The 2025 Boutique Hotel Investment Conference by BLLA brought together hotel owners, investors, developers, advisors, and brands with a focus on independent, boutique, and lifestyle hospitality. This year’s panels and conversation centered around operational efficiency driving owner’s profitability and the renewed appetite for thoughtful, experience-driven hotel and F&B concepts. This article discusses our key takeaways from the conference.
Decisions at the federal level, such as import tariffs, are affecting global markets, and cuts initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are having impacts across the nation. These policies are also significantly affecting hotels in Washington, D.C., the market located at the heart of the federal government.
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.
The Sarasota market is no longer just a snowbird destination in the winter months. Instead, the area is now thriving as a year-round destination, as evidenced by the area’s rising tourist tax collections, expanding demand centers including athletic facilities, and numerous development projects in the market’s pipeline.
The Texas Hill Country has been undergoing a remarkable transformation since 2021. Once celebrated for its rustic inns and German heritage, the region is now emerging as a premier destination for rural luxury escapes, fueled by a wave of high-end investments, wellness-focused brands, and experience-driven developments.
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.
The Newark Airport hotel market has faced significant adjustments since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes to the submarket’s hotel supply, coupled with the rebound in passenger levels through Newark Airport, have resulted in a slow but steady recovery of the hotel market. Recent and upcoming expansion projects at Newark Airport support a positive outlook.
The Baton Rouge lodging market is stabilizing after several years of mixed performance. Record-high ADR and demand tied to industrial projects are helping to balance ongoing occupancy challenges and longstanding supply pressures. Future demand growth will depend on correcting the hotel and event supply issues.