LODGING Staff

📈 JLL's forecast shows a 15-25% rise in global hotel investment volume in 2025 compared to 2024. In 2024, global hotel investment volume was $57.3 billion, up 7% from 2023 but 17% below historical levels. Global hotel demand hit 4.8 billion room nights through November, with RevPAR growth at 4%. Private equity was the top hotel buyer, with increased activity from high-net-worth individuals, REITs, and newcomers. The luxury and select-service sectors are likely to be favored in 2025. Key future trends include a focus on lifestyle hotels, the growth of branded residences, emerging markets like India and Saudi Arabia, and the strategic use of AI in hotel operations.

🏨 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, under CEO Geoff Ballotti, marked 2024 with significant milestones, including the introduction of the 25th brand, ECHO Suites Extended Stay, which achieved up to 80% occupancy shortly after opening and now accounts for 14% of development pipeline. The company also launched WaterWalk Extended Stay and Wyndham Residences in the U.S., and expanded Microtel in India, targeting 40 hotels by 2031. Globally, 12 brands entered 22 new markets. Wyndham Connect, an AI tool, is in use at 2,000 North American hotels, increasing revenue and enhancing guest experience. Additionally, the refreshed Wyndham Business platform and Wyndham Rewards program expansion offer new benefits. BOLD and Women Own the Room programs facilitated over 100 deals with nearly 40 hotels now open. The 50th anniversary of Super 8 was celebrated with Innov8te 2.0 room design and a sweepstakes.

📈 Marriott International in 2024 achieved record global growth with 123,000 gross room openings and a 6.8% net rooms growth. The development pipeline ended with over 577,000 rooms. The luxury portfolio reached 658 properties across 74 countries, with 61 new luxury deals and 266 upcoming openings. Deal signings with owners and developers surpassed 1,200, an average of over three deals per day, totaling nearly 162,000 rooms. 34% of 2024 room signings came from conversions. Marriott's affordable midscale segment plans expansion in the Americas and internationally with 153 open properties and 53 in the pipeline. The branded residential segment marked its 25th year with 142 open locations, 138 in development, and $2.1 billion in 2024 residential sales revenue. Outdoor lodging and apartment-style accommodations expanded, including the acquisition of Postcard Cabins brand and a licensing agreement with Sonder Holdings. Marriott closed 2024 with over 9,300 properties in 144 countries, breaking records in signings and pipeline growth across regions including the United States, Canada, Asia Pacific, Greater China, Caribbean, Latin America, and the EMEA region.