Market Trends

🏨 Hunter Advisors closed $367.8 million in economy extended-stay hotel transactions across 51 hotels in 2025. With 10 properties under contract worth $78 million anticipated to close in Q1 2026, the firm expects continued strong activity. Led by David Perrin and Chase Perry, the focus is on connecting buyers and sellers for strategic decisions. Despite selective lending conditions, extended-stay hotels remain highly sought after for their stability and long-term performance potential.

📈 Shiji's 2025 Guest Experience Benchmark Report shows global guest satisfaction at 86.7%, up 0.5 percentage points from 2024. Based on 40 million reviews from 12,000 hotels, the report highlights a 2.1% increase in review volume. Google review volume rose 15.7% year-over-year. Growth is led by 3-star and 4-star hotels, with luxury segment growth slowing. The Middle East leads with 0.8 percentage point GRI growth. Asia ranks highest at 89.4% GRI, followed by Central America at 87.1%.

📰 Australia 2026: Hospitality trends reveal high operating costs, strong domestic travel, and a mix of properties. The focus is on personalization using real-time guest data to enhance bookings and on-property spending. Unified tech stacks are vital due to staff shortages, while privacy remains crucial amid recent data breaches. Revinate's platform supports over 12,500 hotels driving $17.2 billion in direct revenue. Strategies prioritize guest experience and real-time data utilization over merely increasing tech tools.

🏨 Short-term rentals and hotels coexist since Airbnb's 2008 launch. In April 2024, short-term rental supply in North American spring break destinations surged before dropping as demand ebbed. In Istanbul, 2024 regulations cut supply by 38%, with 82.29% of rentals owned by multi-property owners by January 2025. Mexico City has 57% "hotel-like" rentals, compared to New York City's stricter enforcement. Hoteliers can differentiate by emphasizing amenities such as gyms and safety features, which short-term rentals often lack.

🏈 Five Australian cities saw hotel performance spikes during the Men's Ashes series (Nov 2025 - Jan 2026). Perth led with 96% occupancy on 22 Nov. Adelaide reported the highest ADR (AUD435.05) and RevPAR (AUD408.92) on 18 Dec. Brisbane's occupancy hit 90.4% on 4 Dec. Melbourne peaked on 28 Dec with 92.3% occupancy. Sydney's top metrics were on 4 Jan with 79.4% occupancy. These gains highlight the series' impact on local hospitality.

🏨 Canada’s hotel industry achieved record performance in 2025. Occupancy increased by 0.7% to 66.1%, ADR rose 3.5% to CAD216.10, and RevPAR grew 4.2% to CAD142.89. British Columbia led with 70.4% occupancy, ADR of CAD257.03, and RevPAR of CAD180.92. Vancouver topped major markets with 78.4% occupancy and RevPAR of CAD223.05, despite a 0.1% rate decline. Montreal faced declines in occupancy (-4.5%) and RevPAR (-2.8%). CoStar Group tracked 90,000+ properties and 11.8 million rooms.

🎯 Sports tourism is projected to exceed $2 trillion by 2032, while wellness tourism is set to surpass $10 billion by 2030. Research involving 12,000 travelers across 20 markets reveals 47% travel for wellness, 20% for sports, and 33% for both. In the UK, 53% pursue sports for passion, 52% for live events, and 53% seek wellness for relaxation. Globally, 56% hold travel-related card benefits; 79% are influenced by travel interests. In the UK, 45% feel premium benefits enhance travel.

🗺 Jan 22, 2026: Travel advisors cater to affluent, experience-driven travelers—mostly over 40 and high-income—favoring personalized service over price. Despite economic uncertainties, agency sales outpace the overall travel market. Luxury and bespoke travel segments grow rapidly, while Gen Z and millennials lean towards OTAs for transparency. Hoteliers benefit from nurturing advisor relationships, focusing on unique experiences to attract high-value demand, as highlighted in Phocuswright’s U.S. Travel Agency Landscape 2025 report.

🏨 Jan 22, 2026: Incentive travel is reshaping hotel demand with higher ADRs, extended stays, and increased on-property spend. This segment is less price-sensitive, favoring experiential destinations and cultural access. Growth is notable in Asia-Pacific, driven by experience quality. Sustainability and tech integration influence decisions, with hotels offering personalized, app-enabled experiences gaining an edge. Innovative packaging of experiences and flexible options enhances appeal, aligning with the trend towards experience-driven travel.