The DJIA was down 83 points on Friday while Nasdaq fell 15, the S&P 500 fell 4 points and the 10 year treasury yield was up .-07 to 4.23%. Lodging stocks were mixed. AHT rose 5%, BHR was down -5%.
In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, there will be no Daily Lodging Report on Monday, January 19th.
Barclays said Hyatt is their most favored lodging name but while lodging stocks have moved up on anticipation of better macro, they expect another soft-ish 4Q and at best, an in-line 2026. Barclays expects incremental hopefulness around a return to industry growth in 2026, driven by easy comps, the calendar and events (World Cup and America250), signs of more supportive domestic macro and tax refunds. Barclays believes a moderate RevPAR acceleration and development momentum are already priced into the stocks. They expect STR/CoStar to update RevPAR projections at ALIS, with a slight uptick in demand/pricing.
Morgan Stanley said their most preferred lodging name is Hyatt and their least preferred are Choice Hotels and Marriott Vacations. They downgraded VAC to Underweight from Equal Weight and Hilton Grand Vacations to Equal Weight from Overweight. They believe consumers should benefit from stimulus and businesses appear poised to increase travel but the cycle is later for services. They remain Overweight Travel+Leisure, Hilton, Marriott, and Wyndham, as well as H.
Wells Fargo reiterated their preference for HLT and MAR as they view NUG and FCF as the means of differentiation in the sector. They remain Equal Weight the C-Corps and Underweight the Timeshare names given ongoing growth concerns. WF said they have never been a big believer in one time events significantly moving stocks so they expect investors to only give credit to ex-World Cup growth levels.
Flacks Group has acquired the DoubleTree by Hilton Augusta, located in Augusta, Georgia, and has selected StepStone Hospitality to manage the property. The hotel features 182 guestrooms, more than 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, a bar and a restaurant. Ownership is anticipating undertaking a $12 million capital investment in the property. The planned renovation will include refreshed guestrooms, upgraded public areas, a re-imagined food and beverage experience, new elevators, and a modernized reception and arrival experience.
Ivy Hospitality has been awarded the management contract for the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Fishers located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The hotel features 130 guestrooms, an indoor pool, hot tub, gym, convenience store, business center, and coin-operated laundry facilities.
Marcus Hotels & Resorts announced the official opening of The Marc Hotel, a 175-room independent hotel located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Marc Hotel occupies the former west wing of the Hilton Milwaukee and includes guestrooms and suites, a covered parking garage, and access to more than 34,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Hotel guests also have access to dining options located in the adjacent Hilton Milwaukee.
Club Med ushers in a new era of wellbeing at Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda. Kicking off with its first annual Wellness Fusion Retreat from January 18, 2026 to February 14, 2026, the resort will offer expert-led sessions, restorative stays in the new Emerald Jungle wellness Fusion Rooms and on-demand mindfulness via a collaboration with technology partner, YouTuneIn. Set in the emerging region of Miches in the Dominican Republic, Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda is part of the brand’s Exclusive Collection. A sneak peak of the Emerald Jungle Wellness Fusion Rooms, scheduled to debut in summer 2026, will be offered during the retreat. Located in the adults-only Zen Oasis section, each room features three curated amenity baskets, including healthy snacks and drinks, a Good Night Kit, and a Pampering Kit, while a furnished terrace or patio offers garden views, all just steps away from the freshwater Zen Pool. Club Med has partnered with YouTuneIn, an app designed to enhance wellbeing through mental and emotional clarity with immersive auditory experiences. The app is actively being rolled out a select Club Med resorts throughout North America including the brand’s flagship sun resort, Club Med Punta Cana.
The Cottages at Little Saint offer a new enchanting escape in Healdsburg, California. The Cottages at Little Saint are the new project from the team behind Little Saint, an elevated, culinary driven, 100% plant-based restaurant and events venue. Set among the landscaped grounds with walking paths, The Cottages offer amenities like a heated pool, onsite parking, customized access to Little Saint, and record player complete with a curated vinyl collection in each room.
Hotel Butler Inn has opened in Butler Township, Pennsylvania. The hotel recently began operation after months of renovations. Owner Neil Lad acquired the former Super 8 location last summer and soon began renovations on the inside and outside of the building. So far 20 rooms are ready for guests with more on the way.
A new hotel, Wandering Buffalo Hotel and Lodge, opened in downtown Bozeman, Montana. The hotel features 38 guestrooms, a lobby that serves as an all-day social hub and an outdoor garden with fire pit. The hotel is a member of the World of Hyatt Mr. & Mrs. Smith collection.
