Mergers & Acquisitions

🏨 Driftwood Capital's new white paper highlights real estate credit's unique traits compared to corporate direct lending, noting a 0.18 correlation. Federal Reserve data shows commercial real estate charge-off rates are about one-fifth of corporate loans. Despite a 47.5% RevPAR drop in 2020, 76% of lodging CMBS loans were repaid on time. Lodging delinquency is at 6.5% versus office at 11.7%. Driftwood manages 83 hotels, totaling 16,400 keys, and $3.5 billion in assets as of March 30, 2026.

📈 Hilton reported a Q2 net income of $482m (£363m), with RevPAR up 3.9%. Adjusted EBITDA reached $1.05bn (£790m), and diluted EPS rose to $2.29 (£1.70). Over 200 hotels were opened, adding 24,100 rooms. The company approved 42,900 rooms, bringing the pipeline to 541,300 rooms, up 6% YOY. Hilton launched the Graduate brand targeting universities. Capital returns hit $966m (£717.3m) for Q2, with 2026 projections of $3.5bn (£2.6bn) in returns.

📈 Marriott International reported a 3.4% increase in global RevPAR in Q2. Franchise and management fees rose 4% to $1.37bn, with adjusted EBITDA up 13% to $1.59bn. Net income climbed to $844m. The company expanded with 1,790 net rooms, totaling 10,000 properties and 1.8 million rooms globally. Marriott Bonvoy membership surpassed 295 million. Despite mixed international results, the pipeline grew to 629,000 rooms, with signings and openings fueled by conversions.

📈 Marriott International raised its full-year RevPAR growth expectation to 3%-3.5% after Q2's performance. The company reported $7.07 billion in revenue and $766 million in net income. Global RevPAR rose 3.4%, with a 5% increase in the U.S. and Canada but a 43% decline in the Middle East. Marriott added 17,900 net rooms, reaching over 10,000 properties. It returned $2.6 billion to shareholders by July 29, aiming to exceed $4.5 billion for the year.

🏨 Fattal Hotels acquired The Dilly leasehold in central London for £66.5m. The hotel, operated since 2022, features 283 rooms, including 28 suites. It’s undergoing a refurbishment until 2028, remaining operational throughout. Fattal's portfolio includes 320 hotels in 120 locations, with 60 acquisitions in four years. Recent additions include Hotel Saint in London, 12 hotels in the Netherlands, and Cora Resort in Greece. The acquisition supports Fattal’s expansion in Europe, backed by a recent €0.5bn funding round.

🏨 Windermere Park Hotel in Cumbria is on the market for £1.35m. This 17-bedroom bed and breakfast, located in the Lake District, features Victorian architecture, a commercial kitchen, and 18 parking spaces. Highlights include an Oscar Wilde suite. The sale is managed by Graham Wilkinson of Christie and Co. The business benefits from millions of annual visitors to the region. The property offers growth potential in a prime tourism location.

🏨 Savvy Collective has joined the West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce as a patron member. Founded by Steven Hesketh in Chester, the company has grown from a single hotel into a diverse portfolio, including The Chester Townhouse and Hotel Wrexham. UK hotel transaction volumes reached £1.6 billion in Q1 2026, with Chester seeing a 2% rise in new licensed venues. The group operates in management, consultancy, education, events, and investment sectors, supporting regional growth and infrastructure.

🏨 CooperWynn Capital secured a $4.875 million cash-out refinancing for My Place Hotel-Midland, TX, benefiting owner Dustin Campbell. The three-story, 64-room hotel, opened in November 2020 and situated in Midland, offers in-room kitchens for extended-stay business travelers. The deal, with a national CMBS lender, provides a five-year fixed-rate, non-recourse debt. The refinancing action enables capital redeployment amidst fluctuating market conditions and an enduring demand driven by the oil and gas sector in the Permian Basin.

🍹 McKeever Hotels plans to invest £600,000 in a new cocktail bar, The Meridian, at Armagh City Hotel, part of a £4m capital investment. Opening early winter, the 120-cover venue will feature local food and drink. Designed by Belfast-based Drinksology, the bar is inspired by Armagh’s historic Meridian Line and will include a tasting room and private dining. This investment follows the hotel’s acquisition over a year ago, aiming to elevate it to a four-star destination.