The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) government, through its Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, established the Hotel Development and Finance Program Act in 2011 to aid in the investment in and further development of the Islands’ hospitality offerings and collective tourism infrastructure. To date, three projects have received tax rebates from this program. Do you want to step into the Islands’ sandbox, too?

Located just south of Orlando, Kissimmee’s strategic position in Central Florida offers convenient access to surrounding commercial, leisure, and convention attractions. Traditionally a supporting player in the region’s tourism and business sectors, the city is emerging as a commercial and leisure destination in its own right, with planned developments anticipated to elevate its profile in hospitality and beyond.

The start of June always brings the industry together in New York City, and we HVS attendees enjoyed our time at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum this year. It was great to see many of you there and share our recent experiences in the industry. This article summarizes our main takeaways from the event.

Post-COVID macroeconomic shifts have revived hotel demand in smaller cities, but these markets can be overlooked by hotel developers, especially amid rising costs. Market and feasibility studies are essential tools for aligning local development goals with investor interests.

Managing labor costs in a hotel operation is crucial to maintaining a profitable business while delivering the service level that is commensurate with the scale of hotel. Finding this balance has been especially difficult in a post-COVID-19 environment given inflationary challenges and labor supply shortages. This article describes some of the challenges surrounding labor management and explores innovative ways to manage these costs effectively.

Choosing the right hotel operating model (franchise, management agreement, or third-party operator) depends on owner goals, market conditions, and property characteristics. Franchises offer brand support but require strict standards. Management agreements, common in the Middle East, balance risk and reward. Third-party operators provide flexibility and cost efficiency. Owners must evaluate options to maximize returns as market dynamics shift.

This article describes the key differences in hotel profitability levels for economy and midscale extended-stay hotels based on a review of actual hotel operating statements in the United States, compiled by HVS. As developers and investors consider what kind of hotel to build, many look to HVS for help in making that decision.

HVS discusses the main hotel transactions that took place in 2024 and looks at the trends in single-asset and portfolio transactions over the years.

Visitation and other tourism indicators in 2024 met or exceeded most 2023 totals. Las Vegas hosted 40.8 million visitors in 2024, surpassing the 40-million visitor threshold for the second year in a row. Gaming revenue for Clark County in 2024 was $13.5 billion, setting a new annual record for the third straight year. In 2024, occupied room nights, as well as total occupancy (83.6%), continued to lag pre-COVID pandemic performance; however, ADR and RevPAR reached record levels.

The 36th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference took place this week at Atlanta’s Marriott Marquis, with the theme “Elevate Your Game” inspiring session topics and conversations throughout the event. This article provides our key takeaways from the conference.