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David Eisen

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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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Wyndham links up with Ovolo Group to expand APAC network

🏨 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts expands with a strategic partnership with Ovolo Group, involving five hotels totaling 450 rooms in Australia and Hong Kong. In South Asia, Wyndham plans to add over 60 hotels by 2026 through a 10-year partnership with Cygnett Hotels & Resorts. This expansion taps into the growing lifestyle hotel market in Asia Pacific, projected to increase room supply by 34% by 2027. The Ovolo hotels, retaining their brand, join Wyndham's network later this fall.
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Wyndham runs into RevPAR wall but development is humming

📈 Q2 2025 saw Wyndham Hotels & Resorts experience a 3% global RevPAR decline YoY, with a 4% drop in the U.S. Despite challenges like interest rates and inflation, EMEA RevPAR rose 7%, and Latin America and the Caribbean saw an 18% increase. Wyndham expanded its room count by 4% YoY and pipeline by 5%, marking 20 consecutive quarters of growth. International net rooms grew 8%, with significant expansion in EMEA and South Asia.
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Hilton RevPAR turns negative in Q2 as CEO cites “noisy” environment

📈 Hilton's Q2 2025 saw global RevPAR down 0.5% and U.S. RevPAR down 1.5% compared to last year. CEO Chris Nassetta remains optimistic, expecting economic growth driven by AI and regulatory changes. Hilton opened 221 hotels with 26,000 rooms, including Waldorf Astoria New York. Their pipeline includes 510,000 rooms, with plans in Helsinki, Bali, New Delhi, Singapore, and Detroit. Conversions are significant, comprising a third of Q2 openings. China faces challenges but promises growth opportunities.
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Mid-Atlantic Tastemaker: Peter Fillat and his eponymous architecture firm succeed in and around home

🏨 In March 2025, Canal House, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel, opened in Georgetown, D.C., under Peter Fillat's FILLAT+ Architecture. The project adapted a vacant office building, maximizing guestroom density. Fillat's firm, based in the DMV area, leverages local expertise for streamlined project execution. Marriott CEO Tony Capuano attended the opening. Fillat emphasizes the impact of AI and technology in architecture, enhancing designs and client interactions. The hotel design blends hospitality and multifamily elements, creating engaging public spaces.
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