May 2025 Newsletter by Global Asset Solutions
- GAS
- May 21
- 4 min read
Updated: May 26
Global Asset Solutions’ May 2025 Newsletter
As we head towards the summer we are pleased to announce Q1 RevPAR across the portfolio up 12.7% on the year, driven by an 8.54% increase in ADR.
Alex Sogno, CEO, Global Asset Solutions, said: “It is a great testament to our team that, even as the global economy is under pressure and we are seeing RevPAR growth strained, we have been able to help our clients outperform their competitors.
“We continue to prove that an asset manager's value is greatest when collaborating with internal teams instead of being combative partners or merely report analysts. As we look towards the rest of the year, we continue to see strong demand in the ever-resilient luxury sector, driving interest from investors, which is translating into growth in transactions. At Global Asset Solutions we believe in putting the asset at the heart of our business and, as we continue to expand, we are looking forward to welcoming further exceptional hotels into our portfolio.”
The sector in numbers
The big change for the sector over the past few months has been the impact - and perceived impact - of the new president in the US and his relationship with the rest of the world.
At the time of the first-quarter results, the consequences of tariffs had not yet been felt on hotel development, but concerns around over-zealous border controls had combined with fears of a recession in the US to see a drop off in global travel, particularly in and out of the US.
The US-based hotel companies were bullish, expressing hope that disruption would only be felt in the short term, with Hilton president & CEO Chris Nassetta telling analysts;
“My own belief is you will see some … if not a lot of that uncertainty wane over the next couple of quarters and that will allow the underlying strength of the economy to shine through again”.
Marriott president & CEO Tony Capuano added: “The vast majority of owners are long-term investors in our sector, they’re not spooked in the short term, they’re bullish on the long term”.
Outside the US, companies were looking to strengthen their portfolios in other locations, while attention in Europe was focused on the long-awaited sale of Accor’s stake in AccorInvest, which Jean-Jacques Morin, group deputy CEO, said had attracted “significant interest”.
With several hotels in the AccorInvest portfolio expected to leave Accor brands, the chance for owners to switch brands or lose a brand entirely comes with opportunities an experienced asset manager can guide them through. If this is on your mind, do get in touch.
2024 European Hotel Transactions
The European hotel investment market in 2024 sent a clear message: prime, luxury hotel assets remain not only resilient but increasingly in demand. With €10.95bn transacted across 137 deals, the year underscored an undeniable reality—high-end hospitality investments continue to flourish, even amid shifting market dynamics.
From iconic five-star resorts to exclusive four-star properties, demand for premium assets is fuelling exceptional transaction volumes, as investors compete to secure the most valuable properties in Europe’s leading destinations.
To read more, please click here
Italy Market Outlook 2025
As global tourism rebounds, Italy stands out as one of the most attractive hospitality investment markets in Europe, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in both visitor numbers and ADR growth.
Unlike Spain, where investment is spread across resort-heavy markets, and France, where high barriers to entry limit new projects, Italy offers a diverse range of opportunities from luxury city hotels in Rome and Milan to ultra-exclusive resorts in emerging destinations like Taormina and Lake Como.
To read more, click here
Our Market Reports provide detailed insight and analysis on hotel transactions, investor sentiment and traveller behaviour across the luxury hotel segment.
All reports published to date are freely accessible via the links below.
Our Market Reports provide detailed insight and analysis on hotel transactions, investor sentiment and traveller behaviour across the luxury hotel segment.
All reports published to date are freely accessible via the links below.
Spanish Report 2024
Portugal Report 2024
Singapore vs Hong Kong
French Report 2024
Phuket vs Bali
Italy Report 2025
What hotel owners should expect - and demand - from an operator?
Let’s not kid ourselves, brands need owners. This realisation has come to the market as ownership of hotels by the big flags has faded away as they have gone asset light, whilst the number of available brands has soared.
With every sale and leaseback deal and every franchise signed, the global operators have pegged their fortunes not to the values of their assets, but the value of their brand and the management and license fees they generate.
To read more, click here
Revised USALI increases transparency across sector
The USALI is the accounting standard adopted across the hotel sector, allowing hotel operations to offer accurate like-for-like comparisons to owners and potential owners, creating a benchmark which is understandable and useable by everyone in the market, a common language for financial reporting.
It is at the core of the industry, to the extent that hotel management agreements commonly insist that operators adopt the new editions of USALI as they become effective.
To read more, click here
