LODGING Staff

🏨 Marriott International reported first-quarter 2025 results from Bethesda, Maryland. Worldwide RevPAR increased by 4.1%, with a 3.3% rise in the U.S. and Canada, and a 5.9% jump internationally. The company's diluted EPS was $2.39, adjusted diluted EPS $2.32, net income reached $665 million, and adjusted net income was $645 million. Adjusted EBITDA hit $1,217 million. Marriott added approximately 12,200 net rooms, indicating a 4.6% growth from the previous year's first quarter. The worldwide development pipeline featured 3,800 properties and over 587,000 rooms, expanding by 7.4% year-over-year. Share repurchases totaled $0.8 billion in the quarter, with $1.2 billion returned to shareholders through buybacks and dividends to date. Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program grew to nearly 237 million members. CEO Anthony Capuano mentioned the acquisition of citizenM brand and projected a full-year 2025 net rooms growth of around 5%.

🏡 Choice Hotels International celebrated the Ascend Collection brand reaching over 400 hotels globally since its inception in 2008. The “Ascend Collection” now has a streamlined name and a new logo. It boasts 423 hotels with more than 70 in development. In 2024, room numbers surged by over 40% compared to 2023, with expansion into markets such as Washington, D.C., Park City, Utah, Vancouver, Mexico City, Queensland, and Calama. The upscale portfolio of Choice Hotels grew by 44% in 2024 to over 110,000 rooms, representing nearly 20% of its offerings. A revamped ChoiceHotels.com and mobile app in December 2024 led to a 16% rise in direct upscale hotel bookings.