Friday, June 4, 2010

PwC's Lodging Industry Forecast shows recovery in sight | HotelWorld Network

PwC's Lodging Industry Forecast shows recovery in sight HotelWorld Network


PwC's Lodging Industry Forecast shows recovery in sight
May 28, 2010

NEW YORK-- PricewaterhouseCoopers’ updated US lodging forecast expects continued recovery of demand, with the ability to increase room rates returning in 2011, after two consecutive years of decline. The initial months of 2010 suggest that a sustainable recovery of lodging demand has begun. As businesses and consumers gain further confidence in the strength of economic recovery, discretionary spending is expected to continue to increase, contributing to progressive increases in lodging demand through the remainder of 2010, though the pace of recovery is expected to moderate. With lodging supply growth expected to lag demand growth for the first time since 2006, PricewaterhouseCoopers expects hotel occupancy levels in 2010 to increase. Average daily rates (ADR) are not expected to increase until early next year, resulting in a moderate occupancy-driven increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) in 2010, with a more substantial, rate-driven recovery in RevPAR expected in 2011.

PricewaterhouseCoopers' quarterly lodging forecast is based on an updated macroeconomic forecast from Macroeconomic Advisers, LLC that expects real gross domestic product (GDP) growth to be above its long term average, but below the typical growth expected after a deep recession. Macroeconomic Advisers expects GDP to increase 3.5 percent in 2010, followed by a 3.9 percent increase in 2011.

The current slowdown in hotel construction activity is a key element in the foundation for recovery in operating performance of existing hotels. The pace of new construction starts fell from 134,000 rooms in 2008, to 47,000 in 2009, and most recently to a pace equivalent to approximately 29,000 rooms (annualized) through the first quarter of 2010. This sets the context for progressively slower supply growth of 1.9 percent and 0.4 percent in 2010 and 2011, respectively. This constrained supply growth, combined with gradual recovery in lodging demand, is expected to result in increases in occupancy levels to 56.6 percent and 58.2 percent in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The industry has experienced a more pronounced rebound in transient demand. However, until group bookings pick up, realizing significant increases in room rates in many hotels and markets will be challenging. As a result, PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasts ADR levels to decrease a further 1.7 percent in 2010, before growth resumes with a 3.5 percent increase in 2011.


Sources: Smith Travel Research and PricewaterhouseCoopers



"Though this remains a challenging year, the hotel sector's recent increases in lodging demand are brisk, and with improving economic conditions, some operators are ready to re-focus on increasing room rates," says Scott D. Berman, principal and US Industry Leader, Hospitality & Leisure, for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

GlobeSt.com - Moody REIT I Acquires Residence Inn - Daily News Article

GlobeSt.com - Moody REIT I Acquires Residence Inn - Daily News Article

Moody Gets $80M for Hotel Portfolio

Moody Gets $80M for Hotel Portfolio


Houston-based Moody National Cos. has banked $80 million from Inland American Lodging Group Inc., turning over a 598-key, Marriott-branded portfolio in three states.

The hotels will continue to be managed by Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. of Raleigh, N.C. The buyer extended Concord's management contracts through 2020.

The portfolio consists of the 182-room Courtyard Pittsburgh Downtown and 94-key Courtyard Pittsburgh West Homestead in Pennsylvania; 103-room Courtyard West Palm Beach Airport in Florida; and 219-key Marriott West Des Moines in Iowa.

"This is a strong portfolio of Marriott-branded hotels that sustained moderate rate and occupancy declines compared to the national average, throughout the economic downturn," said Marcel Verbaas, president and CEO of Orlando, Fla.-based Inland American Lodging Advisors Inc. "We believe they are well-positioned for growth as the economy recovers and business and leisure travel return to more normalized levels. Targeted capital expenditures will further enhance these hotels during Inland American's first few years of ownership."

With the acquisition, Inland American Real Estate Trust, headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., has 54 Marriott-branded hotels with 15,584 rooms in the U.S.


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