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Financial markets experienced declines with the DJIA falling 187 points and the S&P 500 down 13 points, while Nasdaq dropped 18 points. However, lodging stocks showed mixed to higher performance despite the overall market decline. Ashford Hospitality Trust (AHT) expects to return 19 hotels to lenders in various cities, including Las Vegas and Atlanta, due to missed repayment deadlines on a $982 million mortgage pool. AHT faced negative equity in the properties and opted not to pay for an extension, potentially impacting the hotel industry's debt situation. STR's global "bubble chart" update revealed that 85% of markets saw growth in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) compared to 2019. Occupancy rates played a significant role in driving RevPAR, with coastal countries along the Mediterranean Sea showing strong growth. However, Saudi Arabia experienced the largest decline in RevPAR at 51%.

Market Update: DJIA up 270 points, S&P 500 rose 23 points, Nasdaq remained flat, and 10-year treasury yield jumped to 3.85%. Lodging Industry News: STR reported a slight decline in hotel RevPAR , but a 12% increase compared to the same week in 2019. Hotel Renovations and Openings: StepStone Hospitality completed a $3.5 million renovation at Fairfield Orlando I-Drive Convention Center, and The Ritz-Carlton Naples reopens after extensive renovations with new amenities and redesigned rooms.

Choice Hotels to integrate nearly 600 Radisson Americas hotels onto its reservation delivery engine and loyalty program. Dauntless Capital Partners purchases Hilton Garden Inn Bethesda Downtown for immediate renovation. Excel Hotel Group plans to build a 130-room SpringHill Suites Hotel in Grover Beach, California.

Stock market: DJIA down 245 points, Nasdaq down 22, S&P 500 down 21 points Decline in travel and tourism deal activity: 41% YoY decline, all deal types registered a decline in volume Hotel transactions: Several hotels sold, renovated, or under development in different locations

Stock market indices, including DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500, experienced declines, while the 10-year treasury yield saw a slight increase. The hotel industry faced mixed results, with the Hotel Brand sub-index declining but the Hotel REIT sub-index growing. The U.S. Travel Association released a forecast predicting steady growth in domestic leisure travel and slower recovery in business travel.

Stock Market: DJIA, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 showed gains, while lodging stocks had mixed performance. San Francisco Hotels: Park Hotels plans to surrender ownership, raising concerns about more foreclosures. Multiple hotels face loan due dates in the next two years. Hotel Updates: Various hotels undergo management changes, renovations, and new openings in different locations, including California, Illinois, Texas, and Canada.

Market surge: DJIA and Nasdaq experience significant gains, with the DJIA surging 701 points and the stronger-than-expected jobs report contributing to the rise. Airbnb lawsuit: Airbnb files a lawsuit against New York City over a new law that the company claims will limit short-term rentals and make it more difficult for hosts to do business. Hotel openings and acquisitions: Several hotel brands announce new openings and acquisitions, including WoodSpring Suites, Sonesta, and Margaritaville, expanding their presence in different cities and states.

Last week BP plc completed the acquisition of TravelCenter of America Inc . Service Properties Trust received $379.3 million in cash as part of the transaction. Sonder Holdings was cut to Perform from Outperform by Oppenheimer and InterContinental Hotels Group was upgraded to Neutral from Sell by Redburn. The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index rose 1.4% in April from March. The Hotel Brand sub-index rose 2.5% from March while the Hotel REIT sub-index was down -2.6%.

The stock market experienced a decrease, with the Dow Jones Hotel & Lodging REITs Index down 2.3%. There were several hotel acquisitions, renovations, and new developments announced. There were also announcements of management changes, upgrades, and technology acquisitions in the hospitality industry.

Upper upscale hotels, the property types most associated with business travel, are well represented in the U.S. development pipeline . According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index Travel Study 2022-2023, satisfaction across all four industries measured, airlines, hotels, car rentals, and online travel agencies, is up . STR reported US lodging data for the week ended 4/15. US hotel RevPAR was up 8.6% year over year.