Market Trends

🛫 In APAC, with travel demand reducing post-pandemic, brands are shifting from acquisition to retention, focusing on trust-building and loyalty. A report highlights strategies in Singapore, Australia, and China, emphasizing partnerships and multi-channel visibility. Key facts: Travel slowdown leads to 65% retention focus and 64% brand-building; 74% use comparison sites, 66% consult OTAs, and 31% social media; Singaporean travelers prefer OTAs (76%) and promotions; marketers advised to engage with affiliates, influencers, and communities; trust, transparency, and authenticity are essential. Reported on May 15, 2025.

🌡 VRF systems offer hotels simultaneous heating and cooling with two-pipe design, reducing installation complexity and costs. NoMad Los Angeles, a 241-room property, and Moxy Columbus, Ohio, a 150,000 square-foot building, installed Mitsubishi Electric CITY MULTI® VRF for space efficiency and operational cost reduction. CBRE's report emphasizes the financial benefits of high-efficiency HVAC systems, with VRF systems providing energy savings through modulated output based on demand. Hybrid VRF systems further enhance efficiency by combining refrigerant and water-based indoor distribution, suitable for hotels with limited space.

💰 HBX Group, spanning Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, Roiback, and TravelStack, demonstrated robust financial performance in H1, ending March. Transactions surpassed €3.4 billion, a 12% rise with a 6% market growth. Sales reached €319 million, up 10%, driven by Europe, Africa-Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, yielding EBITDA near €160 million, up 14%. The group serves over 60,000 retailers in 170 markets, processing 6.2 billion searches daily. CEO Nicolas Huss emphasizes growth amid macroeconomic volatility.

🍽 Indonesia's food and foodservice sectors are evolving rapidly, compared to the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Key growth trends include digital adoption and innovation in packaged food and out-of-home dining. GlobalData's insights reveal shifts in consumer behavior, menu trends, and channel performance, with technology increasingly blurring retail and foodservice lines. This strategic session, tailored for Strategy and Insights professionals in FMCG and foodservice, provides actionable benchmarks for portfolio planning, channel strategy, and regional investment.

🏨 By 2030, Adagio, a joint venture between Pierre & Vacances - Center Parcs and Accor, plans to expand to 180 aparthotels in 25 countries, up from the current 16. This includes 20,000 flats across three ranges, aiming for €700 million in network sales. Adagio is focused on sustainable development, including a 75% property renovation rate and reducing its carbon footprint. The strategic plan aims to enhance customer experience, train dedicated teams, and strengthen partnerships.

🏠 Opera Contemporary, a luxury furniture brand, furnished the sleeping area of Hilltop House, a private villa in Metro Manila, Philippines, curated by Moda Interni and Casa Licup. The master bedroom features a Dorothy bed with a green bouclé fabric headboard, 350 cm wide, and accommodates a 200x200 cm mattress. Additional pieces include the Fritz bench, Sophie armchair, and a Ø120-cm New Brian coffee table with Arabescato Vagli marble. Opera Contemporary highlighted bespoke Italian craftsmanship.

📺 May 13, 2025, Ben Wolff, co-founder of Onera and CEO of Oasi, discusses the evolving expectations of travelers on the Hospitality Daily Podcast. He highlights how providing immersive and participatory experiences can create deeper emotional connections and memorable guest experiences. The episode urges businesses to adopt these strategies to benefit both their operations and customers. For more insights, check out Ben's LinkedIn post and other episodes.

🏢 Commercial real estate lending in Dallas, Texas, grew by 13% in Q1 2025 from Q4 2024, and 90% year-over-year, with the CBRE Lending Momentum Index surpassing 300 for the first time since Q1 2023. Average loan spreads decreased by 29 bps from the previous year to 183 bps, multifamily loan spreads hit a low of 149 bps since Q1 2022. Banks, capturing a 34% share of non-agency loan closings, were the leading lenders, followed by CMBS conduits at 26% and life companies at 21%. Year-to-date private-label CMBS issuance increased by 132% from last year. Alternative lenders saw a 17% decline in origination activity. Average underwritten cap rates rose to 6.1%, debt yields to 10.3%, and LTV decreased to 62.2%. Government agency multifamily lending reached $22 billion, a 15% annual increase.