Mumford Company announced the closing of the Best Western located in McAlester, Oklahoma. The firm represented the seller, Friestad Revocable Trustin the sale. AMBA Hospitality LLC, a family investment group, strategically expands its Oklahoma hotel portfolio with this acquisition. The 61-room, two-story Best Western will be renovated while retaining its Best Western flag.
Portman executed over $680 million in hospitality financing activity in 2025 across acquisitions, refinancing and loan modifications. This activity lowered Portman’s hotel portfolio’s weighted average interest rate by over 150 basis points. Among the activity was a $237.5 million refinancing of the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City, a 700-key hotel that opened in 2022 and is connected to the Salt Palace Convention Center. Last summer, Portman acquired the Westin Cincinnati, a 456-key, full service hotel in the heart of downtown. The deal marked Portman’s first hotel acquisition and the official launch of its value-add acquisition strategy. In the past 12 months, Portman has significantly invested in expanding its hospitality team through strategic hires focused on acquisition, strategic operations and asset management. As part of its new strategy, Portman is actively seeking additional acquisition opportunities in major U.S. markets.
Personnel News
HVS announced Shannon Sampson will now lead the company’s CaribbeanRegion Advisory Services. With nearly 20 years at HVS, Shannon brings extraordinary expertise in market and feasibility studies, facility recommendations, and complex consulting for a wide range of hospitality assets, including luxury and destination resorts, conference-center and boutique hotels, lifestyle properties, and other complex hospitality concepts that are found throughout the Caribbean region.
Belmond announced the appointment of Steve Mitchell as Managing Director, Global Lodges, effective immediately. Mitch will play a pivotal role in developing Belmond’s future lodges worldwide, reinforcing the brand’s leadership in Slow Luxury travel through experiences rooted in nature and culture. He will also be responsible for leading Belmond’s existing safari lodges in Botswana: Eagle Island Lodge and Savute Elephant Lodge.
The McKeever Hotel Group appointed Norman McBride as the new Group Operations Director. In this role, McBride will be responsible for overseeing the operations of The McKeever Hotel Group’s seven properties. His role will be key in ensuring that the hotels are run efficiently and continue to deliver exceptional service to their guests. McBride’s career spans various senior management roles, most notably his 18-year tenure with the family-owned Hastings Hotel Group.
Europe Highlights
Whitbread announced plans to expand its Premier Inn and hub by Premier Innbrands by targeting more than 2,200 additional rooms in Outer London. This expansion will focus on 17 specific locations, marking the first new Premier Inns in the areas since 2022. The targeted locations for this expansion include: Peckham Rye and Canada Water / Surrey Quays in Southwark; Acton and Greenford Station in Ealing; Stockwell Station and Streatham in Lambeth; Silvertown and Stratford in Newham; Abbey Wood; Beckenham; Clapham Junction; Finchley; Golders Green; Old Oak Common; Twickenham; Walthamstow; West Hampstead; Woodford Green.
In addition to the Outer London expansion, Whitbread has commissioned research from IPSOS and Turley Economics to assess the economic impact of Premier Inn customers on local economies in the UK and Ireland. Currently, Whitbread operates over 85,500 Premier Inn rooms across the UK and Ireland. The company has set a goal to expand its network to 98,000 rooms by 2030, including plans to add 3,500 rooms through extensions of existing properties. Whitbread’s long-term objective is to reach 125,000 rooms.
The Shepherd Mayfair will open in 2026, introducing a new boutique hotel to the storied enclave of Shepherd Market in London. The Shepherd Mayfair forms part of Elegant Hotel Collection and will comprise 82 guestrooms and suites arranged over six floors. The hotel will also introduce three dining and bar concepts.
Bob W signed a long-term lease with Urban Partners to operate 143 units within a new mixed-use development in Copenhagen‘s Orestad district. Developed and built by Skanska, the scheme will become Bob W’s third property in the Danish capital. The aparthotel will form part of a wide six-story, mixed-use scheme comprising 210 residential apartments. Construction is expected to begin this spring, with completion scheduled for summer 2028. The scheme is being developed and constructed by Skanska A/S and will be acquired by Urban Partners through a forward-purchase transaction upon completion.
The Belize Collection has officially taken over management of Blue Reef Beach Resort and Marina, a beachfront property in Placencia, Belize formerly known as Robert’s Grove Beach Resort. The transition includes Blue Reef Beach Resort, Blue Reef Island, the marina and two onsite restaurants. Blue Reef Resort and Marina will continue operating without interruption during the transition. Further announcements will be shared in the coming months.
