Positive outlook for global hotel investment market, according to analysts

Momentum continues to build in the global hotel investment market with volumes expected to reach US34.8 billion in 2011, according to the second quarter statistical analysis of the sector from Jones Lang LaSalle.

The report reveals that $14.8 billion in hotel assets changed hands in the first six months of 2011. Compared with the same period last year, this represents a 117%  increase, which according to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels is driven by the easing levels of liquidity, improved hotel trading performance and banks’ actions to speed up workout programmes.

The Americas registered a 187% year on year upsurge with transaction volumes totalling $7.4 billion, driven by large single asset deals in gateway cities like New York.
 
A total of $4.7 billion in hotel transactions took place in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in the first half of 2011, an 84% increase on the same period last year. Activity accelerated as a result of a marked increase in the number of assets going into administration. In Asia Pacific, deal volume totalled $2.6 billion, a 59% increase on the prior year period.

‘Despite various natural, economic and political crises witnessed globally in the first few months of 2011, hotel transactions continued gaining momentum and volumes for the full year are expected to exceed our previous forecast,’ said Arthur de Haast, global chief executive officer for Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.
 
‘We now anticipate full year numbers to reach $34.8 billion globally, marking a 28% year on year increase,’ he added.

REITs continued as the most acquisitive buyers in the Americas although private equity investors, who were on the sidelines during the downturn, made a strong comeback to the market in the first half of 2011.

Hotel sales in the Americas are anticipated to total $16 billion, up from the firm’s previous forecast of $13.1 billion for 2011 based on the pace recorded so far and large pending transactions.
‘As expected, a marked increase in the number of assets going into administration with lenders increasing the speed of their workout programmes is characterising current EMEA deal activity,’ said Mark Wynne Smith, chief executive officer EMEA.
 
‘We expect hotel investment volumes across EMEA to rise to $15.1 billion, a $2 billion increase on our previous forecast, as significant product is expected to come to market in the second half of 2011,’ added Wynne Smith.
 
Activity in Asia Pacific totalled $2.6 billion with the main action taking place in Singapore, Australia, China, Japan and Hong Kong. Singapore dominated transaction activity in the first half of 2011 with volumes surpassing $1 billion, reflecting pent up investor demand for the market.

‘We forecasted volumes to total $2.75 billion in Asia earlier this year and we expect this figure to remain unchanged as growth in countries like Singapore and Thailand is expected to offset decelerated activity in Japan as a result of the March 2011 earthquake,’ said Scott Hetherington, chief executive officer Asia.

In Australasia, deal volume totalled $478 million with offshore capital sources featuring strongly in the country, accounting for 76 percent of transaction volumes. ‘We expect transaction volumes to reach $1 billion in Australasia by year-end 2011, which is up from our previous forecast of $800 million with cross border investment expected to continue,’ said Craig Collins, chief executive officer Australasia.