Safe Harbor in Choppy Waters: Hotels Resilient in Volatile Market
The hotel industry has had a remarkable recovery in the post-COVID era, marked by strong fundamentals, limited supply and increased capital inflows, making it an attractive investment option.
Peachtree Group CEO Greg Friedman sat down with Bryan Younge, executive vice president at Newmark to discuss this remarkable recover and where the market is today. Bryan heads the hospitality practice group at Newmark and is a leading commercial real estate advisor. Below is a recap of his expert analysis and insights.
Listen to Peachtree's discussion with Bryan Younge, EVP Newmark here.
Hotel Industry Comeback
The industry witnessed an unprecedented come back after the pandemic.
Limited New Hotel Supply: Limited new hotel supply coinciding with high travel demand creates a favorable scenario for the existing hotel inventory to capitalize on the surging interest.
Investment Attractiveness: The hotel sector's resilience has increased its appeal as an investment vehicle, offering substantial returns. This is reflected in the significant capital and dry powder ready for investment in this sector.
Macro Challenges: Despite its success, the industry faces challenges like staffing shortages, wage growth and inflation.
Hotel Performance – Segment: Closely examined the performance across various segments of the hotel industry, including commercial, group, leisure, and extended stay, as well as different distribution channels. These channels are crucial for predicting occupancy trends and Average Daily Rate (ADR), especially in the current volatile inflationary environment.
Key observations include:
- The group segment, crucial for hotel revenue, experienced a significant decline during the pandemic but has recently fully recovered.
- Other segments, like online travel agents (OTAs) and FIT (Foreign Independent Travel) and wholesale channel, outperformed group and global distribution systems (GDS) in terms of recovery.
- The FIT and wholesale channel had a substantial initial setback but rebounded strongly in spring 2022, reaching levels 70% higher than in 2019.
- Seasonality patterns, resembling a heartbeat monitor, show three demand spikes in mid-spring, summer, and October, indicating a return to normalcy and balanced pricing strategies.
- Overall, the analysis suggests that while larger hotels faced challenges during the pandemic, smaller hotels remained more resilient due to less reliance on group bookings and other factors.
- The current trends indicate a recovery and adaptation in the hotel industry's various segments.
Predictive Analysis: Discussed methods for predicting future pricing trends in the hotel industry, including analyzing room rates and booking adjustments, the personal savings rate and its impact on the travel sector, and the performance of different hotel market segments and their recovery post-pandemic.
Transaction Market: An equilibrium is emerging in the transaction market, with buyers and sellers reaching common ground and avoiding distressed pricing. This indicates a healthy market with growth potential and abundant opportunities.
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Peachtree Group Launches Restaurant Management Division
ATLANTA (SEPT 4, 2024) – Peachtree Group, a vertically integrated investment management firm, has launched a restaurant management division. Under the leadership of Daniel Puglisi, SVP of corporate operations for hospitality management, this division will focus on operating quick-service restaurants, starting with coffee shops.
This new venture underscores Peachtree Group's commitment to expanding its footprint in the hospitality industry, beginning with a high-profile partnership with AdventHealth and launching a Starbucks location in its AdventHealth Orlando hospital.
The U.S. Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) market was valued at approximately$320 billion in 2023, encompassing major chains like McDonald's and smaller regional players. Coffee shops, including big names like Starbucks, Caribou Coffee and Dunkin', make up 12-15% of this market, contributing tens of billions in annual revenue.
"Since our founding in 2007, we have consistently grown by identifying inefficient markets and capitalizing on them to achieve strong returns and build sustainable businesses," said Greg Friedman, Peachtree Group’s managing principal and CEO. "The expansion into restaurants from our existing hospitality management capabilities was a natural evolution. Our partnership with AdventHealth marks a significant milestone as we look to replicate this successful model across their network and other captive locations."
The Starbucks at AdventHealth Orlando is now open and is the first storeto be opened under this new division. It is strategically positioned within the hospital's flagship university campus, featuring a two-story glass storefronton a prominent corner. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance patient satisfaction and provide convenient, high-quality service to hospital visitors and staff.
Peachtree Group is also in discussions with other coffee franchise offerings and aims to extend its reach to high profile or high demand markets with captive audiences. The goal is to establish a robust portfolio of high-profile quick-service coffee shop locations nationwide.
The new division will oversee all new and existing restaurant locations not within its own portfolio of hotels. This includes transitioning its downtown Orlando Starbucks location at its dual-branded Hilton Garden Inn andHome2 Suites by Hilton to the restaurant management division.
"Our commitment to excellence in service and operational efficiency sets us apart in the industry. By leveraging our extensive hospitality expertise and premium brand partnerships, we are able to deliver exceptional experiences to our customers and value to our landlord partners," Puglisi said.
This initiative follows a year-long development process, beginning with a lease agreement signed in August 2023 and construction commencing in February2024. Peachtree Group has toured several other AdventHealth campuses, laying the groundwork for future expansions.
Peachtree Group's strategic approach and customer service mindset have been key factors in securing this partnership. As other hospital systems observe the positive impact on AdventHealth's patient satisfaction scores and asset enhancement, Peachtree Group anticipates a growing demand for similar arrangements.
"We are excited about the potential to grow this venture rapidly, with an initial goal of reaching five stores as a beta test and ultimately aiming for 100 locations," Puglisi added. "Our focus is on hospitals, universities and other high-traffic, high-visibility locations where we can make the most significant impact."
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.
Contact:
Charles Talbert
678-823-7683
ctalbert@peachtreegroup.com
Peachtree Group Wins Multiple Marriott Select Brands Awards During Ceremony
ATLANTA (July 2, 2024) – Peachtree Group (“Peachtree”) announced that it received multiple Marriott Select Brands (MSB) Awards during this year’s Marriott Select Brands Owner & Franchisee CONNECT Conference in Orlando, Fla. The awards recognize hotels that demonstrate outstanding service, innovation and commitment to guest satisfaction.
“These awards are a testament to the exceptional work our hotel associates deliver every day,” said Steve Mackenzie, Peachtree’s senior vice president of operations, hospitality management. “These hotels have consistently excelled in guest and F&B satisfaction, setting a benchmark for unparalleled service, and we are proud to have them as part of the Peachtree family. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to our partners who entrust us with managing their properties. Their collaboration has been instrumental in achieving these accolades, showcasing our shared commitment to superior quality.”
The award winners include:
Platinum Circle
· SpringHill Suites Lindale, Texas
Gold Circle
· Fairfield Inn & Suites Gadsden, Alabama
· SpringHill Suites Dallas Rockwall, Texas
· TownePlace Suites Dallas Rockwall, Texas
Silver Circle
· Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Plainfield, Indiana
· SpringHill Suites Vero Beach, Florida
F&B Satisfaction
· SpringHill Suites Lindale, Texas
“Every recipient of these awards embodies the essence of Peachtree’s mission, showcasing outstanding excellence, strong leadership and a relentless dedication to serving our guests, partners and communities,” said Shara Roddan, vice president of operations, hospitality management.
About Peachtree Group
Peachtree Group is a vertically integrated investment management firm specializing in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in dislocated markets, anchored by commercial real estate. Today, the company manages billions in capital across acquisitions, development and lending, augmented by services designed to protect, support and grow its investments. For more information, visit www.peachtreegroup.com.