The U.S. Hotel Industry Is Optimistic About the Future But What Comes Next?
Photo Credit: The foyer of the Diamond Ballroom at the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live where the ALIS conference took place. Marriott International
Skift Take
More conservative folks might talk about being "cautiously optimistic," but positivity is the prevailing sentiment this year in the hospitality industry.
Is the U.S. hotel industry headed for another banner year, or is the end of the cycle drawing near?
Along those lines, executives don't often speak about their "optimism" at investment conferences, let alone at a hotel event. But that's exactly the sentiment many of the nearly 3,000 attendees at the annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit expressed about their collective outlook for the industry.
"I don't think I've heard one negative comment," David Kong, CEO of Best Western said. "Everyone has been talking about the continued strength in our industry. People are still doing deals, a lot of people are optimistic and looking for more to buy, so I think all of that is very positive."
Jay Stein, Dream Hotel Group CEO, had a similar experience at this year's conference, which took place last week in Los Angeles and attracted hotel owners, developers, and executives from real estate investment trusts and the brands themselves. Stein said he spent nearly all of his time in meet
