Market Trends

🏖️ Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve set to open in early 2025 in Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, will be the first in Central and South America. With 107 ocean-facing rooms and suites, plus three luxury treetop tents, it joins eight global locations. Including a 872 square-foot base room size, one- and two-bedroom suites, a four-bedroom Grand Villa, and 36 private residences, the resort offers a 10-bedroom luxury home called Villa Guayacan. The dining options feature a signature restaurant by chef Diego Muñoz and various other culinary experiences. The 27,000 square-foot spa and wellness center includes a hydrotherapy pool and private cabanas. Guests can enjoy the 250-acre Palmares Preserve, watersports, and an Arnold Palmer Signature golf course.

🏨 Sandpiper Hospitality manages the new Everhome Suites Cheyenne in Wyoming, offering 114 suites with fully equipped kitchens. The pet-friendly hotel features a fitness center, free WiFi, and a Homebase Market. It's located near Francis Warren Air Force Base and Cheyenne Regional Hospital. The company also plans to open two hotels in Texas in early 2025, partnering with Choice Hotels International and Highside Companies.

🏨 U.S. hotel transaction volume peaked at $45.7 billion in 2015, then dropped to $8.1 billion in 2020 due to COVID-19 and recovered to $42.5 billion in 2022. September 2024 saw the Federal Reserve cut rates by 50 basis points, the first reduction since 2020, followed by a third consecutive cut in December to 4.25%-4.5%. Portfolio sales decreased to 8.3% of total volume in Q3 2024. SOFR is forecasted to fall to 3% during 2025-2027. Construction costs increased by 4.10% in Q2 2024, contributing to limited hotel development, with an increase in supply unlikely before late 2027 or early 2028.

🎐 "A Bamboo Sanctuary" wins Dezeen Awards China 2024 Interiors Project of the Year at a ceremony in Shanghai. The project also secures Home Interior of the Year, praised for its layout, size control, and material planning. Seven winners from five different cities, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Xiamen, and Shanghai, are announced. Entries judged by Kuang Ming Chou, Vera Chu, Vincent de Graaf, Wendy Saunders, and Dirk Zscherpe. The awards, in partnership with Bentley, highlight design that aims to improve the world.

🌸 Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will open Rosewood Miyakojima in Okinawa's Ryuku Islands, the first for Japan, on March 1, 2025. Accepting reservations, the luxury resort features 55 villas and three houses on a peninsula overlooking Oura Bay with a beach. Facilities include four restaurants and bars, an infinity pool, a spa with six treatment rooms, fitness center, and kids' club. Activities offered embrace local culture and environmental education. Rosewood manages 33 properties in 21 countries, emphasizing local history and culture.

🏕 Tui plans significant growth in Asia, aiming to more than double its portfolio of own brand hotels. Currently operating 18 hotels across six Asian countries, including resorts in the Maldives, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. New projects include Tui Blue and Tui Suneo brands, targeting a 2025 launch in China. Additionally, a new luxury brand, 'The Mora,' is being developed for Bali. Tui opened its first hotels in China and Malaysia in 2024 and expanded into Vietnam with Tui Blue Berawa. Tui's presence also includes Tui Blue Maduzi Bangkok in Thailand. Partnership-based expansions under management or franchise agreements are set for 2025. The strategy aims to cater to Asia's growing middle class and diversify Tui's global customer base, reducing dependency on the European market.

📍 Travel-tech specialist Travelier, in partnership with Skift, reported a $198 billion ground and sea transportation market within the $3 trillion global travel industry. The sector encompasses buses, ferries, trains, and intercity transfers but excludes urban metros and ride-hailing. There are over 170,000 stations worldwide, with Asia being the fastest-growing region. Despite a preference for planning trips online by 82% of travellers, only 24% of bookings are made digitally. The report highlights trains leading at $102.2 billion, buses at $77.4 billion, and ferries at $18.4 billion in market size. Digital adoption is accelerating, with the potential for substantial growth in South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

📈 The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Cvent announced a three-year partnership, making Cvent AHLA's silver premier partner and event registration technology platform. Cvent will support AHLA's trade shows, conferences, and provide industry insights. AHLA COO Kevin Carey and Cvent Head of Hospitality Bharet Malhotra expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. Cvent will manage registration, diagramming, attendee management, and more for AHLA events such as ForWard, Night of a Thousand Stars, and The Hospitality Show.

🏕 Hotel Equities selected to operate Postcard Cabins, acquired by Marriott International earlier this month. The U.S.-based cabins are part of Marriott's expansion into outdoor hospitality. Postcard Cabins, formerly Getaway Outposts, comprises 29 properties with over 1,200 cabins, located within two hours of major cities and feature private amenities. Cabins will join Marriott Bonvoy by 2025. Trailborn, with 559 rooms across five locations, will also join Marriott’s outdoor collection. Outdoor hospitality's popularity surged post-pandemic, offering significant growth opportunities.

🏡 The Newt boasts 42 guest rooms within a sprawling 1,000+ acre estate. With an average daily rate (ADR) of $2,000 and an occupancy rate of about 85% year-round, its annual room revenue reaches approximately $26,061,000. Factoring in additional streams like restaurant, product, event, and membership revenue, it's estimated to gross around $40 million USD annually, essentially breaking even. Recently, The Newt earned the top spot on the 'Top 50 Boutique Hotels in the World' list. Potential profits could reach $10-20 million+ if costs were cut, but that would compromise The Newt's unique character.