Jacksonville

STR reported US lodging data for the week ended December 30. RevPAR was down -9.7% led by a -7.1% decline in occupancy. Speculators are questioning whether everyone is thinking the Fed is going to cut interest rates more than they really will. Real estate developers  Fort Partners and Merrimac Ventures  are building a  Four Seasons  hotel and condo resort in  Telluride, Colorado .

JP Morgan upgraded Choice Hotels to Neutral and shifted Host Hotels, Park Hotels, Ryman Hospitality, and Sunstone Hotels to Neutral, citing less downside in lodging REITs. CoStar forecasts U.S. hotel demand growth of 1.8% in 2024, with occupancy increasing by 1% and room rate growth aligning with inflation, leading to RevPAR growth of 4.8% this year and 4% in 2024. Barclays shifted to Equal Weight on Marriott Vacations, expressing uncertainty in company-specific execution and favoring Hilton Grand Vacations in the timeshare sector.

Barron's recommended investing in travel stocks like Hilton and Marriott for business travel and Choice Hotels is still planning a takeover of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. There is a new distribution agreement between Choice Hotels EMEA and Sercotel, the potential sale of Travelodge hotels by LXI REIT, and new hotel developments and refinancing deals in the UK and Europe. Significant strategic actions in the hotel industry include Choice Hotels' intent to nominate directors to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' board amidst an $8 billion takeover battle.

The DJIA rose 205 points while Nasdaq was up 122, the S&P 500 rose 31 points and the 10 year treasury yield was flat at 4.84%. Lodging stocks were higher. We did see another new low…

Canopy by Hilton in Scottsdale, Arizona sold for roughly $102 million, and Home2 Suites by Hilton in Colonie, New York was acquired for $12.75 million. The Floridian Palace Hotel in Tampa is undergoing a $30 million renovation to become "The Flor" and join Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, while Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal partners with Mattel for a Barbie-themed experience. Online travel companies, including Orbitz and Expedia, face a lawsuit in Nevada over alleged avoidance of hotel room taxes, potentially amounting to over $1 billion in damages.

Truist reports strong trends in the U.S. hotel industry, with no signs of demand slowdown and expectations of growth in Q4 2023, driven by group business, business travel, and international visitors. CoStar data indicates a shift in U.S. hotel occupancy trends, with family travel slowing, group events strengthening, and a return of business travel, particularly during weekdays. Various hotel-related developments include property updates, new hotel constructions, and management changes across different locations in the United States.