Mergers & Acquisitions

🏨 Lothian Pension Fund acquired a 145-bedroom hotel at Hanover Buildings, Edinburgh, for £23.4m from Oval Real Estate. The property is located at 66-84 Rose Street and is let to Hub by Premier Inn, generating 70% of the total income. The site includes five retail and leisure units, with a net initial yield of 5.66%. Colin Finlayson emphasized strong investor demand, while Nicola Barrett highlighted the asset's prime location and stable returns.

🏨 On June 3, 2026, the Boutique Hotel Investment Conference, hosted by the Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association (BLLA), will take place at Convene's 237 Park venue in Midtown Manhattan. This marks the 14th year of this influential event, focusing on boutique hospitality's evolution. Convene, known for integrating hospitality into commercial real estate, partners with BLLA for this conference, which includes discussions on financing, sustainability, and guest-experience trends. The venue spans 30,000 square feet with seven meeting rooms.

💸 Cushman & Wakefield's 2025 data shows European hotel transactions hit over €27 billion, covering 1,050 hotels and 133,400 rooms, a 23% rise from 2024. Global Asset Solutions recorded 267 transactions totaling €14.65 billion, averaging €54.9 million per deal. In the UK, Knight Frank noted resilience amid rising business rates. Luxury deals made up €3.66 billion across 34 transactions. Hotel investment remains strong but remains a niche, complex asset class.

📍 Marcus & Millichap sold a 122-room Comfort Suites in Cary, North Carolina, to a local developer planning to convert it into an extended-stay Hilton asset. The sale exceeded 4.5 times revenue pre-PIP with a cap rate below 8%. Built in 1999 and renovated in 2019, the hotel is close to Interstate 40 and five miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Amenities include a heated pool, fitness center, and meeting space. Nearby are SAS Institute, Epic Games, and major universities.

🏨 In a three-year process, Ruby Hotels and IHG formed a partnership prioritizing cultural fit and brand authenticity. Michael Struck, Ruby's CEO, emphasized the European concept of authenticity, while IHG's Willemijn Geels focused on integrating Ruby without diluting its uniqueness. The aim was to balance Ruby's DNA with IHG’s global scale, drawing from experiences with brands like Kimpton and Six Senses. The partnership began with access to IHG’s distribution systems and loyalty programs.

📊 Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Accor, and Wyndham reported robust growth in Asia. Q4 RevPAR in APEC was strongest, with Marriott noting double-digit growth in India, Japan, and Australia. Hilton saw a 9.2% increase in APEC RevPAR in Q4 2025, while Accor reported a 7.6% rise in the MEA-PAC region. Despite China's uneven recovery, demand remains strong across Asia.

📈 On March 16, the Hunter Conference, now in its 37th year, was held at the Signia by Hilton Atlanta. The event, hosted by Teague and Lee Hunter, provided a platform for hotel industry networking and learning amid macroeconomic challenges such as stock market volatility and tariffs. The panelists discussed a 15% increase in transaction volume from last year. Despite a projected 0.6% RevPAR growth, the market offers a “phenomenal buying opportunity” due to low capital costs and private equity interest.

🏠 One REIT Investment Corporation is acquiring six real estate assets in Japan for JPY29.9 billion, including five hotels for JPY25.2 billion. The hotels range from 49 to 189 keys, with locations in Hokkaido, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Tokyo, and Okinawa. Brookfield Asset Management is investing NZD250 million in two New Zealand hotels, with past NZHH acquisitions totaling NZD160 million. Soul Three Limited bought 60 West Hotel in Hong Kong for HKD431 million, planning a student housing conversion.

🏨 Highline Hospitality Partners acquired the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, marking their 18th hotel purchase. This Grapevine, TX property boasts 397 rooms, 72,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space, and extensive amenities. Highline now oversees 22 properties and $1.5 billion in assets. Avion Hospitality will manage the site. Originally from 1983, the hotel will undergo targeted renovations to enhance its competitive edge. Highline aims for growth and diversification across the U.S.

🏨 LBA Hospitality expands with Hilton Garden Inn in Biloxi and Hattiesburg, Mississippi. These additions enhance LBA's presence, particularly in Hattiesburg, where they already manage two hotels. The Biloxi property marks LBA's debut on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a region with increasing tourism. The company, led by President Beau Benton, focuses on optimizing hotel performance with strategies like enhancing food and beverage offerings. LBA boasts over 50 years of industry experience.