Hotel Brokers International recently conducted the third in a series of four annual Hotel Investor’s Marketplace Webcasts. Joe McCann, president of Optimum Hotel Brokerage and the 2011 president of HBI, served as the event moderator. McCann was joined by Jeff Higley, vice president of digital media & communications for HotelNewsNow.com/STR/STR Global.
Through a data-rich, interactive presentation, Higley shared the latest hospitality industry performance statistics as tracked by Smith Travel Research. According to Higley, STR data shows an impressive 6.9% demand growth in 2011. July saw a record number of rooms sold in the U.S. when 1,002,000,000 rooms sold. However ADR has not returned to its peak and falls woefully short of inflation. The average U.S. hotel room is projected to rent for $102.21 in 2011. If hotel room sales had increased by inflation since 2000, the rate today would be $109.46 or 6.7% higher. RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth in 2011 is expected to be up 7.8% and up another 7.0% in 2012.
Produced quarterly by HBI, the Hotel Investor’s Marketplace Webcasts are designed to connect active hotel investors, brokers, and industry service suppliers and present relevant topics to the current events in hotel real estate and hotel operations. The fourth quarter Marketplace Webcast is scheduled for November 9. Guest speakers joining the Marketplace Webcasts held earlier this year include: Jeffrey Kolessar, vice president of development for GF Management and Brian Bagel, social media manager for TIG Global, a subsidiary of Micros Systems, Inc. Kolessar provided attendees an excellent primer on the nation’s current distressed hotel market, and how lenders, owners and buyers can navigate through the economic environment. And, through his presentation titled, Social Media Marketing, Bagel revealed tips for developing a social media marketing strategy and the tactical steps hoteliers can take to improve their online marketing. For those wanting to review information presented for these and other Marketplace events, the Webcasts are recorded and made available for on-demand viewing at the HBI Website, http://www.hbihotels.com/marketplace/php.
About Hotel Brokers International
Hotel Brokers International is the industry’s leading hotel real estate sales organization. Since its founding in 1959, HBI Brokers have successfully negotiated more than 10,000 hotel transactions and most recently have been responsible for nearly 48 percent of all mid-market and economy hotel sales transacted in the United States. With a database currently comprising more than 200 property listings, the HBI website attracts more than 48,000 monthly site visitors from approximately 40 different countries. In addition to developing the popular Hotel Investor’s Marketplace webcast series, HBI also established the Certified Hotel Broker designation program which has raised the industry standards and set the benchmark for hotel brokerage professionalism. The organization also publishes TransActions Recap, the industry’s leading source of hotel real estate sales data.
In addition to broker services, HBI offers affiliate membership to professionals in allied fields, including franchising, lending, appraisals and investment services. For more information about HBI’s hotel listings, brokerages or to become a broker or affiliate member, HBI may be accessed online at www.hbihotels.com.
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