Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently assistant editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
THE GROUP TRAVEL business for U.S. hotels rose again to almost 1.3 million for the last full week of September, according to STR. It exceeded 1 million people for the first time since beginning of pandemic a week ago.
Group ADR moved past $200 for the first time since February 2020, the report added.
Occupancy remained relatively flat week over week at 63.2 percent during the week ending Sept. 25, but down 11 percent from the comparable time period in 2019. ADR was $133.69, up from $131.04 weekly and down 2 percent from two years before. RevPAR rose to $84.54 on a weekly basis from $82.50 but dropped 12.8 percent from 2019 levels.
Norfolk/Virginia Beach was the top 25 market which recorded the only occupancy increase over 2019, rising 0.1 percent to 63.9 percent, as well as RevPAR, up 17.8 percent to $74.71. Miami reported the largest ADR increase over 2019, up 19.5 percent to $172.29.
San Francisco/San Mateo, California, experienced the steepest occupancy decline from 2019 levels, dropping 44 percent to 51.3 percent.
The largest RevPAR deficits were also reported in San Francisco/San Mateo, which dropped 66.1 percent to $89.58 and Washington, D.C., which fell 45.2 percent to $79.12.
Profitability dips
Gross operating profits for U.S. hotels decreased in August compared to a month ago mainly due to the end of the summer travel surge, the monthly P&L data from STR stated.
Gross operating profits for U.S. hotels decreased in August from 111 percent of 2019 levels in July to 94 percent. GOPPAR for August was $49.31 and TRevPAR was at $146.22.
Estimated GOP was 111 percent of 2019 levels in July but just 94 percent in August. The only key profitability metric to increase month-over-month was labor per available room, the data revealed.
GOPPAR for August was $49.31 and TRevPAR was at $146.22. EBITDA PAR for the month was $32.13 and LPAR (Labor Costs) was $47.99, according to STR.
“Lower profitability levels were not surprising given the lower top-line performance we reported for the month,” said Raquel Ortiz, STR’s assistant director of financial performance.
“There was a decline in the percentage of U.S. hotels to break even on both a GOP and net income basis, and labor costs were up even with weakened demand. An encouraging sign came in the major markets, with improved TrevPAR and GOPPAR indices because of higher realized occupancies, but obviously those markets have the longest way to go.
According to Ortiz, July was likely the profitability peak for this part of the recovery cycle, but September P&L data will be quite interesting given the gains we’ve seen in group demand over the last few weeks.
“F&B revenues, specifically in the catering departments, have been incredibly low because of the low volume of events in hotels,” she said.
Stonebridge Cos. added the Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton, to its managed portfolio.
The hotel, opened in 1956 and relaunched in 2017, is owned by Centurion American Development Group.
The property is near Main Street Garden Park, the Arts District and the Dallas World Aquarium.
STONEBRIDGE COS. HAS contracted to manage the Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton in Dallas to its managed portfolio. The hotel, opened in 1956 and relaunched in 2017, is owned by Centurion American Development Group, led by Mehrdad Moayedi.
It has an outdoor pool and more than 26,000 square feet of meeting space, Stonebridge said in a statement. The downtown Dallas property is near Main Street Garden Park, the Arts District, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Deep Ellum, Klyde Warren Park, and the Dallas World Aquarium.
“The Statler is an extraordinary asset with a storied history in Dallas, and we are thrilled to welcome it to our managed portfolio,” said Rob Smith, Stonebridge’s president and CEO. “Its blend of modern hospitality with timeless character makes it a natural fit within our lifestyle collection. We look forward to honoring the property’s legacy while enhancing performance and delivering an elevated guest experience.”
Stonebridge, based in Denver, is a privately held hotel management company founded by Chairman Navin Dimond and led by Smith. The company recently added the 244-room Marriott Saddle Brook in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, to its full-service portfolio.
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Peachtree secured EB-5 approval for a Florida multifamily development project.
The 240-unit community in Manatee County is backed by $47 million in construction financing.
It is Peachtree’s fourth EB-5 project approval since launching the program in 2023.
PEACHTREE GROUP RECENTLY secured EB-5 approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for Madison Bradenton, a 240-unit multifamily development in Bradenton, Florida. It also raised $47 million in construction financing with a four-year term for the project on a 10.7-acre site in Manatee County.
The approval allows the company to advance its EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which directs foreign investment to U.S. job creation, Peachtree said in a statement.
“Madison Bradenton reflects the strong demand for high-quality multifamily housing in growing markets,” said Adam Greene, Peachtree’s executive vice president of EB-5. “This project underscores our ability to pair EB-5 financing with secured lending, delivering attractive opportunities for investors while meeting critical housing needs.”
The project will include five four-story apartment buildings with elevators, a two-story carriage building and a clubhouse, with residences averaging 1,027 square feet and featuring private patios or balconies. The location provides access to employment centers, healthcare facilities and Siesta Key Beach.
Atlanta-based Peachtree is led by Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO; Jatin Desai, managing principal and CFO and Mitul Patel, principal.
This is Peachtree’s fourth approved I-956F application, following projects such as Home2 Suites by Hilton in Boone, North Carolina; SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Bryce Canyon, Utah and TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Palmdale, California. In May, Peachtree secured USCIS approval for four regional centers—South, Northeast, Midwest and West—allowing it to sponsor EB-5 projects in those territories.
The EB-5 visa program allows foreign investors to obtain a green card by investing in a U.S. commercial enterprise that creates jobs, the statement said. Investors who contribute at least $800,000 to a project that creates or preserves 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers are eligible for permanent residency.
