Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

CBRE: Lodging demand back to 2019 levels by 2023

Better than expected first quarter growth led to the more optimistic forecast

CBRE: Lodging demand back to 2019 levels by 2023

THE FUTURE IS looking brighter for the U.S. hospitality industry, according to the latest forecast from CBRE Hotels Research. The research agency now predicts U.S. lodging demand will return to pre-pandemic levels by the fourth quarter of 2023.

Signs that the economy is recovering and indications that the COVID-19 pandemic is dissipating (except for the recent spread of the Delta variant) during the first quarter of the year are the basis of CBRE’s new forecast. Occupancy levels were continuing to rise in July, according to STR.


New supply may offset gains in occupancy some, according to CBRE, because fewer development and conversion projects were side-lined than previously forecast. That will delay the recovery of occupancy until fourth quarter of 2025 while supply grows more during the 2020 – 2022 period than coming out of prior recessions and 2019 RevPAR levels will not return until the third quarter of 2024.

ADR for U.S. hotels will return to 2019 nominal levels by the first quarter of 2024, according to CBRE Hotels Research’s June 2021 edition of Hotel Horizons. Hoteliers are taking advantage of the current surge in travel interest maximize room rates in an effort to make up for a 22.5 percent ADR decline during 2020. CBRE projects a 4.3 percent increase in ADR for all of 2021, followed by an 11.4 percent rise in 2022.

“We are encouraged by the pace of demand growth so far in 2021, not just for hotels, but for air travel, rental cars and alternative forms of lodging, as well,” said Rachael Rothman, CBRE’s head of hotels research and data analytics. “Clearly there is a pent-up desire to get back on the road, especially for leisure travel. Anecdotally, we are seeing early signs of improvement in group travel, but the overall pace of the recovery in group travel and corporate travel is less certain at this point.”

An expected 2.1 percent supply increase for 2021 could dampen demand growth, the article said. Properties that closed in 2020 are reopening, but face delays in the delivery of furniture and equipment as well as labor shortages that pushed back some openings.

“Local market factors increasingly are influencing the projected performance of U.S. hotels,” Rothman said.  “In general, properties located in smaller, remote and resort markets suffered less and are poised to recover to pre-pandemic levels faster. On the other hand, the larger, urban, gateway markets that are more dependent on in-bound international visitors and group demand will lag in recovery.”

San Bernardino, California; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Dayton, Jacksonville and St. Petersburg, Florida, are forecast to achieve a market average RevPAR at 80 percent or more of 2019 levels by the end of this year. Conversely, recovery for hotels in New York and San Francisco will be extended as they are expected to see RevPAR of less than 40 percent of their 2019 levels in 2021.

CBRE also recently forecast a rise in costs of operating hotel telecom systems while revenue generated by the systems shrink, and suggested strategies hotels can take to lower costs and increase revenue.

More for you

U.S. Firms Lose $2.4 Trillion by Skimping on Business Travel

Report: Business travel gaps cost U.S. firms $2.4T

Summary:

  • U.S. companies risk losing more than $2.4 trillion in sales due to underinvestment in business travel, says GBTA.
  • An 8.3 percent T&E increase could drive a 6 percent sales gain, despite post-COVID virtual meeting tools.
  • Current T&E spending is $294 billion—$24 billion short of the $319.1 billion needed for peak profitability.

U.S. COMPANIES ARE missing more than $2.4 trillion in potential sales due to underinvestment in business travel, according to a Global Business Travel Association report. Despite a post-pandemic rebound, travel and entertainment spending remains $66 billion below 2019 levels.

Keep ReadingShow less
Newly renovated Marriott Saddle Brook hotel in New Jersey, now managed by Stonebridge Cos.

Stonebridge to manage Marriott in Saddle Brook, NJ

Summary:

  • Stonebridge Cos. has added the Marriott Saddle Brook in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, to its full-service portfolio.
  • The renovated property is owned by Victory Worldwide LLC, led by CEO Anil Monga.
  • Located 20 miles from New York City, it is near the Meadowlands Sports Complex, Garden State Plaza and Hackensack University Medical Center.

STONEBRIDGE COS. RECENTLY added the 244-room Marriott Saddle Brook in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, to its full-service managed portfolio. The property is owned by Victory Worldwide LLC, led by CEO Anil Monga.

Keep ReadingShow less
International bookings drop at US mountain hotels; occupancy dips despite rate hikes, DestiMetrics reports

Report: Travel decline weighs on western resorts

Summary:

  • International tourism to U.S. western mountain destinations fell in May, lowering occupancy 0.7 percent, according to DestiMetrics.
  • Summer booking hesitancy persisted as bookings from Canada, Europe and Mexico declined.
  • DestiMetrics tracks data from about 28,000 lodging units across 17 mountain destinations in seven western states.

MOUNTAIN DESTINATIONS IN the western U.S. saw a drop in international tourism in May amid economic uncertainty, affecting resort occupancy, according to DestiMetrics. ADR rose 2 percent, while occupancy fell 0.7 percent year over year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Salamander D.C. Joins Preferred Hotels’ Legend Collection
Photo credit: Salamander Collection

Salamander D.C. joins Preferred’s Legend Collection

Summary:

  • The 373-key Salamander Washington, D.C. joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Legend Collection after a full renovation.
  • The hotel is part of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, led by founder and CEO Sheila Johnson.
  • Preferred Hotels & Resorts is the largest independent hotel brand, with more than 600 properties in 80 countries.

SALAMANDER WASHINGTON, D.C., located on the city’s southwest waterfront, joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Legend Collection. The 373-room hotel recently completed a property-wide renovation that includes updated communal spaces, redesigned guest suites, a two-level Salamander Spa and Dōgon by Kwame Onwuachi.

Keep ReadingShow less
WTH Conference Returns to Los Angeles July 17

WTH conference returns to L.A. on July 17

Summary:

  • The 2025 Women in Travel & Hospitality Conference returns to Los Angeles on July 17.
  • The event gathers women in travel, tourism, hospitality, investment, wellness, and lifestyle.
  • It also will mark the launch of the new Travel Industry Executive Women’s Network website.

THE 2025 WOMEN in Travel & Hospitality Conference, hosted by the Travel Industry Executive Women’s Network and supported by the Boutique Lifestyle Lodging Association, will return to Los Angeles, California, on July 17. The event brings together women from around the world working in travel, tourism, hospitality, investment, wellness and lifestyle.

Keep ReadingShow less