014 by Constellation Hotels, it operates under Marriott. Since 2018, a partnership with Galleria Continua has boosted revenue through art installations, drawing locals and tourists.
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Marriott’s hotels overseas are thriving. Its the ones here where there’s trouble.

📈 Marriott International's Q2 international RevPAR increased by 5.3%, contrasting with a 0.1% decline in the U.S. and Canada. Global RevPAR rose 1.5% year-over-year. Marriott expects 1-2.5% full-year growth. The development pipeline reached a record 590,000 rooms, with 40% under construction. Deal signings grew 35%. Marriott plans to open 27 luxury properties this year. It launched the Series by Marriott brand targeting midscale hotels. The Marriott Media Network was also announced, leveraging the Bonvoy loyalty program.
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Extended-stay hotels are here for the long haul. It’s why brands are crowding in.

🏨 Crystal City, May 2025: Extended-stay hotels boast 611,000 rooms in the U.S., over 10% of total room supply, and are expected to generate $20 billion in revenue. Notable brands in this segment include Homewood Suites, Residence Inn, and newcomers like LivSmart Studios and StudioRes. Q4 2024 saw occupancy exceed 70% for extended-stays compared to 60% for traditional hotels. Noble Investment targets 100 properties, while Choice Hotels secured a $500-million loan for Everhome Suites expansion.
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Accor bucks trend with positive RevPAR gains, but acknowledges tough operating climate

📈 Accor's RevPAR rose 4.6% in H1 2025 and by 4.1% in Q2, missing a 4.7% forecast. The Luxury & Lifestyle division saw a 7% RevPAR rise, with Fairmont and Sofitel leading. A 3% RevPAR increase occurred in luxury, and 12% in lifestyle. The Europe North Africa region grew 3.3%, driven by France. Accor opened 117 hotels (15,000 rooms) and posted a €233 million net profit. Revenue rose 5.1% in H1 2025.
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