Separately, Peachtree launched the $250 million Special Situations Fund to invest in hotel and commercial real estate assets affected by capital market illiquidity.
GSA will keep federal per diem rates the same for FY 2026.
The lodging rate stays $110 and meals allowance $68.
AHLA raised concerns over the impact on government travel.
THE U.S. GENERAL Services Administration will keep standard per diem rates for federal travelers at 2025 levels for fiscal year 2026. The American Hotel and Lodging Association raised concerns that the decision affects government travel, a key economic driver for the hotel industry.
The standard lodging rate remains $110 and the meals and incidental allowance is $68 for fiscal year 2026, unchanged from 2025, GSA said in a statement.
“Government travel is a vital economic driver for the hotel industry and the broader travel economy,” said Rosanna Maietta, AHLA’s president and CEO. “That’s why it’s so important for government per diem rates to keep pace with rising costs across the economy. The GSA’s decision to keep per diem rates flat will place a strain on the hospitality industry as well as government travelers seeking lodging. A strong economy requires a thriving hospitality sector. We will continue to advocate with the GSA and members of Congress for per diem rates that reflect hotels’ rising costs of doing business.”
GSA sets per diem rates to reimburse federal employees’ lodging and meal expenses for official travel within the continental U.S., based on the trailing 12-month ADR for lodging and meals minus 5 percent. This is the first year in five that GSA has not raised the rates.
The federal administration said the decision reflects the federal government’s commitment to using taxpayer funds appropriately and for core mission activities. The steady per diem rates are enabled by the reduction in inflationary pressures from the previous administration.
“GSA's decision ensures cost-effective travel reimbursement while supporting the mission-critical mobility of the federal workforce,” said Larry Allen, associate administrator, GSA Office of Government-wide Policy.
The rate applies to federal travelers and those on government-contracted business for all U.S. locations not designated as “non-standard areas,” which have higher per diems. For fiscal year 2026, GSA will keep the number of non-standard areas at 296, unchanged from 2025.
North America recorded a 10 percent decline while Central America dropped 12 percent.
THE GLOBAL TRAVEL and tourism sector recorded an 8 percent year-on-year decline in total deal activity during the first half of 2025, according to market data firm GlobalData. Reduced investor appetite was seen across major deal types: mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture financing.
GlobalData’s analysis shows venture financing deals fell by about 25 percent and private equity deals dropped by around 20 percent compared to the same period last year. M&A activity proved more resilient with a smaller 3.5 percent decline in volume. North America saw a 10 percent decline while Central America saw a 12 percent decline.
“The overall decline underscores a broader trend where macroeconomic factors and investor sentiments are reshaping deal-making strategies within the industry. The subdued activity suggests that dealmakers are becoming increasingly cautious, likely due to macroeconomic challenges and volatile market conditions,” said Aurojyoti Bose, lead analyst at GlobalData. “The decline in venture financing and private equity deals, suggests a dent in investor sentiment, emphasizing a trend of reduced risk appetite.”
The Asia-Pacific region posted growth, with deal volume rising 11 percent in H1 2025, driven by increased activity in Japan and India. In contrast, Europe saw a 19 percent drop, the Middle East and Africa fell 39 percent and South and Central America declined 12 percent.
Among major markets, the US, China and Germany all recorded declines in deal announcements while the UK maintained deal volumes at similar levels to last year.
GlobalData notes that historical figures may change if additional deals from earlier months are disclosed later.
Last year saw a 12.6 percent decline, with a total of 347 mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture financing deals reported in the global travel and tourism sector during the first half of 2024.
Vision held its Red Sand Project to combat human trafficking in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
It fights trafficking through partnerships, staff training and philanthropic support.
Tennessee reported 213 human trafficking cases in 2024, involving 446 victims.
VISION HOSPITALITY GROUP held its fourth annual Red Sand Project with WillowBend Farms to combat human trafficking in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The event brought together organizations working to combat human trafficking, including the Family Justice Center for Hamilton County and the Hamilton County Health Department.
“We were honored to stand with our partners and our community to bring attention to this issue,” Patel said. “Together, through awareness and action, we are working toward a future where every individual is safe, seen and supported.”
The Red Sand Project is a symbolic initiative to raise awareness and promote action on human trafficking, the statement said. Participants poured red sand into sidewalk cracks to represent victims who have fallen through the cracks of society. This year’s event came as the Chattanooga community reported progress in prevention and survivor restoration over the past year.
“The Red Sand Project reminds us that human trafficking continues to be a pressing public health issue and a devastating reality in every state,” said Jenelle Hawkins, Vision's director of operation excellence. “As members of the hotel industry, we understand our unique position to help identify and prevent trafficking. We are proud to be part of a community that is not only raising awareness but also driving real solutions. As we mark our fourth year, our commitment is stronger than ever.”
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, there were 213 reported human trafficking cases in Tennessee in 2024, involving 446 victims. Events like the Red Sand Project raise awareness, promote education and encourage community action.
Vision Hospitality Group combats trafficking through community partnerships, staff training and philanthropic support. In 2024, it donated $100,000 to the AHLA Foundation’s No Room for Trafficking Survivor Fund, which provides housing and job placement services to survivors nationwide.
If you know someone who needs help escaping trafficking, call the Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-558-6484. To report a suspected victim, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233722.
In June, Vision broke ground on a 150-key Hilton dual-brand in Lookout Valley, Chattanooga, Tennessee.