Alan Woinski

Demolition of Tahoe Biltmore Lodge to make way for Waldorf Astoria Lake Tahoe. Several new hotel openings and renovations announced across the U.S., including projects in Palm Beach, Milwaukee, Crowley, and Southwest Mesa. STR and Tourism Economics adjusted their 2023-24 U.S. hotel forecast, with a noted global ADR increase in 2022. Truist revised its target price for VAC but retained its Buy rating. Truist reduced its target price for VAC to $190 from $219 due to Marriott Vacations' subpar quarterly outcomes and revised guidance, yet kept a Buy rating.

MAR and HLT lodging stocks hit new highs, while several stock targets and ratings were adjusted. Q2 2023 shows a total construction pipeline of 552 projects/88,477 rooms in Latin America. Mexico leads with 213 projects/33,853 rooms. Marriott International dominates the franchise scene with 116 projects/18,733 rooms. Project MidX Studios is renamed StudioRes by MAR for the US and Canada market.

China 's hotel RevPAR rose by 22% YoY as of the week ending August 5th, and by 6.7% compared to the same week in 2019. China lifted its ban on group tours to over 70 locations, including countries in Asia Pacific, Europe , Africa , and North America . Notably, group tours to South Korea are resuming for the first time in six years. Indonesia's ONE°15 Marina Nirup Island opened, with phase two set to include a Westin Hotels & Resorts property by Q4 2024.

Major stock indexes and several lodging stocks experienced declines. Service Properties Trust signaled a shift away from hotel acquisitions after buying the Nautilus Hotel in Miami. New hotels opened in Cincinnati , Yuba City , Orange , TX, and Pennsylvania . Notable construction and restoration projects are underway in Houston, Hastings, and Longmont. Several properties announced upcoming renovations or management changes. RobertDouglas managed a $60 million sale of three properties; Cronheim Hotel Capital refinanced Hotel Phillips in Kansas City. Key personnel changes occurred at Valor Hospitality Partners and the Rosewood Hotel Group .

Vietnam's condotel market remains sluggish with excess inventory, unlikely to recover before 2025. Grand Ho Tram Strip casino resort introduces Ixora Ho Tram Fusion luxury residences to boost sales. Guangdong , China experiences high visa applications for Macau and Hong Kong due to increased tourism.

Choice Hotels and IHG saw new 52-week highs after reporting their earnings. Service Properties Trust also had a positive day with a 4% stock increase. IHG introduced a new conversion-focused brand in the mid-market. Marriott acquired and integrated the City Express brand. Hilton introduced a new hotel in Times Square. Several other hotel groups, including Charlestowne Hotels, 21c Museum Hotels, and Six Senses, announced new properties or renovations. Tru by Hilton opened in Mississauga, Ontario. TUI is actively expanding its hotel portfolio. Mandarin Oriental and Six Senses revealed new luxury resorts in Italy and Greece, respectively. Personnel news highlighted new appointments at LBA Hospitality and Barriere.

HVS Anarock  released their Hotels & Hospitality Overview for  India for the second quarter. The Macao Government Tourism Office said Macau received over 93,000 daily visitors in the first three days of August, up from an average of 89,000 daily visitor arrivals in July. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is turning its focus to the Middle East with the goal of attracting 400,000 visitors from the region this year

Canada 's construction pipeline has a total of 275 projects and 37,359 rooms, with Ontario and Toronto leading in projects and rooms. Jeff Vinik is selling his share in the company that developed Water Street in Tampa, Florida, to Cascade Investment Fund LLC . Q Group Hospitality is launching a new LGBTQ+ boutique hotel, Queen Las Vegas, in Las Vegas , Nevada, featuring themed rooms and a nightclub.

HCMC's hospitality market remained gloomy in H1 2023 due to slow international tourist arrivals. Ascott Limited is refreshing its hotel-in-residence model, catering to varying lengths of stays with hotel services and amenities. Dusit International expands in Japan with Dusit Thani Kyoto and plans massive expansion in China and India .

Stock market indices, including DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500, experienced declines on Friday, with the 10-year treasury yield also dropping notably. Some lodging companies reported mixed earnings, with Apple Hospitality , RLJ , and Sunstone Hotel Investors beating expectations, while DiamondRock Hospitality and Playa Hotels missed estimates. Several hotel chains, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and LuxUrban Hotels, Inc. , are making expansion deals, and various hotel properties are undergoing renovations and acquisitions in different locations.