Market Trends

🏖️ Edinburgh, a major contributor to Scotland's tourism, recorded 4.98 million overnight trips in 2023, with visitors spending a total of £2 billion. The city's blend of historical and cultural offerings, alongside its capacity to host significant events, supports both leisure and business travel sectors, bolstering the Scottish economy.

🏨 Hourly hotel services are gaining popularity due to demands for flexibility, on-demand experiences, and appeal to a broader audience, including travelers, remote workers, locals, and businesses. Top spaces for hourly bookings include meeting and co-working spaces, wellness and fitness facilities, parking spaces, and recreational equipment rentals. This approach increases revenue per available square meter, diversifies income streams for financial stability, and enhances guest satisfaction and brand loyalty. Hotels utilizing hourly bookings can better meet the personalized and convenient needs of guests, positioning themselves as adaptable and guest-centric.

🏨 In Arlington, Virginia, negative year-over-year hotel performance was reported through February 8, 2025. Occupancy decreased by 0.5% to 55.9%, ADR by 2.2% to $156.03, and RevPAR by 2.7% to $87.22. Notably, New Orleans saw the largest increases due to Super Bowl LIX, with occupancy up 13.6% to 74.2%, ADR up 107.1% to $485.52, and RevPAR up 135.2% to $360.46. Conversely, Las Vegas experienced the steepest declines from the previous year's Super Bowl LVIII period, with occupancy down 16.8% to 63.9%, ADR down 54.9% to $183.20, and RevPAR down 62.5% to $117.10.

📌 SV Hotel to take over six Marriott International hotels in Germany from April 2025, including four Moxy hotels and two Residence Inn by Marriott in Berlin, Dortmund, Dresden, Essen. The deal expands SV Hotel's portfolio from 23 to 29 properties, reinforcing their market presence in strategic German regions like North Rhine-Westphalia. In May, SV Hotel will open a second Stay KooooK hotel in Munich; December sees the first Moxy Hotel in Zurich. More openings planned for 2026.

📌 At the Extended Stay Lodging Association (ESLA) event in Atlanta, hotel executives discussed the growth of the extended-stay segment, highlighting operating margins up to 65%. David Wilner of Wyndham emphasized brand commitment, while Robert Scribner of Choice Hotels and Frank McFadden of Hilton focused on market demands and pricing sensitivity. Ron Stewart of Marriott and Jason Ballard of Hyatt stressed brand selection based on loyalty programs and market presence. Challenges discussed included municipal restrictions and the need for industry education. Arturo Jimenez of Ark Hospitality and Doug Artusio of ESLA and Dellisart Hospitality offered operational advice, underscoring continuous improvement and the profitability of the economy extended-stay model.

📈 Cendyn and Amadeus reported Q4 2024's Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index with a health metric of 108.2%, the highest in four quarters. Notable markets include Tampa (121.4%), Houston (120.6%), Miami (116.8%), NYC (112.0%), and Chicago (111.6%). Group performance in Houston reached 124.0%, while overall GDS grew by 112.3% with a 9.8% increase in room nights. Events volume hit 115.2%, and the average event size remained at 127 guests, using 3,410 square feet of space.

🏨 By the end of the year, IHG's Crowne Plaza aims to have 70% of its Americas locations updated with the “New Modern” design. Renovations include flexible workspaces, social hubs, and upgraded guest rooms. Key renovations: Crowne Plaza Virginia Beach Town Center's 148 rooms and public areas, Louisville Airport Expo Center's 588 rooms and 50,000 sq ft event space, Seattle – Downtown's 418 rooms and 10,000 sq ft meeting space, Niagara Falls NY – Riverside's 141 rooms, and Orlando – Downtown's 227 rooms and 8,000 sq ft event space. Expansion plans involve adding over 36,000 rooms across nearly 150 hotels, a 35% room count increase, including a 22-story Times Square hotel and properties in Mexico City and Saint John, New Brunswick.

🎶 In September, Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown completed a transformation which included redesigning all 494 guestrooms and suites, revamping meeting and event venues, adding communal spaces, and improving F&B experiences. The project was managed by Looney & Associates and is part of Sheraton Hotels' global brand revitalization. It aims to create a welcoming atmosphere for both guests and locals, integrating contemporary aesthetics with Southern hospitality, and including design features like a communal table with built-in outlets and local art installations.