Most hospitality groups are shedding real estate. a&o is picking it up at distressed prices — a contrarian move that works up until the deals, or the lenders, run dry.
CEO Sébastien Bazin said an Ennismore IPO is "one of four or five" possible fates for the lifestyle joint venture. In M&A-speak, that means Accor's board hasn't decided yet.
The Iran war has turned Marriott’s EMEA region into two businesses at once. Jones’s bet is that Europe and Africa can carry the 20% of fee business the Middle East has lost — at least until a ceasefire changes the math.
Hilton wants developers to invest millions in Undergraduate, its new hotel brand aimed at small college towns. Yet the new brand has no track record, requiring potential owners to take a leap of faith.
Asia’s hotel pipeline is still growing, but an increasing share of that growth is coming from existing properties rather than new builds, as owners tap global brands like Accor for distribution, loyalty, and pricing power.