Mergers & Acquisitions

🏨 At ALIS 2026, IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO Elie Maalouf highlighted the dependency of asset-light hotel companies, like IHG, on asset-heavy owners. Hotel owners face declining profitability due to rising expenses and high interest rates. Over five years, hotel REITs declined by -9.5%, while the S&P rose by 74% and lodging companies like Marriott and Hilton increased by over 110%. Marriott's Tony Capuano emphasized the need to address high expenses to support owner profitability.

🏖 Jalisco, Mexico, experiences significant hotel investment, with over $1 billion across 38 projects planned by 2028. Costalegre, a 150-mile Pacific coastline in Jalisco, attracts luxury brands despite its remote location and limited infrastructure. Key developments include Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo (opened 2022) and upcoming projects like Six Senses Xala and Chablé El Tezcalame, both slated for 2027. Costalegre's low-density approach values scarcity, long-term asset appreciation, and environmental conservation, contrasting with Guadalajara's rapid hotel growth.

🏨 The 121-bedroom Delta Hotels by Marriott Swansea is up for sale individually for the first time following a major investment program and a 2025 franchise agreement. Located in the Maritime Quarter, it includes a restaurant, bar, café, leisure club, and meeting facilities. Refurbishment completed in 2023, transitioning from managed to franchise in May 2025. Market demand is boosted by regional commercial and educational growth. Christie and Co manages the sale on a long leasehold basis.

💸 The Highfield Hotel and Restaurant in Keswick has been acquired by a local investor for £1.8 million. The 18-bedroom property, located on The Heads, was sold on behalf of Caroline Speck and the estate of the late Howard Speck. The new owner plans a major refurbishment, expected to take six months. Originally acquired by the Speck family in 2004, they are divesting to focus on other ventures. The sale was managed by Haydn Spedding from Colliers Manchester.

🏨 Hersha Hotels and Resorts acquired The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa in Georgia. The 403-room urban resort is adjacent to the Savannah Convention Center, which expanded in April 2025 for $276 million, doubling its footprint to 660,000 sq. ft. Savannah sees economic growth with Hyundai’s $7.6 billion plant opening in March 2025, adding 14,000 jobs. The resort offers extensive amenities, including an 18-hole golf course and meeting spaces, attracting leisure and corporate travel.

🏨 Uig Hotel on the Isle of Skye is for sale at £1.45m, managed by Stirling-based Drysdale and Company. The property includes 19 ensuite rooms, a lounge bar for 34, and a 42-seat restaurant. The site spans 2.75 acres with an 11-room hotel building and an 8-room lodge. Renovations included a new kitchen and furnishings in 2023. The hotel, a popular spot for tourists, is closed on Christmas, New Year, and January.

🏨 Two Arora Group-owned hotel development sites in Birmingham and Glasgow city centers are on the market for a combined price of £6 million. The Birmingham site, priced at £2 million, has planning approval for a 227-bedroom hotel. The Glasgow site is listed for £4 million and includes planning for a 276-bedroom hotel near Glasgow Queen Street station. Acquired in July 2025, these non-core assets offer potential for alternative development.